🛠️ How to Resolve a Publisher Exchange Pending Action in Search Atlas
When a publication in your Authority Building order is rejected or becomes unavailable, Search Atlas opens a 3-day resolution window so you can choose exactly how your order moves forward. This article walks you through every resolution option available and how to confirm your choice before the deadline passes. ⏳
🔍 Finding the Pending Action Resolution Screen
You can reach the resolution screen in two ways.
📧 Via email: Click the direct link included in your Pending Action email. This takes you straight to the resolution screen for the affected order.
🖥️ Via the dashboard: Navigate to Dashboard → Authority Building → Orders → [Order Name] → Pending Actions in Search Atlas. Orders with an open pending action also display a Pending Action badge in the Orders list view, making them easy to spot at a glance.
✅ Your Three Resolution Options
Once you are on the resolution screen, you will see three ways to handle the affected placement. Review each option carefully before confirming. 👇
📌 Option 1: Choose an Alternative Publication Yourself
Browse the available Authority Building inventory and select a replacement publication that fits your campaign goals. This option gives you the most direct control over which site receives your placement. Look for publications that match your target niche, preferred domain authority range, and traffic expectations.
✅ Best for: Campaigns with specific niche or quality requirements where you want to hand-pick the replacement yourself.
🤖 Option 2: Choose for Me
Let Search Atlas automatically select the best-matching replacement based on your original placement criteria — including niche, domain authority, traffic tier, and pricing band. This is the same logic Search Atlas uses when the 3-day window expires, but by selecting it yourself you confirm the choice immediately rather than waiting for the automatic fallback.
✅ Best for: Campaigns where the original criteria were a good fit and you trust Search Atlas to find a comparable replacement quickly.
💰 Option 3: Refund HDC
Return the HDC credits associated with the rejected or unavailable publication directly to your Search Atlas account. No replacement publication is assigned when you choose this option — the credits simply become available for use on a future order or placement.
✅ Best for: Situations where no available replacement meets your standards, or when you prefer to reallocate budget to a different campaign entirely.
🔎 After a refund is applied, you can verify the credit balance by navigating to Avatar (top-right) → Billing (Plans & Top-ups) in Search Atlas.
✔️ Confirming Your Resolution
Once you have reviewed the options and made your selection, click Confirm to finalize your choice. Your order updates immediately after you confirm, and Search Atlas sends a confirmation email to your address on file so you have a record of the resolution. 📬
⚠️ Important: You must confirm your selection within the 3-day (72-hour) window that begins at the UTC timestamp shown in your Pending Action email. If the window expires before you confirm, Search Atlas automatically assigns a replacement publication using the same criteria as the Choose for Me option.
⏰ Act Early for the Widest Choice
📅 Inventory in the Authority Building marketplace changes continuously. Responding on Day 1 — as soon as you receive the initial Pending Action email — gives you access to the broadest selection of alternative publications. Waiting until Day 3 may limit the alternatives available to you.
🔔 Search Atlas sends two reminder emails automatically: one at 24 hours and another at 48 hours after the initial notification, so the deadline will not pass unnoticed.
🆘 Need More Help?
For a full overview of how the 3-day resolution timeline works and what happens if the window expires without action, see the article Publisher Exchange Rejection: How to Resolve a Pending Action Email. For general placement management, visit the Authority Building Orders overview.