Factors that detract from the gaming experience

What has the most significant negative impact on online gaming? Recent online gaming data revealed that in-game advertising was the most critical drawback for users in 2023. A total of 55% of players felt that excessive in-game ads had a considerable negative impact on their gaming experience, while only 23% considered it a minor issue. 

Bugs and crashes ranked second among issues, with 42% of players citing a significant negative impact. This is four percentage points higher than the number of players reporting poor optimization and performance issues. 

On the other hand, only 13% of players believe that launch delays have a significant negative effect on their gaming experience. This suggests that gamers are willing to wait longer for games to be released if the final product has fewer bugs and issues.

In addition to the above reasons, gamers also highlight disadvantages such as microtransactions (small digital payments to unlock game features) and games that can be played only on a specific console.

          BETER Esports: top content and accurate statistics

It is also worth noting that audiences are often dissatisfied with the lack of opportunities to use statistics or follow news about esports competitions outside the game itself. This data can be provided by a brand specialised in diverse content delivery and in combining content and analytics.

BETER Esports offers a vast portfolio of esports tournaments and cutting-edge solutions. The brand BETER offers robust in-play and pre-match trading services, covering a wide range of in-house and over 400 global esports tournaments from Tier 1 to Tier 3.

At ICE Barcelona 2026, BETER is set to captivate audiences with its dynamic portfolio of fast, data-driven sports and esports content. With over 700,000 thrilling sports and esports events taking place each year, the team proudly offers 24/7 live streams and robust data feeds that keep fans engaged and informed. To learn more about tools and solutions, iGaming leaders are invited to visit stand 4F10.

CCPC and ASA sign data-sharing agreement to strengthen social media influencer regulation

The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has signed a new data-sharing agreement with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which will enhance regulatory oversight of social media platforms.

The agreement will enable the ASA to share information it receives through its online reporting portal while remaining in line with data protection laws. This will give the CCPC greater access to reports from the public of potential breaches of the law.

Under consumer protection law, social media influencers must not mislead consumers through unfair practices such as hidden or mislabelled advertising, or they could breach consumer protection law. This means they must clearly label posts that are commercial in nature.

A social media post may still breach consumer protection law even if it is properly labelled if the content is false or misleading.

The new data-sharing agreement means ASA will have the ability to share information regarding suspected breaches, which the CCPC may investigate further.

The CCPC, as a statutory body, has a range of enforcement tools to ensure that consumer protection law is adhered to, including compliance notices, fixed payment notices, undertakings, prohibition orders and prosecution.

Patrick Kenny, commission member at the CCPC, said:

“Consumer law protects consumers when engaging with the commercial content posted by online influencers. Commercial content from influencers must be clearly labelled as such and must also not be misleading. With the ASA, we have produced guidance for influencers to help them follow the law. This year we issued our first compliance notices against two prominent influencers.  We continue to monitor this sector closely and will act where we see breaches here.

“The new data-sharing agreement allows the ASA to share reports from the public and will support us in protecting consumers when it comes to social media advertising.”

Orla Twomey, chief executive of the ASA, said:

“We are delighted to formalise this data-sharing agreement, which marks a significant step towards enhancing regulatory outcomes for consumers in Ireland, ensuring a strong, responsive and resilient framework for the future. Social media advertising has been a key area of our focus, and this agreement is a further strengthening of cooperation between ASA and CCPC.”

Anyone concerned about suspected false or misleading advertising can contact the CCPC directly.

The agreement follows the publishing of new guidelines for influencers and social media advertisers by ASA and CCPC in October 2023.

Ireland’s oldest surfing retailer, Lahinch Surf Shop wins bespoke AI-powered advertising campaign with Google

Google, in partnership with Enterprise Ireland (EI) and the Local Enterprise Offices (LEO), has today announced Lahinch Surf Shop as the overall winner of this year’s You’re the Business competition. Situated on the picturesque prom in Lahinch Co Clare, the family-founded business was selected for its innovative use of digital tools to grow and evolve its operations. As the top winner, Lahinch Surf Shop will receive a truly unique prize: a custom AI-powered advertising campaign developed by Google AI in collaboration with a team of AI experts.

