Chris Bruzzo

Incredible gathering of some of Southern California’s brightest marketing and e-commerce minds. Finding time to connect without any formal agenda, making new introductions to locals in the same industry, and brainstorming on some amazing ideas (insert Monarch Bay golf outing here). Great times Nick Lamothe with Crocs, Inc., Michael Grasewicz with Pattern Brands, Lindsey Breeden the Mayor of City of El Segundo, Matthew L. with Strand Marketing, and Willy Green with Keynes Digital #friends #relationshipsmatter #itsnotwork #socal #siliconbeach #ecommerce #digitalmarketing #growthmarketing #paidmedia #retention #acquisition #retentionmarketing #acquisitionmarketing #ctv #ctvadvertising #performancetv

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ROI is making it RAIN!!! (aka incremental revenue) No Seattle jokes please;) We are working with large scale publishers in News, Sports, Entertainment, Health, Travel, and Autos verticals. High volume, high frequency. STOP READIG NOW if you are not interested or incentivized by incremental revenue. Now that we have dropped nonrevenue incented/operation types, let's talk about increasing revenue. If you are selling 100% of your supply you are in a rare, probably non-optimized group. Most publisher do not and should not fill more than 75% of supply directly. Using the bottom 25% to leverage floors higher, increasing bids/ecpm. ROI allows publishers the opportunity to efficiently monetize 100% of their supply. Accomplishing this by selling unfilled outside of the direct adstack in a secondary auction or post-bid strategy. We will deliver real time market data on supply value, allowing publishers to understand supply value and flooring. Selling and optimizing your unsold is a simple and import part of a balanced programmatic strategy. ROI is the only company that is doing this and has been doing this from the beginning of programmatic. Let's talk, let's drive incremental rev!

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In episode 13 of #ThePubWayPodcast, Mike and I sit down with Keith Gooberman, CEO and Co-Founder of Pontiac Intelligence, to discuss the role of DSPs in the CTV space, contextual advertising, and the upcoming 2024 Pontiac Summit, bringing together industry leaders across the ecosystem. During the episode, we covered: 🔐 Pontiac Intelligence and the changing privacy landscape 📺 The Role of DSPs in the CTV Space 🌐 The evolution of contextual advertising 🎧 Listen now: https://lnkd.in/ess9eqxu #CTV #Publishers #AdTech #ContextualAdvertising Seedtag

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Generating content for a brand doesn't have to be painstaking. Restoration Healthcare in Irvine is taking a new approach to treating patients with complex conditions, and needed to clearly communicate what patients can expect. We sat down and walked through the questions their patients and prospective patients asked them. From that time, we were able to film over thirty videos in two days. Those videos combined with photos taken during that same time provided a year's worth of content and have been recycled as blog posts, social media posts, email campaigns, and website content. Our team will help you create a year's worth of content in two days. Contact Whole Brand Agency Today! #healthcare #marketing #content

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So tell me, where do you fall in the Great Marketing Tug of War? Are you in Camp Brand or Camp Performance? Camp Performance Marketing appears to have been leveled by a tornado. The cabins are roofless, the canoes are scattered along the shore, and the cafeteria is no longer serving anything but rations. The DTC companies who showed up every year are now huddled by the exit, hoping mom & dad show up. Camp Brand Marketing, less popular in recent years, is showing signs of life. Rebuilding is taking place, but campers are still a bit tentative. Only the lanyard-making tent is really active. The tug of war between the camps is getting interesting. DTC brands, some shattered, some shuttered, are associated with performance marketing, making it an easy target. “Performance marketing doesn’t build demand. It harvests demand,” media guru Brian Morrissey said on a recent podcast with brand expert Ana Andjelic. “I think the internet’s been a disaster for brands.” Well, OK, but no one is leaving the internet anytime soon. I’m going to argue for a foot in both camps—or better yet, a camp merger. Maybe it’s because I use performance marketing techniques to test branding and brand positioning, but the dichotomy seems false to me. Big, emotional brand campaigns are important, but they are more effective when also tailored to different audiences. Performance marketing offers a savvy way to optimize and fine-tune brand messages for audiences that are adjacent but distinct. A brand story can be conveyed in all kinds of ways, including through so-called performance ads that encourage a response. It just requires a little more creativity in uniting both camps. And let’s face it—getting quantitative feedback on brand marketing is a benefit, not a drawback. So, campers unite! #brand #marketing #brandmarketing #performancemarketing #validation

