Here’s today’s AdExchanger.com news round-up… Want it by email? Sign-up here.
The Display Comeback
Brian Morrissey pens “Display Ads Aim for a Banner Year” on AdWeek and says, “Banner ads, nearly given up for dead, are showing new life thanks to developments in the display ad business that could close the gap between ad spending on search and display ads.” In the article, Morrissey quotes sources from last week’s conference sponsored by AdMeld – which he identifies as an “exchange.” Hmmm… has AdMeld’s business model officially changed? No, says an AdMeld spokesperson, “Though we’re referred to as both an ‘exchange’ and a ‘yield optimizer’ at different points in the piece, we see ourselves as the latter, and more specifically as a publisher yield optimizer.” Read more.
Another Blow To Display At Microsoft
ClickZ’s Zach Rodgers writes that the display ad marriage between Facebook and Microsoft Advertising has hit the fan. Facebook will now do its own thing and represent and deliver its inventory directly. In addition, it looks like standard IAB ads may be over on Facebook as the company said they prefer “formats that feature social actions [which] perform better and provide a better user experience since they are more consistent with the look and feel of Facebook.” Read more. Microsoft’s display “loss” is no surprise in that it was previously reported by Bloomberg in January that Microsoft was already starting to see their Facebook relationship deteriorate. Visit the time machine here. (Is Atlas still relevant?) Consequently perhaps, there’s a big “now hiring” sign out in the Careers section of Facebook’s corp website.
On Yahoo! And Newspapers
Jennifer Saba of Editor & Publisher looks at Monster’s acquisition of HotJobs and Yahoo!’s loss of access to 200 newspapers. According to Saba, a group of newspapers enjoy APT platform services and recruitment services, while other newspapers – such as the 200 in the deal – receive recruitment-only services with ad services if they want it (optional!). Read more.
Advertising Age’s Brian Steinberg says that the number of ads see during an online video may increase sharply as major media broadcast executives say they’re not making the necessary revenues to support the online model. What’s more, a new ratings service from Nielsen will be used cross-channel (between online and TV), but the only way to make it work will be to have the same number of ads seen during a show online match the ads seen on TV (meaning you’ll see more online). Confused? Read more. I smell opportunity.
Apple Apps And LBS
Apple says that it will not allow any applications on its iPhone, and presumably iPad, to use location-based services (LBS) to deliver geo-targeted apps. The Apple iPhone Dev Center notes, “If your app uses location-based information primarily to enable mobile advertisers to deliver targeted ads based on a user’s location, your app will be returned to you by the App Store Review Team for modification.” Read more from Mashable.
VC Are Not Angels
Former VC and Inductive Capital’s Bill Burnham argues on his blog that entrepreneurs run the risk of imploding their business if they let venture capital firms invest in an angel round. Among many reasons not to do this, Burnham says, “You expose yourself to the huge risk that the VC will not want to invest in the Series A which will make raising your Series A much, much harder.” Read more.
AOL Launches Videocube In Europe
After running Videocube technology in the U.S. and Germany, Aol. launched use of the technology in the UK according to Brand Republic as, presumably, tech resources continue to innovate inside Aol. Advertising HQ. Videocube offers “multiple microsites within an interactive, user-initiated cube, on which each side is able to display unique, video-based or Flash 10 content.” Read more.
ComScore Hybrid Model Shows Boost
The CPM Advisors blog points to a jump in monthly unique visitors between November and December 2009. CPMa says this jump is due to ComScore’s change in counting methodology for some publishers from panel-only (Nov 09) to a hybrid/panel and pixel model in December 2009. Read more on CPM Advisors. Or, read the fine print in the 1/21 ComScore release: “ComScore will be excluding the Top 50 Properties and the Top 50 Ad-Focus rankings until May 2010 when the hybrid transition period concludes.”
Inside Ron Conway
Angel investor Ron Conway is the subject of a PEHub article by Connie Loizos. Conway tells Loizos that he generally invests between $50-150,000 per investment and and that “a priority for Conway right now is the so-called live Internet — a wider trend in how users more immediately interact and share content these days — and mobile applications.” Read more.
Bigger Marketing Budgets
The Pontiflex blog points to a new survey by eConsultancy and Exact Target which says that marketing budgets are to increase in 2010. The Pontiflex says its only certain budgets that will increase and identifies key benefits of digital, performance marketing versus offline: ROI, social marketing and timeliness. Read more.
Real-Time Search LinkedIn Style
Greg Linden points to a recent presentation by LinkedIn engineers (who are likely “LinkedIn”) which shows the importance of delivering real-time results to the business networking site. Read more from Linden.
Board Meetings That Suck
Jerry Colonna admits to falling asleep in a board meeting during his VC days and has suggestions on how to make board meetings that don’t “suck.” One important suggestion, “Tell the truth. No snowjobs, sandbagging or other forms of lying.” There are 10 other suggestions here.
The Video Ad Network Race
In its list of video ad networks by potential reach, Comscore said that Tremor Media followed by BBE and the Advertising Video Network led the pack in the month of December 2009. Of course, if you think of Google and YouTube as a video ad network, they beat them all by 30% with over 135 million uniques in December. See it.
IPO Goes South
FriendFinderNetworks has cancelled its plans for its initial public offering saying that its “waiting for market conditions to improve.” See the release. TechCrunch notes that the company is in a potentially precarious financial position as its carrying huge debt. Read more. It will be interesting to see what happens to QuinStreet (IPOScoop.com link) which is schedule to open for trading next Thursday.
Video Vs. Search Advertising
Christophor Rick of ReelSEO thinks that new eMarketer data shows potential for online video advertising revenue to blow by search revenue in the relative, near-future – as in the next 5-10 years. The key: Google. Rick writes, “This could happen if Google suddenly decided to shift its focus from words to video in regards to its advertising presence. Or if the evolution of online videos continues and they become far more compelling. Remember that patent Google filed about interactivity and games in YouTube videos.” Read the article.
OPA’s Horan On CMO Strategy
Pam Horan makes the case for online media buying in an IMedia Connection video hosted by the ubiquitous Kevin Lee. Horan says that CMOs have reacted to the recent challenges in the global economy by being much more DR-focused. She thinks they should be thinking about branding opportunities online. See it.
