Publisher Reputation Protection

We know that for app owners considering publishing ads, the most important concern is your reputation.

We Are Publishers Too

Our sister product outposts.io is where we dogfooded Specify, and we continue to publish targeted Specify ads in the newsletter. So we fully understand the risks and concerns you feel when deciding if publishing ads could hurt your reputation. With every decision we make in Specify, we ask ourselves if we'd be comfortable with this applying not only to our partners but also to our own product.

No 18+ or Gambling

We do not currently work with anything 18+ or gambling related. In fact, we have already turned down gambling advertisers.

If we ever support these industries in the future, they will be explicitly opt-in for publishers.

Ad Screening Process

Every ad on Specify undergoes a multi-step review process before appearing on any publisher's platform:

• Initial automated scanning for prohibited keywords and suspicious URLs

• Manual review by at least two team members against our content guidelines

• Technical validation to ensure ad creatives meet performance standards

• Web3 Verification - We validate that all onchain projects have required security audits of their contracts complete

• Final approval by a senior team member with publisher experience

We maintain a public record of rejected ad categories and common reasons for rejection, which you can request from us. This transparency helps publishers understand our standards and builds trust in our process.

Organization-Based Publisher Control

We've designed our approval system to give you complete control over your advertising standards while minimizing workload. You can choose between two approaches:

Option 1: Organization Whitelisting (Maximum Control)

• Opt-in approval system: Only organizations you explicitly approve can run campaigns

• Curated advertiser list: Choose from our database of vetted organizations

• Zero unwanted ads: Complete guarantee that only trusted organizations reach your audience

• Perfect for sensitive platforms: Ideal for publishers who need maximum brand protection

Option 2: Open Advertising with Blacklisting (Maximum Revenue)

• All vetted campaigns allowed: Accept campaigns from any organization that passes our screening

• Pre-emptive blocking: Blacklist specific organizations (like competitors) before they can advertise

• Category exclusions: Block entire industries or content categories

• Higher earning potential: Access to the full range of available campaigns

Flexible Controls for Both Options

Regardless of which approach you choose, you maintain full control:

• Custom keyword filters: Prevent ads containing specific terms

• Real-time blocking: Instantly block any organization or campaign

• Category management: Fine-tune which industries can advertise

• Switch anytime: Change between whitelisting and blacklisting approaches as needed

Publisher Control Dashboard

Our comprehensive publisher control dashboard provides:

• Control mode selection: Choose between whitelisting and blacklisting approaches

• Organization management: Easily approve (whitelist) or block (blacklist) organizations

• Real-time ad monitoring: See exactly what's running on your platform

• Performance analytics: Track which organizations and ad types perform best

• Quick controls: Instantly modify your approved/blocked organization lists

• Category management: Manage allowed or blocked industries and content types

• Custom exclusion lists: Manage your keyword filters and content restrictions

• Alert system: Get notified when new organizations want to advertise (whitelist mode)

Privacy-First Approach

We understand that protecting user data is critical to maintaining trust:

• GDPR, CCPA, and global compliance: Our platform is built to meet the highest regulatory standards for data privacy

• Minimal data collection: We only collect the data necessary to deliver relevant ads

• No persistent user tracking: We don't build persistent profiles of your users

• Transparent data usage: Clear documentation on what data is collected and how it's used

• Publisher-controlled consent: You control how consent is gathered from your users

Content Standards

Beyond our prohibition of 18+ and gambling content, we maintain strict standards for all advertisers.

Prohibited Content:

• Unverified health claims or unapproved medical treatments

• Discriminatory or hateful messaging

• Misleading or deceptive claims

• Counterfeit products or intellectual property violations

• Weaponry or dangerous products

• Political campaign materials

• Scams or fraudulent schemes

• Malicious software or phishing attempts

All advertisers must adhere to these standards, which we regularly update based on industry best practices and publisher feedback.

Quality Assurance

Organization Vetting Process

Before any organization is approved for automatic campaign approval, they must:

• Pass background verification: Legal entity verification and reputation checking

• Meet quality standards: Demonstrate high-quality creative and landing page standards

• Agree to ongoing compliance: Commit to adhering to our content and quality guidelines

• Provide transparent business model: Clear explanation of their products/services

• Complete onchain verification: For web3 projects, demonstrate proper security audits

Ongoing Monitoring

• Performance tracking: Organizations that consistently underperform may lose auto-approval status

• Content monitoring: Regular review of live campaigns to ensure continued compliance

• Publisher feedback integration: Organization ratings influenced by publisher feedback

• Quarterly reviews: Regular assessment of all approved organizations

Your Reputation, Our Priority

By offering both whitelisting and blacklisting approaches, we ensure:

• Maximum flexibility: Choose the control level that fits your platform's needs

• Brand protection: Whether through selective approval or strategic blocking

• Revenue optimization: Whitelist for maximum control, or blacklist competitors while maximizing inventory

• Easy competitor blocking: Prevent competitors from advertising on your platform

• Simple management: Intuitive dashboard for managing your advertising preferences

• Adaptable approach: Switch between control methods as your platform evolves

Our goal is to protect your reputation while maximizing your revenue potential, ensuring that ads on your platform enhance rather than detract from your user experience.