Price rules let you set floor prices for programmatic demand at a granular level — by ad unit, by geography, by device, or by demand channel. Getting the structure right matters more than most publishers expect.
Step 1: Decide the scope of the rule
Before opening Ad Manager, decide what this specific rule is meant to control — a single ad unit, a group of similar units, or a whole inventory segment. Overly broad rules make it hard to optimize any one part of your inventory precisely.
Step 2: Create the rule in Ad Manager
Under Delivery, go to Price rules and create a new rule. Set the targeting to match the scope you decided on — ad unit, geography, device category, or a combination.
Step 3: Set an evidence-based floor price
Rather than guessing, base the initial floor on historical average CPM for that segment, then plan to test around it (see our companion article on price rule experiments).
Step 4: Apply and monitor separately from other rules
Avoid stacking too many overlapping price rules on the same inventory — it becomes difficult to tell which rule is actually driving a given result. Keep rules cleanly scoped and reviewed individually.
Step 5: Revisit on a schedule
A price rule that was right at launch drifts out of date as demand shifts. Revisit active rules at least quarterly, or sooner if you notice fill rate or revenue trending in the wrong direction.
AdPulse builds and maintains price rule structures as part of hands-on account management, so pricing keeps pace with actual demand.
Want hands-on help applying this to your account?
Book a free consultation