Top 5 Demand-Side Platforms (DSP) For Programmatic Advertising
Dec 04, 2018
10 min read
Table of contents
We’re continuing on our programmatic spree!
If you are still not familiar with what programmatic is, you can have a look at our previous blogs which specifically talk about what exactly programmatic advertising is and some things you should take care of before firing up your programmatic efforts.
Going through them first will help you get on the same page as us.
So, you’ve decided that going programmatic is the way to go to achieve better ROI and have successfully defined a strategy, got abreast with the current needs of your target audience and are almost ready to begin advertising programmatically.
But what are the best platforms out there that will acquaint you with the best available ad units according to your targeted audience and provide detailed analytics as well so you can optimize all your programmatic advertising campaigns along the way?
This post is all about that and a lot more!
So, let’s get into those top 5 programmatic advertising platforms right away -
To keep up with the ever-evolving needs of marketers and publishers alike, Google went through a major rebrand to simplify, unify and consolidate their various top-of-the-line digital marketing and advertising products, giving advertisers and publishers more control over their entire digital marketing campaigns.
After the rebrand, Google AdWords is now Google Ads. Google’s Doubleclick Advertisers products (including DoubleClick Bid Manager, Campaign Manager, Studio & Audience Centre) and Analytics 360 suite is now Google Marketing Platform. And DoubleClick For Publishers and DoubleClick Ad Exchange is now Google Ads Manager.
The reason I’m telling you all this is because, before the rebrand, Google’s DoubleClick was the go-to product for everything programmatic for both advertisers and publishers.
But after the rebrand, DoubleClick’s Bid Manager (DSP) and it’s other advertiser products are shipped integrated with Google Marketing platform under the name of ‘Display and Video 360’ which empowers advertisers to effectively plan, buy, measure and optimize their programmatic advertising campaigns across TV, video, display, mobile and more from a single unified platform.
Coming to why Google’s platform is at the top of this list? Simply because of the large network of publishers selling advertising spaces on the platform. Reportedly, Google provides you with a choice to buy ad spaces programmatically on more than 1 billion websites and apps! And did I forget mentioning about Youtube? Yes, Google Marketing Platform is the only place where you can buy ad inventory on Youtube.
Combined with the superior audience intelligence and analytics that the company is renowned for, you get a programmatic behemoth at your disposal that will support all your programmatic efforts every step of the way.
We rely on the Google Marketing Platform as well for providing all our programmatic services. And it’s just great!
Other than the web, if you are looking to advertise programmatically specifically on Facebook, then Facebook Ads Manager is your best bet. While there are other programmatic advertising platforms that provide ad spaces on Facebook and other social media platforms like Twitter, they will never be able to match the in-depth audience targeting options Facebook provides to its advertisers.
And it’s all about the audience when it comes to making your advertisements work. If you have targeted the kind of audience who is already inclined to buy services/products related to your business, your ad will work.
You can programmatically advertise native ads on the platform in the form of photos, videos, carousel ads, slideshows, and instant experiences.
Appnexus in another great programmatic advertising platform backed up by rich data and machine learning. The USP of the platform is you can fully customize it according to your business requirements and needs.
The programmable platform allows you to programmatically buy premium inventory across various channels (desktop, mobile, TV) and formats (video, display, native, OTT) via multiple programmatic options (open exchange, private marketplace, programmatic guaranteed) with safety and transparency.
Obviously, their inventory with not be as vast and detailed as Google but the platform still outscores other programmatic platforms over the web.
If you have some videos at your disposal and want to advertise them programmatically over the web, then SpotX is your best option.
SpotX is dedicatedly a video ad serving platform that has won various accolades for the awesome services they provide. I say services and not platform because the SpotX team, if you choose their services, will closely work with you to make your programmatic efforts a success.
Their programmatic platform is studded with detailed analytics, superior audience intelligence and provides the functionality to advertise various video ad units such as in-stream videos, outstream videos, interstitial videos and OTT videos to deliver your preferred video experience to the targeted users and platforms of your programmatic advertising campaign.
Renowned for their spot-on retargeting services, this programmatic service provider and platform is best suited for entrepreneurs and advertisers of eCommerce stores.
