How to Approve Partnership Ads on Facebook

Running partnership ads on Facebook is one of the best ways for brands and creators to work together, but getting the permissions right can be confusing. If you've ever felt lost trying to find that approve button, you're not alone. This guide breaks down exactly how to approve partnership ads and troubleshoot common issues so you can get your sponsored content live without the headache.

What Exactly is a Partnership Ad?

A Partnership Ad (also known as a Branded Content Ad) looks like a regular post from a creator or influencer, but a brand pays to "boost" it as an ad from the creator's account. Instead of the brand's name at the top, you see the creator's name, along with a "Paid partnership" or “Sponsored” tag. This collaboration lets brands tap into the trust and authenticity a creator has built with their audience, resulting in ads that feel more natural and perform better than traditional brand-run ads.

There are two primary ways this happens:

• Boosting Existing Content: The brand takes an organic post that a creator has already published and turns it into an ad.
• Creating New Ads (Dark Posting): The brand creates an ad from scratch that looks and feels like it’s from the creator, but it doesn't appear on the creator’s organic feed. This is often called a "dark post."

In both scenarios, the creator must grant permission for the brand to use their identity and run ads from their handle. That's where the approval process comes in.

First Things First: Setting Up Partner Permissions

Before an approval request can even be sent, both the creator and the brand need to have their settings configured correctly. If you skip this foundational step, nothing else will work. This initial setup establishes the official connection between your accounts in Meta's system.

For Creators: How to Enable Branded Content and Add Partners

As a creator, you need to turn on the branded content tool and specify which brands are allowed to request access to run ads with you. This gives you control over who can tag you and prevents requests from unwanted businesses.

1. Navigate to Meta Business Suite: Log into Meta Business Suite at business.facebook.com. Make sure you’re controlling the correct account (your creator page or profile).
2. Go to Monetization Tools: In the left-hand menu, look for "All tools." From there, select "Monetization," and then find the "Branded Content" tab.
3. Manage Partner Approvals: Inside the Branded Content section, you'll find a settings or configuration area for partner approvals. You want to make sure your page is eligible and the tool is enabled.
4. Add Approved Partners (Optional, but Recommended): You can proactively add business partners. Search for the brand's Facebook Page by name and add them to your approved list. This signifies you have an existing relationship and makes future collaboration smoother. Some creators leave this open, but adding partners in advance can streamline the process.

For Brands: How to Request Access from a Creator

On the brand side, you need to request partnership access through your own Business Manager. This is how you tell Meta, "I want to work with this specific creator."

1. Open Your Business Settings: In Meta Business Suite, go to "Settings," then navigate to your "Business Settings."
2. Go to 'Partners': On the left side menu under "Users," select "Partners."
3. Request to Work With a Partner: Click the "Add" button and choose "Ask a partner to share their assets."
4. Enter the Creator's Business ID: You’ll need the creator’s Meta Business ID. The creator can find this in their own Business Settings under "Business Info." Share this ID securely, don't post it publicly.
5. Request Access to Assets: Once Meta finds their business account, you'll be prompted to request access to specific assets. Request access to their Facebook Page and/or Instagram account. You should also select the appropriate role, such as "Ads" or a more comprehensive role that allows you to create branded content ads using their handle.

Once the brand sends this request, the creator must approve it in their own Business Settings under the "Partners" section. This initial handshake is the most important step and only needs to be done once per partnership.

The Main Event: How to Approve a Partnership Ad Request

Once the initial Business Partner connection is established, the brand can create an ad in Ads Manager. When they set the ad to run from your creator handle and tag their own business as the brand partner, it triggers a final approval notification for you. Phew! Now you’re at the actual ad approval step.

Here’s where to find and approve that request:

Step 1: Get the Notification

You should receive a notification on Facebook, in Meta Business Suite, or via email letting you know a partner has requested to boost a post or run an ad with your handle. If you don't receive one, don't worry - you can find the request manually.

Step 2: Head to the Branded Content Tools

The most reliable place to find these pending requests is within the Meta Business Suite.

