Can a proposal be electronically signed?

Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and by UETA in most states when the parties consent and the e-signature process captures intent, attribution, and a reproducible record.

Does a proposal need notarization?

Generally no. Marketing proposals are commercial agreements that do not require notarization. Notarization is typically reserved for deeds, wills, powers of attorney, and certain statutory forms.

What if the signer’s name does not match records?

A mismatched signer name can raise questions on authority. Correct the name or attach corporate authorization demonstrating the signer’s authority before executing billing or campaign commitments.

How should executed proposals be stored?

Store signed PDFs with an audit trail in your CRM or secure cloud storage. Retain per tax and industry standards; see retention guidance for IRS and HIPAA where applicable.

Is HIPAA relevant to marketing proposals?

Only if the proposal or campaign will process protected health information. In such cases, include HIPAA addenda and a Business Associate Agreement and retain records per 45 CFR §164.530(j).

What steps if a signature is challenged?

Preserve the audit trail, authentication logs, signed PDF, and correspondence. Consider re-execution with stronger signer authentication and seek legal counsel to resolve disputes.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Marketing
Marketing Paid Search Proposal

Marketing Paid Search Proposal

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

MARKETING PAID SEARCH PROPOSAL

Parties

Brand / Client Name Brand / Client Address Agency / Provider Name Agency / Provider Address

Proposal Summary

Campaign Name:

Primary Objectives Target Audience Primary Channels (select all that apply)

Google Ads Microsoft/Bing Ads Other Search Networks Shopping / Product Ads

Deliverables & Schedule

Deliverable 1 — Description:

Due Date:

Deliverable 2 — Description:

Due Date:

Other Deliverables / Notes:

Budget & Compensation

Monthly Media Budget

Management Fee Structure (select applicable):

Percentage of Media Spend (%): Flat Monthly Fee:

Payment Schedule Invoice Terms

Performance & Reporting

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) Reporting Cadence & Deliverables

Usage Rights, IP & Licensing

License Grant: The Agency grants the Brand a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use campaign assets delivered under this Proposal for the purposes described herein for the term specified below. Territory:

License Duration:

Intellectual Property Ownership

Exclusivity: Brand requires exclusivity for the campaign period No exclusivity required

Exclusivity Terms (if applicable)

Compliance & Disclosures

FTC Disclosure Compliance: The Agency will ensure all paid search creative, ad copy, and landing pages include disclosures required by applicable advertising and consumer protection laws and will provide the Brand with documentation of required disclosures upon request.

Acknowledgement: Brand acknowledges Agency's statement and will cooperate in placement of any required disclosures.

Term, Termination & Kill Fee

Proposed Term Start Date: End Date:

Termination for Convenience: Either party may terminate this Proposal upon days' written notice to the other party. Upon such termination, the Brand will pay the Agency all unpaid fees and reasonable expenses incurred through the effective date of termination and, if applicable, the kill fee below.

Kill Fee (if termination occurs within initial 90 days):

Confidentiality, Indemnity & Liability

Confidentiality Indemnification Limitation of Liability

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

Governing Law: This Proposal and any resulting service agreement will be governed by the laws of without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

Dispute Resolution

Acceptance

By signing below, the parties acknowledge and agree that the terms set forth in this Marketing Paid Search Proposal constitute the mutual understanding between the Brand and the Agency. Execution of this Proposal authorizes the Agency to commence work and incur media spend in accordance with the payment terms above.

Brand / Client:

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Agency / Provider:

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What a Marketing Paid Search Proposal Is and When It’s Used

A Marketing Paid Search Proposal is a formal written offer that outlines campaign strategy, targeting, budget, bidding approach, deliverables, timeline, and reporting for pay-per-click advertising on search engines. It defines scope of work, responsibilities, performance expectations, and pricing so both agency and client have a clear agreement before campaign setup and spend begins. The document typically accompanies a statement of work or service agreement and can be executed electronically when parties consent to e-signature under applicable U.S. law.

Why a Clear Paid Search Proposal Matters

A clear proposal reduces misunderstandings about goals, budget, and KPIs, helps set measurable expectations, and documents payment and reporting schedules. It protects both parties by allocating responsibilities and creating an audit trail that supports billing reconciliation and performance reviews.

Who Typically Prepares and Reviews These Proposals

Agencies, in-house marketing teams, procurement staff, and client stakeholders commonly create and evaluate paid search proposals.

Digital marketing agencies and account teams responsible for campaign design, budgeting, and execution.
In-house marketing managers and directors who approve strategy, creative direction, and budget allocations.
Procurement or legal teams who review terms, liabilities, and billing arrangements prior to signature.

Final approvers should be identified in the document so signatory authority is clear and execution can proceed without delay.

Core Elements of a Professional Marketing Paid Search Proposal

A complete proposal organizes campaign details so reviewers can compare options and approve quickly; include objectives, audience, budgets, tests, reporting, and terms.

Objectives

Define specific KPIs such as CPA, ROAS, or click targets and the time horizon for measurement.

Targeting

List geographic, demographic, device, and audience segments plus negative keyword and exclusion strategies.

Budget

Show monthly spend, media vs. management fee breakdowns, and pacing assumptions for the campaign period.

Bidding Strategy

Describe manual vs. automated bidding, bid adjustments, and conversion value models used to optimize performance.

Deliverables

Specify creative assets, landing page work, A/B tests, and recurring reports with cadence and metrics included.

Terms

Include payment schedule, cancellation policy, liability limits, proposal validity window, and change-order process.

Required Administrative and Compliance Details

Client Legal Name: Legal entity name

Billing Address: Street, city, state, ZIP

Tax ID: EIN or SSN

Authorized Signer: Name and title

Payment Terms: Net payment period

Proposal Expiry: Valid through date

Step-by-Step: Preparing and Executing the Proposal

Follow these steps to prepare, review, and finalize a paid search proposal efficiently.

