Go-live checklist

This checklist is the final gate before real traffic. Use it after a successful dry run so go-live is a deliberate switch, not a hopeful toggle.

Work top to bottom. Leave the campaign inactive until the boxes you care about are checked.

What go-live means

Go-live means suppliers may send real leads, buyers may be charged for accepted purchases, and your Dashboard and Analytics start reflecting production volume. A clean test lead is necessary. It is not the whole launch.

Prerequisites

Completed Test before you go live
At least one successful test lead on the timeline
Buyer delivery verified with Test Buyer Integration
Credentials ready to share privately with the right people only

Campaign readiness

Campaign Name and Campaign URL are correct
Campaign status plan is clear (when you will set it active)
Overview setup health has no unresolved blockers
Fields required flags match what suppliers will send
Distribution method is saved (Waterfall, Highest Bidder, or Weighted)
Day-one Filters are intentional, not leftover experiments
Integrations that can reject traffic are understood by the team

Buyers

Buyer users exist in Manage Users with the Buyer role
Each launching buyer is attached on the campaign Buyers tab
Buyer type and price are correct
Delivery method matches how the buyer actually receives leads
Test Buyer Integration passed after the latest delivery edits
Schedules cover the hours you expect volume
Caps will not accidentally stop daytime volume on hour one
Buyer filters are not stricter than the business rule

Suppliers and traffic

At least one active supplier exists on Suppliers
Source type is correct (Internal vs External)
Credentials were copied from the supplier page
Partners were pointed to the supplier's in-app API documentation
Credentials were shared privately (not in public tickets or open chat)
Internal affiliate channels are set on Traffic Sources if needed
Supplier caps will not block the launch window unintentionally

People and process

Someone owns watching Leads and the lead timeline on day one
Someone owns Dashboard / Analytics checks after the first hour
Escalation path is clear if reject rates spike
Publishers know who to contact for credential or field issues
Returns or refund policy expectations are agreed with buyers offline

Final switch

Re-open Overview and confirm blockers are gone.
Confirm buyer and supplier active states one more time.
Set the campaign active when your team is ready to watch.
Ask the first supplier to send a small real slice, not full volume.
Open Leads, verify the first live leads on the timeline.
Check Dashboard and Analytics after a short lag if needed.
Raise volume only after the first live slice looks healthy.

Tips and gotchas

Launching at the edge of a buyer schedule creates false emergencies. Prefer mid-window launches.
Caps reset on their periods. A limit that looked fine in testing can still truncate a big first day.
Keep the known-good test payload. You will need it again after the first production change.
If live rejects spike, pause traffic or deactivate the risky party before rewriting half the campaign.

Expected result

The campaign is active with verified buyers and suppliers, a watched first slice of live traffic, and a team that knows where to look when something fails.

Frequently asked questions

Should the campaign be active during testing? Many teams keep it inactive or tightly capped until the dry run passes, then activate for go-live. Choose the approach that prevents accidental paid volume.

Do I need every optional tab perfect? No. Blockers matter more than polish. Fields, distribution, buyers, suppliers, and delivery tests are the launch core.

What is the first screen to watch after launch? Leads and the lead timeline for truth in the moment. Use Dashboard and Analytics for trends after data lands.

What if the first live lead rejects? Read that lead's timeline before changing five settings. Fix the named cause, re-test, then resume.

Can I roll back? Yes. Set the campaign or the risky buyer/supplier inactive, then diagnose. Pausing is cheaper than silent bad volume.

When should I add more buyers? After the first buyer path is stable. New buyers change distribution behavior immediately.

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