Their rich data pool of 1.2 billion online shoppers which includes their browsing behavior, previous purchases, and other important user data enables advertisers to target users based on their exact preferences and make every advertising campaign a success, ask from the 37,000 businesses using their platform and churning billions in business revenue. The platform lets you market your advertisements and retargets users across display, social, native and email.
And their platform also lets you integrate all your user data with top eCommerce solutions such as Shopify, Magento, MailChimp and more to streamline all your workflows and turn you eCommerce store into a money-making machine.
So, there you go! These 5 programmatic advertising platforms are all different in how they let you advertise yourself over the web and are built keeping in mind different business goals and objectives. So, I would advise you to go to their website, see what they have to provide and then decide which platform will suit you the best according to your budget and unique business requirements.
If there are some other awesome programmatic platforms that have helped you remarkably in all your programmatic efforts, do let us know in the comments.
Mapping Content To Your Buyer Journey
Are you expecting a profitable customer experience on your website? Your content marketing strategies would do more than just what is expected if properly implemented. If you are still battling to win buyers from your e-commerce stores or traditional online businesses then inventing the content mapping formula could be the only remedy. Mapping relevant contents that would add distinction and clarity to your customer's journey, hence softening the whole process. How does it work? Content mapping helps businesses in several positive ways, right from the point of brainstorming for the right content until the point of actualization of your aims. The buyer’s journey is more like a framework that recognizes the buyer’s advancement via the point of research through decision making. And finally, the point of purchase culmination, and is triggered by the right content mapping strategy. In order to achieve the best content mapping strategy, there are several criteria that are necessary to fall in place. Some of these criterion includes; Your Persona pain, problems and queries Every one of your personas will have a marginally distinctive buyers excursion paving the way to making a buy or speculation with your business. All things considered, the inquiries each of those personas ask all through the procedure will contrast between them - and will likewise be different over the three phases of the purchaser's journey, too. This stage somewhat focuses at the mindsets of your personas, what is their various reasons for visiting your platform, what benefit would they derive from your content and the percentage of satisfaction they would get from the solutions offered to them. Keeping in mind that personas are looking for instructive, seller unbiased content that is engaged around a specific issue within reach or potential open door. In this stage, your audience are most inclined at knowing if you have the solution to their problems and whether at all it is solvable by chance. Your Content type or Format Your content type has more role to play in this stage of buyer’s journey. Generally speaking, contents in specific stages of a buyer’s journey is sure to perform better and faster than a bunch of others. One astonishing thing about this stage is this, a good number of people are more comfy and would rather choose topics in advanced education. Therefore, content types such as e-books, tip sheets and guides tend to be the widely used since it undoubtedly produces a great result. If you should talk about the consideration stage, lots of personas have seemingly identified their individual worries and are now convinced to read more on the curative solutions to them all. Do you optimize your buzzwords? Content mapping journey is more like another different subject in an institute's course outline for a year. The reason is that it seems to appear smaller but in actuality has more extensions that imagined at the beginning. The word “Buzzword” comes into play in this stage of buyer expedition. Buzzwords are those words that fires up the whole content structure, you can alternatively refer to it as a call-to-action word. Since it serves more of that purpose when incorporated in a content. Some good examples of Buzzwords are “Learn”, “identify”, “choose”, “hire”, “troubleshoot” etc. Incorporating these words into contents would helps to create customer/audience awareness. ...