In addition to the overall winner, 23 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from across Ireland, spanning a range of industries from print studios and food producers to bespoke cabinet makers have been awarded an exclusive, money-can’t-buy prize as part of the You’re the Business campaign. Those selected will receive a digital support package from Google which includes a one-year Google Workspace Business subscription with access to AI-powered tools like Gemini Advanced and NotebookLM and a one-to-one consultation from Google experts on how to get the best out of Google Workspace. Winners will also receive a You’re the Business trophy and digital assets and are invited to attend a dedicated Winners event in Google’s EMEA HQ in Dublin.

Speaking about the competition Eileesh Buckley, co-owner of Lahinch Surf Shop in Clare said:

“It’s an incredible honour to be recognised as part of the You’re the Business campaign. At Lahinch Surf Shop, we’ve always believed in leveraging the power of digital tools to connect with our customers in meaningful ways. Being selected for this bespoke AI-powered advertising campaign is an exciting step forward, and we’re really looking forward to working with Google’s team to take our digital presence to the next level.”

Cera Ward, Managing Director, Large Customer Solutions, Google Ireland said:

“SMEs comprise 90% of all enterprises in Ireland. Businesses like Lahinch Surf Shop and all those we are celebrating today are an integral part of the economy generating employment and providing services across the country. Through You’re the Business we want to help founders leverage a range of digital tools, including AI, to help them reach their growth potential. We’ve been proud to partner with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Offices in the delivery of the programme and I want to congratulate all the winners announced today.”

Delivered by Google in partnership with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Enterprise Office, You’re the Business is an online platform offering digital training and tools to businesses in Ireland free of charge. Now in its third year, the initiative has taken on a new AI-focus with the online platform offering new training modules where users can explore AI tools and learn how AI can help them prepare for the future.

The competition element rewards businesses that have demonstrated a commitment to digital at different stages of their journey. Entrants were asked to submit a written entry telling their story around how they’ve utilised or enhanced digital skills in order to help their business grow or succeed online.

Kieran Comerford, Chair of the Local Enterprise Offices, said;

“The role of digital in the evolution and growth of any SME has never been so keenly felt than over the past number of years.  Giving them access to Google’s in-depth expertise through the You’re the Business programme is a fantastic step to help these companies maximise their online presence.  This programme along with the suite of online supports through the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland to help businesses digitise, is helping give them a competitive advantage both here and internationally.  Congratulations to all the winners today and we look forward to continuing to support them as they grow over the coming years.”

For further information on the winners and the You’re The Business initiative, please visit: g.co/yourethebusiness

Winning SMEs:

Aleph expands partnership with Spotify to manage Global Advertising Sales in over 80 markets including Ireland

Aleph, a global network of digital experts innovating at the intersection of media and payments, and Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, today announced an expanded partnership that makes Aleph Spotify’s advertising sales partner in 80+ markets including Ireland, providing access to 20.000+ advertisers.

Spotify Advertising has been modernizing its ad tech, strengthening its partnerships and deepening its human expertise to make it easier for advertisers to buy, create, measure, and get clear results on Spotify’s ad platform. Spotify’s efforts reflect a significant step forward in automated buying and creative innovation for the ad platform and the broader digital audio industry. Most notably, Spotify is continuing to innovate its self-serve platform, Spotify Ads Manager, with more advanced targeting capabilities, new 1P & 3P measurement solutions, and new outcome-based objectives to help advertisers of all sizes create, optimize, and measure their Spotify campaigns, including Spotify Pixel, Custom Audiences, key third-party partnerships and a new App Installs objective.

Aleph has been a trusted partner to Spotify since 2013, when the initial partnership started with four countries. The newly signed partnership brings Aleph’s comprehensive suite of services – including local media sales, payment solutions, creative support, and performance-driven automation – to effectively monetize Spotify’s advertising inventory and connect the brand with advertisers, streamlining and scaling Spotify’s ad solutions to 80+ markets including Ireland.

Aleph’s teams will have access to Spotify’s Ads Manager to guide advertisers and agencies to leverage the platform’s full potential of advertising formats and targeting capabilities to ensure they can reach listeners during key moments, such as workout sessions, focused work periods and commuting to provide advertisers and brands with unique opportunities to connect with their target audience when they’re highly engaged and help reach their marketing goals.

