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How SSP Works: Unlocking the Secrets of SupplySide Platforms

In the fast-paced world of online advertising, every second counts.

That’s where SSP comes in.

SSP, or Supply-Side Platform, revolutionizes the way publishers sell their ad space.

By automating the process through real-time auctions, SSP eliminates the need for manual efforts, while driving up ad prices and empowering publishers with insightful optimization options.

Curious to learn more?

Keep reading!

how ssp works

An SSP (Supply-Side Platform) works by enabling publishers to maintain, optimize, and sell their ad space.

It operates through real-time auctions, where ad content is delivered to publishers’ websites.

SSP eliminates the need for human effort in ad buying and aims to sell ads at the highest possible price.

It sends ad requests on behalf of publishers to an ad exchange, where advertisers use a DSP (Demand-Side Platform) to automatically buy ads from publishers.

These bids, based on data from data providers, target specific audiences.

The highest bid is won, and the SSP places the sold ad on the website.

Publishers can set pricing floors and filters for their ads on the SSP.

It differs from a DSP, as the SSP serves the supply side while the DSP serves the demand side.

The SSP provides insights, up-to-date reports, and optimization options for publishers.

Marketers can combine user characteristics from data providers, DSPs, SSPs, and ad exchanges for effective results.

The RTB mechanism facilitates fast and cost-effective cooperation between these platforms.

Programmatic advertising, of which SSP is a key component, has made buying and selling of digital advertising cheaper, more efficient, and faster.

Programmatic ad spend is expected to surpass $150 billion worldwide in 2021, with programmatic media buys making up a significant portion of digital ad spending in the US, Europe, and globally.

Key Points:

  • SSP enables publishers to maintain, optimize, and sell their ad space
  • It operates through real-time auctions, delivering ad content to publishers’ websites
  • SSP eliminates the need for human effort in ad buying and aims to sell ads at the highest possible price
  • It sends ad requests on behalf of publishers to an ad exchange, where advertisers use a DSP to automatically buy ads
  • SSP provides insights, reports, and optimization options for publishers
  • Programmatic advertising, including SSP, has made buying and selling digital advertising cheaper, efficient, and faster, with expected global ad spend of over $150 billion in 2021.

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💡 Did You Know?

1. The term “SSP” in the context of how SSP works stands for “Supply Side Platform,” a technology platform used in digital advertising to help publishers sell their ad impressions to advertisers.
2. A SSP acts as a mediator between publishers and ad exchanges, allowing publishers to connect with multiple advertisers and increase their chances of selling their ad spaces at the highest possible prices.
3. SSPs use real-time bidding (RTB) algorithms to determine the value of ad impressions, considering various factors such as the audience demographics, website category, and historical performance.
4. One of the key advantages of SSPs is their ability to optimize the revenue for publishers by selecting the most appropriate ads to display based on the available data and advertisers’ bidding.
5. SSPs also enable publishers to set certain rules and restrictions, such as blocking specific types of ads or advertisers, ensuring they maintain control over their website’s content and user experience.


1. Introduction To SSP (Supply-Side Platform)

Supply-side platforms (SSPs) have revolutionized the way publishers maintain, optimize, and sell their ad space. These platforms are instrumental in connecting publishers with advertisers and facilitating the buying and selling of digital advertising. SSPs work by streamlining the entire ad buying process, eliminating the need for manual intervention, and maximizing ad revenue for publishers.

2. Real-Time Auctions And Ad Content Delivery

One of the key features of SSPs is their ability to operate in real-time auctions. When a user visits a publisher’s website, the SSP sends an ad request on behalf of the publisher to an ad exchange. Advertisers, using demand-side platforms (DSPs), then bid on the available ad space in real-time. These bids are based on user data from various data providers and are designed to target specific audiences.

The ad exchange compares the bids and determines the highest bid. Once the highest bid is selected, the SSP places the corresponding ad content on the publisher’s website. This entire process happens in a matter of milliseconds, ensuring that the ad displayed is relevant, targeted, and maximizes the value of the available ad space.

3. Eliminating Human Effort In Ad Buying

A crucial aspect of SSPs is their ability to automate the ad buying process, thereby eliminating the need for human intervention. This automation allows publishers to focus on creating quality content and optimizing their websites, rather than spending valuable time manual selling ad space. SSPs aim to sell ads at the highest possible price, leveraging the real-time auction model and the bidding capabilities of demand-side platforms.

