Managing Third-Party Pixels to Track Impressions at the Creative Level

In this article:

Introduction

Setting Up a Third-Party Pixel for Creatives

IAS Viewability Tracking Setup

Troubleshooting

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Introduction

Third-party impression pixel tracking at the creative level allows advertisers to add and manage tracking pixels directly within the MGID Ads dashboard. This feature improves transparency, streamlines workflows, and provides complete control over impression tracking.

Benefits:

• Instant Implementation – No waiting for manual setup;
• Reduced Dependency on Support – No need for account manager intervention;
• Seamless Integration – Ensures accurate campaign performance analysis;
• Full Control – Beneficial for all clients using external analytics and attribution systems.

Setting Up a Third-Party Pixel for Creatives

You can add third-party pixels at the creative level by following these steps:

1. Navigate to the creative creation form in MGID Ads by either creating a new ad or editing an existing one.

2. Scroll down to the 3rd-party pixel section and click + Add Pixel.

A side panel will appear where you can:

• Select the "Tag type": Image Pixel; JavaScript Tag;
• Select the event type: Viewable Impressions; Impressions;
• Enter the third-party tracking URL in the provided input.

3. Validate macros before saving. Ensure all macros are correctly formatted.

Only the following macros are valid for third-party tracking:

${REQUEST_ID}

${TIMESTAMP}

${WIDGET_ID}

${TEASER_ID}

${CLIENT_ID}

${CAMPAIGN_ID}

${CAMPAIGN_NAME}

${SITE_ID}

${GDPR_CONSENT}

${GDPR_CONSENT_755} (can be any number)

${GDPR}

${GDPR_PD}

4. Submit the setup.

You can edit or remove a pixel by reopening the creative creation form and making adjustments as needed.

IAS Viewability Tracking Setup

IAS (Integral Ad Science) tracking allows advertisers to verify and measure the viewability of ads. To enable IAS tracking, follow these steps:

1. Contact IAS to request the tracking script.

Example:

<SCRIPT TYPE="application/javascript" SRC="https://pixel.adsafeprotected.com/rjss/st/2228605/82576683/skeleton.js"></SCRIPT>  

<NOSCRIPT>  

  <IMG SRC="https://pixel.adsafeprotected.com/rfw/st/2228605/82576682/skeleton.gif?gdpr=${GDPR}&gdpr_consent=${GDPR_CONSENT}" BORDER=0 WIDTH=1 HEIGHT=1 ALT="">  

</NOSCRIPT>

As a next step, ensure both the JavaScript tag and Image Pixel are set for the creative.

JavaScript tag setup 

• Select JavaScript Tag type;
• Modify the Script by adding the parameter ias_searchshadowdom=true:

Example:

<SCRIPT TYPE="application/javascript" SRC="https://pixel.adsafeprotected.com/rjss/st/2228605/82576683/skeleton.js?ias_searchshadowdom=true"></SCRIPT>

• Insert the URL in the provided input.

https://pixel.adsafeprotected.com/rjss/st/2228605/82576683/skeleton.js?ias_searchshadowdom=true 

Image Pixel setup

• Select Image Pixel Tag type;
• Modify the Image Pixel;
• Modify the image source URL by adding ias_searchshadowdom=true:

Example:

https://pixel.adsafeprotected.com/rfw/st/2228605/82576682/skeleton.gif?gdpr=${GDPR}&gdpr_consent=${GDPR_CONSENT}&ias_searchshadowdom=true

• Insert the URL in the provided input.

https://pixel.adsafeprotected.com/rfw/st/2228605/82576682/skeleton.gif?gdpr=${GDPR}&gdpr_consent=${GDPR_CONSENT}&ias_searchshadowdom=true 

This ensures that IAS can accurately track and verify ad impressions within the MGID network.

Troubleshooting

Issue 1: The pixel is not firing correctly.

• Verify that the tag is correctly formatted and contains the required macros.
• Ensure the tag is from a supported third-party provider.
• Check if the pixel type (code snippet or image script) matches the expected format.

Issue 2: I can’t add more than one pixel.

• Confirm that you have not exceeded the 3-pixel limit per creative.
• Try refreshing the dashboard and reattempting the process.

Issue 3: The system is rejecting my tag.

• Double-check macro formatting.
• Ensure the event type (Viewable Impressions or Impressions) is selected.
• Contact support if the issue persists.

By following these guidelines, advertisers can ensure the seamless integration of third-party impression tracking for optimal campaign performance. For additional assistance, reach out to the MGID support team.