Michael Della Penna

My latest article on CMSWire asks CMOs, CEOs, and hiring agencies if industry experience is necessary or overrated. The deeper question I'm getting at here is: are too many great CMO candidates not even getting interviewed because they lack prior industry knowledge? Share your thoughts! Thanks to Sue Keith, Club CMO, Eric Pairitz, James (JD) Dillon, Doug Zarkin and Gaurav Bhatia for being a source! #cmo #marketing #humanresources

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Understanding and integrating the user's intent is how you create more profound, lasting relationships with your users. It’s one of the critical pillars of our Intelligent Experiences. Get a deeper dive from the legend Chidi Achara #IX #Huge

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Actable recently published our "Buyer's Guide to Composable CDPs," now available for download at CDP Institute. Succinct, practical advice and guidance for anyone contemplating a composable approach to customer data enablement. Link to the guide below.. #customerdataplatform #composablecdp #composablearchitecture

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Subliminal advertising has been a topic of fascination since the 1950s, but does it still work in today’s ad-heavy environment? 📺 One fascinating fact: consumers process millions of bits of information unconsciously every day, meaning many ads still affect us even if we don’t realize it. But with attention overload, the real question is—should brands focus on what’s hidden, or on capturing attention openly and authentically? Check out this insightful piece by Infillion’s Jamie Auslander on the evolution of subliminal messaging in advertising. #Infillion #AdvertisingTrends #SubliminalMessaging #ConsumerAttention #MarketingInsights

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As one who interacts with CMOs all the time I can tell you this topic is at or near the top of their collective priority list. And while I am skeptical of those who espouse best practices when it comes to generative AI - only because it is so nascent - I felt compelled to share this particular piece from my fellow CMSWire scribe, Tiffany Holland Why? Glad you asked. I felt compelled for the simple fact I agree with everything Tiffany opined on, which she breaks down into four truths, which are below along with my brief commentary. Do yourself a favor and read her piece. ➡️ Truth #1: Inaction With Generative AI in Marketing Is the Greatest Risk Yes, yes and YES. If I could climb the highest mountain I would and bellow this to the masses below. This ain't the time to "sit this one out" whilst the rest of the world, AKA your competition is taking full advantage. ➡️ Truth #2: Generative AI Offers More Value Than Just Operational Efficiency Tiffany deftly writes of the "narrow view" many CMOs and marketers have of Gen AI, which "offers only short-term benefits and overlooks the true power of machine learning." Dating myself big time here but this reminded me of the late 70's campaign professing that orange juice is not just for breakfast anymore. https://lnkd.in/e95uWbex ➡️ Truth #3: Generative AI Solutions Fails in the Traditional Marketing Model "Generative AI won’t deliver its full potential if organizations try to plug it into outdated operating models." Full Stop! Read and re-read that over and over and over and then, for the love of all things Holy, do NOT blame Gen AI if you do not adhere to this sage advice. ➡️ Truth #4: Ethical Governance of Generative AI in Marketing Is Critical I love that Tiffany saved this one for last because it is THE most important truth, by far. Gen AI and AI in general, is very much akin to the wild west right now; no rules of governance other than those self-imposed. Brands MUST self-govern the way they use Gen AI if for no other reason, it is the ethical thing to do. Please share your thoughts on all of this. I love a good conversation and yes, a debate if need be. Jeanniey John Aakansha Srota Manny Shelly Lou Jeff Raja Ted Lee David Alma Dom Rhonda #ai #GenAI #cmo

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What role does contextual AI play in shaping the future of advertising? As end-users and technology companies increasingly prioritize privacy, contextual AI is poised to emerge as the primary tool for advertisers as it focuses on aligning the right messaging with the right context, making it essential for brands' future success. Kartal Goksel, CTO at Seedtag, believes that context reigns supreme when it comes to effective advertising. While the industry has typically depended on keywords and phrases to gauge context, he argues that a more nuanced, human understanding of context is crucial as this approach considers the broader meaning of words within the context of an article. Watch now: https://lnkd.in/e3aBPiYQ #ContextualAI #ConsumerPrivacy #ContextualAdvertising

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I've penned a little something for the marketing tech wizards over at MarTech. The subject? ABM Platforms! Is it all “huzzah!” or just a mighty “blah”? I embark on a hearty investigation of how these technologies cracked open the very vaults of digital media for the #B2B marketing crowd. Laying out the trifecta of roles #ABM platforms tackle: Predictive Analytics, Account-Based Programmatic, and Account-Based Measurement. And then, hold onto your hats, because I dive—like a Sinclairian sleuth—into the murky hidden costs: inter-departmental wrangling, annual fees that curl the toes, and the complexity of operating these self-service platforms. In a thrilling final act, I propose some exciting alternative approaches. Prepare for thrills, spills, and don’t worry, they all live happily ever after. Dive in below!

