Get Started
Everything you need to know about PiAds
Getting Started
Step 1: Go to app.piads.co
Click "Get Started" on the homepage.
Step 2: Choose your role
Select "I'm a Venue" - this sets up your account for screen management and earning from ads.
Step 3: Sign up
• Enter your email address
• Create a password (or sign up with Google)
• Verify your email if prompted
Step 4: Create your venue
After signing in, you'll be prompted to create your first venue:
• Business name (e.g., "Joe's Coffee Shop")
• Address (helps advertisers find you)
• Venue type (cafe, restaurant, gym, salon, etc.)
Step 5: Choose your next step
After creating your venue, you'll see options to:
• Connect a screen
• Create a playlist
• Upload media
Tip: We recommend connecting your first screen next!
The Web Player is the easiest way to get started - no hardware needed!
Step 1: Click "New Screen"
From your dashboard, click the "New Screen" button.
Step 2: Select player type
You'll see options for different player types:
• Web Player (easiest - recommended to start)
• Raspberry Pi
• Fire TV
• Android
Select "Web Player" to get started quickly.
Step 3: Get your pairing code
Click "Need help getting a pairing code?" then click "Launch Web Player".
This opens a new browser tab with your pairing code displayed.
Step 4: Copy the pairing code
Copy the pairing code shown on the Web Player tab.
Step 5: Connect the screen
Back in the "Connect new screen" dialog:
• Paste the pairing code into the "Pairing code" field
• Give your screen a name (e.g., "Front Counter TV")
• Click "Connect"
Your screen is now connected! You'll see it appear on the Screens page.
Step 6: Activate your screen
• Click on your new screen to open the Editor
• At the top, toggle the switch to activate the screen
• Your screen is now live!
Next: Attach media or a playlist to display content.
Besides the Web Player, you can use dedicated hardware for 24/7 displays.
RASPBERRY PI (Best for permanent displays)
1. Go to piads.co/devices and download the PiAds Player image
2. Flash the image to your SD card using Balena Etcher
3. Insert SD card and power on your Raspberry Pi
4. Connect to your WiFi or Ethernet
5. The player will display a pairing code
6. In PiAds dashboard, click "New Screen" and enter the code
7. Your screen connects automatically!
FIRE TV / FIRE TV STICK
1. In PiAds dashboard, click "New Screen" and select Fire TV / Android
2. The dashboard will guide you through installing the app on your device
3. On Fire TV, go to Settings > My Fire TV > Developer Options
4. Enable "Apps from Unknown Sources"
5. Install the PiAds app using the Downloader app
6. Open PiAds app - it shows a pairing code
7. Enter the code in the dashboard and your screen connects automatically!
ANDROID TV / ANDROID TABLET
1. In PiAds dashboard, click "New Screen" and select Android
2. The dashboard will guide you through installing the app on your device
3. Install and open the app
4. The app displays a pairing code
5. Enter the code in the dashboard and your screen connects automatically!
WEB PLAYER (For testing or computer displays)
1. Click "New Screen" in dashboard
2. Click "Need help getting a pairing code?"
3. Click "Launch Web Player" to open player in new tab
4. Copy the pairing code and paste it back in the dashboard
5. Your screen connects automatically!
Tip: Raspberry Pi is most reliable for 24/7 operation. Web Player is perfect for testing.
Content Management
Step 1: Go to Media Library
From your dashboard sidebar, click "Media".
Step 2: Upload your files
• Click "Upload" button or drag-and-drop files
• You can upload multiple files at once
Supported formats:
• Images: JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP
• Videos: MP4, WebM (recommended under 100MB)
Recommended specs:
• Resolution: 1920x1080 (Full HD) for landscape
• Resolution: 1080x1920 for portrait displays
• Videos: 15-30 seconds optimal for ads
Step 3: Organize with folders (optional)
Create folders to organize media by category:
• Promotions
• Menu items
• Announcements
• Background content
Tip: Name your files descriptively (e.g., "summer-sale-2025.jpg") for easy searching!
Step 1: Navigate to Playlists
From your dashboard sidebar, click "Playlists".
Step 2: Click "Create Playlist"
Give your playlist a descriptive name (e.g., "Morning Specials", "Happy Hour Promos").
Step 3: Add content items
Click "Add Item" and choose from:
• From Library: Select uploaded images/videos
• YouTube: Paste any YouTube video URL
• Website: Enter any URL (dashboards, menus, etc.)
• Instagram: Paste Instagram post URL
• TikTok: Paste TikTok video URL
• Embed: Custom HTML embed code
Step 4: Set duration for each item
• Images: 10-15 seconds recommended
• Videos: Plays full length by default
• Websites: 30-60 seconds recommended
Step 5: Arrange order
Drag and drop items to reorder them. Content plays in sequence and loops.
Step 6: Save your playlist
Click "Save" to finalize. Your playlist is now ready to assign to screens!
Tip: Create different playlists for different dayparts - breakfast menu, lunch specials, evening events.
