# ADLINGO > The preferred marketing technology change management newsletter for 3,100+ professionals. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### About ADLINGO URL: https://www.adlingo.org/about/ Last updated: 2026-01-06T02:57:43.000Z Hi. I'm Travis. I've been working in ad tech and media for something like 19 years. (Good lord.) Marketing transformation for large brands is a passion of mine. I like to get in and get my hands dirty. It helps that I've worked for some of the most interesting ad tech companies of the last two decades. That's why I know how stuff *actually* works. There's what the product marketing materials say, then there's the reality. I'm also what you might call a "recovering news publisher," which means I understand both sides of the advertising equation. I've seen how the sausage gets made from the publisher perspective at CBS, and then switched to the content monetization side of the business. [Check me out on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/travislusk/?ref=adlingo.org) if you want to see what I've been up to. What you'll get by subscribing to ADLINGO: - **Real Industry Insight** - **Refreshing Clarity** - **Actionable Takeaways** - **Accessible Language** All delivered, periodically, straight to your inbox. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/2025/12/Travis-ADLINGO-with-Background-Logo--1-.png) ADLINGO Newsletter writer, Travis Lusk. Marketing transformation, change management, and adtech obsessed. --- --- *Questions? Thoughts? Want to argue with my analysis? Hit reply on any newsletter or find me on* [*Bluesky*](https://bsky.app/profile/travislusk.bsky.social?ref=adlingo.org)*.* ## Unlock ADLINGO It is time. Let's put a ring on it. Rock and roll. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. --- šŸ’” **All content or commentary is my own and does not represent the opinions or beliefs of anyone other than myself.* ### Slack Me URL: https://www.adlingo.org/slack-me/ Last updated: 2024-08-26T02:49:14.000Z If you are an ADLINGO newsletter subscriber (currently free), you can hit me up at anytime on Slack. ``` Slack handle: travis[at]adlingo.org ``` This Slack is not just a channel, but resource for my valued subscribers. Fire away with your questions, engage in robust dialogues, or delve deeper into the multifaceted world of digital media! Whether you've got queries about content you've spotted on ADLINGO, or you're in the throes of a challenging digital media project – this is your haven for 'Ask Me Anything'. I encourage intellectual curiosity, welcome innovative ideas, and foster a spirit of collaborative problem-solving. Step right into this digital agora, where knowledge is shared, discussions are lively, and curiosity gets the answers it deserves! So, let's connect, converse, and catalyze the digital media landscape together! ### Privacy Policy URL: https://www.adlingo.org/privacy-policy/ Last updated: 2024-04-12T03:05:21.000Z _No content available._ ### Cookie Policy URL: https://www.adlingo.org/cookie-policy/ Last updated: 2024-04-12T03:24:16.000Z _No content available._ ### Terms of Use URL: https://www.adlingo.org/terms-of-use/ Last updated: 2024-04-12T03:34:03.000Z _No content available._ ### Glad you're here šŸ‘šŸ» URL: https://www.adlingo.org/qrcode/ Last updated: 2024-08-26T03:00:12.000Z Thanks for scanning the QR code and welcome to ADLINGO! Pop your email in the form below, and you're good to go! The newsletter is completely free, and you can read more [about the mission here](https://www.adlingo.org/about/). ## Shall we? Sign up! Elite Newsletter: The digital advertising playbook for today's pioneering brands. Subscribe Email sent! Check your inbox to complete your signup. No spam. Unsubscribe anytime. Free What will you get? Here's a sample of some of the content you can expect to receive. Plus, by signing up, you get access to the archive of **Member Only** posts, completely free! [Alert: Systemic Brand Safety FailureThe publishers, tech vendors, and programmatic platforms allegedly failed to prevent the monetization of racist and objectionable content.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/Untitled-design--12-.png)ADLINGOTravis Lusk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/size/w1200/2024/08/Hot-Potato-of-Responsibility-1.png)](https://www.adlingo.org/alert-systemic-brand-safety-failure/) [šŸš€ NEW: Video Market ReportThe video rocket ship has already taken off. The growth is mostly well deserved. However, causes for concern subtly litter the IAB’s latest report.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/Untitled-design--12-.png)ADLINGOTravis Lusk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/size/w1200/2024/07/Video_spending_rocketship.png)](https://www.adlingo.org/iab-video-report-2/) [Guide: How Much Does Programmatic Really Cost?Don’t let fees and confusion burn a hole in your wallet. Like your morning coffee - it deserves a disproportionate amount of your time and attention.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/Untitled-design--12-.png)ADLINGOTravis Lusk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/2024/02/d414c0ad-1688-413a-afc5-73c858860f9c_1024x800.png)](https://www.adlingo.org/guide-how-much-does-programmatic/) [Digital Plague Draining Ad BudgetsMade-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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/Untitled-design--12-.png)ADLINGOTravis Lusk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/2024/02/e5c267b7-7b3e-471c-9a5d-be0162ad9bb1_940x600.png)](https://www.adlingo.org/digital-plague-draining-ad-budgets/) [Resource: How ACR WorksAutomatic Content Recognition (ACR) is a powerful technology allowing near census level measurement of video consumption on smart TV’s. Here’s everything you need to know to understand how it works.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/size/w256h256/2024/02/Untitled-design--12-.png)ADLINGOTravis Lusk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/2024/02/ACR-Guide.png)](https://www.adlingo.org/how-acr-works/) ### Tip Jar URL: https://www.adlingo.org/tip-jar/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T00:10:10.