Samhub’s Guide to The First Party Data Stack for Publishers & Media
Building your own data stack to monetise first party data can be challenging. In this guide will show you what you need to create it and what you should think about creating it, so that you can make the most out of your data as legislation requirements tighten and old legacy technologies like cookies disappear.
Why do you need such a data stack?
Enhanced Privacy Compliance and Trust
First-party data is data that publishers collect directly from their audience through interactions on their own platforms. With increasing scrutiny on data privacy and the introduction of stringent regulations such as the GDPR in Europe and CCPA in California, relying on first-party data ensures that publishers have full control and transparency over the data they collect. This minimizes the risk of non-compliance and associated penalties.
Improved Targeting and Personalization
Greater Control and Revenue Opportunities
First-party data is owned and controlled entirely by the publisher. This means publishers are not reliant on third-party data providers, which may become less available or less reliable due to changing industry dynamics and privacy regulations. Full control over data allows publishers to define their data strategies and usage without external dependencies.The Complete First Party Data Setup
- Data Management Platform (DMP)
- Customer Data Platform (CDP)
- Consent Management Platform (CMP)
- Data compliance & Control systems
- Contextual analysis
- Data enrichment systems
- Editorial integrations
Data Management Platform (DMP)
A Data Management Platform (DMP) is a sophisticated software solution used by publishers, marketers, and advertisers to collect, organize, and analyze large sets of data from various sources. Here’s a detailed look at what a DMP is and its functions, particularly for publishers with advertising offerings:
Definition of DMP
A Data Management Platform is essentially a centralized hub that gathers and processes data from multiple sources, enabling the segmentation and targeting of audiences with a high degree of precision. It helps in managing user data to create more effective marketing strategies.
Functions of a DMP for Publishers & Media
Data Collection: DMPs collect data from various touchpoints, such as websites, mobile apps, CRM systems, social media, and third-party data providers. This includes first-party data (owned by the publisher), second-party data (from partners), and third-party data (from external providers).
Data Organization: The platform organizes data into a structured format. It can categorize data by various attributes, such as demographics, user behavior, and purchase history, creating comprehensive user profiles.
Audience Segmentation: One of the primary functions of a DMP is to segment the audience based on specific criteria. Publishers can create segments based on demographics, interests, past behavior, and more. This segmentation allows for more targeted and relevant ad campaigns.
Data Analysis and Insights: DMPs provide analytical tools to derive insights from the collected data. Publishers can understand user behavior, identify trends, and measure the effectiveness of their ad campaigns. These insights help in making data-driven decisions.
Personalization and Targeting: With the insights gained, publishers can personalize content and ads for different audience segments. This ensures that the right message reaches the right audience at the right time, increasing engagement and conversion rates.
Integration with DSPs and SSPs: DMPs integrate with Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs) and Supply-Side Platforms (SSPs) to facilitate programmatic advertising. This integration helps in automating the buying and selling of ad inventory, making the process more efficient and effective.
Cross-Device Targeting: DMPs enable cross-device tracking and targeting, ensuring that the audience receives consistent messages across different devices (e.g., desktops, tablets, smartphones). This enhances the user experience and improves campaign performance.
Privacy and Compliance: DMPs help in managing data privacy and compliance with regulations such as GDPR and CCPA. They ensure that user data is handled responsibly and transparently, building trust with the audience.
Performance Measurement: Publishers can measure the performance of their ad campaigns through detailed reporting and analytics. DMPs provide metrics on engagement, conversion rates, and ROI, helping publishers to optimize their strategies.
Benefits for Publishers
Enhanced Targeting: More precise audience targeting leads to higher ad relevancy and better engagement rates.
Improved Monetization: By leveraging data effectively, publishers can increase the value of their ad inventory and drive higher revenue.
Efficient Ad Operations: Automation and integration with other ad tech solutions streamline ad operations, saving time and resources.
Better User Experience: Personalized content and ads improve the overall user experience, leading to increased loyalty and retention.
Competitive Advantage: Utilizing a DMP gives publishers a competitive edge by enabling sophisticated data-driven marketing strategies.
In summary, a DMP is a crucial tool for publishers with advertising offerings, providing them with the capability to harness data for more effective audience targeting, improved ad performance, and increased revenue.
