Ensure you learn about targeting, including targeting types, as you start working with the targeting picker.
In this article, we'll cover:
Targeting basics
The targeting picker displays targeting types in the Summary list. Most frequently used targeting types are listed first.
The targeting picker allows you to choose targeting classes or targeting values. Targeting these items narrows who sees the ads and helps your advertisers or buyers reach their intended audience or demographic.
- Include items in targeting by clicking
- Exclude items in targeting by clicking
- Remove items from targeting by clicking
Search and include or exclude
- Search for items to produce a filtered list base on your search term
- Include or exclude items from your filtered list
Include all allows you to include items currently in the targeting selector, even if they aren't being currently displayed under Load more. If you've exclude an item in the targeting selector, the option toggles to Exclude all and similarly excludes all items currently in the targeting selector.
Search example
- sports_rugby_top_728x90
- sports_rugby_bottom_728x90
- sports_tennis_right_160×600
Copy & paste values
- Inventory
- Geography
- Custom targeting
For inventory and geography, look for "Enter text" at the bottom of the targeting selector and click the plus sign to show a text field where you can paste values. For custom targeting, select a key or audience segment to show an adjacent field where you can paste values. Click Apply under the text box when done.
Inventory
You can paste comma-separated lists of ad units or placements you want to include, as well as ad units you want to exclude. Once you click the plus sign to show the text field that accepts comma-separated lists, select Ad units, Exclude ad units, or Placements.
For ad units, use the entire code path of each ad unit—for example:
/123/homepage/ad_unit_1, /123/homepage/ad_unit_2, /123/news/local_news/ad_unit_3
placement1, placement2, placement3
Geography
Custom targeting
Custom targeting allows you to target key-values, audience segments, or content metadata. You can use the menu to select a key and then select values. You can also opt to copy and paste your entry.
- Copy and paste with standard entry: When selecting a key or audience segment under Custom targeting, the adjacent field accepts comma-separated lists of values for the selected key. Select is any of as the operator to include the values or segments added, or select is none of to exclude them.
- Copy and paste with advanced expressions: The advanced expression targeting option allows you to easily add large set of key-values, audience segments, or content metadata. Your organization may already have a resource where sets of entries can be copied and pasted.
Only available in Google Ad Manager 360.
Add targeting preset
A targeting preset is a group of combined targeting that can be reused. You can find and use them in line items, proposal line items, and video ad rules.
To add a targeting preset:
- In the Add targeting preset field, type the name to find a preset. Your search includes partial matches in the middle of a name.
- Select the targeting preset.
- You'll see a confirmation dialogue stating the targeting present has been added.
Targeting presets are added and managed from Inventory, then Targeting presets. However, you have the option to save new presets in the targeting picker.
Good to know about targeting presets
-
Targeting applied from a targeting preset isn't updated with a targeting preset update.
Updating or deleting a targeting preset only affects future items that use that preset—not items that previously used that preset. Deleted targeting presets are similarly unavailable for future use. Line items, proposal line items, and video ad rules that used a preset continue to use targeting as originally applied.
- Once you apply a targeting preset, you can make further adjustments to targeting. You can also apply a second targeting preset or even reapply the first targeting preset after making adjustments.
- If there are conflicts between a targeting preset and the existing targeting, you're prompted to resolve conflicts between various criteria.
Resolve targeting conflicts
Ad Manager checks for any conflicts between applied targeting and warns you if there's a conflict.
For example, if you have already excluded France from your targeting, and now you add a preset that includes France, Ad Manager will prompt you to choose which targeting you want to keep.
You can't apply a targeting preset if the preset contains a value that is a child or subset of existing targeting. For instance, you can't target a child ad unit using a preset if you're already targeting the child's parent. You'd need to remove the parent ad unit from targeting to apply the preset with its child.