The Trade Desk DSP: Activation Guide

Last Updated On: July 27th, 2026

Overview

This article outlines the best practices and workflows for accessing TripleLift’s premium inventory—including Native, Video, CTV, and Display—using The Trade Desk (TTD) as your Demand-Side Platform (DSP).

1. Deal Activation Methods

There are two primary ways to activate your TripleLift deals in TTD:

Easy Proposal Activation (Recommended)

TripleLift can push proposals directly to your TTD account, simplifying the setup process for all formats except CTV.

  1. Navigate to the Forward Market and Deals (FWD) tile in TTD.
  2. Click Proposals and search for your TripleLift proposal name.
  3. Select the correct Permission Profile and click Accept.
  4. Once accepted, find the deal in your Inventory Selection tile during campaign setup.

Manual Deal Upload

  1. Go to Forward Market and Deals > Create Deal Manually.
  2. Select Private Auction (PMP) as the contract type.
  3. Choose TripleLift as the Supply Vendor.
  4. Enter your unique Deal ID (typically in the format tlx-xxxx).
  5. Assign a Delivery Profile and click Save and Close.

2. Format-Specific Workflows

Choose the correct workflow based on your creative format to ensure proper delivery.

Native Workflow (Image, Video, Cinemagraph)

Use this for non-Wizard native assets to leverage TTD’s native targeting capabilities.

  • Upload: In your Advertiser view, go to Creative Library > Upload Creative > Hosted Native.
  • Assets: Upload your image/video and logo (max 512x512).
  • Targeting Tip: Use Native Placement Type Targeting (In-Feed, Inside Content, etc.) within your Ad Group for more granular control.

TripleLift Wizard Workflow

Use this if you have generated a tag directly from the TripleLift Console.

  • Upload: Select Third Party Display as the creative type.
  • Implementation: Paste your Wizard tag into the Third-party tag field.
  • Ad Format: Select 333x333 (TripleLift Custom).

Video & CTV Workflow

  • Third-Party Video: Select Third Party Video and paste your VAST tag.
  • Hosted Video: Upload your video file directly to the Creative Library.
  • CTV Ad Group Setup: Set the Channel to TV, Device Type to TV, and Ad Environment to In-App.

3. Best Practices for Optimal Performance

Ad Group Channel Selection

Ensure your Ad Group channel matches your creative format to avoid bidding blocks:

  • Display: Use for TripleLift Wizard Tags or Direct Display banners.
  • Native Display: Use for Hosted Native (non-Wizard) formats.
  • Video: Use for Online Video (OLV).

Targeting & Bidding

  • Private Contracts Only: When creating a new Ad Group, toggle Target private contracts only to prevent unintended spend on the Open Exchange.
  • Bid Guidance: Reach out to your TripleLift representative for specific base and max bid recommendations.
  • Predictive Clearing: While this can save costs, consider turning it off if you are experiencing scale or win-rate issues.

Need Support?

For new deal requests or troubleshooting, please contact thetradedesk@triplelift.com or reach out to your dedicated TripleLift account representative.