Samhub for Media - DMP included
The Samhub for Media DMP is an integral part of the Samhub for Media service, included in all licenses. This collects your anonymous 1st party data.
Customer Data Platform (CDP)
Definition of CDP
Functions of a CDP for Publishers
- Data Collection and Integration:
Multi-Source Aggregation: CDPs collect data from multiple sources such as websites, mobile apps, email systems, CRM systems, social media platforms, and offline sources. This ensures a comprehensive view of customer interactions and behaviors.
Data Unification: The platform unifies data into a single customer profile by matching and merging data points from different sources. This helps in resolving discrepancies and eliminating duplicate records. - Customer Profile Creation:
Single Customer View: CDPs create detailed customer profiles that include demographic information, behavioral data, transactional history, and interaction data. This 360-degree view of each customer is crucial for personalized marketing.
Real-Time Updates: Customer profiles are continuously updated in real-time as new data is collected. This ensures that the information is always current and accurate. - Segmentation and Targeting:
Advanced Segmentation: CDPs allow publishers to segment their audience based on various criteria such as demographics, behaviors, purchase history, and engagement levels. This segmentation is crucial for creating targeted and relevant marketing campaigns.
Dynamic Segmentation: Segments can be dynamically updated based on real-time data, ensuring that targeting remains relevant and effective. - Personalization and Engagement:
Personalized Content Delivery: With detailed customer profiles, publishers can deliver personalized content and recommendations to each user. This improves user engagement and satisfaction.
Cross-Channel Personalization: CDPs enable consistent and personalized experiences across different channels (e.g., website, email, mobile app), ensuring a seamless customer journey. - Analytics and Insights:
Customer Insights: CDPs provide in-depth analytics on customer behavior, preferences, and trends. Publishers can use these insights to understand their audience better and refine their content and marketing strategies.
Predictive Analytics: Some CDPs offer predictive analytics capabilities, allowing publishers to anticipate customer needs and behaviors, leading to proactive marketing efforts. - Campaign Execution and Optimization:
Integration with Marketing Tools: CDPs integrate with various marketing tools and platforms, enabling the execution of targeted campaigns. This includes email marketing platforms, advertising networks, and social media management tools.
Performance Measurement: Publishers can track the performance of their campaigns through detailed reports and analytics provided by the CDP. This helps in measuring ROI and optimizing future campaigns. - Data Privacy and Compliance:
Privacy Management: CDPs help in managing customer data privacy by ensuring compliance with regulations such as GDPR and CCPA. They provide tools for consent management and data anonymization.
Secure Data Handling: The platform ensures secure storage and handling of customer data, building trust with the audience.
Benefits for Publishers
- Enhanced Customer Understanding: A holistic view of each customer allows for deeper insights and better understanding of audience needs and preferences.
- Improved Personalization: Personalized content and experiences lead to higher engagement and satisfaction.
- Efficient Marketing: Targeted campaigns are more effective and efficient, leading to better conversion rates and ROI.
- Increased Revenue: By leveraging customer data, publishers can create more compelling offers and drive higher revenue.
- Better Customer Loyalty: Consistent and personalized experiences across channels enhance customer loyalty and retention.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Access to detailed customer insights supports data-driven decision making, improving overall business strategy.
Samhub for Media - CDP included
The Samhub for Media CDP is an integral part of the Samhub for Media service, included in our premium licenses. This collects and stores your identified 1st party user history and enriched data linked to the users.
Consent Management Platform (CMP)
A Consent Management Platform (CMP) is a specialized software tool designed to help organizations manage user consent and ensure compliance with data protection regulations. Here’s a detailed description of what a CMP is and its functions.
A Consent Management Platform is a solution that enables organizations to collect, store, and manage user consent for data processing activities in compliance with various privacy laws and regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the United States.
Functions of a CMP
- Consent Collection:
User Interface Integration: CMPs integrate with websites and applications to display consent banners, pop-ups, or forms to users. These interfaces inform users about data collection practices and request their consent.
Granular Consent Options: Users can provide consent for different types of data processing activities (e.g., marketing, analytics, personalized content) separately, allowing for more granular control. - Consent Storage:
Secure Database: CMPs securely store consent records in a database, ensuring that each user’s preferences are recorded and easily retrievable. This database includes details such as the date and time of consent, the version of the consent form, and the specific preferences indicated by the user.
