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Getting Started with BidOn

This guide walks you through the essential steps to set up BidOn and start monetizing your app:

  1. Create an App in the console
  2. Set up a Demand Source Account (using BidMachine and AppLovin as examples)
  3. Create an App Demand Profile for app-level demand source settings
  4. Create Line Items to define bidding or CPM logic
  5. Configure an Auction to serve ads with a price floor and timeout

1. Create an App​

  1. In the BidOn Management Console, navigate to Apps in the sidebar.

  2. Click New App to open the App form.

  3. Fill in the following details:

    • Owner: Your account or organization
    • App Name: A descriptive name for your app (e.g., "example app")
    • Platform: iOS or Android
    • Bundle ID / Package Name: The package identifier (e.g., com.app.example)

  4. Click Save.

Create App

2. Create a Demand Source Account​

A Demand Source Account stores credentials for a specific demand partner. Below, we'll set up accounts for both BidMachine and AppLovin.

BidMachine Account Setup​

  1. Go to Demand Source Accounts in the sidebar, then click New Demand Source Account.

  2. Select Bidmachine from the Demand Source dropdown.

  3. Fill in:

    • Owner: The user/organization that will manage this account
    • Label: A nickname (e.g., "BidTest")
    • Seller ID: Unique ID provided by BidMachine (e.g., 795)
    • Endpoint: Endpoint URL (e.g., x.appbaqend.com)
    • Mediation Config: JSON config if needed (leave empty if not required)

  4. Click Save.

BidMachine Demand Source Account Creation

AppLovin Account Setup​

  1. Go to Demand Source Accounts in the sidebar, then click New Demand Source Account.

  2. Select AppLovin from the Demand Source dropdown.

  3. Fill in:

    • Owner: Select "Shared" or your specific organization
    • Label: A descriptive name (e.g., "AppLovin")
    • SDK Key: Your AppLovin SDK Key

  4. Click Save.

AppLovin Demand Source Account Creation

3. Create an App Demand Profile​

An App Demand Profile links your App with a specific Demand Source Account and stores any app-level settings required by that demand partner. If you use multiple demand sources for a single app, you'll create multiple app demand profiles—one for each source.

BidMachine App Demand Profile​

  1. Navigate to App Demand Profiles in the sidebar.

  2. Click New App Demand Profile.

  3. Fill in:

    • App: Select the app you created in Step 1 (e.g., com.app.example (android)).
    • Demand Source: Choose BidMachine (Bidding).
    • Demand Source Account: Pick the BidMachine account you created (e.g., (BidMachine) BidTest).
    • Enabled: Check this box to activate the demand source for this app.

  4. Click Save.

BidMachine App Demand Profile Creation

AppLovin App Demand Profile​

  1. Navigate to App Demand Profiles in the sidebar.

  2. Click New App Demand Profile.

  3. Fill in:

    • App: Select your app from the dropdown.
    • Demand Source: Choose AppLovin (Ad Network).
    • Demand Source Account: Select the AppLovin account you created (e.g., (AppLovin) ApplovinTest).
    • Enabled: Check this box to activate AppLovin for this app.

  4. Click Save.

AppLovin App Demand Profile Creation

4. Create Line Items​

A Line Item defines how each ad source competes for a specific ad type (e.g., Interstitial, Banner, Rewarded Video). Bidding networks like BidMachine use Bidding line items, while CPM-based networks use CPM line items.

Note: The console automatically separates bidding vs. CPM networks. You can't mix them by mistake because only the correct line item type is shown for each demand source.

BidMachine Line Item​

  1. Navigate to Line Items in the sidebar.

  2. Click New Line Item.

  3. Fill out:

    • App: Select your app (e.g., com.test.app (android)).
    • Ad Type: Choose the format (e.g., Interstitial).
    • Demand Source: Bidmachine.
    • Demand Source Account: The BidMachine account you created.
    • Label: A descriptive name (e.g., "Bid Inter").
    • Auction Type: Choose Bidding (for BidMachine).

  4. Click Save.

BidMachine Line Item Creation

AppLovin Line Item​

  1. Navigate to Line Items in the sidebar.

  2. Click New Line Item.

  3. Fill out:

    • App: Select your app (e.g., org.bidon.test_app (android)).
    • Ad Type: Choose the format (e.g., Banner).
    • Demand Source: AppLovin.
    • Demand Source Account: The AppLovin account you created (e.g., (AppLovin) ApplovinTest).
    • Label: A descriptive name for this line item.
    • Auction Type: Select Default (for AppLovin).
    • Bid Floor: Set your minimum acceptable bid (e.g., 0.10).
    • Zone Id: Enter the AppLovin Zone ID for this ad unit.

  4. Click Save.

AppLovin Line Item Creation

5. Configure the Auction​

The Auction Configuration defines how demand sources compete, sets a price floor, and specifies timeouts. This is similar to other mediation platforms.

  1. Go to Auction Configurations V2.

  2. Click New Auction Configuration.

  3. Fill in:

    • Name: Descriptive name (e.g., "Inter Auction").
    • App: Select your app (e.g., com.app.example (android)).
    • Ad Type: Choose the format (e.g., Interstitial).
    • Price Floor: (e.g., 0.10). Bids below this floor return no_bid; CPM line items with eCPM below 0.10 are filtered out.
    • Segment: (Optional) Select a user segment.
    • Is Default: Check if this is the default auction for this ad type/app.
    • External Win Notification: Enable if your demand partner requires a win notice callback.
    • Timeout: Recommended is 15000 (15 seconds) to allow enough time for real-time bidding.

  4. Scroll down to see Bidding Networks and CPM Networks:

    • Under Bidding Networks, enable BidMachine and choose the relevant line items.
    • Under CPM Networks, enable AppLovin and select the AppLovin line items you created.

  5. Click Save.

Create Auction Configuration

Next Steps​

  • Integrate the SDK: After creating your auction configuration, follow the SDK Integration guide to add the BidOn SDK to your app.
  • Add More Demand Sources: Repeat Steps 2–4 to add additional networks (either bidding or CPM) and create separate App Demand Profiles.
  • Monitor & Optimize: Check performance metrics to fine-tune your price floors, timeouts, and demand source mix.

You now have a basic setup with:​

  • A single app
  • Two demand sources (BidMachine and AppLovin)
  • App Demand Profiles linking your app to each demand source
  • Line items for each demand source and ad format
  • An auction configuration that includes both demand sources