# Publisher ping and handoff

> Test a publisher request, interpret a bid, and handle expiry and acceptance with the same account key.

Canonical page: https://getleadsource.io/docs/publisher-ping-post/

Lead Source documentation

## Publisher ping and handoff

Test a publisher request, interpret a bid, and handle expiry and acceptance with the same account key.

Documentation

[Overview](https://getleadsource.io/docs/)
[Getting started](https://getleadsource.io/docs/getting-started/)[Tracking numbers](https://getleadsource.io/docs/tracking-numbers/)[Call routing setup](https://getleadsource.io/docs/call-routing/)[Website number swapping](https://getleadsource.io/docs/website-attribution/)[Call review and reporting](https://getleadsource.io/docs/call-review/)[Send events to another tool](https://getleadsource.io/docs/webhooks/)[API access](https://getleadsource.io/docs/api/)[Publisher ping and handoff](https://getleadsource.io/docs/publisher-ping-post/)[A pay-per-call example](https://getleadsource.io/docs/pay-per-call-workflow/)[An agency reporting example](https://getleadsource.io/docs/agency-reporting-example/)[Troubleshooting](https://getleadsource.io/docs/support/)

Reviewed October 15, 2026

### Separate the two connections

A publisher asks Lead Source for an opportunity. Lead Source may in turn ask configured external buyers for bids. These are different API contracts. Use the publisher.ping scope and a publisher configuration that explicitly allows the account key; confirm the campaign, publisher, and route before any live delivery.

### Begin in the sandbox

POST /public/v1/publisher/ping requires Authorization and an Idempotency-Key. sandbox defaults to true and does not request live buyer bids or create a live quote. Use account-owned campaign and publisher references supplied by your integration setup. The fictional phone and references below illustrate the JSON shape only.

{
"campaignId": "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000001",
"publisherId": "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000002",
"callerNumber": "+12165550123",
"state": "OH",
"zip": "44101",
"sandbox": true
}

### Read a sandbox response

This constructed no-winner example follows the reviewed schema; it is not a captured production response. accepted remains false and bid remains null in sandbox mode. The sample publisher terms are fictional and must not be used as a live offer.

Publisher request → eligibility and buyer evaluation → sandbox result or live quote → matching call acceptance → call completion and qualification. An expired quote or no eligible buyer stops delivery; acceptance never substitutes for a completed call.

{
"auctionId": "00000000-0000-4000-8000-000000000003",
"sandbox": true,
"winner": null,
"results": [],
"publisherTerms": {
"payoutCents": 6500,
"qualifiedSeconds": 90,
"conversionRule": "Example duration rule",
"currency": "USD"
},
"expiresAt": null,
"accepted": false,
"bid": null
}

### Interpret the result before handing off

A 200 response alone does not mean a live quote exists. In live mode, use the returned bid contract, expiry, and destination under the current schema. Never turn sandbox bids into a live request. Live mode also needs carrier setup, signing, exclusive tracking numbers, an active route, eligible buyers, and sufficient credit.

### Accept only the matching call

POST /public/v1/publisher/accept uses the exact key that received the live quote. The call must match the account, campaign, publisher, and caller in the contract. Acceptance reserves the opportunity; it does not prove the call completed or that a payment was transferred. The API operation is named accept, even though the overall industry workflow is called ping/post.

### Exercise the failure paths

-

#### No eligible bid

Treat a no-quote result as no accepted opportunity. Do not invent a destination or promised payout.

-

#### Expired or changed terms

A 410 means the quote expired. Request a new quote deliberately with a new reference. For 409 conflicts, inspect the cause before changing data or retrying.

-

#### Unknown response

Retry an uncertain ping with the same reference and data. Do not generate a new reference automatically and create a second opportunity.

-

#### Unanswered call

Inspect the routing timeline and qualification outcome. An accepted bid is not evidence that a buyer answered.

[API reference guide](https://getleadsource.io/docs/api/)[Real-time bidding](https://getleadsource.io/features/real-time-bidding/)

[Explore the walkthrough](https://getleadsource.io/demo/)[Review product availability](https://getleadsource.io/integrations/)