Is cost-of-sale too costly for ad tech?
How many VC-backed companies can sustain growth at such a high cost of sales? That’s the question recently posed in an interesting MediaPost commentary by Kelly Wenzel, the CMO of Centro, a digital advertising software provider and DSP. As Wenzel points out, it’s quite difficult for the advertising technology industry to continue to scale. This illustrates a need […]
Churn remains a problem, but solutions arise for SMB service providers
Advertising service providers face a huge challenge when it comes to recruiting new SMB customers in a highly competitive market. But new customers represent only part of the revenue challenge. In truth, advertiser retention is a major issue for all who serve SMBs. The good news is that while this churn can not be prevented, […]
Now is the time for newspapers to lead smbs into digital advertising
Newspapers have struggled for years with declining ad sales, but expectations of continued growth at the local level, coupled with the ability to easily offer digital advertising services, represent a clear path to turn around those losses. In a recent speech at the Key Executives Mega-Conference, media analyst Gordon Borrell called newspapers “marketing powerhouses,” noting that his […]
How SMBs can tap into tent-pole events through social media
Advertisers often focus on the major tent-pole events throughout the year, devising campaigns and TV spots for moments that capture the public’s attention. The Oscars are the latest example of a major water-cooler conversation-worthy event, a list that also includes March Madness and this summer’s Olympics.While these events are prime targets for major advertisers, there’s […]
How concerned should the SMB market be about Ad fraud?
The online ad industry is in the grips of a fraud crisis. Recent reports indicate that as much as $1 out of every $3 spent on online advertising goes toward fraud – nearly $18.5 billion. That’s an alarming rate, surely, and it has the industry searching for answers and assurances that fraud can be brought under control. […]
What does Ad blocking mean for SMB advertisers and their partners?
Ad blocking has become a very popular topic in online advertising circles. The practice – in which users download technology that prevents display, video, social and search ads from loading on a page – has been part of the advertising landscape for years now. Yet the conversation has grown thanks to Apple’s announcement that its […]
You can be your client’s web partner — but you don’t have to do it yourself
Bob Provost, the Distinguished Executive-In Residence at Rutgers Business School, recently took to the INMA blog to talk about how media companies should consider hosting and developing websites for their advertising clients. There’s a big opportunity for media companies to diversify their offerings by doing so, while helping their clients remain front and center online. […]
Empowering your SMB clients with social media creative
As we discussed earlier this month, the number of social media channels through which brands can interact with their customers and prospects has expanded dramatically. And while the number has increased, the most significant development is not the volume of social networks, but the ways in which each channel works. The hot new social channels, such […]
The emergence of Pinterest and Instagram as must-have SMB Ad tools
At this point in time, every SMB advertiser knows the importance of social media. Facebook has become a crucial part of any company’s web presence, and Twitter is growing in importance. Some may even choose to leverage those platforms’ paid ad models to help expand their audience beyond their existing customers. Marketers have gotten used […]
It’s national small business week
This week, May 4 to 8, is National Small Business Week, an annual event dedicated to celebrating the American entrepreneur. This year’s theme is “Dream big, start small,” and here at AffinityX we know as well as anyone that every revolution starts small. Small and mid-sized businesses are an important part of our local communities and […]