What is the ads.txt file?

Introduction

In the digital advertising world, transparency and security are crucial for both publishers and advertisers. The ads.txt file (Authorized Digital Sellers) was developed to help prevent ad fraud by ensuring that only authorized sellers can sell your ad inventory. By properly configuring ads.txt on your eDirectory website, you can protect your ad revenue and ensure compliance with platforms like Google Ads.

Understanding Ads.txt

Ads.txt stands for Authorized Digital Sellers, and its main function is to ensure that your digital ad inventory is only sold through sellers you have identified as authorized. This prevents unauthorized reselling and helps maintain trust in the online advertising ecosystem.

You can manually check if a website has an ads.txt file and view its contents by adding /ads.txt to the end of the root domain. For example: 👉 website.com/ads.txt

Once a publisher adds the ads.txt file to their website, advertisers can verify and validate that they are working with a legitimate seller. If the ID referenced in the file does not exist or does not match an approved seller, it may indicate an unauthorized entity. This verification process helps prevent fraud and ensures that advertisers are only buying from trusted sources.

For these reasons, ads.txt is commonly used to validate advertising banners (such as Google Ads), ensuring they are displayed only on authorized sites.

Setting Up Ads.txt in eDirectory

In order for your eDirectory website to display Google Ads banners, it is necessary to enter the ads.txt file correctly, using the ID provided by Google. This allows Google to verify your authenticity and approve your site for ad display.

Now, you can easily add your ads.txt content directly within the SEO Center tab of your Site Manager under Webmaster Tools.

For more detailed guidance, you can visit Google’s official support page on ads.txt:

🔗 https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/7532444?hl=en

Conclusion

Setting up ads.txt on your eDirectory website is a simple yet essential step in maintaining ad security and authenticity. By adding your authorized sellers to the ads.txt file, you ensure that your ad space is properly validated, preventing unauthorized reselling and maximizing your revenue potential. If you haven't configured ads.txt yet, take a moment to set it up through your Site Manager to improve your website’s advertising integrity.