Display Rate
What is display rate and why does it matter?
Display Rate measures how many of the downloaded (received) ads were actually shown to users. It is calculated by the formula:
A high display rate means you are efficiently showing the ads that were loaded. A low display rate indicates that many ads are being downloaded but never displayed, which can negatively impact your relationship with ad networks and cause eCPM to drop.
Why Display Rate Matters for Video Ads
Video ads are particularly affected by display rate because they consume significant bandwidth and resources to download. When video ads are downloaded but never shown, ad networks view this as wasted resources and may reduce the eCPM they offer or lower your priority in their system.
Download Timing and Caching
The timing of when you load ads affects your display rate. If ads are loaded too early or too frequently without being shown, your display rate will drop.
Auto-Cache vs Manual Caching
Auto-Cache automatically loads a new ad after the previous one is shown. This is convenient but can lead to lower display rates if ads are cached in situations where the user is unlikely to see them.
Manual Caching gives you full control over when ads are loaded. By loading ads only when you know they will be shown soon, you can maintain a higher display rate.
Example: Rewarded Video Placement
Consider a rewarded video placement in a game where users can watch a video to earn extra lives. With auto-cache, a new rewarded video would be loaded immediately after the user watches one, even if the user is unlikely to need another extra life soon. With manual caching, you would only load a new rewarded video when the user is approaching a point in the game where they might want to watch one, increasing the likelihood that the downloaded ad will actually be shown.
Monitor your display rate in the Appodeal dashboard and adjust your caching strategy if it drops below an acceptable level. A display rate above 80% is generally considered healthy.