Mobile Dev Memo Podcast

Andrew Covato, founder of Growth by Science and a veteran from Meta, Google, and Snap, dives deep into the world of advertising measurement. He highlights common misconceptions advertisers have about major platforms. Andrew emphasizes a scientific approach to measurement, advocating for critical analysis of marketing spend's effectiveness. He discusses strategies for future-proofing advertising methods and the importance of integrating brand and performance advertising. Listeners get insights on optimizing startup strategies and navigating data complexities for growth.

Nilay Patel, head of product at Kohort and an expert in mobile gaming and user acquisition optimization, dives deep into the transformative power of cohort analysis. He addresses common pitfalls in lifetime value estimation and discusses why cohorts are crucial for evaluating product economics. Nilay also explores how companies can effectively incorporate cohort monetization into user acquisition models and the importance of handling outliers in data. His insights reveal how adapting to cohort performance can drive improved monetization and user retention strategies.

In this engaging discussion, Olivia Kory, Chief Strategy Officer of Haus Analytics, shares her insights from her time on Netflix and Sonos. She delves into the complexities of measuring advertising efficiency amid economic uncertainty, exploring strategies for firms to assess marketing spend. Topics include the challenges performance advertisers face in a cookie-less world, the importance of A/B testing optimization, and how brands can 'get fit' for potential recessions while navigating evolving privacy regulations.

Taylor Holiday, CEO of Common Thread Collective and a key figure in DTC Twitter, dives into the pressing issues in e-commerce advertising. He discusses how tariffs are forcing brands to change strategies amid declining consumer confidence. The conversation also sheds light on the evolving business models post-COVID-19, moving from percentage-based to fixed pricing. Holiday tackles the skepticism surrounding Apple’s data strategies and the intricate dynamics of mediation in app auctions, emphasizing the need for transparency and innovative approaches in digital marketing.

In this discussion, Daniel McCarthy, an Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Maryland, shares insights from his recent research on the impact of Apple’s App Tracking Transparency (ATT). He highlights how ATT has disproportionately affected small businesses, leading to significant declines in advertising effectiveness and revenue. The conversation dives into the challenges of adapting marketing strategies in the wake of privacy regulations and clarifies common misconceptions about ATT’s true effects on e-commerce performance.

Lee Brown, Spotify's Global Head of Ad Business & Platform, and Per Sandell, VP of Product, discuss exciting innovations in Spotify's advertising strategies. They dive into the launch of the Spotify Ad Exchange, the role of generative AI in creating automated audio ads, and how performance advertisers utilize this platform. The duo explores evolving user engagement techniques through personalized audio ads and contextual advertising, while hinting at a future of automated ad placements that promise to revolutionize the advertising landscape.

In this discussion, Alex Schultz, CMO and VP of Analytics at Meta, shares his extensive experience in marketing and analytics. He critiques the narrow view of 'performance marketing' and champions a full-funnel approach. The conversation dives into how AI is reshaping marketing strategies and the need for a balance between automation and creativity. Alex also highlights the importance of robust data management for effective marketing and reflects on the evolving responsibilities of CMOs amid technological advancements.

James Borow, Vice President of Product and Engineering at Comcast's Universal Ads and former Global Director of Product Strategy at Snap, dives into the evolving TV advertising ecosystem. He discusses the challenges of performance advertising on TV, the differences between linear and connected TV, and the impact of measurement techniques on campaign effectiveness. Borow also shares insights on how YouTube fits into the mix and what linear TV can do to attract marketers, all while navigating the complex landscape of modern advertising.

This week, I speak with George Hadjia, the founder and Chief Investment Officer of Bristlemoon Capital, a long-short hedge fund. George publishes regular insights on his firm's blog, including a recent post on Match Group, the company that operates Tinder and Hinge. The topic of our conversation is the dating app market and its prospects for growth after the tumultuous COVID era.Among other things, we discuss:The impact of COVID on the dating app market;Whether consumer attitudes have soured on dating apps;The demographic component to the decline of these apps, and how engagement varies by age;The upper limit on how large any one app can get;How defensible these scaled dating app businesses are;The match-making dilemma;Whether advertising is an opportunity.Thanks to the sponsors of this week’s episode of the Mobile Dev Memo podcast:INCRMNTAL⁠⁠. True attribution measures incrementality, always on.ContextSDK. ContextSDK uses over 200 smartphone signals to detect a user’s real-world context, allowing apps to deliver perfectly timed push notifications and in-app offers.Interested in sponsoring the Mobile Dev Memo podcast? Contact ⁠Marketecture⁠.The Mobile Dev Memo podcast is available on:Apple PodcastsSpotifyGoogle Podcasts

In this engaging discussion, Antti Jäderholm, Founder and COO of Ray Browser, shares his extensive insights on the evolution of browser gaming. He highlights the transformative shift from Adobe Flash to innovative technologies like WebGL and WebGPU, enhancing gaming experiences. Antti also explores the challenges that have historically plagued browser gaming, the market's promising growth, and the potential for console streaming services to migrate to browser platforms. His vision for a web browser fine-tuned for gaming could reshape how we play online.