By removing the need for human involvement, SSPs ensure efficiency and scalability. Publishers can handle a larger volume of ad transactions, resulting in increased revenue potential. Additionally, automation reduces the chances of errors or discrepancies in the ad buying process, guaranteeing a smoother and more reliable workflow.

  • SSPs automate the ad buying process, eliminating the need for human intervention.
  • This allows publishers to focus on creating quality content and optimizing their websites.
  • SSPs aim to sell ads at the highest possible price by using real-time auctions and bidding capabilities.
  • Without human involvement, SSPs ensure efficiency and scalability.
  • Publishers can handle a larger volume of ad transactions, increasing revenue potential.
  • Automation reduces the chances of errors or discrepancies in the ad buying process.
  • This guarantees a smoother and more reliable workflow.

4. How SSP Interacts With Ad Exchanges

SSPs serve as crucial intermediaries in the interaction between publishers and ad exchanges. When a publisher decides to make their ad space available for purchase, the SSP acts as a mediator between the publisher and the ad exchange. The SSP takes charge of sending ad requests on behalf of the publisher and provides relevant information about the available inventory and its attributes.

Upon receiving the ad requests, the ad exchange shares them with the registered demand-side platforms (DSPs). DSPs analyze the ad requests, leveraging data from various sources, and initiate the bidding process based on their advertisers’ parameters. After the bidding concludes, the ad exchange informs the SSP of the winning bid. Subsequently, the SSP places the respective ad content on the publisher’s website.

5. The Role Of DSP In Automatic Ad Buying

Demand-side platforms (DSPs) complement the functionality of SSPs by enabling advertisers to automatically purchase ad space from publishers. Advertisers typically use DSPs to manage their advertising campaigns, analyze data, and optimize their targeting strategies. DSPs rely on user data from data providers to make informed bidding decisions and maximize the effectiveness of their ads.

By utilizing DSPs, advertisers can pinpoint specific audiences and target them with highly relevant ads. This level of precision allows for more efficient spending of ad budgets, as ads are delivered to users who are more likely to engage with them. The integration of DSPs within the SSP ecosystem facilitates seamless ad buying and ensures a sophisticated and data-driven approach to audience targeting.

6. Bidding Based On Data And Target Audiences

Bids made by DSPs (Demand-Side Platforms) in the real-time auction are heavily influenced by data and the target audience of the ad campaign. DSPs analyze data from various data providers to gain insights into user characteristics, behaviors, and preferences. This data-driven approach allows advertisers to design campaigns that resonate with their desired audience segments.

By leveraging data, advertisers can set specific parameters within their DSPs to ensure their bids align with the desired target audience. This process helps advertisers optimize their campaign strategies and ultimately increase the likelihood of winning bids. The ability to target specific audiences results in more effective ad placements, higher engagement rates, and improved overall campaign performance.

7. Winning Bids And Ad Placement On Websites

In the real-time auction process, the highest bid determines which ad content will be placed on the publisher’s website. The ad exchange analyzes the bids made by DSPs and selects the highest bid based on predefined rules. The selected DSP then serves the corresponding ad content through the SSP.

Once the ad content is received by the SSP, it places the ad on the publisher’s website in the designated ad space. The ad is then displayed to users who visit the publisher’s website, ensuring that the content is relevant and engaging. This real-time bidding mechanism allows for efficient allocation of ad space and ensures that publishers can maximize their ad revenue potential.

8. Pricing Floors And Filters For Publishers

Publishers have control over their ad inventory and can optimize their ad monetization strategy using the SSP. Pricing floors allow publishers to set a minimum price for their ad space, ensuring it is sold in line with their revenue goals and inventory value.

Publishers can also apply filters to their ad inventory, ensuring that only relevant and high-quality ads are displayed on their websites. These filters can include criteria such as ad size, ad format, industry restrictions, or preferred ad categories. By implementing filters, publishers can maintain a desired user experience and safeguard their brand reputation.

9. Differences Between SSP And DSP

Both supply-side platforms (SSPs) and demand-side platforms (DSPs) are crucial components of the programmatic advertising ecosystem. However, it is important to understand that they serve different purposes.

