Dave’s experience spans five years in digital audio and fifteen years before that in roles across programmatic video, gaming, and integrated display media. Dave works on the AudioMatic DSP team, providing agencies and brands access to technology to deploy comprehensive digital audio campaigns spanning streaming audio and podcasts.

With all the changes in digital audio and the constant shifts in consumer behavior, how has programmatic demand evolved to keep up?

We’ve observed significant advancements in measurement techniques, particularly within our audio DSP platform. By integrating attribution, we now have the capability to monitor up to eight distinct online conversion events, commonly referred to in the industry as “hear-through.” This means that even if a listener hears an audio advertisement and later converts through another medium—like converting via search or social media at the office after their mass transit commute—we can still link the conversion back to the original audio ad. So, in the past, this had been a miss for audio. Now, we can tie audio and online conversions back to audio ads.

 

We also provide Second-Screen Retargeting (audio-to-display that gives more down-funnel metrics to examine the response), integrated AI transcription that automatically and intelligently transcribes and categorizes podcast episodes, and, lastly, block listening capabilities that stop fraudulent domains and malicious IPs.

Do you think advertisers should compare audio metrics to other forms of digital media?

The good news is that we can really start to compare engagement. A unified attribution strategy focused on site-driven metrics allows us to compare apples to apples. That said, comparing audio to a browser-based environment like display or online video can be challenging. Because audio advertising is deployed in a player-based environment, the comparisons will not apply on a pure apples-to-apples basis.

How would you help advertisers make sense of their performance data and take appropriate actions based on those insights?

We recommend using a bespoke approach with advertisers as we examine the different creative tools we can access. We want to ensure we’ve gotten as granular as possible from an audience perspective while balancing efficiency and detailed segmentation within the AudioMatic platform. For example, suppose we have a product for which we know the advertiser is looking to show action via mobile. In that case, we recommend utilizing the ShakeMe interactive unit.

Just shifting focus, could you discuss the role of the relationship among publishers, advertisers, and technology partners in driving the success of programmatic demand efforts?

We want the platform to be as robust and flexible as possible. We collaborate closely with our publisher partner teams to convey our clients’ demand needs (i.e., Automated Host-Read Ads and Multicultural Inventory access). We also have monthly (sometimes twice monthly) meetings with our agency partners utilizing the platform. Then, we can communicate that information regarding what we’re hearing so that what’s available lines up with what we’re being asked from the market.

Any standout examples of partnerships that come to mind?

We have some great case studies that speak to these metrics. Campaigns like Sea-Doo achieved a call-to-action rate of over 2% with Second Screen Retargeting, significantly outperforming the .05% rate typical of display advertising. With ShakeMe, we see averages of around 0.7% to 2.5%.

Moving to a topic that has implications across all facets of digital, how has your team adapted to keep up with recent changes in privacy law?

We’re not exactly sure when cookies will be a thing of the past. Still, when Google finally starts to deprecate cookies in Chrome at scale, many things will continue to evolve and become more accessible and privacy-friendly. We’ve been concentrating heavily on contextual targeting. It is a comprehensive and effective strategy, particularly in podcast advertising, where we have developed considerable expertise. 

For example, Predictive Audiences is a cookie-less, privacy-friendly solution that combines AI transcription technology with contextual data via direct publisher connections in concert with 300-plus audiences from Comscore. Also, great things are happening on the music side, such as Mood Targeting, which helps brands better connect with audiences by reaching them while listening to music that matches the mood of the song they are listening to.

Are there any best practices you recommend for ensuring compliance with data privacy laws?

I think a crucial piece is that it has to do with first-party data. There’s always an interest in utilizing it. And so if that’s something that an advertiser has, and they want to use it as a means for reaching their customer base, then we need to be working with a partner as we do here (like with LiveRamp) so that we know we’re doing that in a compliant way. So, there are partners in the space where we can collaborate with our advertising partners to ensure compliance.

Let’s talk about the future of digital audio, particularly with programmatic. Do you see any key trends on the horizon?

Synthetic Voice combined with Dynamic Creative Optimization (DCO) to beta test ads. For example, if an advertiser wants to test different calls-to-action, we can create ads in real-time with Synthetic Voice technology to test different spot lengths. This can be coupled with our ability to view available inventory in real-time in custom dashboards built into our DSP platform. So, when you test different audio ads very (in terms of cost and investment) coupled with real-time availability, it is evident that audio is more than just a branding medium.

How about agencies? What’s one bit of advice you would give to an agency partner?

I think the most important thing that I would say is to take a holistic view of audio as an advertising vehicle. So, again, factoring in audience segmentation at scale, viewing it through a real-time availability lens, integrating attribution, and then utilizing creative solutions like Second-Screen Retargeting and ShakeMe.