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One of the most common questions I am asked by CMOs is "...how do we integrate adtech and martech so that we can present an AI experience using targeting data from both platforms?" Below is The AICX Institute's methodology for driving a fully integrated AICX, the AI-powered Customer Experience. The convergence layer key integration points are: 1) the CDP 2) the Data Warehouse and surrounding ecosystem (pre-CDP data flows) 3) the AI Predictive Environment (data science) 4) Ad Revenue Management (ARM) 5) BI Platform. Data integration is the key to providing the nextgen AI experience for your brand. Stay ahead of the AI personalization wars, join The AICX Institute, it's free: https://lnkd.in/g86MhJyY aicxinstitute.com #ai #martech #adtech #personalization #AICX #data #cdp

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So there are numerous compelling reasons why technology startups should use press releases. Press releases can help capture journalists' attention, expand reach beyond the current customer base, build trust among consumers, and garner interest from potential investors. For more insights on how #pressreleases can benefit your technology startup, listen to our latest podcast episode https://bit.ly/3VPWwmT #mediacoverage #pressreleases #marketing #startupmarketing

Are we talking about this enough? We have not seen an anti-trust ruling like this in decades, perhaps you recall the case against Microsoft in the 90s? It had a huge impact on Microsoft. What impact do we think this will have on Google? For Microsoft, it inspired/forced product innovation. https://lnkd.in/e9BCnQ2a #letstalkaboutgoogle #adtech #google #digital

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Great article - these points still resonate for me on the #CMO role: **Data-Driven Insights**: Leverage data insights to drive strategic decision-making (but you have to HAVE the data). This enables CMOs to better understand customer behaviors and preferences, leading to more effective targeting and personalization. **Expanded Organizational Influence**: CMOs are now playing a more integral role in business strategy. Their influence extends across various departments, enabling them to contribute to broader organizational goals and drive innovation (marketing spread more thin as their stakeholders now reach the entire organization plus clients). **Enhanced Customer Journeys**: With the rise of digital platforms, CMOs are tasked with creating seamless and engaging customer experiences across all touchpoints. This requires a holistic approach to managing the customer journey, ensuring consistency and satisfaction at every stage (but requires insights shared from the business that marketing doesn't often receive).

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🔮 We’ve dusted off our crystal balls to see what 2025 holds for podcast advertising—and the future is looking bright. With 9 million new listeners in the U.S. alone each year, podcasting's continued growth brings new opportunities for brands to connect with highly engaged audiences in more ways than ever. But as the medium evolves, so do the challenges. That’s why we asked some of the sharpest minds in the industry (I do not count)—including experts from Acast: Valerie Reimer, and Shantae Howell (she/her); Sounds Profitable's Bryan Barletta; and Tinuiti's Shasta Cafarelli—to share our predictions for 2025. From the rise of omnichannel campaigns and advancements in AdTech to the untapped potential of emerging markets, these insights give you peek into what's next in the podcast queue ⏭️ https://lnkd.in/e3zYtvyu #PodcastAdvertising #DigitalMarketing #AdTech #MediaTrends

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FROM COOKIES TO CLARITY - The Israelites' golden calf story mirrors digital advertising's misplaced trust in third-party cookies. - Early ad tech fraud exposure showed addressable targeting's unreliability and data manipulation. - Google and Meta now use AI targeting, recognizing hyper-specific targeting's flaws. - Studies show 1:1 addressable data is inaccurate; broader targeting strategies may be better. - The ad industry should shift to AI-driven broad targeting, focusing on fundamental marketing principles and real outcomes. 📖 Article by AdExchanger : https://lnkd.in/gZms44JV 🌎To learn more join the AdTechGod Slack Community: https://lnkd.in/g-XzVDkX ✉️Sign up for the Marketecture Media newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gm85yuaf

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Adtech M&A is certainly heating up. Last week Digiday reported that Teads is exploring various sale options. This kind of news piques our Quo Vadis curiosity. So we did our best to puzzle together a fundamental valuation model. As imperfect as it may be, our model tells us that $2.2 billion is close to the magic number. Get the details and see how we get there: https://lnkd.in/ee6wEyXM Subscribe to Quo Vadis to follow this very interesting adtech valuation story! #adtech #programmatic #radicaltransparency

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Great article! To help you boost retention and revenue, Adjust's guide covers everything you need to know about rewarded video ads. Here's everything you need to know.

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CMOs, navigating your first 100 days? The latest CMO Success Guide from SBI, The Growth Advisory and The Pedowitz Group offers practical insights to help you excel in your new role. Whether you're aligning your strategy, refining your go-to-market approach, or leveraging AI for efficiency, this guide provides valuable benchmarks and best practices. Dive into topics like establishing a Revenue Growth Office, setting sales goals, and achieving marketing and sales alignment. Explore these actionable strategies and set the foundation for your success. 👉 Read the CMO Success Guide https://lnkd.in/eaDj3gBn #CMOSuccess #MarketingLeadership #RevenueGrowth #ThePedowitzGroup #SBIGrowth

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🎧 Listen to real examples of how AI is being used on the front lines of PR and marketing. I joined Mark Lapidus on the Brand USA #Talkstravel podcast to discuss the current state of AI, how marketers/PR professionals can get started using it, ethics considerations, and what's next. A cheat sheet for the curious: 1. Read/listen - Develop your basic fluency with generative AI technology 2. Play - Start experimenting and having fun with these tools. It's the best way to learn and identify what works best for you 3. Think - Understand the ethical watch-outs and limitations of the technology 4. Teach - Share what you discover https://lnkd.in/eFKNU878

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Oracle Advertising's imminent shutdown signals a significant shift in the adtech and martech landscape. The industry is evolving towards centralized data lakes such as Snowflake and Databricks, powered by Composable CDPs like True Story Public Relations client ActionIQ. Today in ADWEEK, Zachary Van Doren, ActionIQ's Head of Strategy, Identity, and Adtech, sheds light on Oracle's missteps and outlines opportunities for brands to craft more intelligent, first-party data-driven strategies. #Adtech #Martech #CDP #DataDrivenMarketing

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