23 February 2024
In light of recent changes to identity-based targeted advertising, publishers and advertisers are seeking alternative solutions to reach their target groups effectively. smartclip has been building a roster of alternative targeting solutions to meet the varied needs of our clients and partners. One pillar of our ID-free targeting solutions is smart Audiences, which uses a combination of online and offline socio-demographic data (smart SocioDemo) together with contextual targeting capabilities (smart Context) that are GDPR-compliant and CCPA-compliant.
Offered in collaboration with our partners, Global Data Resources (GDR) and DoubleVerify, smart Audiences enables advertisers to reach predefined and custom-built, multi-layered target groups — which represent relevant consumer segments — without tapping into privacy-sensitive data.
Ten predefined target groups — or ‘personas’ — have been developed to cater to the needs and requests of advertisers. These personas encompass a wide range of interests and reflect realistic consumer behaviours.
- Tech Enthusiast: Early Adopter, Tech Addicted, Trendsetter, Entertainment & Gadget Lover
- Interior Designer: DIY Fan, Handicraft Enthusiast, Hobby Craftsperson, Refurbisher
- Fashion & Beauty Guru: Fashionist(a), Beauty Blogger, High-Quality Products, Shopping Fanatic
- Fitness Foodie: Nutrition Expert, Hobby Cook, Sports Addict, Healthy Living
- Business Professional: Affluent, Hard Worker, Stock Exchange Savvy, Team Manager
- Modern Families: Flexicurity, Work-Life Balance, Sustainability, Responsibility
- Travel Lover: Family Holiday Fan, Self-Determiner, Cosmopolitan, Adventurous
- Eco-Warrior: Environmental Protection, Healthy Food, Climate Change, Sustainability
- Trendsetter & Online Shopper: Trendsetter, Quality Oriented, Lifestyle Products, Investment Readiness
- Over-50s: Healthy Living, Financial Security, Enjoys Life, World Traveller
In addition to the wide range of predefined personas, custom target groups can be built on demand.
smart SocioDemo: Research-based targeting without IDs or private data
smart SocioDemo is built around an open, ID-free dynamic cluster algorithm (DCA) developed by GDR. The aim is to predict hotspots of interests and socio-demographic characteristics for privacy-safe online targeting. No private data is allowed in the model and activation requires no cookies (first-party or third-party) or IDs, ensuring smart SocioDemo is a future-proof targeting solution. The whole set-up is built to ensure full protection of user privacy — both in the data model and in the activation.
The model is centred on neighbourhoods — small stable geographical clusters containing a minimum of five households – offering scalable target groups for Online Video and Connected TV advertising. Neighbourhoods as a statistical entity are defined by local governmental statistical offices.
Advertisers can target different user segments by combining these scalable target groups with a range of data sources — which are matched according to zip codes. Examples of this data and its sources include census data from local statistical offices, survey/panel data from data analytics providers such as Kantar, and movement data from telecommunications providers such as Telenor.
smart Context: Matching relevant ads to corresponding content
Contextual targeting is a privacy-safe alternative for reaching relevant audiences in moments that matter. Instead of relying on cookie technology or personally identifiable information (PII) such as email addresses or phone numbers, smart Context allows advertisers to target advertisements based on site, page, or app content. Relevant adverts appear when the user is viewing relevant content. The targeting is not based on past or forecasted interest, it is based on the current interest of the user, reaching them at the moment of maximum engagement with the subject matter.
Using a combination of machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, smart Context determines which categories to assign to each site, page or app, from an extensive list of categories defined and provided by DoubleVerify and based on IAB taxonomy. This ensures a clear understanding of content, offering accurate content classification that enhances brand suitability and targeting for advertisers.
Supporting consumer privacy while also maintaining relevance, smart Context helps to drive performance by reaching receptive audiences while they are viewing content relevant to the advertiser’s product or service.
If you are interested in finding out more about smart Audiences, contact us via info@smartclip.tv.
David Broich is the Head of Commercial Product Development Europe at smartclip. He has more than 15 years of experience in online marketing and has worked in international roles for various major German marketers — always with a strong focus on technical and commercial product management. In his role, David loves having the ability to work with people from different countries and cultures, across multiple teams and departments, to understand market needs and translate them into successful commercial products.
David Broich
Head of Commercial Product Development
Lisa-Theresia Rischke is the Head of Brand at smartclip Europe and responsible for the smartclip brand. She leads the design team and oversees collateral, social media, and strategic content marketing initiatives across Europe.
Lisa Rischke
Head of Brand
Harshita is the Marketing Design Manager Europe and has been a working student with smartclip since April 2021. She is responsible for the production of video content for the website, sales marketing collateral, and content distribution channels. Harshita is currently working on her master’s thesis in Integrated Design with a focus on emotional durability of products. Prior to joining smartclip, Harshita gained 4 years of working experience for various Asian brands back in her home country, India, before moving to Europe.
Harshita Parnami
Marketing Design Manager Europe