Looking Ahead

My conversation with Dave was a testament to the innovative spirit and problem-solving ingenuity that drives the Adswizz mission. As we navigate the intricacies of programmatic audio advertising, it’s clear that the future holds immense possibilities. Together, we are setting the stage for an era of audio advertising that is more dynamic, effective, and connected than ever before.

Contact us today to learn more about AudioMatic and the audio advertising strategies that can help you achieve maximum audience engagement! 

By Daniel Einhorn, Senior Manager, Content Marketing

The post Shaping the Future of Audio Advertising appeared first on AdsWizz.

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The AdsWizz team started the new year with a bang at CES 2024 with an exclusive meeting space within the luxurious Sky Suites at ARIA Resort & Casino Hotel, where we showcased our innovative solutions shaping the audio advertising landscape.

“At CES, I observed a compelling trend where marketers and agencies are realizing the changing landscape of media allocation, sparking crucial discussions on integrating audio into the broader media mix. The role of audio is expanding continuously, particularly in addressing critical topics like attribution, privacy, and automation. Drawing parallels with historical shifts, such as the transition from time spent online to time spent in mobile/app environments, emphasizes the urgency and opportunity to address the current shortfall in media spend allocated to audio. As an industry, we must persist in finding innovative solutions to bridge this gap in the dynamically evolving audio advertising landscape.”

 

-Brian Gilbert, Vice President, Programmatic Operations 

AdsWizz Audio Advertising Solutions Featured at CES 2024

Mood Targeting

AdsWizz’s new privacy-focused contextual solution creates intimate connections with audiences by strategically placing ads within the listener’s context. It targets individuals enjoying mood-specific music, allowing marketers to craft impactful experiences in Content Mood segments like Love, Relaxed, Soothing, Angsty, Celebratory, Chill, Energetic, Focused, and Happy. These segments are precisely assigned to songs through a meticulous process involving machine learning and human analysis.

Multicultural Engagement in Digital Audio

With a rising trend in digital audio consumption among multicultural audiences, brands can tap into a $3.2 trillion spending power. AdsWizz’s Custom Audience Segments can be leveraged for large-scale engagement with enthusiastic, diverse listeners in the booming digital audio space.

• Enhanced Targeting with AudioMatic – Reaches valuable, highly engaged audiences by Geo, Content Language (Spanish), Music Genre (Latin, Hip Hop, Reggae), Podcast Genre (Culture & Society), and Behavioral Targeting.
• Predictive Audiences for Precise Targeting – Innovative cookie-free podcast feature reaching 300+ audience personas based on real content consumption, with segment selection options like TV viewership, OTT consumption, and behaviors such as location, B2B, financial, and automotive data. It also facilitates targeting multicultural audiences, including Asians, Black/African-Americans, and Hispanics.

Brand Safety

While reaching the right audience may seem just a short ride away, the journey is not without its risks. Even the most effective ads can risk becoming entangled in fraudulent domains and negative topics. To navigate the audio landscape securely, AdsWizz offers brands dependable safeguards against potential hazards of harmful content.

• Brand Suitability by Comscore – Surpasses basic keyword blocking, ensuring risk mitigation without compromising scale. Powered by AdsWizz AI Transcription Technology, it categorizes podcast episodes for brand suitability, offering a comprehensive safety map.
• IVT Filtering for Marketplace Security – AdsWizz has bolstered the security of its global Audio Marketplace with an additional layer of protection aimed at preventing invalid traffic. Utilizing the latest technologies from Human Security, this proactive solution safeguards investments, saving you time, money, and effort while optimizing campaign results.
  

“Our industry is continuously pushing itself forward in transparency and measurement spaces. At CES, numerous brands expressed the need for features like show-level reporting in the DSP and programmatically supported brand suitability filters in podcasts – all of which are now a reality. We are thrilled about the anticipated growth in podcast advertising this year, and our commitment to these advancements underscores our dedication to providing comprehensive solutions. AdsWizz partners, like global media measurement and analytics leader, Comscore, are now seamlessly integrated into our platform to support the specific needs of brands. Additionally, AdsWizz is actively investing in attribution to ensure that brands can effectively measure their omnichannel lower-funnel efforts when leveraging audio ads.”

 

–Robyn Meyers, Vice President, Programmatic and Marketplace Partnerships

Automated Host-Read Ads

Combines the distinctive benefits of host-read advertising with robust audience targeting, reporting, innovation, and control inherent in programmatic advertising. This scalable podcast solution enables brands to launch a script straight from the AdsWizz platform, seamlessly deliver it across multiple podcasts, and reach millions of listeners effortlessly.