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D2C Marketing on a Budget: How to Get More Bang for Your Buck
Businesses must stay up to date with the newest trends and techniques to stay ahead of the competition in the ever-changing world of marketing. Consumers now have more power than ever, thanks to social media and the internet, and they put more faith in their peers and influencers than they do in traditional advertising. User-generated content has consequently emerged as one of the most potent and successful means of spreading the word about a product or service to prospective clients. All content produced by users or clients is referred to as UGC, including testimonials, social media posts, and product evaluations. Businesses may increase engagement, loyalty, and revenue by utilising UGC's power to foster a feeling of community and authenticity around their brand. According to studies, consumers are more likely to perceive user-generated content (UGC) as authentic than brand-created material. Also, using user-generated content (UGC) to sell goods and services is highly economical. Startups may encourage their consumers to produce and share content, saving money on traditional advertising while enabling them to reach a larger audience naturally. This post will go deeper into the area of direct-to-consumer marketing on a budget and examine many ways companies can benefit from it. Businesses may enhance their marketing efforts with the correct strategy while keeping their budget in check. How Word of Mouth and User-Generated Content can save your Strategy Businesses are looking for strategies to find a balance between making necessary investments and making sure they have enough cash on hand to meet other needs as marketplaces continue to become saturated. One mode of marketing that has recently surfaced with the emergence of social media culture is Influencer Marketing. However, if you are cutting edges on your budget, you may increasingly start debating whether you actually need celebrity or influencer endorsements. No, that's the resounding response. This is because such endorsements restrict a brand's engagement with a specific group of customers in addition to requiring high costs and coordination work. In addition, the majority of famous people and influencers are overexposed, which reduces their novelty value. Thankfully, there is a superior option: word-of-mouth (WoM) marketing using user-generated content (UGC). This underutilised, low-cost marketing avenue depends on a company's sizable, devoted user base across social media platforms. WoM marketing happens when a brand successfully satisfies a customer to the point where they tell their friends about it online. As a means to express their gratitude to their customers, brands may also use reward programmes to encourage customers to share their great experiences. Businesses may mobilise their client base and develop engaged followers who will voluntarily promote their content by concentrating on their happy customers. User-Generated Content is one of the byproducts of World of Warcraft marketing. When brand aficionados produce unique, brand-specific material and post it on social media, UGC occurs. UGC is the perfect answer at a time when consumers yearn for authenticity and a close relationship with businesses. Businesses may connect with their audience in a genuine and relevant way for free by exhibiting their products in real-world settings. For instance, a fashion company might encourage customers to post pictures of their outfits, including the company's merchandise, on Instagram with a special hashtag. This develops a community around the brand and produces a user-generated database of real-life clothing ideas for future buyers to browse. Similar to this, a food delivery service might encourage clients to post photos of their delectable meals on social media and mention the business. As a result, a steady stream of user-generated content is produced, showcasing the brand's products and igniting interest among potential customers. 6 Other Ways to Boost Your Performance on a Budget Marketing is often the first to get the axe when it comes to cost-cutting, but as we have already explored above, effective marketing doesn't have to be expensive. Here are 5 more ways to supplement your digital strategy for your DTC brand. Referrals Using the power of recommendations is one of the best marketing tactics. You can empower your clients to promote your goods or services by setting up a referral programme, which is more reliable than conventional marketing strategies. According to research, consumers are four times more likely to buy something when a buddy recommends it. Furthermore, setting up a referral network doesn't need a huge outlay of cash. Even free can be possible depending on the framework. By providing a reduction in their membership fees or a financial incentive, you might encourage your current customers to recommend new clients. Effectively informing your consumers about the referral programme is essential for success. A well-designed referral programme will enable you to let your pleased customers do the marketing for you. Content Marketing Without requiring a big investment, content marketing can take on many different shapes. Maintaining an on-site blog, where you may post educational or entertaining content many times a week while taking into account the specific interests and requirements of your audience, is one of the easiest strategies. Infographics, videos, and podcasts are additional forms of content marketing that have the ability to strengthen your brand's reputation, increase inbound traffic, and support other marketing techniques you may be employing. You may effectively engage your target audience and develop your authority in the field by utilising these various media, which will promote the expansion of your organisation. Public Forums Your company can gain a lot by participating in social media groups and public forums. You can come across queries in these online groups that you can expertly answer or find local events to advertise