This Week in Digital Advertising: Santa Brought Gen 5.0, Black Friday Breakdown, Satan

This Week in Digital Advertising: Santa Brought Gen 5.0, Black Friday Breakdown, Satan <3 2020, and more.

Hello Bidtellectuals!

Congratulations to Bidtellectual of the Week John Allen!

The Latest: Generation 5.0

ICYMI: Just in time for the holidays, Bidtellect gifted the world/announced Generation 5.0 of its nDSP! To offer more insight into the advancements, we chatted with Santa himself/Bidtellect Chief Technology Officer Mike Conway. Mike explains in his own words how the advancements benefit advertisers, from optimization to insights to usability and privacy. We cover why its important to continue innovating and what he’s proudest of. Don’t miss it. 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday: What Happened?

Sales on Black Friday fell short, while Cyber Monday broke records. While experts projected massive growth this holiday season, it looks like it will be slightly lower but still an increase from last year. Let’s not forget it’s only December 4th. With a shift to online ordering, expect shopping to continue right until the end of the month.

  • Shoppers spent an average of $312 on Black Friday weekend, a 14% drop from $362 in 2019 (NRF)

  • Americans spent a record $10.8 billion online on Cyber Monday, up 15% from last year, making it the largest online shopping day in U.S. history (Adobe Analytics)

  • Amazon on Tuesday said this holiday season was the biggest of its 26-year history.

  • Adobe Analytics revised down its online holiday sales forecast by $5 billion, to $184 billion. Last year, Americans spent $142 billion online.

Some rationale: expectations for Black Friday were high. But holiday sales started back in October, plus consumers turned primarily to online shopping, still wary of in-store browsing. It’s no surprise Black Friday – typically an in-store frenzy – fell short. Meanwhile, even with the stock market crushing it, unemployment benefits are running out for many Americans; uncertainty about the coronavirus and economic hardship puts a damper on shopping.

⇨ Holiday Advertising 2020: Top 3 Best Practices for Digital Advertisers

⇨ Holiday Creative Assets: The Naughty and Nice List

Salesforce, Podcasting, and Clicks as the Original Sin

  • Salesforce bought Slack for a whopping $27.7 in a “match made in heaven” according to Salesforce CEO. Some even predict the move might render email obsolete in five years (yeah, ok).

  • Amazon is dipping its foot in the podcast game, reportedly in talks to buy podcast production network Wondery. Amazon is everywhere!

  • Meanwhile, the IAB Tech Lab has released a new set of Podcast Measurement Technical Guidelines (2.1) for public review, which offers standard metrics for both podcast content and podcast ads.

  • This op-ed talks Digital Advertising Sector’s Original Sin: making clicks the holy grail of engagement metrics. While it certainly hinders privacy, clicks also don’t give a true measure of engagement.

Good News!

  • Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Swift gave us all a much-needed laugh with this “Match Made in Hell” commercial of Satan and 2020.

  • No-kill, lab-grown meat is about to go on sale for the first time.

  • Sales are rockin’!! Keep shopping!! Here are some of the best deals.

  • Bidtellect is offering a free workout class this Wednesday! (See below!)

 

Stay safe, friends,

Charlotte

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Charlotte Otremba is Sr. Manager of Communications and Marketing at Bidtellect.

Why You Should Factor Diversity Into Your Strategy This Black History Month

How and why you should make diversity your advertising priority.

Behind the Platform: Using Peer39 For Brand Safety & Keyword Targeting

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the three key uses for the Peer39 integration in Bidtellect’s DSP, while offering helpful tips for traders and advertisers to get the most out of Bidtellect’s product.

Behind the Platform: Tracking Emissions With Bidtellect Scope3 Integration, Plus What to Know About Supply Path Emissions

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the new Scope3 integration in Bidtellect’s platform, how you can take actionable steps to reduce carbon waste, and the current state of the industry’s wasteful supply path emissions.

This Week in Digital Advertising: Gen 5.0, Thanksgiving, eMarketer Prediction Shake Ups

This Week in Digital Advertising: Gen 5.0, Thanksgiving, eMarketer Prediction Shake Ups

Hello Bidtellectuals!

Congratulations to Bidtellectual of the Week Courtney Bonkowski!

The Latest:

Big news: Bidtellect announced Generation 5.0 of its nDSP. This is a huge accomplishment and a culmination of 2+ years of platform advancements. The work of our product and technology teams, along with all those who worked tirelessly to anticipate the needs of clients and industry shifts, have led to the creation of one of the most performance-driven, client-first, and brand- and privacy-safe platforms in the space.

