> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.podigee.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.podigee.com/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/add-and-classify-a-brand.md).

# Add and classify a brand

Classify a brand for targeting, competitive separation, disclosures, and publisher review.

This task shows how to complete the classification of a brand in the Podigee Audio Video Ad Server. The classification helps Podigee apply targeting, competitive separation, disclosures, and publisher review rules.

The first brand is added when you create a Commercial account. Use this task to classify that brand before you use it in Campaigns and Creatives.

## Before you start

You need:

* Access to **Monetization** and permission to manage Commercial accounts.
* The correct Commercial account and brand.
* The categories that describe the brand.
* Each official website domain.
* Any competitive categories and required disclosures.
* Your decision about competitive separation and publisher review.

If the brand is not in the Commercial account, complete the Commercial account setup first.

## Understand the classification

A brand classification contains these controls:

* **Brand categories:** The industries that describe the brand.
* **Official domains:** The domains that belong to the brand.
* **Competitive categories:** The industries that Podigee must treat as competitors.
* **Required disclosures:** Labels that are required for a regulated or sponsored category.
* **Competitive separation:** The distance that Podigee keeps between this brand and competing ads.
* **Sensitive category:** A flag for a brand that needs additional care.
* **Publisher review:** A rule that requires publisher review for later use of the brand.

The classification does not publish an ad. It records the rules that later Campaign and delivery checks use.

## 1. Open the brand

1. Go to **Monetization > Campaigns**.
2. Open **Commercial accounts**.
3. Search for the organization and open it.
4. In **Brands**, find the correct brand.
5. Select **Classify brand**.

![The Cedar and Vale Media Commercial account with its Cedar and Vale brand and a Classify brand action.](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-b13b6ce1a75dfcadc4e62a0f9515bad494ed5d3b%2Fdoc-monetization-015-brand-entry.png?alt=media)

*Open the brand from its Commercial account so the classification stays with the correct organization.*

## 2. Select the brand categories

1. Use **Search categories** to find a category.
2. Select each category that meaningfully describes the brand.
3. Keep at least one category selected.

Use the smallest accurate set. Do not select a category only because the brand might advertise to that audience.

![The Classify Cedar and Vale form with Business selected as a brand category and the official domain shown below it.](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-09d43004a4504e7547d12ee74db3e4ce09d1b38c%2Fdoc-monetization-015-brand-categories.png?alt=media)

*Search the governed list and select each category that describes the brand itself.*

## 3. Confirm the official domains

1. Review the domains in **Official domains**.
2. Enter one domain at a time.
3. Press **Enter** after each domain.
4. Remove a domain that does not belong to the brand.

Enter only the domain. Do not include `https://` or a page path. A new domain stays pending until it is verified. A pending domain can cause the classification to need review.

## 4. Set competition and disclosure rules

1. Open **Competitive categories (optional)**.
2. Search for and select the categories that contain direct competitors.
3. In **Required disclosures (optional)**, select each disclosure that applies.

The disclosure list includes alcohol, gambling, political advertising, regulated health, sponsored content, and tobacco. Select a disclosure only when it applies to the brand and your commercial rules.

![The competitive category search with Technology and computing selected for Cedar and Vale.](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-9483ddf2bdce1894bdee91ae192afbd014ea8fde%2Fdoc-monetization-015-competitive-category.png?alt=media)

*Competitive categories help Podigee keep competing ads apart during delivery.*

## 5. Set separation and review

Select one **Competitive separation** option:

* **No additional separation:** Use only the other delivery and policy rules.
* **Standard separation:** Apply the normal competitive separation rule.
* **Strict separation:** Apply the strongest available separation for this brand.

Then complete the two review decisions:

1. Select **Yes** for **Sensitive category?** when the brand needs additional safety checks.
2. Select **Yes** for **Require publisher review?** when a publisher must review later use of the brand.

![The brand safety controls with strict separation, a non-sensitive category, and publisher review required.](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-527cb475ba97a0a69e4592e71922d8fab9a9c5b5%2Fdoc-monetization-015-safety-and-review.png?alt=media)

*Use stricter separation and review when the commercial or publisher rules require them.*

## 6. Save the classification

1. Review every selected category, domain, disclosure, and safety control.
2. Select **Save classification**.

Podigee saves the classification directly when the workspace uses optional review. If the workspace requires review and the classification contains an unverified domain or more than one brand category, Podigee opens **Review approval**. An eligible reviewer must approve the exact classification version.

![The Cedar and Vale Media account with a Brand classification saved confirmation.](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-799b30a32450b4a4de0de0b160938c2855f59934%2Fdoc-monetization-015-classification-saved.png?alt=media)

*The confirmation means that Podigee saved the new classification version.*

## Change a classification

Open **Classify brand** again when a brand changes its official domain, industry, competitive group, disclosure need, safety status, or review rule. Podigee creates a new classification version and keeps the earlier version as evidence.

A material change can require a new review. Complete that review before you depend on the new classification in commercial work.

## If Podigee blocks the action

* **No category is selected:** Select at least one brand category and save again.
* **A domain is invalid:** Remove the protocol or page path. Enter a domain such as `example.com`.
* **The classification needs review:** Open the review and ask an eligible reviewer to decide the exact version.
* **The brand changed while the form was open:** Close the form, open **Classify brand** again, and review the current values before you save.
* **You cannot open or save the classification:** Ask a workspace administrator for permission to manage Commercial accounts.

![The classification form after Podigee rejected an empty category set and kept the existing brand unchanged.](https://2032417310-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FbqUKO6lljHGzkEAzliPI%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ba8003cb79a3b1f2ceece00c147cb15c42e8cb0d%2Fdoc-monetization-015-category-required.png?alt=media)

*Podigee does not change the existing brand when the classification is incomplete.*

## Result

The brand has a governed category, domain, competition, disclosure, separation, and review profile. You can use the brand in Campaigns, Creatives, targeting, publisher checks, and delivery decisions.

Next, add or change user access for the Monetization workspace.


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.podigee.com/documentation/grow-and-monetize/monetization/add-and-classify-a-brand.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.