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Give a Gift Subscription URL: https://www.adlingo.org/gift-subscription/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T00:10:11.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Advanced User Settings URL: https://www.adlingo.org/advanced-settings/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T00:10:11.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Group Subscriptions URL: https://www.adlingo.org/group-subscriptions/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T00:10:12.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Buy a Group Subscription URL: https://www.adlingo.org/buy-group-subscription/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T00:10:12.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Get ADLINGO URL: https://www.adlingo.org/unlock/ Last updated: 2025-08-08T02:49:36.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Mega Glossary of Digital Advertising Terms URL: https://www.adlingo.org/mega-glossary-of-digital-advertising-terms/ Last updated: 2025-12-29T21:28:46.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Introducing URL: https://www.adlingo.org/unsubstantiated/ Last updated: 2025-04-01T14:27:28.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Retail Media Fees Calculator URL: https://www.adlingo.org/retail-media-fees-calculator/ Last updated: 2025-08-27T17:39:09.000Z Estimate the fees paid for retail media campaigns when using vendor provided audience targeting and measurement capabilities. _This post is for subscribers only._ ## Posts ### The RFP Oracle URL: https://www.adlingo.org/the-rfp-oracle/ Last updated: 2026-07-10T02:12:31.000Z The ad tech sales season is wrapping up for 2026. AI dominated everything the market responded to this year, and it was the most predictable trend ever. All we had to do was pay attention to what the agencies were asking. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Was (is) LiveRamp the Switzerland of data? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/was-liveramp-the-switzerland-of-data/ Last updated: 2026-06-03T01:23:01.000Z Can RAMP still be independent if it is owned by a major holding company? {insert awkward silence here} _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The 2026 upfront runs on shape, not size URL: https://www.adlingo.org/the-2026-upfront-runs-on-shape-not-size/ Last updated: 2026-04-22T10:45:51.000Z Supply is outpacing demand. Scarcity has collapsed into sports. And the most useful phrase in the market right now isn't volume or price. It's "the shape of the deal." _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Handoff: Sell-side AdCP joins Prebid.org URL: https://www.adlingo.org/the-handoff-sell-side-adcp-joins-prebid-org/ Last updated: 2026-02-04T00:23:02.000Z Prebid now owns the sell-side agent code for AdCP. A natural outcome that I think all of us expected to see. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Teach the Machine: The CMO’s AI Challenge URL: https://www.adlingo.org/teach-the-machine-the-cmos-ai-challenge/ Last updated: 2026-01-12T02:16:54.000Z If you feel like your brand is in an AI adoption doom-loop where nothing is meaningfully taking hold, reframe the challenge. You do not have a technology problem, you just lack brand knowledge architecture. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Fibonacci Velocity Framework: A guide for ad tech sales URL: https://www.adlingo.org/fibonacci-velocity-framework-a-guide-for-ad-tech-sales/ Last updated: 2026-07-07T03:14:27.000Z None of the most famous SaaS sales frameworks hit the mark when it comes to ad tech sales. I've been trained on dozens of them. They each have some great ideas, but nothing that pulls it all together. Until now. The FvF Framework is a mashup of the best sales frameworks for ad tech sellers. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 2026: The Trillion-Dollar Algorithmic Era URL: https://www.adlingo.org/2026-trillion-dollar-algorithmic-era/ Last updated: 2025-12-30T13:52:55.000Z Over the past few weeks, I've been thinking about "focus" for 2026. What do I want to focus ADLINGO on next year? What deserves more attention and coverage, and what deserves less? What tech deserves immediate attention, and what can we afford to set aside for now? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Why the most profitable agency of 2026 will fit in a coffee shop URL: https://www.adlingo.org/why-the-most-profitable-agency-of-2026-will-fit-in-a-coffee-shop/ Last updated: 2025-12-18T09:09:59.000Z Clearly, the advertising agencies are consolidating. Hard. Every couple of weeks we see new headlinges about workforce optimization and efficiencies. The "Rule of Three" is what's next. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### AI on Stage, Humans in the Lobby: The 2026 Conference Opportunity URL: https://www.adlingo.org/robots-on-stage-humans-in-the-lobby-the-2026-conference-disconnect-2/ Last updated: 2025-12-10T20:27:04.000Z I've spent the last few days engaged in my own career search, but I also took the time to see if any of the Q1 conferences have something to help this crowd. Specifically, I looked at CES, IAB ALM, Marketecture Live, and POSSIBLE. Here's what I found. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### The Great Rebalancing: A Job Seeker's Guide URL: https://www.adlingo.org/the-great-rebalancing-a-job-seekers-guide/ Last updated: 2025-12-05T00:03:58.000Z 15,000+ agency jobs are gone. The legacy publishers are hemorrhaging. Yet the demand for marketing hasn't dropped. It just moved. So, where to point your career? _This post is for subscribers only._ ### ARTF + AdCP: What advertisers need to know URL: https://www.adlingo.org/artf-adcp-what-advertisers-need-to-know/ Last updated: 2025-11-19T17:09:34.000Z The ad tech world loves a standards war, and for those of us in the tech trenches, the last thing we need is another one. Two AI ads standards were publicly released within a few weeks of each other, but there’s one that should matter slightly more to advertisers. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### What is AdCP? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/what-is-adcp/ Last updated: 2025-12-02T19:37:32.000Z The bots are back, but this time they work for us. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Public media dies in 6 weeks URL: https://www.adlingo.org/pbs-npr-public-media-dies-in-6-weeks/ Last updated: 2025-09-11T20:53:50.000Z Your kids learned to count from The Count. They learned empathy from Mr. Rogers. They learned that curiosity matters from Big Bird asking the questions every five-year-old wants answered. And now we, in the commercially privileged media, are going to let it disappear on our watch? We're going to let a politically motivated cancer destroy an institution that represents the best of our industry? Executives at small stations, especially those that serve rural or tribal audiences, warn they could be devastated or even knocked off the air when aid from Washington fails to arrive. CPB told employees that the majority of staff positions will be eliminated on September 30, 2025. This is happening. Right now. While you're reading this. Collectively, we have the resources to stop it. ## The gold standard we aspire to Most of us in commercial media have that one NPR show they secretly wish they worked on. Maybe it's *Planet Money* making economics feel like gossip. Maybe it's *This American Life* turning ordinary stories into art. Maybe it's *Fresh Air*, where Terry Gross somehow gets celebrities to forget they're being interviewed. We benchmark ourselves against public media constantly, without even knowing it. Every podcast pitch deck has a slide that says "like Serial, but for \[insert topic\]." I started my career at CBS Radio, managing digital for local news and music properties. Most of my colleagues didn't train at public stations but we all aspired to create something as consequential as what was happening at WNYC down the street and stations around the country. It mattered. [Retail Media Fees CalculatorEstimate the fees paid for retail media campaigns when using vendor provided audience targeting and measurement capabilities.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/icon/Untitled-design--12--18.png)ADLINGOTravis Lusk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/thumbnail/calculator-preview-2.png)](https://www.adlingo.org/retail-media-fees-calculator/) ## Your favorite filmmakers started here ITVS has partnered with hundreds of independent filmmakers to co-produce more than 900 feature documentaries distributed to PBS stations nationwide. Nine hundred documentaries that exist because someone thought the story mattered more than the market opportunity. Those filmmakers went on to create the prestige content every streaming platform is now desperately trying to own. Netflix throws hundreds of millions at documentary content. But they're buying talent that PBS developed when nobody else would fund a documentary about jazz or national parks or the Vietnam War. ## The CPB is already gone The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is dead. The federal funding mechanism that sustained public media for 58 years has been eliminated. That battle is over. We lost. So now what? We become the bridge. Every local station needs direct support to survive until we figure out what comes next. Maybe that's a new funding model in 2029 when the political winds shift. Maybe it's permanent patron support from the commercial sector. Maybe it's something we haven't invented yet. But for the next 3.5 years minimum, these stations need us to be their life support. Not through some centralized system that can be killed with a single vote, but through direct, sustained, station-by-station support that can't be touched by political tantrums. We don't need government permission to keep public media alive. We just need to give a damn. ## It is not *that* much money Our industry burns through more cash on failed streaming services in a quarter than public media needs to survive for a year. We spend more on catered lunches than rural PBS stations spend on salaries. 66% of Americans support federal funding for public radio. The public wants this. But the funding just got pulled, and we're sitting here with our industry's billions acting like there's nothing we can do? I watched WCBS-AM die a couple of months ago, a station I once worked for. It was once the most successful radio station in America. Gone. But that died because the economics stopped working. Public media is dying while the audience still wants it and watches it. ## All the good You've never met anyone who says "PBS ruined my childhood" or "NPR made me dumber." These institutions made us better. Smarter. More curious. More empathetic. They did it by trusting that audiences are smart and that quality matters. Now they need us. Are we really going to leave them hanging? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/2025/08/Fred-Rogers-Sad.png) Fred Rogers ## Do something. Today. Open these links right now: **Personal action:** - [Find your local NPR station](https://www.npr.org/donations/support?ref=adlingo.org) and donate. Monthly. Set it and forget it. - [Support your local PBS station](https://www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/support-pbs/?ref=adlingo.org). Yes, buy the streaming subscription for your kids. - Old car? [Donate it](https://careasy.org/npr-car-donation?ref=adlingo.org). Tax deduction for you, lifeline for them. - Join [Protect My Public Media](https://protectmypublicmedia.org/?ref=adlingo.org). Takes 30 seconds. - Get your company to become an [underwriter](https://www.nationalpublicmedia.com/npr-sponsor-guidelines/?ref=adlingo.org). **If you or your company have real money:** - Fund entire stations. Seriously. For what you spend on your programmatic tech stack, you could keep a rural station alive for years. - Create emergency funds for stations in crisis - Buy [major underwriting packages](https://www.ctpublic.org/advertising-and-sponsorship/?ref=adlingo.org) and make it your company's cause ## September 30, 2025 That's the date. The majority of staff positions will be eliminated with the close of the fiscal year on September 30, 2025. After that, the infrastructure starts disappearing. The transmitters go dark. The expertise evaporates. You can't just restart this stuff once it's gone. The institutional knowledge, the community trust, the technical infrastructure. We have weeks to act. Not months. Not quarters. **Weeks.