 Key benefits for advertisers working with Spotify Ads Manager through Aleph include: 

  • Access to Spotify’s ad formats: Advertisers will be able to utilise Spotify’s unique audio and video ad formats to craft engaging campaigns. Spotify recently introduced new ad formats available on Ads Manager, including Canvas and Opt-in Video. These new formats reimagine what ads on Spotify can be and how advertisers can engage with people through sight and sound.
  • Objective-based buying: The Ads Manager will allow advertisers to choose goals like reach, impressions, clicks, or video views for highly targeted campaigns. Spotify recently announced new outcome-based objectives to help advertisers of all sizes create, optimize, and measure their Spotify campaigns, including a new App Installs objective and a new Website Traffic Objective.
  • Lower costs: Flexible daily or lifetime budgets make Spotify advertising more accessible and cost-effective for partners thanks to Aleph’s campaign management.

“We are thrilled to partner with Spotify in 80+ markets,” said Enda Finan, Country Manager for Ireland at Aleph. “Our shared commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional value for advertisers makes this a natural partnership.”

“As we continue to grow our ads business, I’m excited to share that we’ve partnered with Aleph in order to streamline our operations, offer better solutions to advertisers and scale our business more efficiently. With the launch of our more automated solutions and Aleph’s exceptional global network and deep local expertise, we’re now able to offer advertisers around the world new tools and resources that will help them reach their campaign goals.” said Sam Bevan, Global Head of Emerging & Scaled at Spotify.

 

Personalised Digital Advertising: A Key Driver of Growth for Irish SMBs

A new study by the Centre for Information Policy Leadership (CIPL), based on research by Public First, reveals the crucial role of personalised digital advertising in supporting the competitiveness and growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMBs) across Europe with a key focus on Ireland. The report, commissioned by Google, surveyed over 4,287 SMBs across the EU (including 263 in Ireland) and highlights the significant benefits of personalised digital advertising for SMBs, as well as the potential negative consequences of restricting its use.

 

Key Findings:

  • Competitive Advantage: 76% of small businesses in the EU say personalised digital advertising enables them to compete with larger businesses. In Ireland this number is even higher with 96% agreeing that personalised digital advertising helps level the playing field, allowing them to reach specific audiences with limited marketing budgets.

  • Revenue Growth: 96% of Irish  SMBs report increased overall revenue over the past year, and stated that this growth can be directly attributed to personalised digital advertising.

  • Customer Acquisition: 62% of Irish SMBs believe that finding new customers would be ‘difficult or impossible’ without personalised digital advertising, underscoring its critical role in expanding their customer base. 41% of  SMBs in Ireland report that digital advertising has allowed them to find new customers.

  • Access to New Markets: A third of Irish SMBs (32%) reported that digital advertising helps them to market their products or services in new markets or regions.

 

The Importance of Personalised Digital Advertising for SMBs

SMBs often have very specific audiences and operate with limited marketing budgets. Personalised digital advertising allows them to reach their customers more effectively, expand into new markets, and compete with larger businesses. By tailoring advertisements to individual interests based on browsing history or set preferences, SMBs can achieve a higher return on investment compared to contextual advertising. 44% of Irish SMBs surveyed reported personalised digital advertising to be more effective at reaching their relevant audience, and 41% reported it as more effective at improving their return on ad spend, when compared to contextual advertising.

 

The Impact of Limiting Personalised Advertising

The study also examined the potential consequences of restricting or eliminating personalised digital advertising. The findings indicate significant negative impacts on SMBs in Ireland and across the broader European economy:

 

  • Higher Costs and Lower Revenue: If personalised digital ads were no longer permitted, 41% of  SMBs in Ireland anticipate increased marketing costs, and 37% anticipated decreased revenue.

  • Price Increases: 57% of SMBs surveyed in Ireland claim that they would increase the prices of their products/services if they could no longer use personalised ads.

  • Difficulty Reaching Customers: 62% of SMBs believe that it would be difficult or even impossible to find the customers their business needs without personalised digital advertising.

  • Job Losses and Relocation: 30% of surveyed SMBs in Ireland cited reducing staff as one of the ways their business would cut costs if they could no longer use personalised digital ads with 20% indicating they would relocate or reduce offices and facilities to reduce costs if they could no longer use personalised digital ads.

 

Suzanne McElligott, CEO of IAB Ireland said:

 

“IAB Ireland’s members collaborate to help advertisers drive growth through digital advertising.  Our engagement with Irish SMEs has grown dramatically over recent years reflecting SMEs’  increasing reliance on digital advertising as a business driver. The CIPL study’s evidence-based findings with 96% of SMEs  attributing their revenue growth to personalised advertising, reflect our experience. SMEs are a major contributor to Ireland’s economy and as we seek to protect Ireland’s competitiveness and foster economic growth, it is important that our regulatory environment facilitates Irish businesses embracing the benefits of digital advertising.”