your business by actively following and taking part in them. The potential rewards are higher the more you involve yourself with relevant communities, whether they are in your immediate area or your entire sector. Additionally, joining these groups often doesn't need a money commitment, and membership may be obtained for a minimal time commitment. Never undervalue the ability to increase your network and your business by lurking and participating in online forums and groups. SEO Marketing While developing your content marketing strategy, investing in SEO marketing is a good move, especially if you plan to spend time generating articles. The fundamentals of SEO are simple to understand with some dedication and research, despite initially appearing to be complicated. To begin, you'll make use of practical online resources like Moz's Keyword Explorer to find pertinent keywords that can provide a lot of traffic to your website with little competition. To increase your site's visibility to potential clients, these keywords will be included. Effective SEO also requires structural changes, consistent production of high-quality content, and the development of backlinks to your website. Even while it could seem like a huge task, the only cost you'll have if you do it yourself is time, which is a minor price to pay considering the enormous long-term advantages. PPC Pay-per-click (PPC) advertisements can be expensive, especially when they target well-trafficked "head" keywords, but there are niche marketplaces and platforms that even cash-strapped companies can afford. For instance, some Facebook advertising can be purchased for as low as $1 per day, but you will likely need to spend more to see any real results. Despite this, it is still a reasonably inexpensive approach to market your good or service and get in front of your target market. By choosing the right demographic and platform, you can effectively market your brand and draw in new clients even on a tight budget. Email Marketing Email marketing continues to be cost-effective, with some studies estimating a 400% or higher return on investment. It's imperative to have a carefully cultivated list of subscribers (preferably acquired organically rather than through purchase) and to send out regular but discreet email campaigns in order to be successful with this strategy. You may increase engagement and trust with your audience by prioritising quality over quantity and offering your subscribers useful material that suits their interests. Email marketing is a great option for companies trying to get the most out of their marketing budget because it can yield large returns on your time and resource investments with careful attention to detail and a well-crafted strategy. In Conclusion A limited budget is not a reason to eliminate marketing from your company's budget. In order to establish brand awareness and draw in customers, marketing is essential. But it is also not the final verdict. Find innovative and affordable ways to sell your goods and services rather than giving up on marketing. It's crucial to continue experimenting with various marketing techniques to discover which ones are most effective for your company. You may gradually enhance your marketing efforts and grow your revenue stream by tracking your outcomes and concentrating on the best-performing strategies. The main lesson to be learned is to continue marketing even in difficult circumstances. Even on a small budget, you can develop a powerful brand and draw in devoted clients with a little innovation and persistence. If you need assistance getting started with digital marketing, think about contacting Saffron Edge for expert advice and assistance. ...
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Marketing Automation Process Workflow Guide for 2024
Marketing automation workflows are defined processes that automate various marketing steps. They have been used for years to save teams’ time on routine marketing tasks, primarily sending emails, leading, and transferring data between systems. These workflows are designed to help you get the most out of your marketing automation process flow, from welcoming new leads to recovering abandoned carts. This guide offers 9 powerful marketing automation process flows that can transform your marketing strategy. It provides insights into how these workflows can be implemented to boost engagement, drive conversions, and, ultimately, achieve your business goals. What is marketing automation process flow? The marketing automation process begins with lead generation through various channels, followed by lead scoring and segmentation to categorize leads based on interest levels. Nurturing campaigns are launched to provide tailored content, and guide leads through the sales funnel while engagement tracking tools monitor interactions. Once leads are qualified as sales-ready, they are handed off to the sales team for further follow-up. Analytics and reporting are crucial in evaluating campaign performance and optimizing strategies for future success. For example, a B2B brand like Salesforce uses marketing automation to generate leads through email sign-ups and social media engagement. They then score and segment these leads to deliver targeted content, ultimately leading to the handoff of qualified leads to their sales team, resulting in improved conversion rates and revenue growth. Marketing automation services streamline lead management, enhance efficiency, and drive revenue growth for B2B brands like Salesforce. Key Components of Marketing Automation Process Flow Effective marketing automation is vital for streamlining lead processes. This guide explores key components for driving revenue goals. Data Collection: The process begins with gathering data about potential customers through various interactions, including website visits, email clicks, social media engagement, and app usage. This data is crucial for creating detailed customer profiles and understanding their behavior. Segmentation: Once data is collected, marketing automation tools segment the audience based on specific criteria