** I spent years at CBS Radio watching local news die the slow death of budget cuts and consolidation. This is different. This is execution by political spite while the audience watches. Public media is the best of what American media can be. It's the proof that media can inform, educate, and inspire without treating audiences like data points to be monetized. Write the check. Make the call. Do something. If we let this institution get gutted on our watch, we don't get to complain about the state of media ever again. We had the chance to save the best of it, and we chose not to. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/2025/08/NPR-logo-square.png)](https://www.npr.org/donations/support?ref=adlingo.org) Federal funding for public media has been clawed back. ****Your direct financial support now is more critical than it has ever been.** You can help keep journalists on the ground. You can amplify powerful stories, lift up voices too often ignored, connect people through music and bring joy to lives nationwide. ****Please make your gift today**—not just for yourself, but for the millions who benefit from this trusted public service. [Donate to Your Local Station ](https://www.npr.org/donations/support?ref=adlingo.org) [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/2025/08/PBS_Square_Logo_2019.png)](https://www.pbs.org/donate/?ref=adlingo.org) Our reach is wide and deep. Over the course of a year, 58% of all U.S. television households—over 130 million people—watch PBS. And thanks to our loyal viewership, we’ve ranked as America’s No. 1 most trusted media institution for 20 years running. ā€œBy aiming to unite, not to divide, public television might be what saves us yet.ā€ – Margaret Renkl, The New York Times [Donate to Your Local Station ](https://www.pbs.org/donate/?ref=adlingo.org) --- [Undergrads: Traditional agency career paths are a financial dead end, and what to do insteadAgencies 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.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/icon/Untitled-design--12--15.png)ADLINGOTravis Lusk![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/85/01/8501f51f-5d6f-4aa7-8898-a8fb597f31a3/content/images/thumbnail/agency-career-path.png)](https://www.adlingo.org/undergrads-traditional-agency-career-paths-are-a-financial-dead-end-and-what-to-do-instead/) ### Undergrads: Traditional agency career paths are a financial dead end, and what to do instead URL: https://www.adlingo.org/undergrads-traditional-agency-career-paths-are-a-financial-dead-end-and-what-to-do-instead/ Last updated: 2025-09-11T20:54:17.000Z 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. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Substack's Nazi push notifications URL: https://www.adlingo.org/substack-nazi-push-notifications/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:53:04.000Z Substack's algorithm reportedly served swastikas to users' phones this week, and I'm feeling pretty good about jumping ship months ago _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### The days of browsing without AI mediation are over URL: https://www.adlingo.org/the-days-of-browsing-without-ai-mediation-are-over/ Last updated: 2025-08-14T16:23:52.000Z 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. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Did the FTC just hand agencies the perfect excuse? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/did-the-ftc-just-hand-agencies-the-perfect-excuse/ Last updated: 2025-06-25T14:00:24.000Z 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. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Gary and the NFL say you're doing it wrong URL: https://www.adlingo.org/gary-s/ Last updated: 2025-05-01T14:56:40.000Z 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. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### POSSIBLE Myths URL: https://www.adlingo.org/possible-myths/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:59:35.000Z 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. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Google Monopoly for the CMO URL: https://www.adlingo.org/google-monopoly-for-the-cmo/ Last updated: 2025-04-17T19:42:34.000Z When asked what today's ruling against Google means for advertisers, here is what I say. (Without making a prediction about a breakup.) _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### But the ads served, right? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/but-the-ads-served-right/ Last updated: 2025-04-15T19:46:51.000Z 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. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Opportunity: 70% Hate Trip Planning URL: https://www.adlingo.org/opportunity-70-hate-trip-planning/ Last updated: 2025-04-14T20:32:38.000Z 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. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### TikTok Ban for Advertisers URL: https://www.adlingo.org/tiktok-ban-for-advertisers/ Last updated: 2025-01-18T19:49:24.000Z 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. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### āøļø Pause Ads URL: https://www.adlingo.org/what-are-pause-ads/ Last updated: 2025-01-15T03:34:08.000Z 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. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Get Better CTV Quality in 2025 URL: https://www.adlingo.org/get-better-ctv-quality-in-2025/ Last updated: 2025-01-11T02:52:26.000Z 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. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Agency Rollups: Ok, now what? