The New Era of Digital Advertising: Unpacking Identity Solutions
In the previous episode of our Countdown to the Cookieless Future series, we delved deep into the realms of First-Party and Zero-Party Data, uncovering how these essential data types can be leveraged by advertisers to ensure privacy compliance while effectively engaging consumers. Next up, we’re exploring another vital component of the post-third-party cookie landscape: alternative identity solutions. Join Victoria de Leon, Director of Marketing, as she reconnects with Kyle Malone, Director of Solutions Engineering, and Otniel Calderon, Manager of Solutions Engineering. Together, they’ll break down what identity solutions are, how they operate, and discuss the challenges, benefits, and their pivotal role in a cookieless world.
Ready for a deep dive? Hit play on the video below to learn more or keep scrolling for an in-depth recap of what was discussed.
Identity Solutions Demystified: How They Work and Why They Matter
To level understanding throughout the conversation, de Leon kicks off the discussion by asking:
What are identity solutions?
Malone takes the lead, explaining that identity solutions are technologies developed by data companies to track users across various channels, platforms, and devices without relying on third-party cookies. These solutions utilize authenticated traffic and opt-in mechanisms to provide a persistent, non-PII (Personally Identifiable Information) ID for each user, maintaining privacy while allowing targeted advertising.
Diving deeper, de Leon probes into the mechanics of identity solutions, specifically without the use of third-party cookies by asking:
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Without third-party cookies, how do ID solutions track the entire customer journey?
Calderon elaborates that these systems primarily leverage first-party data collected directly from users. By allowing users to opt in and out, these solutions create a persistent identifier that works across all advertising channels, respecting user privacy and compliance requirements.
With a better understanding of how these solutions enable targeted advertising, de Leon moved the conversation forward, asking:
What are some of the benefits advertisers gain when using ID solutions?
Malone highlights the main advantages of utilizing identity solutions, such as unified user profiles, improved attribution modeling, and personalized messaging. These benefits contribute to a better customer experience by enabling more relevant and targeted advertising without invading privacy.
Safeguarding Privacy: The Backbone of Identity Solutions
Understanding that privacy is a paramount concern, de Leon inquires:
What are some elements that make ID solutions privacy-compliant?
Calderon explains that these ID solutions have three primary fundamentals to ensure privacy compliance: transparency, control, and the opt-in/opt-out mechanism. These pillars allow users to understand how their data is used and give them the power to control their participation.
Overcoming Identity Solution Challenges
Because so many advertisers have long relied on Google’s third-party cookies, de Leon prompted Malone and Calderon to address any potential challenges advertisers may face as they transition away from beloved cookies to different data sources, such as alternative IDs. She asks:
What challenges do you foresee advertisers facing as they switch from third-party cookies to ID solutions?
Malone notes that integration across the advertising ecosystem is a significant hurdle. Moreover, relying on opt-in data could potentially limit scale, particularly for smaller publishers. Ensuring interoperability and getting buy-in from all parties involved are crucial steps toward overcoming these challenges.
Key Players and Choosing ID Solutions Wisely
As the conversation shifts to the current identity solutions available, de Leon asks:
What are some ID solutions on the market right now?
Calderon and Malone outline several key players making strides in the market, such as UID 2.0 and LiveRamp ID. They stress the importance of each solution’s unique advantages and limitations, highlighting the open-source nature of UID 2.0 as a beneficial feature for industry-wide collaboration and development.
Choosing the right identity solution requires careful consideration. de Leon closes the conversation by asking:
What should advertisers think about when evaluating an ID solution for their campaign?
Malone advises focusing on reach, KPIs, and the specific parts of the funnel an advertiser aims to target. It’s about finding the right mix of solutions that offer the optimal balance between reach, accuracy, and addressability.
Key Takeaways on Identity Solutions and Next Steps
As we wrap up this discussion on identity solutions, it’s clear that navigating the cookieless future requires a deep understanding of these technologies and their implications for digital advertising. Their discussion illuminates a path toward a more secure, efficient, and user-friendly digital advertising future, encouraging us to welcome these new challenges as opportunities for growth and improvement.
As we wrap up our discussion on identity solutions, it’s evident that understanding and integrating these technologies are crucial for thriving in the evolving digital advertising landscape. Join us for our next episode, where we delve into the intricacies of campaign planning and execution in a cookieless world. Victoria de Leon will be joined by our VP of Campaign Solutions, Ariel Howard, and Manager of Planning & Insights, Addy Osborne, to guide you through these essential strategies. Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to further your knowledge and prepare for the future of digital marketing. Check out episode four here.