PiAds uses "dayparts" to automatically switch content throughout the day.
DAYPARTS EXPLAINED:
• Breakfast: 7:00 AM - 11:00 AM
• Lunch: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
• Evening: 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Step 1: Navigate to Schedules
From your dashboard sidebar, click "Schedules".
Step 2: Click "Create Schedule"
Name your schedule (e.g., "Weekday Schedule", "Weekend Schedule").
Step 3: Assign playlists to dayparts
For each daypart, select which playlist should play:
• Breakfast → "Morning Coffee Menu" playlist
• Lunch → "Lunch Specials" playlist
• Evening → "Happy Hour Promos" playlist
You can also leave a daypart empty if you don't want content during that time.
Step 4: Assign schedule to your screen
Go to Screens > Select your screen > Click "Schedule" tab > Choose your schedule.
How it works:
• At 7:00 AM, your Breakfast playlist starts automatically
• At 11:00 AM, it switches to your Lunch playlist
• At 5:00 PM, it switches to your Evening playlist
• Outside these hours, the screen shows your default playlist
Tip: You can have different schedules for weekdays vs weekends!
IMAGES
• Formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, WebP
• Best size: 1920x1080 (landscape) or 1080x1920 (portrait)
• Use for: Promotions, menu items, announcements
VIDEOS
• Formats: MP4, WebM
• Best specs: 1080p, H.264 codec, under 100MB
• Use for: Ads, promos, ambient content
YOUTUBE
• Just paste any YouTube URL
• Video plays with or without sound (configurable)
• Great for: Music videos, tutorials, brand content
INSTAGRAM
• Paste Instagram post or reel URL
• Shows the embedded post/video
• Great for: Social proof, user content
TIKTOK
• Paste TikTok video URL
• Plays the video with attribution
• Great for: Trendy content, viral videos
WEBSITE / WEBPAGE
• Enter any URL
• Displays the full webpage
• Great for: Live dashboards, Google Slides, menus, weather
EMBED (Advanced)
• Paste custom HTML/iframe code
• For advanced integrations
• Great for: Custom widgets, live feeds
Pro tip: Mix content types to keep your display interesting and engaging!
Earning with Ads
To enable ads, you create a schedule with the "Enable Ads" option turned on.
Step 1: Go to Schedules
From your dashboard sidebar, click "Schedules".
Step 2: Click "Create Schedule"
This opens the schedule creation form.
Step 3: Enter schedule details
• Schedule Name: Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Weekday Ads")
• Group Name: Organize schedules into groups (e.g., "Main Floor")
Step 4: Enable the "Enable Ads" option
Toggle the "Enable Ads" switch to ON. This tells PiAds that this time slot is available for advertisers.
Step 5: Select the time slots
Choose which dayparts you want to accept ads:
• Breakfast (7 AM - 11 AM)
• Lunch (11 AM - 3 PM)
• Evening (5 PM - 10 PM)
Note: You don't need to attach a playlist - just enable ads and select the times.
Step 6: Set your pricing
Set your price for each daypart you enabled:
• Breakfast: Suggested $8-12/day
• Lunch: Suggested $12-18/day (highest traffic)
• Evening: Suggested $15-25/day
Step 7: Save the schedule
Click "Create" to save. Your screen is now listed in the PiAds Marketplace!
Pricing tips:
• Higher foot traffic = charge more
• Start lower to attract first advertisers, then increase
When an advertiser books your screen, you have full control:
Step 1: Get notified
You'll receive an email and in-app notification when someone books your screen.
Step 2: Review the ad request
Go to Ads > Pending Approvals to see:
• The advertiser's business name and profile
• Their ad creative (image or video)
• The dates and dayparts they booked
• Total value of the booking
Step 3: Preview the creative
Click on the ad to see exactly what will display on your screen. Check for:
• Appropriate content for your venue
• Professional quality
• No competing businesses (e.g., a coffee shop showing an ad for a rival cafe)
Step 4: Approve or Reject
• Approve: The ad is scheduled and will play during booked times
• Reject: The advertiser is refunded, and they can try another venue
Step 5: Set up auto-approval (optional)
In Settings, you can enable auto-approval for:
• Trusted advertisers you've approved before
• Specific business categories
• All advertisers (not recommended)
Note: You can also set content guidelines in your venue profile to let advertisers know what you accept.
REVENUE SPLIT
• You keep: 75% of all ad revenue
• PiAds fee: 25% (covers platform, payment processing, support)
EXAMPLE EARNINGS
If an advertiser pays $100/week for your screen:
• You receive: $75/week
• Monthly: $300/month per screen
• With 3 screens: $900/month potential
SETTING UP PAYOUTS
Step 1: Go to Settings > Payouts
Step 2: Click "Connect Stripe" to link your bank account
Step 3: Complete Stripe's verification (takes ~5 minutes)
Step 4: You're all set to receive payments!