01

Draft: Compile objectives, scope, and budget; attach supporting estimates.
02

Internal Review: Have legal and finance confirm terms and billing details.
03

Client Review: Send proposal and allow comments or requested changes.
04

Execution: Obtain signatures and archive the executed document for records.

How to Customize and Complete the Proposal Online

Configure your e-submission workflow to collect signatures and store executed documents consistently.

Field	Configuration
Signature Field	Require signer name, title, and date
Authentication	Use email link or SMS code for signer verification
Routing	Set signer order and conditional recipients
Storage	Auto-save PDF to CRM or cloud storage

Where to Send and How to Submit the Proposal

Select submission paths that match your approval workflow and recordkeeping requirements.

Email Delivery: Send secure signing links to client addresses for individual signatures
CRM Attach: Link or attach the final PDF to opportunities in Salesforce or NetSuite
Cloud Archive: Store executed documents in Box, Google Drive, or Egnyte for retention
Account Records: Record signed date and signer identity in billing and campaign platforms

Distribution Channels and System Integrations

Use integrations and formats that match your tech stack to minimize manual work.

Integrations: Salesforce, Microsoft 365, NetSuite, Google Workspace
File Formats: PDF and DOCX preferred for compatibility
Authentication: Email link, SMS code, or SSO where required

Align distribution with your CRM and storage policies so executed proposals flow automatically into billing, campaign setup, and archival systems.

Typical Timelines, Deadlines, and Processing Expectations

Set clear dates to manage campaign launch, payment, and reporting expectations before signatures are collected.

Proposal Validity:

Commonly 30 days from issuance unless otherwise stated

Acceptance Window:

Client should approve or request changes within 7–14 days

Campaign Setup Lead Time:

Allow 7–14 business days after execution for account and creative setup

Billing Start Date:

Specify whether billing begins on effective date or campaign launch

Reporting Cadence:

Define weekly or monthly reporting start and delivery schedule

Potential Risks and Contractual Consequences

Missed Start: Delays in launch and missed performance windows

Scope Creep: Unapproved work increases costs and disputes

Incorrect Billing: Late payments or disputes can interrupt campaigns

Data Privacy: Noncompliance may trigger regulatory exposure

Signature Errors: Incorrect signer identity can require re-execution

Termination Fees: Contract may include early termination or liquidated damages

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing a Proposal

Leaving ambiguous performance metrics creates disputes and makes billing reconciliation difficult.
Failing to specify who owns creative or landing page code can cause delays during deployment.
Not defining payment schedule and late fees may leave teams unpaid while work continues.
Omitting reporting definitions (conversion windows, attribution) leads to mismatched expectations on campaign success.

eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison

Basic pricing and common feature availability across major providers. signNow is listed first per vendor comparison rules; verify plan details with each vendor for purchasing.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes (Premium)	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Who Can Sign and Who Should Be Listed as Signatory

Agency Signer

Account Director or authorized agency officer should sign; include title and capacity (e.g., 'Authorized Agent') so the signature binds the agency to campaign obligations and billing terms.

Client Signer

Client's authorized representative—owner, VP marketing, or procurement officer—must sign. Record their role and authority to approve budgets to prevent later challenges to payment or scope.

Real-World Examples of Electronic Execution in Action

Organizations across sectors use e-signatures to speed approvals and ensure compliance when executing marketing agreements.

Tech Data

The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers.

Faster internal and external processing.
Tech Data improved customer service and accelerated speed to revenue by adopting an e-signature workflow that reduced paper handling and sped approvals across teams.

Xerox

airSlate SignNow provides us with the flexibility needed to get the right signatures on the right documents, in the right formats, based on our integration with NetSuite.

Integration enabled automated archiving.
Xerox used API integrations to link signed proposals to ERP records, reducing manual data entry and improving auditability for finance.

Key Milestones and Processing Stages

A standard milestone sequence helps teams track proposal progress from draft to campaign launch.

01

Proposal Issued

Sender prepares and shares the proposal with required attachments and a signature workflow.

02

Client Review

Client reviews details, requests edits, and provides approvals or conditional feedback.

03

Execution

Authorized signers apply electronic signatures and dating to finalize the agreement.

04

Setup & Launch

Campaign accounts are provisioned, assets uploaded, and media pacing begins after billing is confirmed.

Frequently Asked Questions About Marketing Paid Search Proposals

Answers to common questions about completing, signing, and storing paid search proposals in a compliant, auditable way.

Need help? Contact support

Can a proposal be electronically signed?
Yes. Electronic signatures are enforceable under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and by UETA in most states when the parties consent and the e-signature process captures intent, attribution, and a reproducible record.
Does a proposal need notarization?
Generally no. Marketing proposals are commercial agreements that do not require notarization. Notarization is typically reserved for deeds, wills, powers of attorney, and certain statutory forms.
What if the signer’s name does not match records?
A mismatched signer name can raise questions on authority. Correct the name or attach corporate authorization demonstrating the signer’s authority before executing billing or campaign commitments.
How should executed proposals be stored?
Store signed PDFs with an audit trail in your CRM or secure cloud storage. Retain per tax and industry standards; see retention guidance for IRS and HIPAA where applicable.
Is HIPAA relevant to marketing proposals?
Only if the proposal or campaign will process protected health information. In such cases, include HIPAA addenda and a Business Associate Agreement and retain records per 45 CFR §164.530(j).
What steps if a signature is challenged?
Preserve the audit trail, authentication logs, signed PDF, and correspondence. Consider re-execution with stronger signer authentication and seek legal counsel to resolve disputes.

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