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/omnicom-ipg-how-to-manage-merger/ Last updated: 2025-01-15T03:35:31.000Z Is this the agency equivalent of the Marvel and DC universe colliding? Depending on who you ask, descriptions of the Omnicom acquisition of IPG range from "shotgun wedding" to "strategic juggernaut." For the combined 120,000-person workforce and its clients, change is coming. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Monetizing AI Overviews URL: https://www.adlingo.org/ads-inside-ai-overviews-google/ Last updated: 2025-01-11T02:52:00.000Z 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? _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Hard Pass: Single-sourced learning URL: https://www.adlingo.org/hard-pass-single-sourced-learning/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:56:59.000Z It’s not just about the numbers—it’s about the conversations. Here are my notes from a session at last week's Procurecon in Los Angeles. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Browser Without Borders URL: https://www.adlingo.org/browser-without-borders-google-chrome-doj/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:58:37.000Z The DOJ is coming for Google, and they’re not just slapping wrists—they’re aiming to amputate. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Resource: Overview of the DOJ's Remedy for Google's Antitrust Case URL: https://www.adlingo.org/resource-overview-of-the-dojs-remedy-for-googles-antitrust-case/ Last updated: 2024-11-30T04:41:05.000Z A quick synopsis of the DOJ's remedies in the Google Monopoly case. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What is principal media? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/what-is-principal-media/ Last updated: 2025-07-14T14:03:31.000Z How agencies are boosting profits by flipping ad space—and what it means for clients. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Instacart's Turnaround URL: https://www.adlingo.org/instacarts-turnaround-fidji-simo/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:57:33.000Z From delivery app to grocery and advertising tech titan. How Fidji Simo led Instacart's remarkable turnaround _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Retail Media, with a Side of AI URL: https://www.adlingo.org/retail-media-with-a-side-of-ai/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:54:40.000Z Speed Dating, Sliders, and AI: Groceryshop is a "swipe right" for retailers and CPGs. 🄁🄁 _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Pioneering New Retail Experiences in a Fast-Changing World URL: https://www.adlingo.org/sams-club-ceo-retail-media/ Last updated: 2024-10-10T00:59:27.000Z ADLINGO's notes from sessions at Groceryshop 2024. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Feeding Souls Everywhere: How White Castle Satisfies Cravers in Grocery Aisles and Beyond URL: https://www.adlingo.org/white-castle-retail-media-cpg/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:53:39.000Z ADLINGO's notes from sessions at Groceryshop 2024. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Unified Retail Media Planning: Aligning Across Partners and Teams URL: https://www.adlingo.org/aligning-across-partners/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:54:12.000Z ADLINGO's notes from sessions at Groceryshop 2024. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Building Loyalty in an Era of Fickle Shoppers and Unified Commerce URL: https://www.adlingo.org/pepsi-president-groceryshop/ Last updated: 2024-10-08T20:35:55.000Z ALINGO's notes from sessions at Groceryshop 2024. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### PepsiCo: Seizing Opportunities in Retail Media URL: https://www.adlingo.org/pepsico-seizing-opportunities-in-retail-media/ Last updated: 2025-01-15T03:34:47.000Z ADLINGO's notes from sessions at Groceryshop 2024. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Not Advertising Week URL: https://www.adlingo.org/not-advertising-week/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T17:01:35.000Z This week, I'm at Groceryshop in Las Vegas, connecting with retailers and grocery brands to better understand their needs—without the usual ad tech overload. It kinda feels like the first day at a new school. šŸ¤“ _This post is for subscribers only._ ### News: Brand's $4 Billion Blindspot URL: https://www.adlingo.org/brands-4-billion-blindspot-in-news/ Last updated: 2026-01-26T15:18:46.000Z Despite the myths, news environments prove to be high-return and brand-safe. With performance upwards of 8.5x higher, avoiding news media might be the most misguided marketing myth yet. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Spaghetti Footballs of Antitrust URL: https://www.adlingo.org/google-antitrust-adtech/ Last updated: 2024-12-16T04:40:23.000Z If you are like most sane people, the term "spaghetti football" means nothing. For adtech nerds, it is the recipe for dominance. Our recommendations of the best coverage of the US vs Google, LLC trial. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Alert: Systemic Brand Safety Failure URL: https://www.adlingo.org/alert-systemic-brand-safety-failure/ Last updated: 2024-09-17T03:35:25.000Z The publishers, tech vendors, and programmatic platforms allegedly failed to prevent the monetization of racist and objectionable content. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Monopolist URL: https://www.adlingo.org/monopolist-google/ Last updated: 2024-08-23T04:18:07.000Z Resource: 3-minute read to get you caught up on the court's verdict against Google, declaring it a "monopolist." _This post is for subscribers only._ ### šŸš€ NEW: Video Market Report URL: https://www.adlingo.org/iab-video-report-2/ Last updated: 2024-09-16T17:59:16.000Z The video rocket ship has already taken off. The growth is mostly well deserved. However, causes for concern subtly litter the IAB's latest report. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### šŸ”„Hot Take: ROAS is a conflict of interest URL: https://www.adlingo.org/hot-take-roas-is-a-conflict-of-interest/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T17:00:35.000Z It is hot-take-Tuesday, and ROAS sits in our conflict of interest crosshairs. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### ANA: Transparency Report (Again) URL: https://www.adlingo.org/ana-transparency-report-again/ Last updated: 2024-12-16T04:41:14.000Z 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? _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Cookies: Stay of Execution URL: https://www.adlingo.org/cookies-google-stay-of-execution/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:55:20.000Z Google's cookie jar remains stubbornly full as they hit 'snooze' on privacy changes...yet again. Why digital advertisers are more 'wait watchers' than 'weight watchers.' _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### "Moveable Middles" and the CMO + CFO Relationship URL: https://www.adlingo.org/moveable-middles-case-studies-possible2024/ Last updated: 2024-07-01T16:56:33.000Z 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. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Is Hershey's a sellout? They sure hope so. URL: https://www.adlingo.org/hersheys-sellout/ Last updated: 2024-09-26T17:03:41.000Z As the Miami sun began its shift from pleasant to borderline oppressive, it was time to discuss chocolate. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Gary Vaynerchuk at POSSIBLE URL: https://www.adlingo.org/garyvee-possible2024/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:59:24.000Z "We are obsessed with yesterday, infatuated with tomorrow, and suck at today," said Gary Vee. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### OpenX POV: Impact of Privacy Regulation on the Adtech Ecosystem URL: https://www.adlingo.org/openx-pov-impact-of-privacy-regulation-on-the-adtech-ecosystem/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T15:17:43.000Z The US privacy landscape is changing a rapid, dare I say schizophrenic, pace. Individual US states are passing their own bespoke regulations, all while federal legislation looms on the horizon. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Preview: POSSIBLE 2024 URL: https://www.adlingo.org/preview-possible-2024/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T15:17:56.000Z Coming to you live from POSSIBLE 2024 in sunny Miami Beach, where the air is hot and the takes are even hotter. Plus, content track summaries and what to watch for. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### MFA Sites: The companies that operate them URL: https://www.adlingo.org/mfa-blending-local-publishers/ Last updated: 2024-12-06T06:16:24.000Z Legitimate publishers also strategically include MFA content in their revenue mix. Why? Let's ask them. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Google AdX: Video disruption looming? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/adx-openrtb-adoption-video/ Last updated: 2024-08-12T03:01:35.000Z 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. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Walmart's Under-the-Radar Data Coup: VIZIO URL: https://www.adlingo.org/walmart-vizio-inscape-acr-data/ Last updated: 2024-03-18T23:16:20.000Z In an era where first-party data is king, Walmart's acquisition of VIZIO is more than just a business expansion—it's a strategic incursion into the future of TV + retail advertising. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Resource: How ACR Works URL: https://www.adlingo.org/how-acr-works/ Last updated: 2024-12-06T06:17:06.000Z Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) is a powerful technology allowing near census level measurement of video consumption on smart TV's. Here's everything you need to know to understand how it works. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### POV: Retail Media Guidelines URL: https://www.adlingo.org/pov-retail-media-guidelines/ Last updated: 2024-02-22T12:28:29.000Z The surface scratched, depths untouched. I mixed take on the newly proposed Retail Media guidelines. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### DOA: Privacy Sandbox URL: https://www.adlingo.org/doa-privacy-sandbox/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T15:18:08.000Z Navigating the Privacy Sandbox's is like piecing together a puzzle without the picture on the box. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Amazonian AI URL: https://www.adlingo.org/amazonian-ai/ Last updated: 2024-02-21T01:44:44.000Z Kelly MacLean's speech at the IAB Annual Leadership Meeting was a masterful blend of acknowledging AI fatigue while simultaneously serving up a hefty dose of Amazon's AI Kool-Aid. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### My notes from IAB ALM 2024 URL: https://www.adlingo.org/iab-alm-mainstage-sessions/ Last updated: 2024-03-18T23:16:45.000Z Peak inside my notes from the mainstage sessions (most of them) at IAB ALM: Day 2. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### IAB ALM: AI and Privacy Palooza URL: https://www.adlingo.org/iab-alm-ai-and-privacy-palooza/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T21:16:45.000Z ā€œNothing stays the same for very long,ā€ said new IAB Chair John Halley. ā€œAs executives it is our first day of school, every day. It is a gift. Also, it is a total pain in the ass.ā€ _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Deja Vu: A Hard Look at Retail Media Networks URL: https://www.adlingo.org/deja-vu-a-hard-look-at-retail-media-networks/ Last updated: 2024-12-17T04:30:51.000Z Are we on the path to repeat the missteps of ad network history? Yup. Will there be a collective gasp of disbelief when the realties fall well short of the hype? Count on it. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### It's a Trap: Guaranteed Performance URL: https://www.adlingo.org/its-a-trap-guaranteed-performance/ Last updated: 2024-03-18T23:17:15.000Z I'm not saying it is a trap. But it is a trap. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### What conflict of interest? šŸ‘€ URL: https://www.adlingo.org/what-conflict-of-interest/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T15:18:44.000Z The media industry is fraught with conflicts of interest and ethical dilemmas. From rubber-stamped certifications to marketers' willful blindness, the challenges are deeply rooted and pervasive. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### That's not measurement URL: https://www.adlingo.org/thats-not-measurement/ Last updated: 2026-01-06T01:26:54.000Z Google gained unwanted attention for its alleged lack of adherence to its own policies within Google Video Partners. The industry's problem is much larger. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Guide: How Much Does Programmatic Really Cost? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/guide-how-much-does-programmatic/ Last updated: 2025-09-11T20:53:21.000Z Don't let fees and confusion burn a hole in your wallet. Like your morning coffee - it deserves a disproportionate amount of your time and attention. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### šŸæ The microwave popcorn of media URL: https://www.adlingo.org/the-microwave-popcorn-of-media/ Last updated: 2024-02-21T01:38:10.000Z Bragging about agency programmatic capabilities is a flex as strong as bragging about how good you are at microwave popcorn. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Per my last email... URL: https://www.adlingo.org/per-my-last-email/ Last updated: 2024-02-22T19:36:30.000Z We're still down in Phoenix, AZ with a large contingent of the ad industry's media and finance teams. So no, you won't be getting a copy of your signed scope of work this week. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Out of Office: Your procurement team URL: https://www.adlingo.org/out-of-office-your-procurement-team/ Last updated: 2024-02-22T19:36:49.000Z Checking in from scorching šŸ”„šŸŒµ Phoenix, Arizona. Over 500 ad industry financial and procurement pros showed up at the ANA Advertising Financial Management Conference. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Digital Plague Draining Ad Budgets URL: https://www.adlingo.org/digital-plague-draining-ad-budgets/ Last updated: 2024-09-26T17:04:01.000Z 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. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Chumboxes, Failed Currency, and the🐐 URL: https://www.adlingo.org/chumboxes-failed-currency-and-the/ Last updated: 2024-12-08T17:23:41.000Z The ANA Media conference in Orlando, FL had the atmosphere of a college reunion with a light dash of antagonism. Here's AdLingo's recap of the event. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Extremists are among us! IAB ALM šŸ”„ URL: https://www.adlingo.org/extremists-are-among-us-iab-alm/ Last updated: 2024-02-22T19:37:25.000Z A lot of talk about a tent, some rotting apples, a luau, and politicians! The AdLingo IAB ALM 2023 recap. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Return to the Nevada Desert #CES2023 URL: https://www.adlingo.org/return-to-the-nevada-desert-ces2023/ Last updated: 2024-02-21T01:51:26.000Z It was a refreshing but different CES this year. Same trends, different attendance. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### CTV: $20B Faith-based marketplace URL: https://www.adlingo.org/ctv-20b-faith-based-marketplace/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:58:55.000Z The billions spent with little measurement to prove it. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Podcasters buy their popularity URL: https://www.adlingo.org/podcasters-buy-their-popularity/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T15:19:10.000Z And other ways to artificially increase audience. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 2022: Consolidation-palooza URL: https://www.adlingo.org/2022-consolidation-palooza/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T20:35:21.000Z Prediction for the 2022 digital media and adtech landscape _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### CTV: The "walled" livingroom URL: https://www.adlingo.org/ctv-the-walled-livingroom/ Last updated: 2024-12-08T17:26:37.000Z Look at that big, beautiful piece of glass hanging on your living room wall. Chances are, it is the ā€œidentity anchorā€ of your home. It is the shining beacon of first-party television addressability. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Big Business: Paid Search Ads on E-Commerce Websites URL: https://www.adlingo.org/big-business-paid-search-ads-on-e/ Last updated: 2024-02-22T19:46:33.000Z A blurring of the lines between digital and shopper marketing with massive profits for retailers. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Resource: The Adtech Stack URL: https://www.adlingo.org/resource-the-adtech-stack/ Last updated: 2024-08-12T02:58:30.000Z A handy resource to get you started on the journey to build a solid adtech foundation within your digital marketing organization. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Part 2: Customer Data Gold URL: https://www.adlingo.org/part-2-customer-data-gold/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T15:19:39.000Z The resolution and interoperability of third-party targeting data continues to deteriorate while first-party data remains a strategic asset. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### A word about Google URL: https://www.adlingo.org/a-word-about-google/ Last updated: 2025-12-15T16:30:15.000Z Google's re-announcement has the digital ad industry on tilt. Here's who really needs to be concerned. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### New Ad Agency, New Ad Tech? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/new-ad-agency-new-ad-tech/ Last updated: 2024-02-22T19:54:40.000Z Changing ad agencies not only impacts your media buying and operations. It often means a change in your entire ad tech stack. What to consider if making a switch. _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Part 2: CTV deep dive URL: https://www.adlingo.org/part-2-ctv-deep-dive/ Last updated: 2026-01-05T16:59:11.000Z The next chapter in AdLingo's CTV deep dive series with focus on ecosystem platers, M&A, measurement FUBAR, and things to watch. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Part 1: CTV market deep dive URL: https://www.adlingo.org/part-1-ctv-market-deep-dive/ Last updated: 2025-12-10T20:55:07.000Z The frothy connected television market has drawn the attention of marketers, investors, and content producers alike. This series breaks down the current state of CTV for newbies and experts alike. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### This is Clickbait URL: https://www.adlingo.org/this-is-clickbait/ Last updated: 2025-12-10T20:57:19.000Z Marketers keep buying it even though the results are questionable. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Shoppers are the Product Too URL: https://www.adlingo.org/shoppers-are-the-product-too/ Last updated: 2024-10-02T15:20:37.000Z Shoppers are more than just buyers of products. Sometimes they ARE the product. 2021 may be the retailer-owned marketing platform renaissance. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Location, location, location URL: https://www.adlingo.org/location-data-advertising-targeting/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T20:36:06.000Z Every single one of your customers carries a device with them that pings their location...all...day...long. How is this not already an integral part of your digital marketing strategy? It's not easy. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Supply: Get serious about biddable media URL: https://www.adlingo.org/supply-get-serious-about-biddable/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T20:36:11.000Z In 2021, optimizing your inventory supply path should be table stakes. Yet most brands have never even asked the question: Are we overpaying based purely on the supply path? Answer: Yes. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Offline Reporting is for Chumps URL: https://www.adlingo.org/offline-reporting-is-for-chumps/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T20:36:16.000Z Can you really say that your brand "owns" its data when none of it is accessible, usable, or actionable? It is time to put an end to offline Powerpoint and Excel-based reports for marketing analytics. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 2021: Customer Data is Gold URL: https://www.adlingo.org/2021-customer-data-is-gold/ Last updated: 2024-08-12T02:55:50.000Z 100% of your 2021 "Digital Marketing Transformation" should focus on curating your customer data. Full stop. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Hey, good to see you. URL: https://www.adlingo.org/coming-soon-2/ Last updated: 2021-01-01T15:12:55.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Warning: Your campaign (process) is broken URL: https://www.adlingo.org/warning-your-campaign-process-is-broken-97f3c603f8aa/ Last updated: 2024-08-12T02:54:55.000Z It is time to reset the campaign creation process and rebuild it from scratch. Here’s how to get started. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### How do I know if my digital marketing campaign worked? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/how-do-i-know-if-my-digital-marketing-campaign-worked-205b87d6ae36/ Last updated: 2024-08-12T02:55:19.000Z A beginners guide based on the techniques used by the Fortune 500 companies. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Q: What's the third-largest digital ad business? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/q-whats-the-third-largest-digital-ad-business-a-amazon/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T20:36:29.000Z A: Amazon. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What is ITP 2.0? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/what-is-itp-2-0/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T20:36:30.000Z An Apple power play. _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### 310 Digital Media Scam? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/310-digital-media-scam/ Last updated: 2024-12-16T04:39:39.000Z _This post is for subscribers only._ ### Multi Touch Attribution: A Collective Insanity URL: https://www.adlingo.org/multi-touch-attribution-a-collective-insanity/ Last updated: 2024-11-09T05:03:50.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Owning Intent and FOMO URL: https://www.adlingo.org/owning-intent-and-fomo/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T20:36:35.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### "Live" commercials during Super Bowl LI? Sigh. URL: https://www.adlingo.org/live-commercials-during-super-bowl-li-sigh/ Last updated: 2024-02-20T20:36:35.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Spotify, you nailed it! URL: https://www.adlingo.org/spotify-you-nailed-it/ Last updated: 2016-12-01T04:47:44.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### There's no such thing as $10/cpm preroll URL: https://www.adlingo.org/theres-no-such-thing-as-10cpm-preroll/ Last updated: 2025-01-14T02:43:56.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### Supply & Demand 101: Fraud vs Real URL: https://www.adlingo.org/supply-demand-101-fraud-vs-real/ Last updated: 2024-08-12T02:53:11.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### One of the "truthiest" marketing keynotes you'll ever see URL: https://www.adlingo.org/one-of-the-truthiest-marketing-keynotes-youll-ever-see/ Last updated: 2016-11-28T04:15:29.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What is a CPC? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/what-is-a-cpc/ Last updated: 2016-11-24T04:50:08.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What is the definition of a viewable ad impression? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/what-is-the-definition-of-a-viewable-impression/ Last updated: 2016-11-23T21:39:39.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What is a CPA? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/what-is-a-cpa/ Last updated: 2025-01-14T02:41:55.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._ ### What is a CPM? URL: https://www.adlingo.org/what-is-a-cpm/ Last updated: 2025-01-14T02:40:14.000Z _This post is for paying subscribers only._