# Blocklists and Ad Quality

Advertiser, category, creative, and landing-page rules applied before any ad renders across Genuin Ad Server, partner ad servers, and Paid Partner content.

Blocklists stop the advertisers, categories, creatives, and competitors you name from rendering in your placements. Ad quality controls set the floor for creative standards. Both apply on every demand path, before an ad reaches a viewer.

[Octo](https://begenuin.com/developers/get-started/any-business/octo-operates-your-brand-control-center-octo-proposes-you-approve), Genuin's Supervised Intelligence interface in Brand Control Center (BCC), proposes this capability when it finds a fit on your sites and apps. It completes the steps under Set it up from your brand context. Nothing goes live until you approve it. It's part of [Monetize](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/monetize/monetize-what-it-does-and-where-to-start), and [Blocklists and ad quality controls](https://begenuin.com/developers/get-started/any-business/blocklists-and-ad-quality-controls) explains what you can block.

## When to use it

Use it on every network that runs programmatic. It's mandatory for retail schedules.

- **Programmatic through Genuin Ad Server**: lists sync to the ad server within minutes. Learn more about [Genuin Ad Server](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/monetize/genuin-ad-server).
- **A partner ad server**: BCC shows the list to hand to your ad ops, or your Genuin CSM applies it on a managed plan. Learn more about [Partner Ad Server Integration](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/monetize/partner-ad-server-integration).
- **Paid Partner content**: the same rules apply to Posts and Takeovers.
- **Competitive exclusions**: retailers and brands block competitors' domains and brands.

## How it works

- Your blocklists are drafted from your brand safety profile and the exclusions you name. Competitive exclusions are inferred from your catalog and partners. [Set moderation and brand safety](https://begenuin.com/developers/get-started/any-business/moderation-brand-safety) covers the profile.
- Keyword and topic lists you add for moderation sync to your ad blocklists, so exclusions apply to content and ads alike. [Keyword and Topic Blocklists](https://begenuin.com/developers/browse-by-products/control/keyword-and-topic-blocklists) covers those lists.
- Blocklists lower fill. The ad quality report shows what each rule costs, so you can judge whether it's worth keeping.

## Set it up

Octo proposes blocklists and quality rules with these steps already done. You review the result and confirm it.

1. Upload a CSV of advertiser domains or type them under **Monetize** > **Blocklists**, then choose a category baseline. Learn how in [Blocklists and ad quality controls](https://begenuin.com/developers/get-started/any-business/blocklists-and-ad-quality-controls).
2. Set creative quality rules. The defaults match the major exchanges' standards.
3. Choose **Apply**. Lists sync in minutes.

## Settings

| Setting | What it blocks |
| --- | --- |
| Domains | Advertiser domains and brands, including competitors |
| Categories | IAB content categories and sensitive categories |
| Creative attributes | Audio on load, expandable, heavy file size, and mismatched size |
| Landing-page behaviors | Redirects, auto-downloads, and pop-ups |
| One-click creative blocks | A specific creative, blocked from the report after it runs |

Change these under **Monetize** > **Blocklists**. A change syncs to Genuin Ad Server within minutes.

## What it reports

**Reports** > **Ad quality** shows these measures for each rule. [Programmatic: Genuin Ad Server or your partner ad server](https://begenuin.com/developers/get-started/any-business/programmatic-genuin-ad-server-or-your-partner-ad-server) explains how rules fit each demand path.

- **Blocked bids by reason**: which rule stopped each bid.
- **eCPM cost per rule**: the eCPM you gave up for each rule.

You can block a creative you see in the report with one click. If fill is low, blocklist cost is one of the first things to check.

## Connect your systems

Blocklists run in Brand Control Center, and ads are configured there, not in code. [Add moderators to a community](https://begenuin.com/developers/developer-resources/api/assign-moderators-to-community-using-api) gives accounts the moderator role from your own systems. [Update a group and its members](https://begenuin.com/developers/developer-resources/api/add-or-manage-group-members-collaborators-using-api) changes a group's members, topics, and access settings. [Go live with monetization in your feeds, apps, and partner pages](https://begenuin.com/developers/developer-resources/sdk/go-live-with-monetization-in-your-feeds-apps-and-partner-pages) covers the ad delivery these rules filter.

The blocklist and brand safety calls in the [Business Account API](https://begenuin.com/developers/get-started/any-business/business-account-api-provisioning-oauth-and-the-resource-map) are proposed, not live. [Live API today and the Business Account API roadmap](https://begenuin.com/developers/developer-resources/guides/live-api-today-and-the-business-account-api-roadmap) maps what you can call now to what's planned.