Coronavirus Crisis: Resource Hub

Since the coronavirus crisis upended life in the United States and Canada in March, Bidtellect has been tracking its effect on industries, advertisers, and consumer habits. Now, you can access all of the research, best practices, and resources related to coronavirus in one place: our Coronavirus Crisis Resource Hub.

Need to adjust your strategy to shifting consumer travel? Check out the hub. Need to adjust creative messaging to resonate with consumers without sounding like a downer? Check out the hub. Growing quarantine beard? Drinking at noon? Check out the hub. There are research reports, one sheets, blog posts, videos and more.

eMarketer’s Forecasting Shocks

I’d trust eMarketer to predict my own life projection before anyone else, but even coronavirus shook up my Research Romeo’s 2020 predictions. In their latest report, eMarketer broke down which industries and trends are swaying from their initial pandemic predictions. Here are some highlights:

  • Retail ecommerce is crushing projections, but brick & mortar has come up short
  • More US adults than predicted will participate in digital banking this year
  • Adults in the US will spend 64 more minutes with social media per day than originally predicted. This might as well be a call for trend setters in social media to seek the assistance of Facebook like bot, to help deliver the content to the right audience.
  • Other Booms: Smartphone use, Digital Video, TikTok, Mobile Proximitity Payments, Food & Bev Ecommerce, Click & Collect. All of these are taking off, whether users are researching on how they can “Grow your TikTok” or looking into the best way to create professional digital videos, they are seeing what is available to them and how they can use it for their benefit. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and the most recent one; TikTok, have turned out to be great advertising platform for brands. With the craze of TikTok nowadays, businesses prefer advertising on the platform with the help of marketing firms who can collaborate with creators and create unique ads (such as these TikTok ad examples) to advertise their products.

Facebook Strikes Again

Well, this is fun. For nearly a year, advertisers using Facebook’s conversion lift studies tool were unknowingly being fed faulty data. The cause? A code error undercounted reached conversions in conversion lift tests by several thousand advertisers between Aug. 15, 2019, and Aug. 31 of this year.

Advertisers use conversion lift studies, a free tool provided by Facebook, to measure the incrementally of their Facebook ads and make decisions about their Facebook spending. With incorrect data, those decisions would be severely compromised or incorrect. Advertisers have felt increasingly disillusioned with social media spending.

Thanksgiving 2020: A Little Different

Thanksgiving will likely lose its title as the busiest travel time of the year this year. AAA anticipates at least a 10% drop in travel – the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession in 2008, while the CDC has urged Americans to rethink travel plans and large gatherings for the holiday.

All this to say, Thanksgiving will probably look a little different this year: maybe you’re not seeing your family, maybe dinner is over Zoom, maybe you’re still undecided. But regardless: Happy Thanksgiving my friends! From all of us at Bidtellect, we are so grateful for you and your support this year. We are sending extra love to all of those who weathered tragedy and trials this year. May 2021 be the best year yet.

With love,

Charlotte

Want more need-to-know info? Subscribe to our monthly Bidtellectual newsletter!


Charlotte Otremba is Sr. Manager of Communications and Marketing at Bidtellect.

Why You Should Factor Diversity Into Your Strategy This Black History Month

How and why you should make diversity your advertising priority.

Behind the Platform: Using Peer39 For Brand Safety & Keyword Targeting

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the three key uses for the Peer39 integration in Bidtellect’s DSP, while offering helpful tips for traders and advertisers to get the most out of Bidtellect’s product.

Behind the Platform: Tracking Emissions With Bidtellect Scope3 Integration, Plus What to Know About Supply Path Emissions

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the new Scope3 integration in Bidtellect’s platform, how you can take actionable steps to reduce carbon waste, and the current state of the industry’s wasteful supply path emissions.

This Week in Digital Advertising: Goodbye “Sadvertising” & Holding Agencies Hostage over TikTok

This Week in Digital Advertising: Goodbye “Sadvertising” & Holding Agencies Hostage over TikTok

Hello Bidtellectuals!

Congratulations to Bidtellectual of the Week Jennifer Zeidler Bender

The Latest:

Creative assets feeling a little stale lately? Holiday campaigns are underway, so consider a quick upgrade if you haven’t already. Check out these resources below. If you’re working with us, utilize our in-house creative team, [b]+studio.

