Social Ad-Tech in 2021: Powerful Consumers Will Show Us the Way 

Social media is creating a new normal in the world of ad-tech. Too often, today’s ad-tech is conceived only with the benefit of advertisers in mind. But social is changing the game, crafting ad platforms that aspire to seamlessly align with consumer desires through precise targeting and relevant content. As we look to the future, social makes it possible to see a world where promoted content would no longer interfere, but rather would inform, entertain, captivate, and educate—always in the most relevant way possible.

Consumers are powerful today, but by 2021 they will be stronger than ever—gaining the ability to more precisely filter and customize their media experiences so that only what they want gets through. While this is a terrifying prospect for many in our industry, a world where the consumer rules the day is ultimately a good thing for ad-tech and advertisers. This session will explore how powerful consumers will force ad-tech to evolve faster than ever before, why social platforms are leading that evolution, and the requirements that are likely to emerge in a truly consumer-first approach to digital advertising.

Presenter: Wayne St. Amand, CMO, Brand Networks

Wayne St. Amand is the Chief Marketing Officer at Brand Networks. A veteran leader with a reputation for accelerating the growth of technology businesses, Wayne leads the company’s corporate and product marketing efforts. Previously, he was Executive Vice President of Marketing at Crimson Hexagon, an award-winning provider of social media analytics software. He’s also led marketing and contributed to the growth of two data storage start-ups and held senior agency marketing roles with clients such as GE, HP, Motorola, and Texas Instruments. Wayne graduated with honors from Boston University.