 

Report Recommendations

The report emphasises the need for a balanced approach that supports innovation and protects fundamental rights. Policymakers should ensure that new legislative initiatives build on existing frameworks and avoid creating additional complexity. Extensive impact assessments should be conducted to evaluate the potential economic and compliance burdens for all market players. The focus must be on simplification: streamlining existing rules, ensuring legal certainty, and removing redundant or conflicting obligations. Organisations should proactively implement robust accountability measures and demonstrate how they safeguard individual rights when deploying digital advertising. Privacy Enhancing Technologies (PETs) and Privacy-Preserving Technologies (PPTs) can be deployed to enable businesses to deliver targeted advertising while minimising data exposure and enhancing user trust.

 

Bojana Bellamy, President, CIPL said:

 

“Our research shows that digital advertising, particularly personalised digital advertising, plays a crucial role in Europe’s digital economy by supporting SMBs, enhancing access to content, and contributing to a positive user experience.”

 

Conclusion

Personalised digital advertising is a vital tool for SMBs, driving growth, enabling competition, and supporting access to content. By adopting a balanced regulatory approach and embracing new technologies like AI, Ireland can ensure that businesses and individuals continue to benefit from the digital economy.

Data sheet

Vodafone champions Irish businesses with exclusive Six Nations brand advertising opportunity worth over €25,000

A lucky Vodafone Business customer will get to answer Ireland’s call and bring their business to the big screen at a packed Aviva Stadium as Ireland host France in round three of the Six Nations Championships on March 8th.

Vodafone provides business support to over 60% of Irish businesses. The Bring your Business to the Big Screen initiative is worth over €25,000 to the successful SME and is open to Vodafone SME Business customers.

Vodafone is offering its winning partner some of its own in-stadium pitch-side branding  for the highly anticipated Six Nations fixture against France. The winning business will also receive an exclusive video content package, two VIP tickets to attend the match and see their brand advertised, as well as an exclusive invitation to meet the team at their Captain’s Run the day before the match.

Last year’s Six Nations clash between Ireland and France attracted a TV audience of over 1 million viewers in Ireland and 6.6 million viewers in France and when Ireland last hosted the French in Dublin in 2023, the fixture delivered a 70% share of Ireland’s TV audience.

As the two tournament favorites go head-to-head, the Aviva Stadium will be at full capacity adding another 50,000 people to the number who will be exposed to the company’s brand.  To enter, companies must visit the Vodafone.ie business website and fill out a simple form – entries must be submitted by the 7th February, 2025.

Over 2,000 SMEs applied to participate in Vodafone’s ‘Bring your Business to the Big Screen’ initiative in 2024 which provided four small Irish businesses exposure during the Autumn Nations Series at the Aviva Stadium in November 2024 – SOS Cookies (Limerick), The Farmhouse.ie (Longford), JANDO and Lotts & Co. (both Dublin) were featured on pitch-side and digital screen advertising during the game.

Amanda Nelson, CEO at Vodafone Ireland said: “This initiative is one of the most rewarding for our Vodafone Business team as we get to leverage our Irish Rugby sponsorship to the benefit of one of our SME customers.  This scheme will expose their brand to over 1 million people in Ireland and will also deliver significant exposure overseas. Ireland and France are the favourites for this year’s Six Nations title, which will increase interest even further in the fixture and provide a fantastic platform for one of our SME customers to share in the spotlight.”

Vodafone Ireland has been the main sponsor of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) since 2016. As part of this sponsorship, Vodafone shares a number of exclusive benefits with its customers, allowing them to feel part of the #TeamOfUs.This competition along with practical supports like V-Hub, a free digital support service offering tailored advice to help businesses navigate their digital transformation journey, are just some of the ways Vodafone is supporting small businesses.

The Latest Advances in OTT Technology for Advertisers

The world of advertising has experienced a seismic shift with the rise of over-the-top (OTT) platforms. As more viewers migrate away from traditional cable TV to streaming services, advertisers are increasingly turning to OTT technology to engage consumers in new and innovative ways. In this article, we explore the latest advances in OTT technology that are reshaping digital marketing and offering advertisers new opportunities to enhance campaign performance.

