In a dynamic digital media landscape, where the number of advertising platforms is constantly increasing, ad prices are steadily rising, competition is intensifying and technological shifts present new demands, brands must adapt their strategies to overcome these challenges. In this blog post, I’ll explore the importance of top-of-funnel advertising for brands aiming for long-term growth and how these strategies help them achieve business goals effectively.

Digital advertising is constantly evolving and transforming, but the phasing out of third-party cookies represents a key turning point in its history. We are entering a new chapter of connecting with audiences, where activities will be based on the use of first-party data that companies obtain directly from their audiences on their websites or mobile apps. This marks the beginning of a new era in the buying of advertising space in digital media, which will require a deeper understanding and effective use of this valuable information for more targeted and personalised advertising.

We live in an exciting and dynamic digital world where technological innovation, artificial intelligence and programmatic platforms constantly redefine the rules of the game in the advertising industry. Today, brands are taking on the role of value drivers in the digital crowd, ensuring the quality of products and services and attributing value to content. It comes as no surprise then that brand safety has emerged as the cornerstone of successful communication in the digital environment while advertising technology has become the holy grail of digital.

In the first quarter of 2023, the European economy showed encouraging growth indicators, but growth is slowing somewhat due to an uncertain macroeconomic environment and various factors affecting consumer sentiment. In Slovenia, economic growth has slowed compared to the last quarter of 2022. Inflation rates remain high and prices for goods, energy products and services are also rising. This could lead to declining consumer sentiment and a reduction in the consumer confidence indicator later in the year. We live in volatile times, and no one can predict what the second half of the year will bring.

Imagine being able to effectively address a predefined audience according to their interests and improve the effectiveness of advertising campaigns by using the perfect message at the right moment. This is exactly what Fraport Slovenia, the operator of Aerodrom Ljubljana, is now able to accomplish with their walled garden campaigns.

Car shopping is on the rise again, but is moving online. During the pandemic, online shopping has become a strong part of the shopping habits of Slovenian consumers. However, buying a car is more complex than buying consumer goods, and car dealers cannot completely digitalize their purchase journeys just yet. What are the obstacles and how can dealers overcome them in the coming years, which will be critical to the recovery of the automotive industry?

The automotive industry faces several challenges, despite the impressive global sales figures achieved in recent years (68.2 million cars in 2018 and 65.5 million in 2019). Lockdown measures have led to the closure of production facilities, disruptions in supply chains and a drop in walk-in traffic at retail outlets. On the other hand, this year has seen a renewed interest in car purchases. How is the automotive industry coping with the challenges and where do we stand after the first quarter of the year?

We currently primarily purchase products related to our immediate needs. With the exception of basic necessities, we shop online and as the government containment measures are lifted gradually, we will return to our shopping habits, although they will be different. Advertising in digital media is a key communication tool for anchoring brands in the consumers’ consciousness. The pandemic will likely force the awareness of this fact onto the last remaining holdouts against digital transformation and digital forms of communication.