Podcast Contextual Targeting

Utilizes speech-to-text transcription technology to enhance transparency in podcast content for advertisers. Podcast Contextual Targeting goes beyond conventional parameters by delving into the core strength of podcasts—their content. Furthermore, Comscore’s Predictive Audiences, in partnership with AdsWizz AI Transcription Technology, allows advertisers to develop privacy-forward and future-proof audience targeting on podcasts.

Forging Ahead – 2024 and Beyond

At CES, AdsWizz demonstrated an unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of audio advertising, and we will remain steadfast in our dedication to advancing technological innovation in 2024 and beyond.

“This year at CES, I observed technology providers, data providers, and audio publishers working behind the scenes to meet the market demand for solutions related to audience IDs. These solutions are designed to be cookieless and ID-less, emphasizing a significant reliance on probabilistic data to provide buyers with the necessary data to run successful campaigns in the audio space, capitalizing on its inherent advantages. The advantage lies in the close connection between audio content and specific audiences. It is crucial to delve into podcast content that speaks about the audience or leans into the music genre, which also reflects the audience. Utilizing this approach facilitates the provision of audience identifiers in a privacy-friendly manner. This objective is number one on many people’s lists, and it’s great to see collaboration among industry players to deliver robust solutions that will make a substantial difference this year.”

 

-Justine Benjamin, Head of Global Marketing

If you missed us at CES 2024 but want to know more about our audio advertising technology solutions, contact us now!

by Daniel Einhorn, Senior Manager, Content Marketing

The post CES 2024 Recap appeared first on AdsWizz.

The industry is seeing third-party data and deterministic identity-based targeting face the most challenges amidst growing privacy regulations. The most successful solutions include increased contextual data and more probabilistic identity matching.

Balancing privacy concerns and delivering relevant audio ads is crucial in this shifting landscape. According to Comscore’s State of Programmatic study, around 47% of marketers plan to adopt ID-free tactics by the end of 2023. 44% of ad spend is projected for third-party ID-based targeting, while 25% is dedicated to audience targeting using first-party data. Additionally, 32% of the budget is allocated to ID-less contextual segments.

The audio advertising industry is at a crossroads, grappling with evolving consumer preferences, privacy regulations, and technological advancements. Marketers will need strategies that balance privacy considerations, exercise a continuous understanding of industry trends, and test new solutions to adapt to the evolving audio advertising landscape to position themselves for success in the dynamic world of audio advertising.

Embrace a Privacy-First Mindset and Transparency

Embracing a first-party mindset is prioritizing direct relationships with users and leveraging first-party data to deliver personalized and relevant ad experiences. This approach lets advertisers build trust, enhance targeting capabilities, and create meaningful connections with their audiences.

It involves building rich experiences with consumers where true value exchange is in place for access to consumer information and partnering with publishers to utilize data collected directly from users, such as preferences, behaviors, and interactions, to deliver tailored ad messages that resonate. 

A shift towards a first-party perspective helps advertisers to have greater control over data privacy and compliance while maximizing the effectiveness of their audio advertising campaigns. These first-party data sets are invaluable for deterministic matching.

Still, they will also be the building blocks for more probabilistic methodologies, which will use additional signals like context to expand their reach. With these continuing evolutions, staying informed on current (and upcoming) laws and regulations governing audio advertising is vital. Marketers and brands undoubtedly benefit when they comprehensively understand data privacy regulations in their jurisdiction and wherever their target audience might be.

Educate and communicate with your audience to build trust. A little goes a long way.

Transparency is crucial in building trust with consumers. Brands must communicate to their audience how their audio advertising campaigns collect, use, and protect their data by implementing a robust consent management framework that lets users quickly understand and control their data-sharing preferences.

Collaborate With Trusted Publishers and Platforms

First-party data has always been audio’s secret weapon. Streaming audio has created sticky user experiences, where many consumers continue to be open to sharing identity information in exchange for a great user experience, and podcasting is breaking through with audience targeting options rooted in powerful contextual signals.  

As a best practice, prioritize user privacy and data protection by aligning with privacy-first platforms and leveraging technology and tools that enable you to follow strict privacy protocols, employing measures like differential privacy, encryption, and secure data storage.

There’s strength in numbers, figuratively and literally, and pooling different resources can accelerate power.

Harness First-Party Data With Comscore Predictive Audiences Targeting

Access to audience data is crucial for the success of digital marketing campaigns. With privacy regulations and industry shifts rendering cookies and traditional mobile ad IDs less dependable, brands and businesses must explore alternative and superior data sources to target their audience effectively. Time is of the essence in this pursuit.

With cookie-free targeting and AdsWizz’s AI Transcription Technology, Predictive Audiences, developed in collaboration with Comscore, ensures a reliable pathway to contextually relevant podcast advertising. Advertisers and publishers can precisely target their desired audiences by selecting segments based on TV viewership, OTT consumption, and consumer behaviors.