Coronavirus Crisis: The Latest Numbers and How Advertisers Can Adjust

Some good news: Pfizer announced it had successfully developed a vaccine that was 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 in participants. The only bummer is it makes you feel like you have a bad bad hangover. And the fatality rate of infected people has decreased by 30% since April due to improved treatment. 

Now the bad news: just in time for the holidays, coronavirus cases are spiking around the country, with several states breaking daily case records. California passed the grim milestone of 1 million infections. New York and New Jersey are re-implementing restrictions. 

Around the world, Japan suffered record infections and the UK has implemented a second lockdown. Rumor has it there’s a bacon shortage.

What does this mean for advertisers?

→ Adjust messaging to the changing climate. This isn’t like the holidays last year. 

→ It’s more important than ever for brands to get the tone of their ads right now,” said Kantar’s Head of creative excellence in the U.K. Lynne Deason. And stay away from “sadvertising.” It didn’t work the first time around.

→ Instead, focus on bringing hope through messaging, offering promotions for the shift to more cost-conscious buying, and local travel/limited family time this year. 

→ Don’t forget mobile. Everyone’s shopping on their phones, even from home.

MediaMath Teams Up with Merkle

The duo announced they’re teaming up to solve online identity for a world without cookies. Merkle’s Merkury ID solution will fully integrate into MediaMath’s SOURCE platform, designed to help advertisers identify consumers across devices. 

Two London Guys Hijak the TikTok Handles of Top UK Ad Agencies

That’s one way to get an interview. Two 27-year-old Londoners created TikTok handles for top agencies including Mother London, BBH London, AMV BBDO and Lucky Generals, and said they’d only give them up in exchange for jobs. I kind of love this? 

Good News

Holiday season is officially underway!

Stay safe friends, 
Charlotte

Want more need-to-know info? Subscribe to our monthly Bidtellectual newsletter!


Charlotte Otremba is Sr. Manager of Communications and Marketing at Bidtellect.

Why You Should Factor Diversity Into Your Strategy This Black History Month

How and why you should make diversity your advertising priority.

Behind the Platform: Using Peer39 For Brand Safety & Keyword Targeting

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the three key uses for the Peer39 integration in Bidtellect’s DSP, while offering helpful tips for traders and advertisers to get the most out of Bidtellect’s product.

Behind the Platform: Tracking Emissions With Bidtellect Scope3 Integration, Plus What to Know About Supply Path Emissions

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the new Scope3 integration in Bidtellect’s platform, how you can take actionable steps to reduce carbon waste, and the current state of the industry’s wasteful supply path emissions.

This Week in Digital Advertising: Weed Wins the Election. Plus: CCPA Upgrades & How to De-Stress

This Week in Digital Advertising: Weed Wins the Election. Plus: CCPA Upgrades & How to De-Stress

Hello Bidtellectuals!

Congratulations to Bidtellectual of the Week TJ Krzyzanowski!

The Latest:

Americans turned out in record numbers on Election Day: percentage-wise, this is the highest voter turnout rate among eligible citizens since 1900. Yet the outcome of the election remains uncertain. If you’re feeling anxious or just exhausted from this week’s news cycle, try these resources to unwind:

The Clear Election Winner? Weed

On Tuesday, voters made history by legalizing weed in some form in five states. In Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota, voters legalized marijuana for recreational purposes. Obviously, these states also have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, as well as recreational, and this is now widely available and easy to find. For example, Arizona residents can get their MMJ card online. In Mississippi and South Dakota (separately), voters legalized medical marijuana only. The addition of these markets means that 230 million Americans – 70% of the population – live in areas with medical or recreational weed sales. The results are so definitive that they could accelerate the push for federal legalization. However, this must be made clear that though there is a legalization of marijuana, it must be understood that this must not be misused in any way. Marijuana might have medical properties, but due to its psychedelic effects, it may turn into an addiction for many, which might lead some towards centres similar to Discover Recovery Treatment.

