Ep. 55 Xander Kotsatos discusses challenges and opportunities in CTV with AdTechGod
Nov 19, 2024
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Xander Katsatos, head of sales at Beeswax, delves into the dynamic world of ad tech with a focus on connected TV (CTV) trends. He shares his journey, emphasizing the importance of keeping pace with industry news. The conversation highlights challenges like fragmented content distribution and the need for effective audience targeting in CTV. Xander advocates for private marketplace deals and stresses the necessity for sales professionals to adapt to constant changes for success. His insights reflect the ever-evolving nature of digital advertising.
Xander Katsatos emphasizes the importance of adapting to industry changes, highlighting audience targeting and data-driven strategies in connected TV advertising.
He shares his unconventional career journey, illustrating that seizing opportunities and building relationships are crucial for success in the ad tech field.
Deep dives
Xander Katsados' Journey into Ad Tech
Xander Katsados shares his unconventional path into the ad tech industry, which began during the recession when he graduated without a job. By seizing opportunities such as sneaking into an alumni event, he secured an internship in public relations before transitioning into digital marketing. His pivotal experience came while working at Commission Junction, leading to a position at ValueClick and eventually becoming their first East Coast account manager. This journey highlights the importance of taking chances and the value of showing up, as these actions often lead to unexpected career opportunities.
Lessons from Early Ad Tech Innovations
During his time at ValueClick, Katsados navigated the early days of real-time bidding and programmatic advertising, where experimentation was key. He recounts a successful strategy where retargeting customers who had previously bought a product led to increased sales, illustrating the early application of what would become standard practices in the industry. This period of trial and error underscored how vital it was to adapt strategies based on real-time feedback and learnings. Katsados emphasizes that these early insights have paved the way for current methodologies in audience targeting and customer engagement.
Trends in Connect TV and Audience Targeting
As Katsados transitioned to leading sales at Beeswax, he discussed significant shifts within the connected TV landscape, particularly in audience targeting and the implications of cookie deprecation. He views the issue of IP rotation as a major challenge that needs addressing as households deal with multiple IP addresses. The implementation of the Freewheel ID network is one of Beeswax's strategies aimed at tackling this problem, reinforcing the need for reliable identification across platforms. With a major shift toward private marketplace deals in CTV advertising, advertisers are increasingly focusing on data-driven strategies in this evolving environment.
Advice for Aspiring Ad Tech Professionals
Katsados provides valuable guidance for newcomers in the ad tech sector, emphasizing the importance of finding one's passion and embracing the process of elimination early in one's career. He highlights the necessity of showing up with effort and a positive attitude, asserting that these traits are invaluable in a competitive industry. Additionally, he stresses the significance of building relationships and networks, noting that trust is the currency that enables long-term success in business. By fostering strong connections and avoiding the burning of bridges, aspiring professionals can cultivate a supportive ecosystem that drives their career advancement.
Xander Kotsatos, the head of sales at Beeswax, shares his journey in the ad tech industry and discusses trends in the market. He highlights the importance of staying up to date with industry news and trends through sources like newsletters, podcasts, and publications.
Xander also emphasizes the need for sales professionals to focus on what they're good at and put in the effort to succeed. He discusses the challenges of fragmented content distribution and the shift towards private marketplace deals and audience targeting in connected TV. Xander also raises questions about the future of the industry and the importance of adapting to constant change.
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