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One of the toughest puzzles we encounter is attribution to brick & mortar store sales for platforms like Meta & Tik Tok. There are many attribution tech companies working to solve this piece of the puzzle but the reality is, most advertisers can't afford attribution tech on top of media spend. That's why case studies like this are so important to read and share! If you are interested in advertising on social media and want a partner who understands the landscape - drop us a line! #mediabuying #retailadvertising #adagency

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The fashion world is undergoing a digital revolution, and brand partnerships are playing a starring role!   As the Vice President of Brand Partnerships at Fixated, Coach's recent foray into the metaverse with virtual handbags on Roblox and Zepeto is a fascinating glimpse into the future of fashion and brand engagement. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gqdEV3u4.    Forget a passing fad – this is a game-changer.   Why, you might ask?   The metaverse offers a whole new way to tell your brand story.  Virtual handbags are just the first chapter. Think immersive fashion shows, interactive experiences that let users engage with your brand in a whole new way, and influencer campaigns featuring stylish avatars.    To thrive in this space, brands need to partner with creators who understand the metaverse landscape and can co-create captivating experiences.   Gen Z lives in the metaverse, and that's where brands need to be too.  This isn't just about staying trendy. It's about meeting your audience where they connect.    Partnering with metaverse creators allows brands to tap into this demographic authentically, fostering genuine connections built on shared experiences within the virtual world.   Now there’s the "phygital" experience.  Virtual handbag ownership might translate to real-world benefits or exclusive access, creating a unique blend of physical and digital experiences.    Brands and creators can collaborate to create these "phygital" experiences, further bridging the gap between the physical and virtual worlds.   #MetaverseMarketing #BrandPartnerships #TheFutureofFashion #Coach #Roblox #Zepeto

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This is a really valid and poignant perspective.

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Calling everyone who's ever sat through an awkward creative presentation. Over the last decade, we’ve made a shift at Mortar that’s changed the game for our creative process. Instead of starting with "big ideas" and treating creative briefs as launching pads, we’ve adopted a framework focused on imagining what we want our target audience to say--that singular Aha moment of delight and surprise—and it’s paid off. I don’t remember one creative presentation that has missed its mark since we adopted this framework. The difference? Aha briefs aren’t about blasting off into the creative unknown. They’re landing zones. They’re about aligning the team and the client around a clear, shared vision of how we want customers to respond. This focus keeps the creative work sharp, purposeful, and, most importantly, effective. So, while big ideas can be exciting and captivating, we’ve found that aiming for that Aha moment—with a disciplined, collaborative approach—consistently delivers results that hit the bullseye. See www.mortaragency.com for more. #CreativeStrategy #AhaMoments #MarketingInnovation #ClientCollaboration #BreakthroughThinking #MarketingFramework #OriginalIdeas #TargetedCreativity #MarketingSuccess #BrandDevelopment

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Some M&A and client projects our team is working on this week… 👉🏼 recommending an employee incentive and retention plan for fast-growing influencer agency. Competition for top mgrs and account execs is high as space consolidates. But founders also need to be smart about minimizing equity dilution, appropriately rewarding team performance vs risks taken, and setting up plan structures that make sense for service VS tech businesses 👉🏼 prepping sell-side m&a client for Quality of Earnings diligence being done by buyer. Incl discussing 2024 budget based on actuals + bookings + pipeline, and how aligns with our earnout forecast in negotiated deal 👉🏼 prepping a client for investor meetings we set up as part of an ad agency m&a strategy 👉🏼 talking to big PE funds about where large checks can be deployed in creator x digital businesses. There’s not as many good options as there should be (I won’t recommend deals unless I believe there’s good ROI), but I know the industry will get there… 👉🏼 closing our fifth sponsor for our “Night Before VidCon” party. DM me if you want to get your company infront of 200+ execs in the creator economy 👉🏼 modeling out a new rate card for a b2b corp consulting biz one of our infuencer agency clients seeks to launch this quarter 👉🏼 helping an audio client make key revenue and cost decisions to ensure profitability 👉🏼 doing a valuation of a business that licenses content for AVOD window rights on YouTube, and showing where it makes sense to scale the business, and what distractions to avoid based on market value drivers …and more. Explains why we’re hiring. And why I’m going to Italy-Croatia-Slovenia on Friday, because I really need a vacay. The more client work we do… …the smarter our team gets on the space… …the more interesting partner convos we have… …and the more new work comes from it… …because our industry data set and exec network is second to none. It’s truly fun and rewarding. It’s also really hard work — I don’t have a biz where I work for two hrs a day and collect passive checks. Means I can’t make slick IG guru ads, ha! But I’m proud of our biz and find it rewarding and fulfilling. Explains why my recent LI posts are clocking in quite late! Alright, I got up at 345am to fly east today, time for bed… — I’m the founder of RockWater Industries. We do m&a and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My dms are open. #media #agency #creatorefonomy

