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How to Set Up Ad Rotation and Timed Refreshes in Ad Inserter

16 threads Sep 11, 2025 Plugin → Ad inserter – ad manager & adsense ads

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Understanding Ad Rotation in Ad Inserter

A common requirement for website owners using the 'Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads' plugin is to display multiple ads in the same space, either by rotating them or refreshing them on a timer. This technique, often called ad rotation, can help increase engagement and monetization without cluttering your page layout.

How Ad Rotation Works

The plugin handles rotation through a system of shortcodes. The primary shortcode is [ADINSERTER ROTATE], which acts as a marker to separate different ad blocks that should be rotated. According to the sample threads, each rotation group is independent by default.

Common Rotation Setups and Solutions

1. Basic Ad Rotation (No Timer)

For a simple rotation where ads change on each page load, use the following format in your post or page content:

[ADINSERTER block="14"]
[ADINSERTER ROTATE]
[ADINSERTER block="15"]
[ADINSERTER ROTATE]
[ADINSERTER block="16"]

This will randomly display one of the three blocks (14, 15, or 16) each time the page is loaded.

2. Timed Ad Rotation (With a Timer)

If you need an ad to refresh or change after a specific number of seconds during a single page view, you must use the time attribute. This is a common request for refreshing banner ads without requiring the user to reload the page. A user in the threads successfully implemented a 5-second rotation using this code:

[ADINSERTER ROTATE time="5"]
[ADINSERTER block="14"]

[ADINSERTER ROTATE time="5"]
[ADINSERTER block="15"]

[ADINSERTER ROTATE time="5"]
[ADINSERTER block="16"]

Important: The time attribute must be placed on the [ADINSERTER ROTATE] shortcode that precedes the ad block you want to control.

3. Weighted Rotation (Prioritizing Certain Ads)

Another powerful feature is the ability to assign a "share" or percentage to each ad, controlling how often it is displayed compared to others in the same rotation group. This is done using the share attribute. A user from the threads provided this working example for a 75%/25% split:

[ADINSERTER ROTATE name="Ad A" time="30" share="75"]
ad_code_1

[ADINSERTER ROTATE name="Ad B" time="40" share="25"]
ad_code_2

You can combine time and share attributes, or use share alone for page-load-based weighted rotation.

Troubleshooting Common Rotation Issues

  • Ads Not Rotating or Refreshing: The most common cause is browser caching. Always clear your browser's cache and any server-side caching (like a WordPress caching plugin) after making changes to your rotation shortcodes.
  • Rotation Not Working as Expected: Double-check your shortcode syntax. Ensure the time attribute is on the [ADINSERTER ROTATE] line and that all shortcodes are closed properly with square brackets.
  • Feature Limitations: Based on the sample threads, some advanced rotation features like sliding animations (carousel effects) or impression limiting for logged-in users are not available in the free version of the plugin and would require the Pro version.

Important Policy Note

If you are using Google AdSense, always ensure your implementation of timed ad refreshes complies with AdSense program policies. The 'Ad Inserter – Ad Manager & AdSense Ads' team has stated that timed rotation should not cause policy issues, but it is ultimately the publisher's responsibility to verify this with Google.

By using these shortcode configurations, you can effectively manage a dynamic ad space on your WordPress site. For more complex scheduling based on dates or days of the week, the Pro version of the plugin offers additional functionality.

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