Audit Trails: The platform maintains detailed audit trails that document when and how consent was obtained, which can be crucial for demonstrating compliance during audits or investigations. - Consent Management:
Consent Dashboard: CMPs provide a dashboard for administrators to manage consent settings, review consent records, and update consent policies. This central management console simplifies the oversight of user consents.
User Preference Center: Users can access a preference center where they can review and update their consent choices at any time. This enhances user control and transparency. - Compliance with Regulations:
Regulatory Updates: CMPs are regularly updated to comply with the latest privacy laws and regulations. This ensures that organizations remain compliant without having to manually track regulatory changes.
Geo-Specific Compliance: The platform can adapt consent requests based on the user’s geographical location, ensuring compliance with region-specific regulations. - Automated Consent Refresh:
Periodic Consent Requests: Some CMPs automatically prompt users to renew their consent after a specified period, ensuring that consents are up-to-date and valid over time. - Integration with Other Systems:
Data Management Systems: CMPs integrate with other data management platforms (DMPs, CDPs, CRMs) to ensure that user consent preferences are respected across all data processing activities.
Marketing and Analytics Tools: The platform ensures that marketing and analytics tools only process data for users who have provided the necessary consent. - Reporting and Analytics:
Consent Analytics: CMPs provide insights into consent rates, user interactions with consent interfaces, and overall compliance status. This data helps organizations understand user behavior and improve their consent management strategies.
Compliance Reports: The platform generates compliance reports that can be used for internal assessments or provided to regulatory bodies to demonstrate adherence to privacy laws. - User Rights Management:
Access and Deletion Requests: CMPs facilitate the management of user rights requests, such as access to personal data or requests for data deletion. This ensures that organizations can efficiently handle user inquiries in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Benefits for Organizations
Regulatory Compliance: CMPs help organizations stay compliant with complex and evolving data protection laws, reducing the risk of fines and legal actions.
Enhanced User Trust: By providing transparent and user-friendly consent options, organizations can build trust with their users, showing a commitment to privacy.
Simplified Consent Management: A centralized platform simplifies the process of collecting, managing, and updating user consents, saving time and resources.
Improved Data Quality: Ensuring that data processing activities are based on valid user consent improves the overall quality and reliability of the data.
Risk Mitigation: CMPs help mitigate the risk of non-compliance by providing robust tools for tracking and managing consent.
In summary, a Consent Management Platform is a critical tool for organizations that handle personal data, enabling them to manage user consents effectively, comply with privacy regulations, and maintain user trust.
Samhub for Media - CMP connection
In Samhub for Media the connection to your CMP is included in all licenses. We are an approved IAB TCF Vendor. Vendor ID: 1226. Go to vendor list
Contextual Analysis
- Content Categorization:
Topic Identification: Analyzes and identifies the main topics or themes of the content. This helps in classifying content into relevant categories.
Keyword Extraction: Identifies important keywords and phrases that best describe the content. - Sentiment Analysis:
Tone and Emotion Detection: Determines the sentiment or emotional tone of the content (e.g., positive, negative, neutral). This can include detecting emotions like joy, anger, sadness, etc.
Audience Reaction: Analyzes how the audience might react to the content based on its sentiment. - Content Quality Assessment:
Relevance and Accuracy: Assesses the relevance and accuracy of the content based on predefined criteria.
Readability and Engagement: Measures how engaging and readable the content is for the target audience. - Contextual Targeting:
Ad Placement: Uses the contextual information to place ads in content that is relevant to the ad’s message. For example, placing an ad for hiking gear on an article about outdoor activities.
Brand Safety: Ensures that ads are placed in environments that are safe for the brand, avoiding content that might be controversial or harmful. - SEO and Content Strategy:
Keyword Optimization: Helps in optimizing content with relevant keywords for better search engine ranking.
Content Gaps Identification: Identifies gaps in existing content and opportunities for creating new content.
Why Contextual Analysis is Relevant for Publishers
Improved Ad Relevance and Performance:
- Higher Engagement: Contextual ads are more relevant to the content the user is consuming, leading to higher engagement rates and better performance.
- Better ROI: By targeting ads more effectively, publishers can achieve a better return on investment for their advertisers.
Enhanced User Experience:
- Relevant Content Delivery: Users are more likely to stay engaged with a site that delivers content and ads that are relevant to their interests.