Understanding OTT Advertising

OTT (Over-The-Top) advertising refers to ads that are delivered through internet-connected devices rather than traditional cable or satellite television. OTT platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and YouTube are becoming dominant forces in the media industry, providing advertisers with a unique avenue to reach targeted audiences across multiple devices.

OTT advertising allows advertisers to deliver personalized, data-driven ads to consumers watching their favorite shows or movies, creating a more engaging and less disruptive experience than traditional TV ads. As OTT consumption continues to grow, leveraging OTT technology for advertising is becoming increasingly important for businesses looking to remain competitive in a digital-first world.

The Shift from Traditional TV to OTT

Traditional TV advertising has long been a cornerstone of the advertising industry. However, in recent years, there has been a clear shift toward OTT platforms as viewers increasingly cut the cord and opt for streaming services. According to recent studies, over 50% of U.S. households have adopted some form of connected TV, making it an essential platform for advertisers.

This migration presents both challenges and opportunities for advertisers. The challenge lies in navigating the fragmented landscape of OTT platforms and devices, while the opportunity is in leveraging the power of digital tools like data analytics and programmatic advertising to reach more precise audiences.

Latest Developments in OTT Technology

1. Advanced Targeting Capabilities

One of the most significant advances in OTT technology is the ability to target specific audiences with high precision. Thanks to the vast amounts of data available through digital streaming services, advertisers can now reach their target demographic more effectively than ever before.

Modern OTT platforms offer advanced targeting options that allow advertisers to target users based on:

  • Demographics: Age, gender, income level, etc.
  • Location: Geographic targeting to local, regional, or national audiences.
  • Viewing Habits: Based on the type of content viewers consume (e.g., sports, drama, comedy).
  • Device Type: Whether viewers are watching on smart TVs, mobile devices, or desktops.

By using this rich data, advertisers can deliver more relevant, personalized ads, improving both engagement rates and ROI.

2. Programmatic Advertising in OTT

Programmatic advertising has become a game-changer for OTT advertising. This automated buying and selling of digital ad space allows advertisers to optimize their campaigns in real-time, targeting the right viewers at the right time with minimal manual intervention.

With programmatic advertising, advertisers can leverage:

  • Real-Time Bidding (RTB): This feature allows advertisers to bid on ad inventory in real-time, ensuring they pay the optimal price for ad placements.
  • Data-Driven Optimization: Ads can be optimized based on viewer behavior, maximizing effectiveness and return on investment.
  • Cross-Platform Integration: Programmatic ads can be served across various devices, ensuring consistent messaging regardless of the viewer’s screen.

This level of automation and data-driven optimization helps advertisers achieve more efficient campaigns and reduces the complexity of managing multiple ad placements.

3. Connected TV Advertising

Connected TV (CTV) is one of the most significant trends in the OTT space. CTV refers to any television set that is connected to the internet, including smart TVs and gaming consoles. Advertisers are increasingly turning to CTV as a way to combine the targeting capabilities of digital with the expansive reach of traditional TV.

The key benefits of CTV advertising include:

  • Broad Reach with Precision: CTV allows advertisers to reach a mass audience, but with the ability to target viewers based on data insights.
  • Engaging Ad Formats: CTV ads offer more engaging formats compared to traditional TV, such as interactive ads that allow viewers to take immediate action.
  • Seamless Integration: CTV ads integrate well into the streaming experience, making them less intrusive and more likely to be viewed in their entirety.

CTV offers an opportunity for advertisers to leverage the power of both TV and digital, allowing for a more integrated and effective advertising strategy.

4. Interactive and Shoppable Ads

With the increasing demand for more interactive and engaging ad experiences, OTT platforms are introducing new formats that go beyond passive viewing. Interactive and shoppable ads are gaining popularity as they allow viewers to engage with the content directly.

  • Interactive Ads: These allow viewers to interact with ads by choosing their preferred options, watching additional content, or even participating in polls or quizzes. These ads lead to higher viewer engagement and brand recall.
  • Shoppable Ads: Shoppable ads enable viewers to purchase products directly from the ad itself, providing a seamless transition from viewing to buying.

By incorporating these interactive features into OTT ads, advertisers can create more immersive and actionable experiences, driving higher conversion rates and improving campaign performance.

5. Advanced Analytics and Attribution Models

As the OTT advertising space matures, the importance of advanced analytics and attribution models has become more evident. Advertisers now have access to sophisticated tools that provide insights into how ads are performing across various platforms and devices.

