Getting Started with GP3MixMedia TrailMix

Welcome! This quick-start guide will help you get up and running with the GP3MixMedia TrailMix platform in just a few minutes.

What You'll Learn

• Log in and access your campaigns
• Navigate around the platform
• View analytics and understand key metrics
• Find key features like Matrix, Deduplication, and Exports
• Next steps for deeper learning

Step 1: Log In

First-Time Login

Don't have an account yet? Contact your organization's administrator to get access.

Step 2: Navigate to Your Campaign

After logging in, you'll see the Home page with a table of all campaigns you have access to.

Finding Your Campaign

1. Browse the campaign table (sortable by name, spend, last ingestion, etc.)
2. Search using the search box if you have many campaigns
3. Click on a campaign name to open it

Don't see any campaigns? You may not have been granted access yet. Contact your admin with the campaign name you need.

Step 3: Explore the Campaign

Once you're in a campaign, you'll land on the Overview page showing basic campaign info, candidate details, and a spending summary.

Campaign Navigation

The platform organizes campaign work into two main hubs:

Input Hub (data coming in):

• Ingestion - View all incoming data from all sources
• Buy Lines - Individual media placements
• Pending Assignment - Buy lines awaiting analyst review
• Dedupe - Review and resolve duplicate records
• Exceptions - Data quality issues to address
• Manual Input - Upload files and manage data feeds
• Pre-Buy Alerts - Early detection of upcoming ad buys
• FEC Spending - Federal campaign finance disbursements

Output Hub (data going out):

• Matrix - The main spend data table (editable, filterable, exportable)
• Analytics - Charts, metrics, and spending analysis
• Email - Email distribution and delivery logs

Step 4: View Analytics

Navigate to the Output Hub and select the Analytics tab to see campaign spending analysis.

Analytics Overview

Media Types

The platform tracks spending across these categories:

Try This Now

1. Check total spend in the metric cards at the top
2. Review the Share by Medium chart - which media type is your biggest investment?
3. Look at Spend Over Time - are you ramping up or down?

Step 5: Understand Your Data in the Matrix

The Matrix is where all your detailed spending data lives.

Accessing the Matrix

1. Go to the Output Hub tab
2. Select Matrix - you'll see a table with all your media buys

Matrix Columns

Each row represents one media buy for one week:

Filtering Your Data

Use the dropdowns at the top to focus on specific:

• Markets - filter by city/DMA
• Media types - filter by Broadcast, Cable, CTV, etc.
• Date ranges - focus on specific time periods

Pro tip: Filters make large campaigns much easier to navigate!

Step 6: Check for Duplicates

When data comes from multiple sources (FCC, AdImpact, Meta Ads, Google Political Ads, etc.), the same ad buy might appear twice. The platform helps you find and fix these.

Accessing Deduplication

1. Go to the Input Hub tab
2. Select the Dedupe section
3. You'll see groups of potential duplicates with confidence scores
4. Click on a group to see the details and field-level differences

Actions You Can Take

Don't worry! You can undo merges using the undo token provided after each merge.

Step 7: Learn Your Role

Your account has one of three roles:

Check Your Role

Click your profile icon (top right corner) - your role is shown under your email address.

Step 8: Essential Features to Know

Upload a File

Have a spreadsheet with media spending data?

1. Go to the Input Hub → Manual Input section
2. Upload your file (Rep Sheet, AdImpact Export, FCC order PDF, etc.)
3. The system will parse and extract the data into your campaign

Export Data

Need to share data with your team?

Export Formats:

Common Tasks Quick Reference

Platform Navigation Overview

Global Navigation (top sidebar)

• Home: Campaign list with spend summaries and ingestion status
• Campaigns: Browse and manage all campaigns
• Ingestion: System-wide feed monitoring and control
• Alert Center: View and manage alerts across campaigns
• Creative Library: Browse ad creatives across campaigns

Campaign Navigation (within a campaign)

• Overview: Campaign info, candidates, keywords, contacts, spending summary
• Settings: Campaign configuration (Configs tab, Changelog tab)
• Input Hub: All data coming into the campaign (9 tabs — see above)
• Output Hub: All data going out (Matrix, Analytics, Email)

Admin Navigation (Admin/Developer roles)

• Users: Manage user accounts and permissions
• Archives: View and restore deleted data
• System: System health and configuration (developer only)

Getting Help

Documentation

• User Guide - Complete feature documentation
• Glossary - Terms like GRP, DMA, impressions
• FAQ - Common questions answered
• Troubleshooting - Fix common issues

Support

• Your Admin: Can grant access and help with configuration
• Your Team: Other users can share tips and best practices
• This Documentation: Start with the FAQ for quick answers

Key Terms to Know

Campaign: Container for all media tracking for a specific race

DMA: Designated Market Area - geographic region (e.g., "New York, NY")

GRP: Gross Rating Points - measure of ad reach for broadcast media

Deduplication: Process of finding and merging duplicate records

Matrix: The main data table showing all media spending detail

Ingestion: Automated data collection from external sources (FCC, AdImpact, OpenFEC, Meta Ads Library, Google Political Ads, etc.)

Exception: Data quality issue flagged by the system

Input Hub: Where all incoming data is managed (ingestion, buy lines, dedupe, exceptions)

Output Hub: Where processed data is viewed and exported (Matrix, Analytics, Email)

For more definitions, see the Glossary.

Next Steps

Once you're comfortable with the basics:

1. Read the full User Guide - Deep dive into each feature
2. Review deduplication regularly - Keep data clean
3. Set up automated reports - Keep your team informed
4. Explore advanced filters - Find exactly what you need

Quick Tips

• Filters are your friend: Use them to make large campaigns manageable
• Export often: Keep local copies of important data
• Add notes: Document unusual entries for your team
• Check duplicates weekly: Don't let them pile up
• Ask questions: Your admin and team are there to help

Still Have Questions?

Check the FAQ for answers to common questions like:

• How often does data update?
• Can I undo a merge?
• What if I upload the wrong file?
• How do I get access to another campaign?
• And many more...

Welcome to GP3MixMedia TrailMix! You're now ready to start tracking and analyzing your campaign's media spending.

Developer Setup

If you're a developer setting up the platform for the first time, see the Developer Quick Reference for:

• Local development setup (prerequisites, install, database)
• All environment variables (required secrets, defaults, optional)
• External dependency configuration (Fly.io, Redis, S3, Gmail API)
• Meta Ads Library feed setup instructions
• Cron job schedules and worker configuration
• Deployment commands and troubleshooting

Quick Local Start

# 1. Clone and install
git clone <repo-url> && cd gp3mixmedia/gp3mixmedia-web
npm install

# 2. Set up environment
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env: set DATABASE_URL, NEXTAUTH_SECRET, AUTH_GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID/SECRET

# 3. Set up database
npx prisma migrate deploy
npx prisma generate

# 4. Start development
npm run dev        # Next.js dev server on :3000
npm run ingest     # Background workers (separate terminal)

Key Environment Variables

At minimum, you need:

See the full list of 300+ environment variables in the Developer Quick Reference.

Last Updated: March 2026