There are several other advantages to marijuana that may not be obvious from a distance but may have contributed to its legalization. For instance, many studies have found that psychedelics such as marijuana and magic mushrooms may help in overcoming depression. On that note, nowadays people can order marijuana online for medical purposes as long as they are from a state where it is legalized. For other countries, let say Canada, one can visit weed smart or other such websites where they can easily order marijuana and get it at their doorstep. Coming back to the advantages, the Farm Bill allows hemp and hemp-derived products as long as they contain less than 0.3 percent Trusted Source tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD, unlike its sister compound tetrahydrocannabinol, does not get people high. Rather, experts claim that CBD oil can help with chronic pain and stress relief. Besides, CBD can be used as a skincare product because it has anti-inflammatory properties that soothe acne and may aid with the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Another CBD product that might help people who want to smoke weed but with a lower risk of developing lung problems might use vape cartridges. People who want to try vaping can go to websites such as getkush. The main advantage of vaping marijuana is that it contains fewer toxins than smoking it. Another advantage of vaping is that you don’t have to roll joints every time you want to get high. Because there is little to no smell, vaping THC cartridges is also a great way to remain discreet.

Now let’s start advertising.

CCPA Gets an Upgrade

The Consumer Privacy Rights Act – affectionately referred to as CCPA 2.0 – has been approved by voters in California, passing with 56.1% of the vote. The amendment bolsters CCPA by both instituting a handful of new privacy rights for California citizens and making it more difficult for regulators to weaken privacy laws in the future.

Unifying the Unified ID

The Trade Desk is on a mission to achieve industry-wide adoption of their Unified ID, what they hope will be a standard-identity replacement for third-party cookies. In just a week, they announced partnerships with LiveRamp, Criteo, and Nielson. “The more collaborators join this initiative, the more critical mass it will achieve in the market,” said Michelle Hulst, EVP of global data and strategy at The Trade Desk. BTW, Bidtellect has adopted the use of TTD UID as well as Liveramp’s Identity Link (IDL).

Good News: Record Number of Women Elected to Congress

Results are still coming in, but so far there will be at least 131 women in the next Congress, setting a record that surpasses the one set in 2019 (127 elected). The number includes as many as 106 women in the House and 25 in the Senate, representing 24.4% and 25% of all members respectively. Of the women elected so far, 83 Democrats and 23 Republicans will serve in the House and 17 Democrats and eight Republicans will be in the Senate; 43 are women of color.

Stay safe, friends!

Charlotte

Want more need-to-know info? Subscribe to our monthly Bidtellectual newsletter!


Charlotte Otremba is Sr. Manager of Communications and Marketing at Bidtellect.

Why You Should Factor Diversity Into Your Strategy This Black History Month

How and why you should make diversity your advertising priority.

Behind the Platform: Using Peer39 For Brand Safety & Keyword Targeting

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the three key uses for the Peer39 integration in Bidtellect’s DSP, while offering helpful tips for traders and advertisers to get the most out of Bidtellect’s product.

Behind the Platform: Tracking Emissions With Bidtellect Scope3 Integration, Plus What to Know About Supply Path Emissions

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the new Scope3 integration in Bidtellect’s platform, how you can take actionable steps to reduce carbon waste, and the current state of the industry’s wasteful supply path emissions.

5 Easy Self Care Tips to Lift Your Mood Today

5 Easy Self Care Tips to Lift Your Mood Today

With all the stress of the daily world today, most everyone is feeling out of sorts (to put it mildly). But like anything else, to lift your mood, it takes action and practice. It is a habit. Practicing self-care with these easy steps will lift your mood and make you feel better sooner, so you can be happier and more productive.

1. Go For a Walk

When a problem seems impossible to solve, the workload seems never-ending, or a sour mood impossible to lift, it can feel that the last thing to do would be to get up and go for a walk. In fact, it’s exactly the thing todo.

According to Harvard Medical, even a simple 20-minute stroll can clear the mind and reduce stress. Call it “muscular meditation.” When your body is busy, your mind will be distracted from the worries of daily life and will be free to think creatively. It frees the mind and unleashes ideas. As Friedrich Nietzsche said: “It is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth.” Henry David Thoreau, another avid walker, claimed, “the moment my legs begin to move my thoughts begin to ow.”

Try a walk in your neighborhood or drive to a different one to mix it up –maybe near water or nature.

2. Grooming: Look Great, Feel Great

With so much of our normal routines shaken up, one thing we can control is keeping up our own level of personal hygiene, grooming habits, and looking great to feel great.

Experts say that maintaining a daily routine of hygiene and self-care habits may be key to staving o depression. One need only to look in the mirror after getting a haircut or trying a new lipstick to know that just a small act of grooming can make you smile!

According to Amanda Allen, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in New York. “It might seem trivial, but it’s actually an effective foundation to develop structure when it’s needed most.”