  • Cross-Device Tracking: With OTT technology, advertisers can track users across multiple devices, providing a more holistic view of their behavior and interactions with ads.
  • Attribution Models: New attribution models allow advertisers to understand which touchpoints along the customer journey contributed most to conversions, helping them optimize future campaigns.
  • Real-Time Analytics: Access to real-time data enables advertisers to adjust their campaigns on the fly, making improvements to targeting, messaging, and ad spend allocation.

These advancements in analytics empower advertisers to make data-driven decisions and ensure that their OTT campaigns deliver maximum ROI.

6. Privacy and Data Protection

As the digital landscape evolves, so too do concerns around privacy and data protection. OTT platforms are investing heavily in securing user data and complying with regulations like the GDPR and CCPA. Advertisers must also stay ahead of these regulations to ensure their campaigns are compliant and transparent.

  • Data Security: Advanced encryption methods are being implemented to protect user data from breaches.
  • User Consent: OTT platforms are adopting clear consent mechanisms, allowing users to control the types of data they share.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Advertisers must navigate increasingly stringent privacy laws to ensure their campaigns adhere to legal standards while still delivering personalized ads.

As privacy concerns continue to grow, advertisers must find ways to balance personalized targeting with consumer privacy rights, ensuring they maintain trust and comply with regulations.

The Future of OTT Advertising

The future of OTT advertising looks promising, with continuous innovations in technology creating new opportunities for advertisers. From AI-driven targeting to enhanced programmatic capabilities, the potential for highly effective, data-driven advertising is greater than ever. However, as the OTT space becomes more competitive, advertisers will need to adapt quickly to stay ahead of the curve and leverage the latest tools to connect with their audiences.

Key Takeaways

  • OTT Technology is revolutionizing the advertising landscape by offering advertisers more precise targeting, better campaign optimization, and improved ROI.
  • Programmatic Advertising enables real-time bidding and data-driven optimization, streamlining the ad-buying process.
  • Connected TV Advertising combines the reach of traditional TV with the precision of digital, allowing advertisers to deliver more relevant, engaging ads.
  • Interactive and Shoppable Ads offer more immersive experiences, driving higher engagement and conversion rates.
  • Advanced Analytics and Attribution Models enable advertisers to optimize campaigns with real-time insights and data-driven decisions.
  • Privacy and Data Protection are crucial considerations as advertisers navigate the growing complexities of user data management and regulatory compliance.

Conclusion

OTT tech continues to reshape the advertising landscape, offering new and innovative ways for advertisers to reach and engage with consumers. As the industry evolves, staying up-to-date with the latest advancements will be key to maximizing the impact of your advertising campaigns. By leveraging the power of OTT, connected TV, and programmatic advertising, businesses can drive more effective, targeted, and engaging campaigns, ensuring they remain competitive in an increasingly digital world.

Bitmedia Review: Crypto & Bitcoin Advertising Network

Welcome to the realm of Bitmedia, a game-changing advertising network designed to empower crypto and gaming businesses with targeted, efficient, and high-impact advertising solutions. In this review, we will embark on a journey to explore the features, benefits, and unique offerings that make Bitmedia a standout player in the world of digital marketing.

Bitmedia Features and Services

Targeted Advertising Capabilities: One of the most remarkable aspects of Bitmedia is its ability to precisely target audiences within the crypto and Bitcoin space. Advertisers can reach potential customers based on factors like interests, geographical location, and behavior, ensuring their messages resonate with the right individuals.

Ad Formats and Display Options: Bitmedia boasts an impressive array of advertising formats, catering to the diverse needs of advertisers and publishers alike. From engaging display ads and captivating video ads to native ads and pop-ups that blend seamlessly with content, the platform offers a wealth of options to captivate audiences.

Want to explore these innovative advertising formats? Check them out on Bitmedia’s official site: https://bitmedia.io/

Campaign Management Tools: Simplifying the advertising process, Bitmedia equips users with intuitive campaign management tools. Advertisers can easily create, optimize, and monitor campaigns, ensuring maximum efficiency and impact throughout the entire advertising journey.

Tracking and Analytics: Bitmedia takes data seriously, providing comprehensive tracking and analytics tools to measure the performance of ad campaigns in real time. Armed with insightful data, advertisers can make informed decisions, maximize ROI, and optimize their strategies for success.