- Reduced Ad Fatigue: Contextually relevant ads are less intrusive and more likely to be perceived as valuable, reducing ad fatigue.
Brand Safety and Compliance:
- Avoidance of Inappropriate Content: By analyzing the context, publishers can ensure that ads are not placed alongside inappropriate or controversial content.
- Regulatory Compliance: Helps in adhering to regulations regarding appropriate ad placement and content delivery.
Content Strategy and Optimization:
- Data-Driven Decisions: Provides insights into what types of content are most engaging and relevant, helping publishers make data-driven decisions about content creation and strategy.
- SEO Benefits: Contextual analysis can improve search engine optimization efforts by ensuring content is keyword-rich and aligned with user search intent.
Monetization Opportunities:
- Premium Ad Pricing: Contextual targeting allows publishers to offer premium ad placements, as advertisers are willing to pay more for highly relevant ad spots.
- Increased Ad Inventory Value: By demonstrating high relevance and engagement, publishers can increase the value of their ad inventory.
Audience Insights:
- Behavioral Insights: Provides deeper insights into audience behavior and preferences based on the content they engage with.
- Personalization: Enables more personalized content and ad delivery, improving user satisfaction and loyalty.
Contextual analysis is a powerful tool for publishers, enhancing the relevance and effectiveness of both content and advertising. By understanding the context in which content is consumed, publishers can improve user experience, ensure brand safety, optimize their content strategy, and increase monetization opportunities. This leads to better engagement, higher ROI for advertisers, and overall improved performance of the publisher’s platform.
Samhub for Media - Context
In Samhub for Media contextual analysis is included in all our licenses. With our service you can use it for both contextual targeting and first party interest audiences.
Data Enrichment Platform (DEP)
Functions of Data Enrichment
Adding Demographic Information:
- Age, Gender, and Income: Enriching user data with demographic information such as age, gender, and income levels.
Education and Employment: Including data on education levels and employment status.
Geographic Information:
- Location Data: Integrating geographic information, such as city, region, and neighborhood data.
Urban vs. Rural: Identifying whether users are in urban, suburban, or rural areas.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Data:
- Interests and Hobbies: Adding information about users’ interests and hobbies.
Purchase Behavior: Including data on purchase habits and preferences.
Household Data:
- Household Size and Composition: Information about the number of people in a household and their relationships.
Home Ownership: Data on whether users own or rent their homes.
Socioeconomic Data:
- Economic Indicators: Integrating information on local economic conditions, such as average income levels and employment rates.
Health and Education Metrics: Adding data on health and education statistics from the region.
Why Data Enrichment is Relevant to Publishers
Enhanced Audience Segmentation:
- More Precise Targeting: With enriched data, publishers can create more precise and relevant audience segments. This allows for better-targeted advertising campaigns.
- Tailored Content: Understanding the demographics and interests of the audience enables publishers to tailor content to specific segments, increasing engagement.
Improved Ad Performance:
- Higher Relevance: Ads can be more closely matched to the interests and needs of users, leading to higher click-through rates and conversions.
- Increased ROI: Advertisers get better returns on their investment due to the improved targeting capabilities, making the ad inventory more valuable.
Personalization:
- Customized User Experience: Enriched data allows for a more personalized user experience, with content and ads that resonate more deeply with individual users.
- Loyalty and Retention: Personalization can increase user loyalty and retention by making users feel understood and valued.
Better Monetization Opportunities:
- Premium Ad Spots: Publishers can charge premium rates for highly targeted ad placements, as advertisers are willing to pay more for access to specific, valuable audience segments.
- New Revenue Streams: Data enrichment can open up new revenue streams by allowing publishers to offer more sophisticated and valuable data products to advertisers.
Enhanced Reporting and Insights:
- Detailed Analytics: Provides more detailed insights and analytics about audience behavior and demographics, helping publishers and advertisers make data-driven decisions.
- Campaign Optimization: Advertisers can use enriched data to optimize their campaigns in real-time, improving performance and outcomes.
Compliance and Trust:
- Regulatory Compliance: By using population and census data, publishers can ensure they are compliant with privacy regulations, as this data is often anonymized and aggregated.
- Building Trust: Transparency and responsible data use build trust with users, improving the publisher’s reputation.
Market Expansion:
- Identifying New Markets: Enriched data can help identify underserved markets or emerging trends, allowing publishers to expand their reach and tap into new opportunities.
