Systems and methods for ad placement in content streams

A computer-implemented method for placing promoted content in content streams, comprising:

• obtaining a plurality of online articles for display on a webpage;
• obtaining at least one candidate promoted content for each of the plurality of online articles to form a plurality of online article and candidate promoted content pairs;
• for each of the plurality of online article and candidate promoted content pairs:
• determining a virality score of an online article, of an online article and candidate promoted content pair, indicating popularity of the online article among online users;
• determining a similarity score indicating similarity between the online article and a candidate promoted content of the online article and candidate promoted content pair;
• and
• determining a qualification score for the online article and candidate promoted content pair based on the virality score of the online article and the similarity score of the online article and the candidate promoted content;
• selecting a target pair comprising a target article and a target promoted content from the plurality of online article and candidate promoted content pairs based on qualification scores determined for the plurality of online article and candidate promoted content pairs;
• determining an arrangement, for the webpage, comprising the target pair comprising the target article and the target promoted content, wherein the determining the arrangement includes:
• determining a first location, on the webpage, for the target article with which the target promoted content is paired;
• and
• determining a second location, on the webpage, for the target promoted content based on a determination that the second location is close to the first location, on the webpage, of the target article with which the target promoted content is paired;
• displaying the target article, in the first location, on the webpage;
• and
• displaying the target promoted content, in the second location, on the webpage.

A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium comprising a set of instructions for placing promoted content in content streams, wherein when executed by a processor, the set of instructions directs the processor to perform acts of:

• obtaining a plurality of online articles for display on a webpage;
• obtaining at least one candidate promoted content for each of the plurality of online articles to form a plurality of online article and candidate promoted content pairs;
• for each of the plurality of online article and candidate promoted content pairs:
• determining a virality score of an online article, of an online article and candidate promoted content pair, indicating popularity of the online article among online users;
• determining a similarity score indicating similarity between the online article and a candidate promoted content of the online article and candidate promoted content pair;
• and
• determining a qualification score for the online article and candidate promoted content pair based on the virality score of the online article and the similarity score of the online article and the candidate promoted content;
• selecting a target pair comprising a target article and a target promoted content from the plurality of online article and candidate promoted content pairs based on qualification scores determined for the plurality of online article and candidate promoted content pairs;
• determining an arrangement, for the webpage, of two or more articles and one or more candidate promoted content comprising the target pair comprising the target article and the target promoted content, wherein the determining the arrangement includes:
• determining a first location, in a stream of slots on the webpage, for the target article with which the target promoted content is paired;
• and
• determining a second location, in the stream of slots on the webpage, for the target promoted content based on a determination that the second location is adjacent to the first location, on the webpage, of the target article with which the target promoted content is paired;
• displaying the target article, in the first location, on the webpage;
• and
• displaying the target promoted content, in the second location, on the webpage.