Layouts Overview

Control which ad slots load on which pages of your site.

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What is a layout?

A layout is a collection of ad slots that load together on specific pages.

Example:

• Layout name — Article Pages
• Scope → Page Paths
  • Starts with: /article/
  • Starts with: /blog/
  • Starts with: /news/
• Ad Slots
  • article_header
  • article_sidebar_top
  • article_sidebar_bottom
  • article_incontent_1
  • article_incontent_2

When a user visits a URL matching the layout's scope, the listed slots load.

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Why use layouts?

Without layouts	With layouts
Same ads everywhere	Tailored ads per page type
Can't control slot loading	Precise control
Hard to test variations	Easy A/B testing
Complex code changes	UI-based management

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Layout components

Component	Description	Example
Name	Your identifier	Article Pages
Scope — Page Paths	Typed page-path rules (Exact, Starts with, Contains, Ends with, Regex)	Starts with: /article/
Scope — Audience	Optional browser / device narrowing	blank = all browsers and devices
Ad Slots	Which slots load	header, sidebar, incontent
Priority	Order of evaluation when multiple layouts could match	1 (highest) to 100
Targeting (tab)	Optional layout-level key-values passed into GAM	section = sports

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How layouts work

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Common tasks

Task	Link
View all layouts	Viewing layouts →
Create a layout	Creating a layout →
Add slots to layout	Adding slots →
Configure targeting	Layout targeting →
Set priorities	Layout priorities →

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Layout examples

News/Media site

Layout	Page-path rules	Slots
Homepage	Exact: /	header, sidebar, below_fold
Article	Starts with: /article/, Starts with: /story/	header, sidebar, incontent × 3
Category	Starts with: /category/	header, sidebar
Video	Starts with: /video/	header, sidebar (fewer slots)
Default	Regex: .*	header (fallback)

E-commerce site

Layout	Page-path rules	Slots
Homepage	Exact: /	billboard, sidebar
Category	Starts with: /category/	header, sidebar
Product	Starts with: /product/	sidebar_only (minimal)
Blog	Starts with: /blog/	header, incontent

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Best practices

Do

• Name layouts clearly (Article Pages not Layout 1)
• Set specific targeting before generic
• Use priorities to control matching order
• Create a Default fallback layout

Don't

• Create overlapping targeting without priorities
• Forget to include slots in layouts
• Leave pages unmatched (no ads will load)

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Getting started

Create your first layout →