PAYOUT SCHEDULE
• Earnings are calculated in real-time
• Payouts processed monthly
• Minimum payout threshold: $25
• Direct deposit to your bank account
TRACKING YOUR EARNINGS
Go to Dashboard > Revenue to see:
• Total earnings this month
• Earnings by screen
• Pending vs. paid amounts
• Historical earnings
Note: Stripe connection is optional but required to receive payouts. You can run the platform without it if you just want to manage your own content.
Advanced Features
Screen zones let you divide your display into multiple areas, each showing different content.
EXAMPLE LAYOUTS
• Main + Sidebar: 75% main content, 25% sidebar with announcements
• Grid: 4 equal sections showing different content
• Picture-in-picture: Full-screen video with small overlay
HOW TO SET UP ZONES
Step 1: Go to Screens > Select your screen
Step 2: Click "Configure Zones"
Step 3: Choose a layout template or create custom
Step 4: Assign a playlist to each zone
Step 5: Save and preview
ZONE CONTENT IDEAS
• Main area: Your primary playlist
• Sidebar: Social media feed, announcements
• Bottom ticker: Scrolling text, specials
• Corner: Clock, weather, or logo
Note: Zones work on all player types. More complex layouts may require higher-spec devices.
Overlays are elements that display on top of your playlist content.
AVAILABLE OVERLAYS
Clock Overlay
• Shows current time
• Multiple formats (12h, 24h)
• Customizable position (corners)
Weather Overlay
• Current temperature and conditions
• Updates automatically
• Based on your venue location
QR Code Overlay
• Display a QR code linking to your website, menu, or special offer
• Customizable size and position
• Track scans in analytics
Announcement Overlay
• Scrolling text banner
• Great for daily specials, WiFi password, events
• Customizable colors and speed
HOW TO ADD OVERLAYS
Step 1: Go to Screens > Select your screen
Step 2: Click "Overlays" tab
Step 3: Toggle on desired overlays
Step 4: Configure position, style, and content
Step 5: Save changes
The overlays will appear immediately on your player!
Troubleshooting
If your screen shows as "Offline" in the dashboard:
CHECK THESE FIRST
1. Is the device powered on?
2. Is the device connected to the internet?
3. Is the PiAds app/player running?
FOR RASPBERRY PI
• Check the power light (should be solid)
• Check Ethernet cable or WiFi connection
• Try unplugging and replugging power
• The device should auto-reconnect within 2 minutes
FOR FIRE TV / ANDROID
• Make sure the PiAds app is open and running
• Check WiFi connection in device settings
• Force close and reopen the app
• Check if the device needs a software update
FOR WEB BROWSER
• Refresh the browser page (F5)
• Check if the URL is correct: app.piads.co/player/[screen-id]
• Try a different browser
• Clear browser cache and cookies
STILL OFFLINE?
• Generate a new pairing code in dashboard
• Re-pair the device with the new code
• Contact support@piads.co with your screen ID
Content typically syncs to your player within 1-2 minutes.
IF CONTENT ISN'T UPDATING
Step 1: Check your dashboard
Make sure your changes were saved:
• Go to Playlists and verify items are there
• Go to Screens and verify playlist is assigned
• Check which daypart is currently active
Step 2: Force a refresh on the player
• Raspberry Pi: Reboot the device
• Fire TV/Android: Force close and reopen the app
• Web Browser: Press F5 or Ctrl+R
Step 3: Check internet connection
• Run a speed test on the player device
• Minimum recommended: 5 Mbps
• Video content needs more bandwidth
Step 4: Clear cache
• Web Browser: Clear cache in browser settings
• Fire TV: Go to App Settings > PiAds > Clear Cache
• Raspberry Pi: Reboot clears cache automatically
COMMON CAUSES
• Schedule daypart doesn't match current time
• Playlist not assigned to the screen
• Internet connection too slow for video
• Browser cache showing old content
If issues persist, contact support@piads.co
COMMON VIDEO ISSUES AND FIXES
Video won't play at all:
• Check video format (use MP4 with H.264 codec)
• Make sure file isn't corrupted (plays on your computer?)
• Try re-uploading the video
• Check file size (under 100MB recommended)
Video is buffering/stuttering:
• Check internet speed (10+ Mbps recommended for HD video)
• Try a lower resolution version
• Shorter videos buffer less
• Use Ethernet instead of WiFi if possible
YouTube videos not playing:
• Check if the video is public (not private/unlisted)
• Some videos have embedding disabled by owner
• Try a different YouTube URL
No audio on videos:
• Some players mute by default (check player settings)
• Fire TV: Check device volume
• Web Browser: Click on player to enable audio (browser policy)
VIDEO BEST PRACTICES
• Format: MP4 with H.264 video, AAC audio
• Resolution: 1920x1080 (1080p) or lower
• Length: 15-30 seconds ideal for ads
• File size: Under 100MB for reliable playback
• Bitrate: 5-10 Mbps for smooth playback
Ready to get started?
Turn your screens into a revenue stream. Setup takes just 5 minutes.