3. Get Lost in a Book

Shut down your computer, put your phone in the other room, turn off the news. Now pick up a book and get lost in it. It’s the ultimate form of self-care.

In a study by the University of Sussex in the UK, reading for just six minutes was found to decrease stress levels by 68%. According to Dr. David Lewis, who conducted the study, “Losing yourself in a book is the ultimate relaxation. This is particularly poignant in uncertain economic times when we are all craving a certain amount of escapism.”

“It really doesn’t matter what book you read, by losing yourself in a thoroughly engrossing book you can escape from the worries and stresses of the everyday world and spend a while exploring the domain of the author’s imagination.”

And according to a report from The Reading Agency, benefits of reading for pleasure include increased empathy, better relationships, reduced symptoms of depression, and improved well-being throughout life.

So whenever your mood is down, pick up a new book. It can provide solace, comfort, and let your imagination run wild.

Check out our recommendations here: Bidtellectuals Share Their Favorite Quarantine Reads

4. Try a CBD Cream

CBD creams for self-care? Why not? The jury is still split as to whether or not cannabis products are true saviors or all talk, but for those who love them, but initial research shows CBD can reduce inflammation and combat anxiety. Of course, there are lots of different types of CBD — you can get CBD vape oil, tintures, flowers, and creams so you usually have to try a few products before you find the one that works best for your ailments. Proponents swear by creams and gels for stress release, muscle relaxation, and overall calming effect. Of course, if you want something stronger, you can always go for weed concentrates like a thc distillate, caviar, or budders. Their affect could be stronger and longer lasting, along with the bonus of having THC in them. All of these can be found in dispensaries in places where cannabis is legal.

So many people have already added things like cbd skin care private label products to their daily skincare regimen for both the aesthetic and wellness benefits they claim to experience upon their application. Apply some to your sore or stiff muscles and let it work their magic. The stronger the concentration, the more likely you’ll feel the effects. This is one of Bidtellectual’s favorite and CannaCraft offers great resources and products, too. Finding the right ratio of THC and CBD, can also help produce a great amount of positive energy into your life, heighten your energy levels and increase your focus and drive to accomplish. You could also consider trying out some of the strongest weed strains that tend to have these energy-boosting effects.

5. Write Down What You Are Grateful For

It’s true. When you’re feeling frustrated or down, take a moment to write down what you are grateful for. Likely you’ll have at least one thing: a roof over your head, or someone who loves you, or food on the table. That more than most. Studies show that gratitude – showing gratitude and daily gratitude practice – increases mental strength, improves relationships, reduces aggression, and enhances empathy.

Practicing gratitude is a skill. Once you force yourself to do it each time you feel negative, or every morning when you wake up, your brain will eventually shift to look for the good and be grateful more often.

According to Ellie Cobb, Ph.D., a holistic psychologist and the director of psychology for Thankful, “Science shows we can train ourselves to experience thankfulness more often simply by paying attention to our lives differently. Attention is like a spotlight in the brain, as whatever we repeatedly bring attention to becomes stronger and brighter over time.”

Bottom line: You have the choice between gratitude and resentment. If you chose resentment, you drive out gratitude. If you choose gratitude you drive out resentment, says Gretchen Rubin, a happiness expert and the author of many books, including “The Happiness Project.”

And when in doubt, wake up like the Stoics and get going.

“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work – as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for – the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.1

We hope these tips for self-care will help lift your mood today, tomorrow, and the next. We may be living in stressful times, but when you can control is how you treat yourself. Be good to you!

Want more need-to-know info? Subscribe to our monthly Bidtellectual newsletter!


Charlotte Otremba is Sr. Manager of Communications and Marketing at Bidtellect.

Why You Should Factor Diversity Into Your Strategy This Black History Month

How and why you should make diversity your advertising priority.

Behind the Platform: Using Peer39 For Brand Safety & Keyword Targeting

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the three key uses for the Peer39 integration in Bidtellect’s DSP, while offering helpful tips for traders and advertisers to get the most out of Bidtellect’s product.

Behind the Platform: Tracking Emissions With Bidtellect Scope3 Integration, Plus What to Know About Supply Path Emissions

Bidtellect VP of Product Arthur Hainline demonstrates the new Scope3 integration in Bidtellect’s platform, how you can take actionable steps to reduce carbon waste, and the current state of the industry’s wasteful supply path emissions.