Payment Options and Payouts: Recognizing the importance of seamless transactions, Bitmedia offers flexible payment options and swift payouts to its users. This ensures that both advertisers and publishers experience a smooth and rewarding journey while utilizing the platform.

With the focus on Web3, crypto, and gaming industries, and the ability to provide efficient advertising campaigns, Bitmedia.io quickly gained popularity among crypto businesses.

Advantages and Benefits of Bitmedia

Reach and Audience Targeting: With a vast network of crypto and Bitcoin advertising, Bitmedia opens doors to a highly engaged audience. The platform’s advanced targeting capabilities allow advertisers to connect with users who are genuinely interested in their offerings, boosting the likelihood of conversion.

Cost-Effectiveness and ROI: In the world of advertising, cost-effectiveness and ROI are paramount. Bitmedia, with its targeted approach, helps businesses minimize wasteful spending by displaying ads only to relevant users. This translates into higher returns on investment and enhanced campaign efficiency.

Secure and Transparent Transactions: Trust and transparency are essential in the crypto industry. Bitmedia prioritizes security, providing users with a secure environment to conduct their advertising endeavors. Additionally, the platform emphasizes transparency, ensuring that advertisers and publishers have full visibility into their campaign performance and earnings.

Support for Crypto and Bitcoin Publishers: Bitmedia’s commitment to the crypto community extends to its publishers. Through fair revenue sharing models and prompt payouts, the platform empowers publishers to monetize their content and continue contributing to the growth of the industry.

Case Studies and Success Stories

Let’s delve into some inspiring case studies and success stories that demonstrate the transformative power of Bitmedia:

Case Study 1: Crypto Startup Skyrockets in User Acquisition

A new crypto startup leveraged Bitmedia’s targeted advertising capabilities to reach potential investors worldwide. With precise audience targeting, the startup achieved a 300% increase in user acquisition and a substantial boost in its community engagement.

Success Story 1: Publisher Earns Passive Income

A crypto-focused content creator integrated Bitmedia’s native ad formats seamlessly into their website. The result? A substantial passive income stream that allowed the publisher to focus more on producing quality content for their audience.

Safety and Security Measures

Ad Fraud Prevention: Bitmedia takes a proactive approach to combat ad fraud, implementing stringent measures to protect both advertisers and publishers from fraudulent activities.

Transparency and Verification: Advertisers can rest easy knowing that their ads are displayed on credible and verified publisher websites, fostering trust and reliability in the advertising ecosystem.

User Data Protection: Privacy is of paramount importance at Bitmedia. The platform adheres to industry-leading data protection practices, safeguarding user information and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations.

Comparisons With Other Advertising Networks

While traditional ad networks may have a broader reach, Bitmedia’s niche focus on crypto and Bitcoin ensures unmatched targeting precision and relevancy. The agency shines through its diverse ad formats, robust targeting capabilities, and comprehensive analytics, distinguishing itself as a top contender in the crypto advertising landscape.

User Experience and Interface

Bitmedia prioritizes user experience, offering an intuitive interface that caters to both beginners and seasoned advertisers. The platform’s customer support team is readily available to assist users, ensuring a seamless and enjoyable experience.

Limitations and Areas for Improvement

As with any platform, Bitmedia does have a few areas for improvement. Some users have expressed a desire for additional ad formats and further customization options to cater to specific advertising goals. Bitmedia actively listens to user feedback and continuously enhances its services based on user input.

Conclusion

Bitmedia stands tall as a remarkable advertising network tailored to cater to the unique needs of the crypto and Bitcoin industry. With its targeted advertising capabilities, diverse ad formats, and commitment to security and transparency, Bitmedia presents an enticing opportunity for businesses and publishers to thrive in the digital advertising landscape.

So, whether you’re a crypto startup looking to skyrocket your user acquisition or a publisher seeking to monetize your content, Bitmedia has all tools and features to elevate your advertising endeavors to new heights. Embrace the future of advertising with Bitmedia and unlock the full potential of the crypto and Bitcoin ecosystem!

ASAI to implement Artificial Intelligence tools as new research reveals 63% of consumers are concerned by inauthenticity of social media influencers

Artificial Intelligence (AI) that evaluates activity by social media influencers and assesses if they are disclosing content correctly or not is to be implemented by the Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI), the independent, self-regulatory body committed to promoting the highest standards of marketing communications in Ireland.

