Payment solutions

Media and online advertising

Streamline media buying and manage reconciliation.

The problem

Marketing and social media buying agencies struggle to manage client campaigns with traditional cards, as these cards cannot be customized to cap the spend on ad placement. There is also a risk that a card will be frozen if a predefined credit limit is reached.

The solution

Virtual cards with dynamic spend controls allow for real-time control of card activity to better manage client campaigns. Agencies can simplify media buying activities at the client or campaign level for thousands of ad spaces, while gaining billing efficiencies with improved data visibility and automated reconciliations.

Real world: media buying

Marketing agencies streamline media buying with virtual cards

Ad agency site

Media buy requested

A new or existing client approves a digital-marketing campaign.

Marqeta platform

Campaigns created

Marqeta provides a unique virtual card to pay for each campaign.

Media source

Cards charged

Cards are set up for billing just like any other Visa or Mastercard payment.

Ad agency site

Transaction reconciled

Single-use card numbers and metadata allow for easy reconciliation and streamlined billing.

Marqeta platform

Metadata returned

When each payment is processed notifications are sent with metadata and purchase details.

Media source

Payment processed

Marqeta’s platform is contacted by the appropriate network for authorization.

Ad agency site

Media buy requested

A new or existing client approves a digital-marketing campaign.

Marqeta platform

Campaigns created

Marqeta provides a unique virtual card to pay for each campaign.

Media source

Cards charged

Cards are set up for billing just like any other Visa or Mastercard payment.

Ad agency site

Transaction reconciled

Single-use card numbers and metadata allow for easy reconciliation and streamlined billing.

Marqeta platform

Metadata returned

When each payment is processed notifications are sent with metadata and purchase details.

Media source

Payment processed

Marqeta’s platform is contacted by the appropriate network for authorization.

Customer Case Study

A large media buying agency had been using physical purchase cards, but as business expanded it became difficult to secure the $5M+ in credit needed per month. Transactions started getting blocked, and suddenly all of their campaigns were at risk. It became clear the agency needed a modern payment platform to avoid any interruption in their campaigns.

By using virtual cards with Just-in-Time (JIT) Funding, the agency could append data to transaction messages so they could match transactions with client codes. And working from a reserve account rather than a restrictive credit line afforded them the flexibility they needed to increase funding at peak times. With Marqeta, they found a more flexible solution for their growing business.