such as demographics, behavior, and preferences. This segmentation allows for targeted messaging that resonates with different customer groups. Workflow Creation: Marketers create automated workflows that define how and when to engage with customers. These workflows can include sending emails, triggering messages based on customer actions (like cart abandonment), and scheduling social media posts. Workflows are often customizable and can be adjusted mid-campaign for better results. Campaign Execution: With workflows in place, marketing automation software executes campaigns automatically. This includes sending personalized emails, posting on social media, and managing ad campaigns without manual intervention, which saves time and reduces human error. Lead Nurturing: As leads interact with the brand, marketing automation helps nurture them through the sales funnel by providing relevant content and follow-ups based on their actions. This continuous engagement is essential for converting leads into customers. Analytics and Optimization: After launching campaigns, marketing automation tools track performance metrics such as open rates, click-through rates, conversions, and ROI. This data allows marketers to analyze the effectiveness of their campaigns and make informed adjustments to improve future efforts. Integration with Other Systems: Effective marketing automation often integrates with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems and other tools to provide a holistic view of customer interactions across all touchpoints. This integration helps in aligning sales and marketing efforts for better efficiency. By automating these processes, businesses can focus on strategic activities while ensuring that their marketing efforts are consistent, timely, and personalized to meet customer needs effectively. 9 Marketing automation process workflows for your customers A structured workflow for email leads is essential for effective lead-nurturing and relationship-building strategies. 1. Workflow for welcoming new email leads First impressions are crucial, and they also apply to the digital world. A well-structured marketing automation process flow for welcoming new email leads can create positive relationships with potential customers. This workflow typically involves a series of automated emails designed to introduce your brand, share valuable content, and guide leads through their initial interactions with your business. How to Implement Personalized Welcome Email: Start with a personalized welcome message acknowledging the lead's interest and providing an overview of what they can expect from your communications. Educational Content: Follow up with emails that offer information that may be of interest or use to them, for example, blog articles, eBooks, or webinars. Engagement Triggers: Use engagement triggers like clicks and opens to segment leads and tailor subsequent messages to their preferences. 2. Workflows for recovering abandoned carts Cart abandonment presents a significant challenge for online retailers. Yet, marketing automation can help recover these lost sales. An effective marketing automation process flow for abandoned carts triggers automated emails or messages to remind customers about incomplete purchases and encourage them to finalize their transactions. How to Implement Abandoned Cart Reminder: Send a reminder email shortly after the cart abandonment, highlighting the items left behind and offering a clear call-to-action to complete the purchase. Incentives: Include a special offer or discount in follow-up emails to encourage customers to return and complete their purchases. Personalization: Personalize the reminders based on the items in the cart and the customer's previous behavior to make the messages more relevant. 3. Workflows for confirming orders and purchases Order confirmation is a critical touchpoint in the customer journey. Automating this process ensures customers receive timely and accurate purchase information. When you automate the order confirmation processes, you give your customers a smooth and confidence-inspiring experience that can translate into more business in the future. How to Implement Order Confirmation Email: Follow up with an instant confirmation email containing information about the purchase, including the order number, products bought, and the estimated delivery time. Shipping Updates: Follow up with additional emails or messages to keep customers updated about the order status, such as shipping and delivery. Customer Support: Provide information on how customers can contact support if they have any questions or issues with their order. 4. Workflows for sending targeted price drop and inventory alerts Keeping customers informed about price drops and inventory availability can drive sales and increase engagement. Automated workflows, when integrated into your marketing automation process flow, allow you to notify customers about product availability and pricing, thereby driving more conversions. How to Implement Price Drop Alerts: Set up automated alerts for customers who have expressed interest in products that have recently gone on sale. Personalize the message to highlight the new price and any relevant details. Inventory Alerts: Notify customers when items they are interested in are back in stock, ensuring they don’t miss out on popular products. Segmentation: To increase the effectiveness of the alerts, segment the audience according to their interests and previous actions. These automated workflows help you stay connected with your customers and drive conversions by informing them about opportunities to save or purchase. 5. Workflows for upsells and Cross-sells Upselling and cross-selling effectively boost the average order value and customer satisfaction. Automated workflows can help you implement these strategies effectively by recommending additional products or services based on customers’ previous purchases or browsing behavior. How to Implement Upsell Recommendations: Send personalized recommendations for higher-end or complementary products related to the customer’s recent purchases. Cross-sell Opportunities: Based on the customer's browsing history or previous actions, recommend other products or services that the customer may be interested in. Timing and Relevance: Ensure that upsell and cross-sell offers are timely and relevant to customers' needs or interests. 