AAM Creator Marketplace Certification

By partnering with a certified marketplace, advertisers gain greater confidence that the data used to evaluate campaign performance is supported by independently verified processes and controls.

ANA Influencer Marketing Report

WHY CREATOR MARKETPLACE CERTIFICATION?

Increase transparency and accountability in a rapidly growing channel.

AAM Creator Marketplace Certified seal Creator and influencer marketing has become a significant part of the advertising ecosystem. U.S. creator ad spend is expected to reach $44 billion in 2026, up 18% from 2025. As investment grows, advertisers are navigating an increasingly complex ecosystem of creator marketplaces, technology platforms, agencies and other intermediaries.

AAM’s Creator Marketplace Certification provides independent verification of the marketplace operators, intermediaries and social platforms that support creator and influencer marketing campaigns. Rather than evaluating an individual creator, influencer or campaign, AAM assesses the underlying policies, processes and controls that support quality audiences, engagement, measurement and transparency.

By completing the certification, marketplace operators can demonstrate that their practices align with industry guidelines and they are committed to providing transparent, trustworthy creator campaign data.

Consultation

AAM meets with your team to understand your platform, determine the appropriate scope and documentation requirements, and explain the certification process.

Collaboration

Your team provides documentation, supporting evidence, and completes a scoped assessment across four key areas including onboarding, engagement data, analytics and disclosures.

Review and Testing

AAM reviews, evaluates and tests the operator’s policies, processes and controls across the four key areas. Each area of assessment is scored on three dimensions: documentation, consistency of application and evidence of controls.

Report

At the conclusion of the assessment, AAM provides a criteria-level scorecard and identifies any opportunities for improvement. Certified companies receive the AAM seal to include in marketing materials and are included on AAM’s Assurance List.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Answers to some common certification questions.

Certification provides independent validation of the policies, processes and controls behind your creator marketplace. It gives advertisers and agency partners greater confidence that key areas such as onboarding, data quality, analytics and disclosures are supported by consistent, documented practices, and gives your organization a way to demonstrate a commitment to transparency and accountability in a complex and rapidly growing channel.

The certification is designed for organizations that operate or support creator and influencer platforms including marketplace operators, intermediaries, technology providers and social platforms.

AAM evaluates four key areas:

Onboarding and vetting
Engagement quality evaluation
Analytics and performance verification
Transparency, disclosures and regulatory compliance

The assessment focuses on the policies, processes, controls and supporting documentation used by the marketplace.

Independent certification provides confidence that a marketplace’s processes and controls are consistently applied as verified by a trusted third party. This helps advertisers identify partners committed to audience quality, reliable measurement, transparency and accountability.

While the timing depends on the complexity of your system, most audits are completed within 60-90 days. We’ll work closely with your team to meet expectations and stay on schedule.

Our team of professional auditors are experts in media measurement, systems and reporting and managed by Certified Information System Auditors (CISA) — a globally recognized certification for auditors of information technology and business systems — and certified public accountants.

Once certification is complete, you’ll receive a final report including recommendations for improvement, if needed. Your company will also receive the AAM certification seal to promote your achievement and will be included on AAM’s Assurance List, a directory of clients that have demonstrated their commitment to transparency through independent audits.

INDUSTRY CERTIFICATIONS

Creator Marketplace Certification

Increase transparency and accountability in a rapidly growing channel.

CERTIFICATION PROCESS

What to expect during your certification.