Truelink Capital’s Post

Naresh Gupta, Co-Founder of Bang In The Middle, highlights the importance of tight contracts to safeguard creative ownership and address unethical practices in the advertising industry. Reflecting on 2024, he shares how BITM navigated challenges like idea misuse and shifting client dynamics while celebrating key milestones. With a focus on innovation and adaptability, BITM aims to expand internationally and enhance its offerings in 2025, prioritizing creativity and strategic growth. Read the full story with the link in Comments. #Advertising #Marketing #Advertising #Marketing #AgencyInsights

Meet Lindsey DiGiorgio, the new CMO at Yieldmo, bringing 15 years of tech-advertising expertise to accelerate market strategies. Read the Latest full News - https://lnkd.in/dU9XPXqb #martech #martechedge #appointment #executiveleadership #leadershipteam #cmo #advertising #digitalexperience #marketstrategy #innovation #transformation #technology

Ziff Davis acquired CNET for over $100M. The new owner is betting on more digital M&A with its $670M warchest. That price is down from $1.8B CBS paid for it in 2008. And $500M current owner Red Ventures paid for it in 2020. Let’s break it down👇 ---SELLER: CNET--- • Tech news and reviews site • Drives traffic via SEO • Monetizes via affiliate links • 38M visitors in Jun 2024 • Launched 1994 ---M&A HISTORY: CNET--- • 2002 CNET Networks acquired tech publisher Ziff-Davis Inc. (different co) and ZDNet for $1.6B • 2008 CBS acquired CNET Networks for $1.8B • 2020 Red Ventures acquired CNET for $500M ---SELLER OWNER: Red Ventures--- • PE-backed marketing-turned-media company • Provides client services, owns brands, makes investments • Portfolio incl Bankrate, Lonely Planet, Points Guy, others ---BUYER: Ziff Davis--- • Vertically focused digital media and internet company • Brands incl PCMag, Mashable, IGN, Retailmenot, Lifehacker • 2010 CEO led buyout of ZD w/ Great Hill Partners • 2012 ZD sold to J2 Global, went on M&A spree • Founded 1927 as mag publisher ---FINANCIALS: Ziff Davis--- Stock price as of 10:10AM ET on 8.12… • Stock price: $41.64 • Mkt Cap: $2B • Down 38% YTD • Down 39% YoY 1H 2024 financials as of 6.30.24... • Revenue: Up 0.3% to $635M • Adj EBITDA: Down 2% to $197M • Adj EBITDA margin: Down 0.7 pps to 31% • FCF: Down 27% to $73M • C&CE: $687M ---DEAL DETAILS--- • Undisclosed • Will close in 3Q 2024 ---DEAL VALUE PROP--- • Audience is attractive to tech advertisers • Target consumers/businesses navigating tech/telecom purchases • Part of ZD digital media rollup strategy ---WHAT ELSE I FIND INTERESTING--- I'll write more about the deal in my newsetter this Friday. I'm curous to dig into financial performance trend of Ziff Davis, which we can see in public filings. Of note, its 1H 2024 performance has declined VS 1H 2023. Wonder what the key macro VS micro drivers are. I want to better understand viability of its digital media rollup strategy, and future M&A strategy, particuarly since it has $670M of cash on hand and CEO Vivek Shah said he wants to keep doing deals. --- I'm the founder of RockWater Industries. We do M&A and strategy advisory for media, agencies, and creator economy. My DMs are open.

🔔 Ad tech consolidation is heating up in 2025! T-Mobile acquires Vistar Media for $600M, and The Trade Desk scoops up metadata company Sincera. What’s driving these moves, and what’s next for the industry? We bring on Conor McKenna of LUMA Partners to break down the latest trends and why these acquisitions matter for ad tech. 🎙️🎧 Listen now!

🔔 Ad tech consolidation is heating up in 2025! T-Mobile acquires Vistar Media for $600M, and The Trade Desk scoops up metadata company Sincera. What’s driving these moves, and what’s next for the industry? We bring on Conor McKenna of LUMA Partners to break down the latest trends and why these acquisitions matter for ad tech. 🎙️🎧 Listen now!

Consolidation continues! CNET sells to Ziff Davis for $100M. ZD has a really stout set of media brands under its control now, I hope each thrives. For PR people, think about how each of the ZD brands can help your product rollout or reviews strategy. Advertising seamlessly across these platforms will likely be something ZD offers in short order; marketing teams and PR people should be aligning on how spending vs earned work on these media properties can be executed. Edits: spelling

"2024 saw the highest number of martech, digital content, and ad tech deals in at least five years, according to the Luma Partners report. Last year saw a 13% increase from 2023, and the highest since the 410 deals that happened in 2022." https://lnkd.in/dfUaKG3d

“Corporations have a First Amendment right to free speech – that includes both commercial and political speech. Advertising is speech, as is the choice of where to advertise. The placement of an advertisement is an implicit sponsorship of the adjacent content (online, on TV or social media). Advertisers do not actively choose the content next to their ads. But if they are choosing an outlet specifically based on the political nature of the content, this choice becomes core political speech that the government cannot restrict. Further, the government is limited in compelling companies’ speech. It can reasonably compel product safety or financial disclosures, but mandating where an advertiser spends its advertising dollars would be an unprecedented, unconstitutional shake-down.” Vanessa Otero, CEO and Founder, Ad Fontes Media #FreedomofSpeech #Advertising https://lnkd.in/dw3mqPGD

We're excited to announce the beginning of Colab6, a collaboration resulting from the merger of Propps, the proptech innovator that revolutionised the way properties are bought and sold, with the award-winning strategic brand and marketing agency, rowdyfox. This merger brings together the best in innovative proptech solutions and strategic marketing expertise. 🔗 Explore More about Colab6 Want to learn how Colab6 can help accelerate your business goals? Visit our website for more detailed information. www.colab6.com #PropTech #RealEstate #Marketing #Branding #Colab6 #Innovation #DigitalTransformation #BusinessGrowth #proptech consultancy

GTM - do you think now's the right time to invest? I hear it a lot, '"what if there's a crash?", "shouldn't I just wait for the dip?" The problem in that thinking, it is short sighted. Like the brilliant Money Visuals, LLC chart shows, if you're focused on the long term, the right time to buy was yesterday. The old adage, "time in the market, not timing the market" rings true. If you're waiting for the perfect moment, chances are you could miss out on substantial growth. None of us know if the market will go up, down or sideways. But by taking a long term view, it gives you the the best chance of achieving growth and building your wealth. Have a plan. Then stick to it, through ups and downs. #investing #financialplanning