Mike Walrath

Mike Walrath, CEO and Chairman of Yext, discusses the vital shift in marketing towards AI and machine-friendly content. He emphasizes the evolution from managing listings to creating AI-ready data pipelines, highlighting the importance of hyperlocal data and personalized content in go-to-market strategies. Walrath also explores new pricing models, advocating for outcome-based approaches over traditional seat-based pricing. His insights on the transformation of search technology underscore the need for businesses to adapt to a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

In this insightful discussion, Mike Walrath, CEO of Yext and founder of Right Media (which Yahoo acquired for $850M), delves into the seismic shift from human-centric to AI-optimized marketing strategies. He emphasizes the urgent need to adapt business data structures for AI, as they now hold more weight than traditional web pages. The conversation highlights the impact of generative AI on customer discovery and stresses an 'intelligence first' approach for data-driven marketing excellence and future-proofing SaaS product development.

In this talk, Mike Walrath, the Chairman and CEO of Yext and former CEO of Right Media, dives into the unraveling of the traditional marketing funnel due to AI. He explains how AI compresses awareness and consideration, causing CMOs to adapt and prioritize structured first-party data over flashy websites. Walrath predicts a shift toward influence marketing, emphasizing the importance of branding as judgment remains with consumers. He shares practical advice on managing data like a garden and the risks of unsupervised AI interactions, making it a must-listen for marketing professionals.

Mike Walrath, CEO and Chairman of Yext, shares his entrepreneurial journey from founding a digital ad exchange to leading a software powerhouse. He discusses the rise of generative AI and its transformative impact on search and advertising landscapes. The conversation highlights Yext’s evolution amidst fragmented digital experiences and the challenges of maintaining brand visibility. Walrath dives into the browser wars and the future of personalized search, emphasizing the balance between competition and collaboration in the evolving tech ecosystem.

Mike Walrath, CEO of Yext and an expert in digital advertising, discusses the transformative impact of AI on search and business visibility. He explores how Google's monetization is threatened by new AI competitors and emphasizes the necessity for companies to optimize data for machines. The conversation highlights opportunities in local search and the importance of utilizing granular competitive intelligence. Walrath also focuses on the changing landscape of digital advertising, stressing the need for brands to reassess their strategies for greater organic visibility.