What is real-time bidding (RTB)? | Adjust (2024)

Learn everything you need to know about RTB with Adjust.

What is real-time bidding (RTB)? | Adjust (1)

Glossary What is real-time bidding (RTB)?

The definition of real-time bidding (RTB)

Real-time bidding ( RTB) is a subcategory of programmatic media buying. It refers to the practice of buying and selling ads in real time on a per-impression basis in an instant auction. This is usually facilitated by a supply-side platform (SSP) or an ad exchange.

An SSP is software that lets publishers sell display, mobile and video ad impressions to potential buyers –automatically and in real time. This includes ad exchanges, networks and demand side platforms (DSPs), giving publishers greater control of their inventory and CPMs.

How does real-time bidding (RTB) work?

At any given moment, multiple advertisers can bid on a single impression of a publisher’s inventory, then the winning ad (with the highest bid) is shown to the user. Through RTB, advertisers can apply fine-tuned targeting and focus on the inventory most relevant to them. This, in turn, yields better ROI and higher eCPMs. RTB also allows advertisers to adjust their campaign budgets in real-time in order to optimize campaign performance.

Take, for example, the moment in a mobile game where the player watches an ad between game levels. At that moment, the mobile SSP runs an auction for all of the advertisers interested in showing an ad to that player. The advertisers make their bid and, in a split-second, the highest bidder is chosen. Their advertisem*nt is then served to the player.

Publishers and advertisers can both set parameters for RTB, such as minimum prices and maximum bids, as well as prioritize specific deals and inventory.

Why is real-time bidding important?

RTB is effective for advertisers and publishers. Let’s take a look at how RTB is useful for each:

  • For advertisers: RTB means more streamlined, efficient and targeted buying. It provides them with the ability to fine-tune targeting and focus on the most relevant inventory results in higher ROI. Ultimately, users see more relevant ads.
  • For publishers: RTB increases revenue and fill rates by opening inventory to a wider variety of buyers in a competitive auction. Finally, publishers gain visibility of who is buying which inventory and can leverage this knowledge to charge more for their premium placements.

RTB and AppLovin Exchange (ALX)

AppLovin Exchange (ALX) is the leading mobile in-app real-time bidding exchange, connecting buyers to over 60,000 mobile apps on over 1.5 billion mobile devices across the world. ALX works with 150+ DSPs to provide marketers, agencies, and ATDs access to a large volume of inventory. In the ALX auction environment, high-quality inventory is bought on a per-impression basis. Buyers gain direct access to the most competitive auctions with in-app SDK integration.

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What is real-time bidding (RTB)?  | Adjust (2024)

FAQs

What is real-time bidding (RTB)? | Adjust? ›

Real-time bidding ( RTB) is a subcategory of programmatic media buying. It refers to the practice of buying and selling ads in real time on a per-impression basis in an instant auction. This is usually facilitated by a supply-side platform (SSP) or an ad exchange.

How does real-time bidding RTB work? ›

Real-time bidding (RTB) is the process in which digital advertising inventory is bought and sold. This process occurs in less than a second. On Authorized Buyers, you can use RTB to evaluate and bid on each available impression. This is available for any Authorized Buyer with an ad server or bid engine.

What is RTB real time benefit? ›

Advantages of Real-Time Bidding for Publishers

They can even ban ads with sensitive content. They can sell their unsold inventory at a higher price. Publishers can adjust prices according to demand and bids. They know who the advertisers are, and can tailor their offerings accordingly.

What does RTB stand for real time branding? ›

Real time bidding (RTB) is a form of programmatic advertising that allows for the buying and selling of digital ads in real time.

How does the RTB process work? ›

RTB advertising is an ad buying method where parties buy and sell ad impressions in real time via automated auctions that occur while a page or mobile app is loading. These auctions take place in milliseconds, dramatically cutting the time it takes to buy ad space.

What is an example of RTB? ›

Take, for example, the moment in a mobile game where the player watches an ad between game levels. At that moment, the mobile SSP runs an auction for all of the advertisers interested in showing an ad to that player. The advertisers make their bid and, in a split-second, the highest bidder is chosen.

What are the pros and cons of RTB? ›

Pros of real-time bidding include precise audience targeting, financial control, and real-time optimization for advertisers and publishers. Cons involve potential mismatches in ad content and context, challenges with user data accuracy, and compliance with data protection regulations.

What are the basics of RTB? ›

RTB is a technology that helps advertisers reach their target audiences with highly relevant ads in real-time. In RTB, the value of an ad impression is calculated by: Bid price (advertiser's bid) Quality score (how well an ad fits with a particular publisher's audience and content)

What is the objective of RTB? ›

RTB allows for Addressable Advertising; the ability to serve ads to consumers directly based on their demographic, psychographic, or behavioral attributes.

What is the meaning of RTB work? ›

Real-time bidding (RTB) is a means by which advertising inventory is bought and sold on a per-impression basis, via instantaneous programmatic auction, similar to financial markets.

What is an example of a brand RTB? ›

Trident gum's “4 out of 5 dentists” is a simple example of an effective RTB. The use of reasons-to-believe can apply to any person, product, service, or business. Whether your are building your personal brand or your company's, it's your job to develop an RTB that resonates with your buyer.

What is the difference between RTB and benefit? ›

RTBs – Reasons to Believe

While the benefits represent a brand's promise, the RTB ensures that consumers and partners find that promise credible.

What are the different types of RTB? ›

There are several different ways of acquiring inventory in the real-time bidding (RTB) ecosystem. The four main types of auctions include a preferred deal, private marketplace, open auction, and programmatic guaranteed.

What are the mechanics of real-time bidding? ›

When users go to a website or mobile app, a real-time auction is conducted where advertisers bid and compete for an ad space. If the advertiser has the highest bid in the auction, their ad is displayed on a publisher's website or mobile app.

What does RTB do? ›

Welcome to the Residential Tenancies Board

We are an independent, public body. Our role is to register tenancies, operate a dispute resolution service, and regulate the residential rental sector in Ireland.

How long does the average RTB auction take? ›

Real-Time Bidding and Connected TV Advertising

Buying and selling of ads on CTV is performed in virtue of sophisticated algorithms and robots on virtual auctions and it takes just 100 milliseconds on average to complete the entire deal.

How does RTB House work? ›

For example, RTB House uses Deep Learning algorithms to automatically tweak campaigns for maximum effectiveness. It is also able to infer user interest based on data provided by a user, for example, by searching for or purchasing, a product (like a mountain bike) on their website.

How does a bidding war work in real estate? ›

During a bidding war, each home buyer continues to submit a higher or better offer, driving up the price of the home. This means that the buyer who wins the bidding war will likely pay more for the house than it was originally listed for. Bidding wars are the hallmark of a seller's market.

Can real-time bidding typically happen within 200 milliseconds? ›

It all happens in milliseconds. In fact, RTB goes from start to finish in less than 200 milliseconds. It takes 300 milliseconds for you to blink. In other words, it's all said and done in less than the blink of an eye—literally.

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