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Top 6 Picks from ChizSix Marketing & Media and Global Toy News. #marketing #media #toyindustry #licensing #entertainment #consumerinsights #retail #consumerbehavior

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What is the purpose of your brand story? Recently I chatted with Reme Mancera and her podcast "Who Cares About My Story". You might be surprised that audience growth and brand awareness aren't even part of the conversation. Whether you're a service provider or you sell a product, you are building a community. And you are building something that will change and evolve as you change and evolve. Your brand story is the thing that holds it all together. Many businesses make the mistake of creating a core brand story and then repeat the message on autopilot. This defeats the purpose and power of storytelling. Watch the full conversation on how my approach to story telling has collapsed time in the client journey, allowed me to see new ways to serve clients, and strengthen my ability to be a powerful spokesperson for my own company. #media #tv #pr #brandstory #marketing #entrepreneur https://lnkd.in/e46GXP4U

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In our latest episode of #imPRessions, David H. Dancer talks with co-hosts Jennifer Lewis and Kalli Vetrano about how to rebrand flawlessly. Having led iconic rebrands across industries, David shares the do's and don'ts of revamping a brand. From communicating changes to customers instead of surprising them to phasing in modifications, Dancer's advice is truly 💯. In this episode, David breaks down famous fails like Twitter/X and wins like Dunkin shedding "Donuts." Are you feeling inspired to modernize your business? Tune into this episode before starting your revamp. #Rebranding #BusinessBranding #MarketingStrategy #MarketingPodcast #BusinessPodcast #LinkedInMarketing #podcast The Pollack Group

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I've had a few people send this to me asking for my thoughts: I know the artist industry very well and we actually used to make SoundClouds swag. The main point they make is "Let Artists Keep Every Cent of Their Merch Sales". 1) Doesn't appear they are making this product. They are using a 3rd party (this in itself is totally fine). 2) This is all on-demand, meaning massive limitations to the quality of the product 3) Nothing is stocked, there is no warehousing, and many products cannot be part of this. 4) This is simply an add on for bands, not a replacement for their store. So what does this all mean: The artist isn't really keeping 100% of the money. They are keeping all the profits on top of the cost of the product which is a) higher because it's OnDemand, higher because the supplier needs to make a profit and higher because SoundCloud needs to make money. I hope they don't charge them any fees as there aren't any costs involved (storage, warehousing, etc, etc). It also means that the final product for the customer isn't incredible - it's not screen printed, fully custom, and the actual blank is limited. Cool marketing, but it ends there. Every artist wants to feel they are keeping 100%, but this isn't it & it's not amazing for the artist nor the fan who will inevitably pay >$50 for a digitally printed t-shirt with huge limitations. Nothing new about this.

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We're running a webinar for Brands in a couple of weeks' time on Retail Media from an Advertiser's perspective (all of the information can be found below). If you're a CPG Brand Manager, Shopper Marketer, Ecommerce Owner, or you're in Digital Marketing, this could be a helpful session for you. A lot of the content out there right now is based on the theory - our intention for this session is to make it super practical & based on real-life case studies of those who we think are getting it right. We have a great panel line up, so you'll be hearing contributions from brands on how they're working in their organisations to set up for success in this 'new world' of advertising and I'm hoping they'll also be brave enough to tell you what they've gotten wrong too!

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The revenge of brand. The most important thing you’ll read this year. 1. Competition is everywhere. 2. DTC can be a trap (I just mentioned this to Joanne Tombrakos as we recorded her podcast today). 3. Brands aren’t built off performance marketing. Thank you for researching and writing Brian Morrissey “… invested a material amount of dollars (billions) into something that was less effective but easier to be measured vs something that was more effective but less easy to be measured. In conclusion: an impressive waste of money.” The issue in business? We have skipped over a whole generation of vision which understands how to do this without giving into “dashboard pressure.” https://lnkd.in/gJ9RmkYM

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