The Future of Digital Advertising: Mark McEachran on Privacy, Context, and Performance

About Guest

Mark McEachran is the Senior Vice President of Product Management at Yieldmo. With a degree in computer science and a career that began in 1997, Mark has grown alongside the evolving digital advertising landscape.

Starting at a small company that quickly became the third most-trafficked website at the time, Mark has developed a distinct perspective and expertise in ad tech. His experiences include pioneering work at the Rubicon Project, where he contributed to building the first supply-side platform exchange.

In this episode

The digital advertising landscape is undergoing significant transformation, driven by the decline of third-party cookies and the rise of privacy concerns. How will these changes shape the future of advertising, and what strategies should businesses adopt to stay ahead?

According to Mark McEachran, a seasoned expert in ad tech and product management, the future lies in leveraging first-party data and contextual targeting to deliver personalized and effective advertising. He highlights that as cookies become obsolete, companies must innovate to maintain user privacy while still achieving performance goals. This shift not only demands new technologies, but also a fundamental change in how advertisers interact with consumers, ensuring engagements are both privacy-compliant and meaningful.

In this episode of the Revenue Engine Podcast, host Alex Gluz sits down with Mark McEachran, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Yieldmo, to discuss the evolving landscape of digital advertising. They explore the importance of first-party data, the role of contextual targeting in a post-cookie world, and future opportunities for privacy-focused startups.

A glimpse of what you will learn

• [1:04] Mark McEachran’s pivotal role and responsibilities at Yieldmo
• [3:46] How Yieldmo facilitates transactions between publishers and advertisers
• [6:35] The original purpose of cookies on the internet and their evolution in advertising
• [11:07] How technology enables advertisers to reach the right audiences based on context
• [14:19] The growing role of first-party data in personalized marketing campaigns
• [20:04] Data collection and marketing strategies for b2b companies in a post-cookie world
• [26:20] Mark’s predictions for the future of digital advertising

Resources Mentioned in this episode

• T.A. Monroe Digital Agency
• Alex Gluz on LinkedIn
• Alex Gluz email: alex@tamonroe.com
• Mark McEachran - Website
• Mark McEachran - LinkedIn
• Yieldmo

Quotable Moments

• “Find the audience, and let the data guide you.”
• “Always have a little bit of budget set aside to test and find new areas that are working.”
• “Lead with your heart — it helps to see the best way through complex situations.”
• “Advertisers have been playing a successful game in the first-party data arena for a long time.”
• “The die has been cast… the open web is sitting in a place of massive uncertainty.”

Special Mentions:

• Frank Addante on LinkedIn
• Starting Point
• Rubicon Project
• Sina Smith on LinkedIn

Action Steps

1. Begin collecting and managing first-party data like email addresses and user behavior on your platforms: This action is effective because first-party data is becoming the new currency for personalized and targeted marketing in a post-cookie environment.
2. Explore and utilize independent solutions for a more future-proof advertising strategy: Implementing solutions that are not solely dependent on identifiers, such as cookies, is crucial in adapting to the impending shift towards heightened privacy and reduced tracking capabilities.
3. Leverage AI-driven tools for data analysis to gain deeper insights into consumer behavior: AI and machine learning are pivotal in interpreting vast amounts of data, which can optimize marketing strategies and targeted advertising.
4. Stay informed and compliant with evolving state and federal privacy regulations: Given the complexities around compliance, keeping up-to-date with privacy laws is essential for avoiding legal pitfalls and maintaining consumer trust.
5. Allocate a portion of your marketing budget to continual testing and adaptation: Constant experimentation helps to uncover new market trends, consumer preferences, and ultimately enhances the effectiveness of campaigns.

Sponsor for this episode

This episode is brought to you by T.A.Monroe Digital.At T.A.Monroe, we build world class revenue engines for B2B SaaS companies. What that means is we do everything behind the scenes to generate you tons of qualified leads, opportunities and customers.

1. We build highly effective marketing systems and scale their profitably through our demand generation strategies.
2. We think scientifically on how to scale your demand and revenue.
3. We bring decades of experience.

Email us at alex@tamonroe.com or visit www.tamonroe.com today to schedule a strategy session or learn more about our mission.