Public media dies in 6 weeks
Every one of us in commercial media has benefited from PBS and NPR. If we let them die on our watch, we're complicit in destroying the best of what American media can be.
Advertising Insight, Unlocked
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Featured
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Undergrads: Traditional agency career paths are a financial dead end, and what to do instead
Agencies spent $1B on AI, fired 15,000 people, and entry-level workers spend 70% of income on rent. Smart marketing students are skipping agencies for brands: 30% higher pay, better hours, and jobs that won't vanish before your loans are paid.
Programmatic
10 posts
But the ads served, right?
Brands have a massive gap in understanding what their technology vendors are actually solving on their behalf and what the definition of "paid for" actually means.
ANA: Transparency Report (Again)
The ANA is (still) presenting its "Programatic Transparency" study from last year. Perhaps that is because not enough brands have taken action on the results?
Is Hershey's a sellout? They sure hope so.
As the Miami sun began its shift from pleasant to borderline oppressive, it was time to discuss chocolate.
Google Monopoly for the CMO
When asked what today's ruling against Google means for advertisers, here is what I say. (Without making a prediction about a breakup.)
Monetizing AI Overviews
Ads in Google's AI Overviews are already natively integrated for immediate shoppability. What does this mean for advertisers, publishers, and the future of the ad supported Internet?
Google
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Browser Without Borders
The DOJ is coming for Google, and they’re not just slapping wrists—they’re aiming to amputate.
CTV
9 posts
⏸️ Pause Ads
I'm back from CES, where (and I can't believe I'm saying this) pause ads were having a moment. I did not have this one on my bingo card. Yes, those ads that pop up when you hit pause on your TV.
Get Better CTV Quality in 2025
I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but I do want you to look me in the eye and promise that you will press for better CTV quality in 2025. Oh...you thought it all ran on a TV in a living room? Have a seat. We need to talk.
Google AdX: Video disruption looming?
In just a few days, Google's AdX will finally adopt the OpenRTB 2.6 standards. It could upend the biddable video marketplace. Or, the silence of the change could be deafening. Either outcome is worth your attention.
Measurement
7 posts
🔥Hot Take: ROAS is a conflict of interest
It is hot-take-Tuesday, and ROAS sits in our conflict of interest crosshairs.
"Moveable Middles" and the CMO + CFO Relationship
Major Unlock: Marketers go out of their way to ensure that their finance teams understand the value advertising drives in the business. These two panels at POSSIBLE attempt to bring those worlds together through new ways of driving and measuring success.
It's a Trap: Guaranteed Performance
I'm not saying it is a trap. But it is a trap.
Waste
5 posts
But the ads served, right?
Brands have a massive gap in understanding what their technology vendors are actually solving on their behalf and what the definition of "paid for" actually means.
Alert: Systemic Brand Safety Failure
The publishers, tech vendors, and programmatic platforms allegedly failed to prevent the monetization of racist and objectionable content.
Digital Plague Draining Ad Budgets
Made-for-advertising sites are draining your digital ad budgets without you knowing. Today, we discuss how they pull it off. Plus the source code for a script to screenshot ads on any site you want.
Events
22 posts
Events
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Gary and the NFL say you're doing it wrong
Miami: Gary Vaynerchuk torched the industry's overreliance on paid social and NFL CMO Tim Ellis revealed how they transformed from last place in brand perception to first.
Events
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POSSIBLE Myths
In a breakout session at POSSIBLE 2025 in Miami Beach yesterday, eMarketer's CEO Matthias Braun, and a panel of his analysts challenged three pervasive myths in our industry.
Events
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Opportunity: 70% Hate Trip Planning
Tourism marketing's biggest opportunity isn't another "deal" or offer. It's solving the trip planning problem that frustrates 70% of travelers. Smart destinations are using AI to create hyper-personalized itineraries, predict traveler needs, and solve problems customers don't know they have yet.
Latest
Public media dies in 6 weeks
Every one of us in commercial media has benefited from PBS and NPR. If we let them die on our watch, we're complicit in destroying the best of what American media can be.
Featured
members
Undergrads: Traditional agency career paths are a financial dead end, and what to do instead
Agencies spent $1B on AI, fired 15,000 people, and entry-level workers spend 70% of income on rent. Smart marketing students are skipping agencies for brands: 30% higher pay, better hours, and jobs that won't vanish before your loans are paid.
News
·
Substack's Nazi push notifications
Substack's algorithm reportedly served swastikas to users' phones this week, and I'm feeling pretty good about jumping ship months ago
The days of browsing without AI mediation are over
Does Perplexity's Comet browser signal the future of AI-powered advertising? While scale is limited today, the conceptual disruption is massive. Plus, Apple's rumored acquisition interest makes it worth watching.
Did the FTC just hand agencies the perfect excuse?
What the FTC designed as protection for news publishers could become their financial ruin. The documentation burdens and compliance risks associated with the consent order create perverse incentives for agencies to avoid news altogether.
POSSIBLE
·
Gary and the NFL say you're doing it wrong
Miami: Gary Vaynerchuk torched the industry's overreliance on paid social and NFL CMO Tim Ellis revealed how they transformed from last place in brand perception to first.
Events
·
POSSIBLE Myths
In a breakout session at POSSIBLE 2025 in Miami Beach yesterday, eMarketer's CEO Matthias Braun, and a panel of his analysts challenged three pervasive myths in our industry.
Google Monopoly for the CMO
When asked what today's ruling against Google means for advertisers, here is what I say. (Without making a prediction about a breakup.)
But the ads served, right?
Brands have a massive gap in understanding what their technology vendors are actually solving on their behalf and what the definition of "paid for" actually means.
Events
·
Opportunity: 70% Hate Trip Planning
Tourism marketing's biggest opportunity isn't another "deal" or offer. It's solving the trip planning problem that frustrates 70% of travelers. Smart destinations are using AI to create hyper-personalized itineraries, predict traveler needs, and solve problems customers don't know they have yet.
TikTok Ban for Advertisers
TikTok goes dark tomorrow for at least one day. Here are the questions you need to ask and the moves you need to make today. Your Saturday evening action items await.
⏸️ Pause Ads
I'm back from CES, where (and I can't believe I'm saying this) pause ads were having a moment. I did not have this one on my bingo card. Yes, those ads that pop up when you hit pause on your TV.