6. Workflows for pre-purchase and post-purchase feedback Customer feedback is crucial for improving the products, services, and customer experience. Implementing a marketing automation process flow for collecting pre- and post-purchase feedback ensures a structured approach to gathering valuable customer insights, allowing continuous improvement. How to Implement Pre-Purchase Surveys: Send surveys to gather information about customers’ preferences and needs before they make a purchase. Use this feedback to tailor your offerings and messaging. Post-Purchase Surveys: Follow up with customers after their purchase to gather feedback on their experience, product satisfaction, and any areas for improvement. Automated Analysis: Use automation tools to analyze the feedback and generate reports that offer practical insights. 7. Lead validation and promotion workflows across web, email, web push, and SMS Validating and nurturing leads is essential for converting prospects into customers. Automated lead validation and promotion workflows can help you manage leads effectively across multiple channels, including web, email, web push, and SMS. How to Implement Lead Validation: Use automated processes to verify lead information and ensure that leads meet your criteria for follow-up. Multi-Channel Promotion: Engage leads across various channels with personalized promotions and content based on their interests and behavior. Segmentation and Targeting: Segment leads based on their engagement level and tailor your messaging to their needs and preferences. These workflows help you efficiently manage and nurture leads, increasing conversion chances and maximizing your marketing efforts. 8. Cart abandonment and price drop workflows across email, SMS, and web push Combining cart abandonment and price drop workflows across multiple channels can enhance your ability to recover lost sales and drive customer engagement. Automated workflows that leverage email, SMS, and web push notifications provide various touchpoints to remind and encourage customers. How to Implement Email Reminders: Send email reminders for abandoned carts and price drops, providing personalized messages and incentives to encourage completion. SMS Alerts: Use SMS notifications for urgent cart abandonment reminders or time-sensitive price drop alerts, ensuring timely communication. Web Push Notifications: Leverage web push notifications to reach out to visitors who have browsed your website without making a purchase or to update them regarding a price change. This marketing automation strategy takes advantage of the various channels to ensure they work hand in hand in delivering the campaign. 9. Promotional workflows across web, mobile, email, push notifications, and SMS Promotional workflows are essential for driving sales and increasing brand awareness. Automating these marketing automation process flow across various channels ensures that your promotions reach customers wherever they are, enhancing the overall impact of your marketing efforts. How to Implement Web Promotions: Implement on-site pop-ups and banners to promote special offers and events to visitors. Mobile Promotions: Mobile applications provide coupons and discounts to customers depending on their activity. Email Campaigns: Send personalized promotional emails to segmented lists, highlighting relevant offers and deals. Push Notifications: Utilize push notifications to alert customers about time-sensitive promotions and events. SMS Campaigns: Send exclusive offers and promotions to reach customers directly on their mobile devices. Find the full potential of marketing workflow automation for your business Discover the transformative power of marketing workflow automation to elevate your business's efficiency and performance. Enhanced Lead Management: Marketing workflow automation allows for the efficient organization and tracking of leads through the sales funnel, ensuring timely follow-ups and nurturing. Personalized Customer Engagement: Automation tools enable businesses to deliver tailored content and messages based on customer preferences, behaviors, and interactions. Streamlined Communication: Automated workflows simplify communication by sending targeted messages quickly, reducing manual effort, and increasing efficiency. Targeted Marketing Campaigns: Automation helps segment audiences based on demographics, behaviors, or interests, allowing for more precise and effective marketing campaign delivery. Performance Tracking and Analytics: Automation provides real-time data on campaign performance, customer interactions, and conversions, helping businesses make data-driven decisions for continuous improvement. Improved Conversion Rates: Marketing automation can significantly increase conversion rates and drive business revenue growth by delivering the right message to the right audience at the right time. By leveraging marketing workflow automation, businesses can streamline processes, effectively engage customers, and achieve measurable results that contribute to long-term success and competitiveness. Conclusion Marketing automation is a powerful tool for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness in your marketing strategy. Implementing these 9 workflows allows you to streamline your marketing automation process flow, improve customer engagement, and drive better business outcomes. Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your marketing automation strategy, these workflows offer a solid foundation for success. At Saffron Edge, we offer comprehensive marketing automation services that can help you implement these workflows and more. Contact us today to learn how we can help you leverage marketing automation to transform your business. ...
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