Integrating Predictive Audiences with the AdsWizz platform enhances engagement and campaign performance by delivering ads on episodes that align with the target audience’s interests. With Comscore Predictive Audiences and AdsWizz’s advanced technology, connecting with desired audiences in the podcasting landscape becomes more precise and effective.

The Short Replay

In the ever-evolving landscape of audio advertising, proactively addressing the challenges surrounding identity and privacy is crucial. A privacy-focused approach and prioritizing first-party strategies are essential to successfully navigating these issues. By emphasizing transparency and effectively communicating how data gets utilized, brands can establish trust with their audience and create impactful audio advertising experiences. Safeguarding user privacy is ethically imperative and vital for ensuring long-term business success in today’s privacy-conscious world.

• If you are an AdsWizz partner and want to learn more, please click here.
• If you are not an AdsWizz partner and would like to get in touch with us, please visit the Contact Us page.

By Maria Breza

Vice President, Audience Data Operations & Ad Quality Measurement at SXM Media and AdsWizz

and

Vice President, Customer Success at AdsWizz

The post Navigating Identity and Privacy Concerns in Audio Advertising appeared first on AdsWizz.

With a soaring reach and appeal, podcasts are at their peak. Needless to say, advertisers have gotten the memo and are starting to spend accordingly. Selling such a diverse podcast inventory and enabling advertisers to reach the right audience without audience identifiers is no easy feat.

Audience data has historically been the foundation for the success of any advertising campaign. Podcasts have functioned without traditional forms of audience data, such as mobile IDs or cookies, for a long time, data that conventional media has heavily relied on. With Predictive Audiences, we can continue to enrich our data capabilities and further harness the power of podcasts.

So What is Comscore Predictive Audiences Targeting?

Comscore Predictive Audiences lights up the data path to ideal podcast audiences, making them readily available for campaign targeting and easily available through privacy-friendly contextual signals. Through our partnership with Comscore, Predictive Audiences provides future-proof podcast targeting, enabling access to over 300 audiences across numerous categories, such as TV viewership, commercial signals, gaming habits, location-based behaviors, life stage, and more. 

An industry-first, cookie-free targeting capability paired with AdsWizz AI Transcription Technology, Predictive Audiences removes the uncertainty from the signal-light podcast environment by creating a trustworthy and contextually relevant pathway for target audiences. Advertisers and publishers select relevant segments based on TV viewership, over-the-top (OTT) consumption, and consumer behaviors related to automotive purchase data, location data, B2B data, or non-Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) financial data. The AdsWizz platform delivers ads on episodes that include topics for which the target audience has a high affinity.

As an Advertiser, What Do I Get Out of This, Exactly?

Let’s say you’re building a campaign for an automotive company to boost sales for one of their high-end models. You can refine your targeting by choosing the brand you’re advertising from over 50 automotive brands available with Predictive Audiences, such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Porsche. Behind the scenes, Predictive Audiences identifies listeners interested in automotive brands and maps their behaviors and interests to well-defined content preferences. As a result, AdsWizz’s platform delivers ads on podcast episodes that focus on content that interests your target audience.

And if I’m a Publisher, How Can I Leverage These Tools? 

Our Inventory Forecast tool can predict available inventory based on the selected Predictive Audiences segments. The intricate forecasting algorithm considers such audio-specific metrics as ad-break duration, the maximum number of ads in an ad break, and potential ad clashing. We run estimates on the likely number of available impressions. You can use our Custom Reports tool to see how your Predictive Audiences segments have performed. Using the Predictive Audiences (Targeted) dimension, the report will return the number of audio impressions delivered for each targeted segment.

So, in a Nutshell…

Recap:

• Advertisers/resellers struggle to reach audiences in a scaled manner within podcasts because they are signal-light.
• Advertisers are becoming increasingly concerned about consumer privacy and any perception that their data usage may be in violation.
• Predictive Audience segments allow advertisers and resellers to reach over 300+ audiences without relying on traditional identifiers.
• Predictive Audiences are privacy-friendly, powered by context, not user identifiers.
• Benefits for resellers and publishers – maximize revenue, increase podcast discoverability, and expand reach.
• Benefits for advertisers – expand reach, improve episode-level targeting, boost ad relevancy.

If you are an AdsWizz partner and would like to learn more, please click here.

If you are not an AdsWizz partner and would like to get in touch with us, please visit the Contact Us page.

To read more about SiriusXM and Comscore bringing Comscore Predictive Audiences to AdsWizz, click here.

by Daniel Einhorn, Senior Manager, Content Marketing

The post Future-Proofing Podcast Campaigns with Predictive Audiences appeared first on AdsWizz.