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The ChatGPT Ads Manager is OpenAI’s self-serve platform for buying ads inside ChatGPT. It opened to all US advertisers in May 2026 at ads.openai.com<\/a>. You can register, set up billing, create campaigns with CPC or CPM bidding, and track conversions, all without going through an agency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the setup process has a few traps that can cost you time and flexibility. Account settings like your country, currency, and timezone are locked after you confirm them. Verification can take days because of signup volume. And negative keywords are capped at 25, so you need to be strategic from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This guide walks you through every step, from registration to launching your first campaign, with the mistakes to avoid along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n\n The ChatGPT Ads Manager is the self-serve advertising platform OpenAI launched in May 2026. It’s where you create, manage, and measure ad campaigns that appear inside ChatGPT conversations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before May 2026, the only way to run ChatGPT ads was through agency partners like Dentsu, Omnicom, Publicis, or WPP. That meant minimum spends north of $250,000 and zero hands-on control. The self-serve Ads Manager changed that. Now any US advertiser with a verified business can access the platform directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here’s what you can do inside the ChatGPT Ads Manager:<\/p>\n\n\n If you’ve used Meta Ads Manager or Google Ads, the interface will feel familiar, though simpler. There are fewer targeting levers because ChatGPT uses conversational intent rather than audience profiles. For background on how OpenAI built this ad platform and what the early results looked like, see our breakdown of ChatGPT ads from launch day<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a broader overview of how ChatGPT advertising works, costs, and who it’s for, see our complete guide to ChatGPT advertising<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don’t create your account until you have everything ready. Going in unprepared means getting stuck mid-setup or, worse, locking in wrong settings you can’t change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What you need:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n Your business must be in an approved category.<\/strong> Currently approved: consumer goods, lifestyle, household products, local services, travel, digital products, and education. Excluded: dating, health claims, alcohol, tobacco, healthcare, financial services, gambling, and political content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jenna runs a DTC skincare brand out of Nashville. She got excited when the self-serve platform launched, created her OpenAI account, and jumped straight into the Ads Manager. Halfway through, she realized she didn’t have her EIN handy, and the verification step needed her passport, not her driver’s license. She had to pause, find her documents, and restart. The whole thing took three days instead of thirty minutes. Save yourself the hassle: gather everything first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Go to ads.openai.com<\/a> and click to begin the sign-up flow. If you don’t have an OpenAI account, you’ll create one as part of the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first screen asks for:<\/p>\n\n\n Fill these in carefully. The advertiser type determines what verification steps come next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is the step most people rush through, and it’s the one that matters most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You’ll set three things:<\/p>\n\n\n These settings cannot be changed after you confirm.<\/strong> If you pick the wrong timezone, your campaign schedule will be off permanently. If you choose the wrong currency, you’re stuck with it. OpenAI warns about this in the setup flow, but it’s easy to click past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take 30 seconds. Triple-check your selections. This is the one part of the ChatGPT Ads Manager setup where a mistake is permanent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n OpenAI uses Persona for identity verification, the same provider used by Coinbase, Robinhood, and Square. You’ll be redirected to Persona’s verification flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What to expect:<\/p>\n\n\n Important timing note:<\/strong> OpenAI warns that “due to a high volume of signups, verification may take some time.” Plan for 2-5 business days, not same-day approval. If you’re targeting a specific launch date, start the verification process at least a week early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once verified, you’ll create a billing profile:<\/p>\n\n\n The $50,000 minimum spend commitment applies to your account, not per campaign. You can spread it across multiple campaigns and timeframes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After billing is set up, your account goes through a final review by OpenAI. This is separate from the Persona identity check, it’s a policy compliance review to confirm your business category is approved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While you wait, use the time productively:<\/p>\n\n\n Need help creating ChatGPT ad copy fast?<\/strong> Simplified’s AI Writer<\/a> can generate dozens of headline and description variations that fit the character limits. Test different angles before your account goes live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/span>What is the ChatGPT Ads Manager?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Before you start: Requirements checklist<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Step-by-step: Setting up your ChatGPT ads account<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Step 1: Register and enter business details<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Step 2: Configure account settings<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Step 3: Verify your identity through Persona<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Step 4: Set up billing<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/span>Step 5: Wait for account review<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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