Blockchain is a distributed, decentralized ledger technology that records transactions in data structures called blocks. These blocks are linked together and collectively provide a secure, tamperproof, and complete record of transactions. Blockchain is the foundation for how cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, work, and it is now seeing application in other areas to track anything that has value.
With blockchain comes the potential to remedy many of the trust issues in advertising financial management and the digital ad supply chain. The relationships and interactions that occur between digital advertisers, publishers, and those who respond to advertising are an ideal application for blockchain. Because blockchain enables sharing of data between parties that may not fully trust one another, it could bring needed transparency to the digital marketing and advertising ecosystem.
The transparency that blockchain could bring to the digital advertising ecosystem would create unprecedented levels of trust between players. Furthermore, if blockchain becomes a digital advertising ledger that records all changes, businesses can gain new and more granular insights by having precise and detailed data throughout the customer buying journey.
IPG Media Lab works with some of the world’s largest brands to drive innovation in media, marketing, and business models. As the dedicated innovation initiative of the UM family of agencies, they’ve worked with companies of all sizes, across numerous verticals. Chad Stoller and Adam Simon of IPG Media Lab discussed the types of conversations they have with marketers around innovation, gave us a behind-the-scenes look at how IPG Media stays innovative, and asked whether one can truly measure innovation success.
> See all episodesThere’s more uproar in the data privacy world: Apple has announced that with their newest update to iOS 14, the previously optional Limit Ad Tracking function (LAT) will now be on as a default. This will force all apps and app developers to ask permission to use a user’s data or track their movement, and they’ll need to opt-in to sharing a unique device code, or the ID for Advertisers (IDFA). As Apple has said on their official iOS 14 info page: “Privacy is a fundamental human right and at the core of everything we do. That’s why with iOS 14, we’re giving you more control over the data you share and more transparency into how it’s used.”
Advertisers use the IDFA to target audiences and measure effectiveness. Just like with the cookie’s demise (as we’ve discussed here), the potential for the IDFA to be limited or disappear completely will hinder the reach and understanding advertisers have over their campaigns. Marketers will not only need to survive without cookies in their diet, but they’ll also need to find new—or in many cases, old—ways to gather audience data to aid in their targeting efforts. It may be best summed up in Apple CEO Tim Cook’s remarks on International Privacy day: "Technology does not need vast troves of personal data stitched together across dozens of websites and apps in order to succeed. Advertising existed and thrived for decades without it, and we're here today because the path of least resistance is rarely the path of wisdom. If a business is built on misleading users on data exploitation, on choices that are no choices at all, then it does not deserve our praise. It deserves reform.” The resources collected discuss a post-IDFA world and what marketers can do to adapt without it.
Blockchain is a distributed, decentralized ledger technology that records transactions in data structures called blocks. These blocks are linked together and collectively provide a secure, tamperproof, and complete record of transactions. Blockchain is the foundation for how cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin, work, and it is now seeing application in other areas to track anything that has value.
With blockchain comes the potential to remedy many of the trust issues in advertising financial management and the digital ad supply chain. The relationships and interactions that occur between digital advertisers, publishers, and those who respond to advertising are an ideal application for blockchain. Because blockchain enables sharing of data between parties that may not fully trust one another, it could bring needed transparency to the digital marketing and advertising ecosystem.
The transparency that blockchain could bring to the digital advertising ecosystem would create unprecedented levels of trust between players. Furthermore, if blockchain becomes a digital advertising ledger that records all changes, businesses can gain new and more granular insights by having precise and detailed data throughout the customer buying journey.
Christiana Cacciapuoti
Executive Director
AdLedger
Key Stats
ANA Marketing Futures and eMarketer have come together to deliver key stats and forecasts on the trends that will shape the industry for years to come.
Related Content
Want to take a deeper dive into blockchain? ANA Members have access to brand stories, case studies, and expert webinars you won't find anywhere else.
ANA. February 2020
IBM iX explained how it is using blockchain technology to increase the transparency of media supply chains.
ANA. February 2020
Dustin Engel, general manager of corporate development at PMG, discussed how blockchain technology can help to maintain consumer privacy and support the future of a free, ad-supported internet.
ANA. May 2019
TD Ameritrade’s ad is a first of its kind in many ways. It’s the first permanent media placement, the first ad designed and executed using cryptocurrency transactions, and the first use of the blockchain as a media platform.
Download Now!
Executive Director
AdLedger
“Digital advertising is still suffering from the same issues of transparency, fraud, and fragmentation. And it’s because we just keep slapping band-aids on a fundamentally broken system when we
Key Stats
ANA Marketing Futures and eMarketer have come together to deliver key stats and forecasts on the trends that will shape the industry for years to come.
Related Content
Want to take a deeper dive into blockchain? ANA Members have access to brand stories, case studies, and expert webinars you won't find anywhere else.
ANA. February 2020
IBM iX explained how it is using blockchain technology to increase the transparency of media supply chains.
ANA. February 2020
Dustin Engel, general manager of corporate development at PMG, discussed how blockchain technology can help to maintain consumer privacy and support the future of a free, ad-supported internet.
ANA. May 2019
TD Ameritrade’s ad is a first of its kind in many ways. It’s the first permanent media placement, the first ad designed and executed using cryptocurrency transactions, and the first use of the blockchain as a media platform.
Download Now!
About ANA Marketing Futures
Knowing that marketers are increasingly challenged in their efforts to keep up with the latest trends and technologies, the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) tasked itself with creating a program designed to help marketers anticipate—and prepare for—the future of marketing.
ANA Marketing Futures is what emerged. With a focus on innovative topics and emerging trends, ANA Marketing Futures provides resources that will influence and inform via member cases, research studies, and insight from industry innovators. Check back often to learn about emerging trends and become inspired to take steps toward the growth of your business.
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