The announcement comes as the organisation unveils new research that reveals that a lack of authenticity, edited photos, too many paid ads and influencers misrepresenting real life are the top traits that cause annoyance amongst Irish consumers.

The survey was conducted as part of the ASAI’s ongoing commitment to understand consumer issues and concerns regarding influencer marketing, so the organisation can continue to proactively provide guidance in this area and increase the monitoring of those who consistently breach the advertising code. The survey results are based on the views of 1,000 participants across a broad demographic, interviewed online and representative of the adult population.

Nearly 7 in 10 (67%) are familiar with the practice of influencer marketing, with awareness being highest (75%) amongst those age 35 and under. A majority (71%) believe that when an influencer posts an ad, they are being paid by the brand to post positive content, which is slightly down from 80% in 2021.

While the research found that 84% of consumers use social media apps frequently and almost 40% of those use it for tips or inspiration, consumer confidence in what they’re seeing online is still extremely low, with just one in 10 consumers having trust in influencers’ posts, while over 62% believe that influencers post too much sponsored content. Echoing similar results to the recent Social Media Influencer Report released by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) in December, this research reveals that there is a severe lack of trust between influencers and consumers.

Some of the top traits people find most ‘annoying’ from influencers according to the ASAI research include edited photos (67%) and influencers who do not come across as authentic (63%). Almost 60% of Irish consumers (56%) trust brand advertisements more than social posts by influencers. As was the case in 2021 according to the ASAI’s first Influencer Marketing Survey, over half (51%) of people in Ireland say they are concerned by the lack of transparency in influencer marketing.

The research also provides insight into people’s understanding of the use of hashtags and labelling in online advertising. Over half of consumers (55%) were able to reference various hashtags or phrases used to identify influencer advertising content – down 11% since last year. Among the most frequently recognised were #sponsored (61%), #ad (55%) and #paidpartnership (46%). However, 59% of people confirmed they didn’t recognise #sp and 54% didn’t recognise the hashtag #iworkwith. 71% of people were aware that when an influencer posts an affiliate link that they are being paid by the brand being linked.

While the majority of people might find these results surprising, the ASAI has found that some of the statistics in fact correspond with what the organisation has discovered already as part of their ongoing work in the area of Influencer Marketing. For example, the ASAI has strict guidelines around the disclosure of influencer content, having introduced revised guidance on the ‘Recognisability of Marketing Communications’ in 2021. This guidance note covered commercial content created on behalf of brands as well as commercial content created by influencers for their own products and services. However, the results of this research indicate that there is a need for additional guidance for both consumers and influencers, particularly around labelling, correct ways to disclose and to re-enforce the importance of influencers adhering to the Advertising Code.

The ASAI are working with the CCPC on updated guidance to ensure there is increased clarity in relation to responsibilities and requirements from influencers when advertising on social media.

Commenting on the research, Orla Twomey, Chief Executive of the ASAI, said:

“As we can see from this research over half those surveyed remain bothered by both the lack of transparency in influencer marketing and not being able to distinguish content from advertising, which echoes similar results to the Social Media Influencer Report released by the CCPC last December.  Both the ASAI research and the CCPC report show that there is a need for more transparency from influencers with regard to labelling their sponsored content clearly and correctly, as well as more guidance and education for both consumers and influencers alike in this space. To help with this we are planning to continue implementing the use of AI tools and working with the CCPC to develop further guidance.

Kevin O’Brien, Member of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission said:

“The CCPC welcomes the ASAI’s on-going work on consumers’ understanding of how influencers and brands operate on social media platforms. Similar to our own research, published late last year, the ASAI’s research reinforces that platforms and brands must take greater responsibility for educating and informing their users and consumers, and must support influencers  in clearly and consistently labelling paid content so that consumers are not misled. We look forward to working with the ASAI in developing guidance which will assist influencers, brands and consumers in this regard.”

The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland is committed, in the public interest, to promoting the highest standards of marketing communications that is advertising, promotional marketing, and direct marketing. The objective is to ensure that all commercial marketing communications are ‘legal, decent, honest and truthful’.

Media are required to abide by the Code and not to publish an advertisement or conduct a promotion which contravenes Code rules. The Code covers commercial marketing communications and sales promotions in all media in Ireland including digital (online banners, websites, and social platforms), print, outdoor, radio, TV, leaflets/brochures, and direct marketing.

 

Further information on advertising self-regulation, the ASAI, and the operation of the system is available at www.asai.ie