Creating Advertising Panels using Composer 2 – ASP Knowledge Base

Advertising panels in the Composer 2 template allow you to display promotional content on your website, including images, animated GIFs, or short video adverts. They are commonly used to promote products, sponsors, or key messages and can be positioned in multiple locations across your site layout.

You can manually add ad banners or images directly into the CMS, giving full control over what appears on your site. Alternatively, Composer 2 supports integration with a Google Ads account, allowing dynamic ad placement and automated updates.

Note: Ads in Composer 2 are usually included as leaderboard ad slots, though MPU (Mid-Page Unit) slots can also be added. Composer 2 does not currently support skyscraper ad slots on both the left and right of the site.

🛠️ How to Create an Advertising Panel

To create a new advertising panel in the Composer 2 template:

Go to Panels
Click Edit Panel Positions in the top-right corner
Select Add Panel Position
Enter a clear panel label (for example, Advert)
Under Position Type, select Default
Adjust the panel settings as required
Click Save

Once saved, the panel becomes available to add content to and place within your Composer 2 site layout.

Tip: You can manually upload ad images or banners into the panel, or connect your Google Ads account to automatically serve ads.

📍 Positioning the Advertising Panel on Your Site

Composer 2 uses a drag-and-drop layout system to control panel placement.

To position your advertising panel:

Go to Settings
Select Design and Appearance
Open Layout
Drag and drop the panel into the desired position on the page

This allows you to place adverts above content, within sidebars, or between page sections, depending on your Composer 2 layout configuration.

📐 Recommended Banner Sizes (Horizontal)

For best display in Composer 2, use standard horizontal banner sizes:

728 × 90 px – Leaderboard (top of pages)
970 × 250 px – Large billboard (high-impact promotions)
970 × 90 px – Wide banner
468 × 60 px – Standard banner (tight layouts)

Standard sizes help prevent stretching or cropping issues.

📁 File Format and Size Guidelines

To maintain performance and compatibility:

Supported formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, or video
Maximum file size: Under 1 MB
Keep animations short and subtle
Optimise images for web use before uploading

Lightweight files ensure faster loading and a better user experience.

🌐 Google Ads Integration (Optional)

Composer 2 can integrate with a Google Ads account to serve dynamic advertisements instead of manually uploading images:

Google Ads allows automated placement of display ads based on targeting options (audience, location, interests, etc.)
Ads can rotate automatically, reducing manual management
Integration ensures campaigns are always up-to-date with minimal intervention

Installing Google Ads in Composer 2

If you are using Google Ads, the steps to create a panel are essentially the same as manual uploads, with a few modifications:

When adding a panel, select Add Panel Position and complete the basic panel setup.
Instead of uploading images, insert a third-party code widget into the panel.
Embed the Google Ads provided script into this widget.
Google will also provide an additional script that must be added to the HTML <head> of the website.
Google provides guidance on creating and managing ads within their platform.

Support Note: If you need assistance installing the Google Ads scripts onto your Composer 2 website, please reach out to ASP for help.

✅ Best Practice Tips

Use clear, high-contrast visuals for readability
Avoid very small text, especially on mobile
Test panel placement across different screen sizes
Ensure adverts comply with sponsor or brand guidelines
For Google Ads, monitor campaigns to maintain relevance and performance

Advertising panels in the Composer 2 template provide a flexible way to highlight key messages and promotions, whether you manage ads manually or via Google Ads, while keeping full control over layout and site performance.

📘 Ad Type Reference

Leaderboard Ads – Large horizontal banners, typically placed at the top of pages (e.g., 728×90, 970×90). Most commonly used in Composer 2.
MPU (Mid-Page Unit) – Smaller rectangular ads (e.g., 300×250) placed within content or sidebars. Can also be added in Composer 2.
Skyscraper Ads – Tall vertical ads (e.g., 160×600) usually placed on the left or right of the site. Composer 2 does not currently support skyscraper ad slots on both sides.