Frequently Asked Questions

In-App Advertising Basics

In-app advertising refers to ads that appear inside mobile apps, such as games, finance apps, or shopping apps. These can be banners, videos, or interactive formats that engage users while they are using the app.

In-app traffic means the flow of users who click on ads that are displayed within other mobile apps. It results in users downloading or interacting with your app after seeing your ad inside another app.

In-app traffic comes from ads shown within mobile apps, while mobile web traffic comes from ads shown on mobile websites accessed through browsers like Chrome or Safari. In-app traffic is generally more engaging and higher quality.

Any business with a native mobile app can benefit. This includes gaming apps, gambling and sportsbook apps, FinTech apps, and e-commerce apps.

How In-App Advertising Works

A DSP is a platform advertisers use to buy ad placements in real time across multiple mobile apps. It automates the ad buying process to find the best placement for your ad based on your goals and budget.

An SSP is a platform used by app publishers to sell their available ad space. It connects with DSPs to offer that space to advertisers.

RTB is a process where advertisers bid in real-time for ad placements. The highest bidder wins the spot, and their ad is shown immediately to the app user.

SDK traffic comes from apps that have integrated a software development kit (SDK) that allows ads to be served inside the app. This traffic is usually more secure and verified, making it higher quality.

Managed in-app traffic is purchased and optimized by a dedicated team manually. Programmatic in-app traffic is bought through DSPs automatically using algorithms and data-driven bidding.

Ad mediation is a system used by publishers to choose the highest-paying ad from multiple ad networks to show in their app. It ensures better earnings and optimized user experience.

Programmatic advertising is the automated process of buying and serving ads in real-time without human negotiation. It relies on software like DSPs and data to make instant decisions.

An ad exchange is an online marketplace where advertisers (via DSPs) and publishers (via SSPs) buy and sell ad space automatically in real time.

Pricing Models and Metrics

CPI is the price an advertiser pays when someone installs their app after clicking an ad.
Formula: CPI = Total Ad Spend ÷ Number of Installs
CPC is the amount paid each time someone clicks on an ad.
Formula: CPC = Total Ad Spend ÷ Number of Clicks
CPA is the cost paid when a user completes a specific action, such as signing up or making a purchase.
Formula: CPA = Total Ad Spend ÷ Number of Conversions
CPM refers to the cost of 1,000 impressions (views) of an ad.
Formula: CPM = (Total Ad Spend ÷ Total Impressions) × 1000

CPE is the amount paid when a user interacts with an ad, such as watching a video or clicking a button.

ROAS measures how much revenue is generated for each dollar spent on advertising.
Formula : ROAS = Revenue ÷ Ad Spend

KPIs are the key metrics used to measure the success of an ad campaign. For in-app advertising, common KPIs include CPI, CPA, ROAS, LTV, and retention rate.

Targeting and User Behavior

User acquisition refers to the process of getting new users to download and engage with your app through advertising campaigns. In-app ads are an effective channel for high-quality user acquisition.

Geo-targeting is the practice of showing ads to users based on their geographic location, such as country, city, or even neighborhood.

App retargeting shows ads to users who have previously downloaded or used your app but did not complete a key action, like registering or making a purchase. It encourages users to return and engage again.

LTV is an estimate of how much revenue a user will bring to your app over time. It helps advertisers understand how much they can afford to spend to acquire that user.

Ad Formats

A rewarded video ad is an ad that offers users something in return for watching, like in-game currency or a bonus feature. It is often used in gaming apps.

A playable ad is an interactive demo that lets users try a short version of the app before downloading. It is highly engaging and effective in driving installs.

Native ads blend in with the app’s content and design, making them less intrusive and more engaging for users.

Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that appear between content screens in an app, such as between levels in a game.

Ad Quality and Safety

Ad fraud involves fake clicks, installs, or other actions generated by bots or fraudulent sources. It can waste ad budgets and produce misleading performance data.

App Spire works only with premium DSPs and verified SDK traffic. We use trusted third-party fraud detection tools to ensure all traffic is clean and legitimate.

Why App Spire?

App Spire focuses exclusively on premium in-app traffic from trusted DSPs and SDK inventory. We specialize in performance marketing for apps in industries like iGaming, FinTech, E-commerce, and Gaming, delivering results—not just impressions.

You can contact us directly via our website contact form, email, or Telegram. We’ll guide you through everything needed to launch your in-app campaigns.

We measure success using performance metrics such as CPI, CPA, ROAS, and LTV. These help us track user quality and optimize results in real time.

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