Reviewing Proposals as a Buyer
How to review, approve, or decline campaign proposals you've received on Tap.
Overview#
When a media partner sends you a campaign proposal on Tap, you'll receive a link to review it. The proposal contains everything you need to evaluate the campaign — platforms, impressions, pricing, and flight dates — all in one view.
This guide walks you through what to expect when you open a proposal and how to take action on it.
What You'll See#
Each proposal includes:
- Campaign name — The name your media partner assigned to the proposal, along with the advertiser it's for
- Campaign dates — The date range the campaign is scheduled to run
- Impressions — The estimated total audience reach across all line items
- Investment — The total cost of the campaign, including any agency fees if applicable
- Billing schedule — A detailed breakdown of each line item with platform, placement, format, dates, and cost
Reviewing the Billing Schedule#
The billing schedule table shows each line item in your campaign:
- Platform — The media channel (e.g., a specific TV network or station)
- Placement — Where your ad will appear within the platform's programming
- Format — The ad format (e.g., 30-second spot, sponsorship)
- Campaign dates — When each line item is scheduled to run
- Impressions — Estimated audience for each line item
- Budget — The cost for each line item
Scroll horizontally on mobile to see all columns.
Messaging Your Media Partner#
Every proposal has a built-in chat feature. Click the Chat button in the proposal header to open a messaging panel where you can communicate directly with your media partner.
Use chat to:
- Ask questions about specific line items or pricing
- Discuss alternative dates or formats
- Clarify campaign requirements before approving
- Coordinate next steps after approval
Messages are visible to everyone with access to the proposal. On mobile, the chat opens as a full-screen panel; on desktop, it slides in from the right side of the page.
Taking Action#
Approving a Proposal#
When you're ready to move forward:
Click the approve button
The button label depends on your campaign setup:
- Approve & Buy — You'll proceed to checkout to complete payment
- Approve Proposal — Your media partner handles payment on your behalf
- Approve for Verification — The line items use estimated pricing that the supplier needs to confirm before the campaign starts
Confirm the details
A confirmation dialog shows the total investment and impressions. Review these figures before confirming.
Complete checkout (if applicable)
If you're handling payment directly, you'll be redirected to checkout to enter payment details. If your media partner handles payment, you're done — they'll take it from here.
Declining a Proposal#
If the proposal doesn't work for your campaign, click Decline. Your media partner will be notified and can follow up with an alternative.
Declining a proposal doesn't end the conversation. Use the chat to explain what didn't work, and your media partner can send you a revised proposal with updated terms.
Signing In#
If you don't already have a Tap account, you'll be prompted to create one when you approve a proposal. After signing up, you'll be returned to the proposal to continue where you left off.
Agency Fees#
Some proposals include an agency commission on top of the media cost. If your media partner has included a markup and chosen to show it, you'll see a breakdown of:
- Media cost — The base cost of the ad placements
- Agency commission — The percentage fee charged by your media partner
- Total investment — The combined amount
If the agency commission isn't shown, your investment figure is the total amount.
Proposal Expiry#
Proposals have an expiry date set by your media partner. Once expired:
- You can no longer approve or decline the proposal
- The proposal page will show an expiry notice with the date it expired
- Contact your media partner to request an updated proposal
Act on proposals before they expire. Media inventory is limited and pricing may change if a proposal needs to be reissued.
Need Help?#
If you have questions about a specific proposal, use the Chat button on the proposal page to message your media partner directly. For general questions about using Tap, browse the other guides in this section.