- Competitive Advantage: Having richer, more detailed data can provide a competitive advantage in the market, attracting more advertisers.
Samhub for Media - Enrichment
In Samhub for Media anonymous user enrichment is included in all our licenses. We add demographic and socio-economic data to your inventory.
Editorial integrations to Content Management Systems (CMS)
What is a CMS (Content Management System)?
Why Should Publishers Integrate Their Commercial Data into their CMS?
Enhanced Content Strategy
- Data-Driven Decisions: Integrating commercial data (such as user behavior, ad performance, and subscription metrics) with editorial systems allows publishers to make data-driven decisions about content creation. Editors and content creators can access insights on what types of content are most engaging and profitable, enabling them to tailor their strategies accordingly.
- Content Personalization: Commercial data helps in understanding audience preferences and behaviors. By integrating this data into the CMS, publishers can deliver personalized content experiences to users, increasing engagement and retention. Personalized content can include recommendations, targeted articles, and custom newsletters.
Improved Revenue Optimization
- Ad Performance Tracking: Integrating ad performance data into the CMS enables editors to see which content drives the most ad revenue. This insight allows for the optimization of ad placements and the creation of content that aligns with high-performing ad units, ultimately maximizing revenue.
- Subscription and Paywall Management: Understanding which content converts readers into subscribers can help publishers refine their subscription strategies. By integrating commercial data, publishers can identify the types of content that are most likely to lead to subscriptions and optimize their paywall strategies accordingly.
Operational Efficiency and Collaboration
- Unified Platform: A unified platform that combines editorial and commercial data streamlines workflows and improves collaboration between editorial and commercial teams. Editors, marketers, and sales teams can work from the same data set, ensuring that everyone is aligned on goals and strategies.
- Automated Processes: Automation can be implemented to streamline the integration of commercial data into the editorial workflow. For example, real-time data on article performance can automatically inform editors about trending topics, allowing for quick adjustments to content strategies.
- Audience Insights: Commercial data provides detailed insights into audience segments, including demographics, interests, and behaviors. This information can help editorial teams tailor content to different audience segments, enhancing engagement and satisfaction.
Samhub for Media - Editorial
In Samhub for Media editorial integrations are part of our premium licenses.
What Samhub for Media focuses on
Our customers often have these three goals with using Samhub for Media:
- Monetisation
- Cost reduction
- Simplification
Monetisation
- We expose and/or push the data to your ad server or SSP that you use for your I/O campaigns, the audience taxonomy is set up to serve your sales team and your advertiser segments with trusted and secure first party data.
- We expose the programmatic standard taxonomy as 1st party audiences in real time through header bidding to the ad networks, effectively locking the data to your page view and making it redundant to share user IDs. This makes such data sharing secure with little to no risk of data leakage.
- We help you expose the data on the buyside platforms, should you wish to do so. Or you can setup data deals with the ad buyers, customising their targeting strategy on your domains. It is also possible to setup curated deals for agencies that can be used by several advertisers.
Cost reduction
Setting up a customised first party data stack can be a big and complicated project. And as the industry is moving towards unification in the targeting data instead of customisation, this means that the standardisation should be applied as effectively as possible to become a net positive revenue instead of a cost.
- Platforms and technology
- Servers & Infrastructure
- Maintenance, technical debt accumulation, ongoing development and updates
Simplification
What added value will you get from Samhub for Media?
- Time to market – plug in the industry standard on your ad inventory instantly, don’t re-invent the wheel and focus on the business use instead.
- Easier sales – working with data already established with media buyer makes sales more efficient. Samhub for Medias real-time exports makes it safe to share first party audiences with ad networks to leverage data in network sales as well.
- Reduced technical complexity – a compltete tech stack already connected and the technical complexity is managed by us, making it possible to focus on your core business – editorial content and sales.
- Know-how and cutting edge technology – we have over 10 years experience of publisher first party data and have been at the forefront of this transition. This knowledge and understanding of your challenges is included in our service.
More from the blog
What is Customer Data Analysis and Why is it Important?
A Guide to Brand Strategy for B2C Marketing
IN THIS ARTICLE
SHARE
Book a demo
Put your customers at the heart of your marketing
Schedule a personalized demo to see what Samhub can do, or discover on your own with a free account.