If you’ve heard about DV360 and its powerful programmatic advertising capabilities , you might be wondering:
“How do I actually get access to DV360?”
Unlike Google Ads , DV360 is not self serve you can’t just sign up and start using it. Instead , it’s a part of Google’s enterprise level advertising suite , which means it requires approval or partnership access.
In this blog , we’ll break down in plain language:
- What DV360 is
- Who can use it
- How you can get access
- Tips if you’re just getting started
🎯 Quick Refresher: What is DV360?
DV360 (Display & Video 360) is Google’s demand side platform (DSP) that helps advertisers run ads across:
- Websites
- Mobile apps
- YouTube
- OTT/Connected TV
- Audio platforms
It’s made for media agencies , large brands , and advanced marketers who want more control , better targeting , and cross channel campaign management.
🔐 Why You Can’t Just Sign Up
Unlike Google Ads , DV360 is part of the Google Marketing Platform (GMP) and is not open to everyone by default.
This is mainly because DV360 is built for programmatic media buying and that usually involves:
- Larger budgets
- Access to premium inventory
- Use of 1st and 3rd party data
- Brand safety and advanced reporting tools
So , DV360 access is granted via partners or directly through Google (depending on your business size).
✅ Ways to Get DV360 Access
1. Work With a Google Marketing Platform (GMP) Partner
The easiest and most common way to get access is to work with an official GMP partner agency. These agencies already have DV360 accounts and can:
- Give you seat level access
- Run campaigns on your behalf
- Help you with setup , targeting , optimization , and reporting
Example:
Agencies like DWAO , MightyHive , or iProspect are GMP certified and can onboard your brand on DV360 within a few days.
💡 This is the best option for brands that don’t want to deal with technical setup but still want full campaign visibility.
2. Request Access Directly from Google (Enterprise Only)
If you’re a large advertiser with substantial budgets (think ₹10L–₹50L/month or more) , you can reach out to Google’s sales team to request direct access to DV360.
They will evaluate:
- Your company size
- Media spend potential
- Your need for advanced features (data integration , brand safety , etc.)
If approved , Google will help set up a dedicated DV360 account for you and assign a technical account manager.
💡 This is suitable for big brands or in house teams that want to manage everything internally.
3. Use Reseller Access (for Mid size Budgets)
If you’re not an agency or a large brand , you can also go through DV360 resellers who act as middlemen. They’ll:
- Provide access to their DV360 environment
- Usually charge a % fee on media spend
- Offer limited campaign support
This works well for small marketing teams that have media experience but don’t want to commit to agency retainers.
📁 What You Need to Get Started
Once access is granted (either via agency or Google) , you’ll need:
- A Google account (usually your company email)
- Your advertiser profile setup
- Tracking (like Floodlight tags or GA4 linked)
- Creatives ready to upload
- Billing information (through partner or Google billing account)
⚠️ DV360 Is Not For Everyone
If your brand is spending less than ₹1–2L/month on media , DV360 might be overkill. In that case , it’s better to use Google Ads first , and later upgrade when:
- You need better targeting
- You want access to YouTube + OTT + websites in one place
- You require 1st party audience integrations
🧠 Final Thoughts
Getting DV360 access is not as simple as opening a Gmail account but it’s very achievable if you follow the right route.
Quick Recap:
✅ Want fast access? → Work with a certified agency
✅ Have a big brand + large budget? → Apply via Google
✅ On a medium budget but want advanced features? → Use a reseller
Once you’re in , DV360 opens doors to smarter targeting , premium inventory , and serious scale.