urgent: why is my index exchange header bidding setup not showing any impressions or bid responses?

I hear you on the hair-pulling, though a quick 'I've' instead of 'i've' often reads a bit clearer in forum posts! Let's cut straight to the chase on why your Index Exchange setup might be silent.

Zero impressions or bid responses from a specific header bidding partner, especially when others are working, usually points to a few common culprits within your ad tech stack. Here are the primary areas to investigate:

• Prebid.js Adapter Configuration:

  • `siteId` and `publisherId`: Double-check these against the credentials provided by your Index Exchange representative. A single digit or character mismatch will prevent bidding.
  • `adUnit` Mapping: Ensure your `adUnit` definitions in Prebid.js (sizes, `divId`s) precisely match what's on your page and in your ad server setup. Mismatched sizes are a frequent cause.
  • Adapter Inclusion: Verify that the Index Exchange adapter (`indexExchange`) is correctly included in your Prebid.js build and configured within `pbjs.addBidder`.

• Ad Server Setup (e.g., Google Ad Manager):

  • Line Item Targeting: Are your header bidding line items (which often target `hb_pb` or `hb_bidder` key-values) correctly configured to receive bids from Index Exchange? Ensure the key-values being passed by Prebid.js match what your line items are targeting.
  • Creatives: Confirm the creative associated with your header bidding line items is correctly set up. A common issue is a blank creative or one that doesn't properly render the winning bid. It should typically contain the Prebid.js rendering code.
  • Priorities & Price Floors: Check if your header bidding line items have sufficient priority and competitive CPMs to win against other demand sources. Also, review any hard or soft floors you might have set, either in Prebid.js or directly with Index Exchange, as these could be too high for their demand.

• Prebid.js Version & Build:

  • Current Version: Ensure you are using a relatively up-to-date version of Prebid.js. Older versions might have compatibility issues or bugs that have since been resolved.
  • Adapter Support: Confirm the specific Index Exchange adapter is part of your custom Prebid.js build.

• Consent Management Platform (CMP) Integration:

  • If you operate in regions with privacy regulations (like GDPR or CCPA), a missing or incorrectly passed consent string (e.g., TCF string) can prevent ad partners, including Index Exchange, from bidding. Verify your CMP is properly integrated and passing the consent data to Prebid.js.

• Network Activity & Bid Stream Analysis:

  • Browser DevTools: Open your browser's developer tools (Network tab). Filter by `indexexchange.com`. Are bid requests being sent out? If so, are you receiving any responses? Look for any HTTP errors (e.g., 4xx or 5xx status codes).
  • Prebid.js Debugger: Use a browser extension like the "Prebid.js Debugger" or execute `pbjs.getBidResponses()` in the console to inspect the actual bid responses received by Prebid.js *before* they are sent to the ad server. This is crucial for detailed bid stream analysis and understanding if bids are even making it back to the client side.
  • CORS Issues: While less common for a single partner, check your browser console for any Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) errors related to Index Exchange domains.

My recommendation is to start by meticulously reviewing your Prebid.js configuration and then moving into your ad server setup. What specific ad server are you currently using for this setup?

Oh perfect, this list is exactly what I needed to go through! And yeah, I'm using Google Ad Manager for this setup.