• Go to your Meta Business Suite at business.facebook.com.
• In the left-hand sidebar, click "All tools."
• Under the "Advertise" section, click on "Ads Manager." This will open your full ad account.
• Once in Ads Manager, find the primary menu icon (the nine dots or "hamburger menu") in the top left corner. Click it to reveal all tools.
• Under the "Engage customers" section, you should see "Branded Content." Click it. This takes you to the Branded Content hub where all partner requests live.

Step 3: Review and Approve the Ad

Inside the Branded Content hub, you'll see a section for partner content or ad approvals. There should be a "Pending Requests" or "Review" tab.

• Here you'll see a list of ads from brands waiting for your approval.
• Each request will show you a preview of the ad creative, the text, and the brand that submitted it.
• Review the ad carefully to make sure it aligns with your brand and uses your voice authentically.
• If everything looks good, simply click the "Approve" button next to the ad preview.

That's it! Once you approve a specific piece of content, the brand can immediately set their campaign live. The ad will then run through their ad account but will appear to users as if it's coming directly from you, complete with the "Paid partnership" disclaimer.

Troubleshooting: "I Can't Find the Approval Request!"

It's incredibly common to run into snags. If a brand says they've sent an ad for approval but you don't see anything, run through this checklist together:

1. Was the Initial Business Partnership Approved?

The most common issue is that the foundational request to be Business Partners was never approved by the creator. Go back to your Business Settings >, Partners and make sure the brand appears there with the correct permissions assigned.

2. Did the Brand Correctly Enable the 'Partnership Ad' Toggle?

When creating the ad, the brand advertiser needs to be at the "Ad" level of their campaign setup. They must toggle on the "Partnership ad" option and select your creator page from the "Identity" dropdown menu. Then, they tag their own brand page in the Branded Content section. If they miss any of those small clicks, the approval request won't trigger.

3. Are You Looking in the Right Place?

Meta's interface changes frequently. If you can't find it under Ads Manager >, Branded Content, check your Page notifications directly or the "Monetization >, Branded Content" area in Business Suite. Sometimes the prompts appear in different locations depending on your account type.

4. Is it an Instagram Ad?

For Instagram partnership ads, the steps are nearly identical, but the approval may sometimes also appear within your Instagram app's settings under "Branded Content." The most reliable location for both platforms, however, remains the Branded Content hub in the desktop version of Ads Manager or Business Suite.

Why Following the Official Process Matters

Going through the official partnership ad process does more than just get an ad live - it protects both you and the brand.

• Clarity and Compliance: Using the "Paid partnership" tag clearly discloses the relationship, keeping you clear of issues with advertising standards from bodies like the FTC.
• Access to Insights: When an ad runs officially through your handle, you get access to its performance metrics in your Branded Content dashboard. You can see how the boosted content is performing beyond its organic reach.
• Maintained Control: You get the final say. If an ad doesn't fit your brand voice, you can simply deny the request. This system prevents brands from running creatives that you're not comfortable with.
• Better Performance: Ads run through a creator's handle anecdotally perform better. They feel native to the feed and benefit from the creator's established credibility.

Getting comfortable with this workflow can open up more - and larger - opportunities for collaboration by showing brands you are professional and easy to work with.

Final Thoughts

Mastering the partnership ad approval process on Facebook boils down to two main things: ensuring the initial business partnership is correctly set up, then knowing exactly where to find the ad-level request in your Branded Content tools. By following these steps, you maintain control over your brand while helping your partners achieve their marketing goals effectively.

Navigating brand partnerships is just one piece of a successful social media strategy. The real foundation is consistently managing your own content calendar, engaging with your community, and analyzing what works. Keeping all your platforms organized can feel chaotic, which is why we built Postbase. I wanted a simple, reliable tool to schedule content - especially video for Reels and TikTok - across all my accounts from one beautiful calendar without wrestling with outdated software or encountering posts that just failed to publish. It helps you get your time back so you can focus on creating great content and building meaningful brand relationships.