  • SSPs focus on the supply side of the equation, representing publishers and managing their ad inventory. They are responsible for automating the selling of ad space and streamlining the process for publishers. This helps publishers maximize their revenue potential and efficiently manage their advertising operations.

  • On the other hand, DSPs cater to the demand side, representing advertisers and facilitating the purchase of ad space. DSPs automate the buying of ad space, enabling advertisers to target specific audiences and optimize their ad campaigns. By utilizing DSPs, advertisers can effectively reach their target market and achieve their advertising objectives.

By working together, SSPs and DSPs create a highly efficient ecosystem that benefits both publishers and advertisers. SSPs help publishers generate revenue and efficiently manage their ad inventory, while DSPs allow advertisers to reach their desired audience and optimize their ad campaigns.

In summary:

  • SSPs represent publishers and automate the selling of ad space.
  • DSPs represent advertisers and facilitate the purchase of ad space.
  • SSPs focus on the supply side, while DSPs cater to the demand side.
  • SSPs help publishers maximize revenue potential, while DSPs enable advertisers to target specific audiences.
  • Together, SSPs and DSPs create an efficient ecosystem that benefits both publishers and advertisers.

10. Insights, Reports, And Optimization For Publishers

SSPs (Supply-Side Platforms) empower publishers with valuable insights, real-time reports, and optimization options to enhance their data-driven decision-making and maximize the value of their ad space. Detailed reports provide publishers with key metrics including impressions, clicks, and revenue, facilitating in-depth analysis of ad inventory performance and informed adjustments to improve monetization strategies.

Moreover, SSPs offer optimization options for fine-tuning ad spaces to generate higher revenues. Publishers can experiment with various configurations such as pricing floors, filters, and ad formats to best cater to their audience and revenue goals. By leveraging the provided insights and optimization tools, publishers can consistently enhance ad monetization and achieve better results.

In the realm of programmatic advertising, SSPs play a pivotal role, enabling publishers to efficiently maintain, optimize, and sell their ad space. Through real-time auctions, automation, and data-driven targeting, SSPs assist publishers in maximizing their revenue potential. Collaborating seamlessly with DSPs (Demand-Side Platforms) and ad exchanges, SSPs facilitate smooth ad buying and placement processes. As programmatic advertising continues to flourish, SSPs will continue to be indispensable for publishers seeking to unlock the full potential of supply-side platforms.

FAQ

How does a SSP work?

A supply-side platform (SSP) functions as a mediator between publishers and various demand sources within a programmatic marketplace. By leveraging technology and resources, SSPs allow publishers to efficiently connect with multiple demand sources. They enable publishers to aggregate and manage their demand sources, providing them with the tools to set specific brand safety guidelines, categories, and prices. This empowers publishers to navigate the programmatic landscape and maximize monetization opportunities for their online inventory. Through SSPs, publishers can optimize their digital ad space by efficiently matching their available inventory with the most relevant demand sources in real-time, ultimately enhancing their overall revenue potential.

How is SSP calculated?

To calculate SSP, the weekly rate is divided by the total number of days an employee has taken off due to sickness. This calculation takes into consideration all the days off, including the three days that are not eligible. By dividing the weekly rate by the total days off sick, the SSP allowance can be determined accurately.

How does 12 month rolling sick pay work?

Under a 12 month rolling sick pay system, sickness entitlement is determined based on the amount of sick leave taken in the year preceding the start of a sickness period. For instance, if an employee falls ill on 4 September 2018, their eligibility for sick pay would be calculated based on the sick leave taken from 4 September 2017 onward. This approach ensures that sick pay is allocated in accordance with the employee’s recent illness records, allowing for a fair and up-to-date assessment of their entitlement.

The rolling year basis eliminates the fixed calendar year requirement for sickness entitlement, allowing for a more flexible and accurate calculation. As a result, employees can receive sick pay based on their most recent sickness absence history, rather than solely relying on a specific time frame. This system considers the employee’s present circumstances and ensures that their sickness entitlement aligns with their actual sick leave patterns over the preceding year.

What are the rules around SSP?

In order to be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), employees must meet certain criteria. First, they must have a valid employment contract in place. Second, they should have performed some work as defined in their contract. Lastly, they must have been unwell for a continuous period of four or more days, including non-working days, commonly referred to as a ‘period of incapacity for work.’ These rules ensure that employees who meet these requirements can receive financial support during their illness, while also preventing abuse of the system.