MARKETING
Smart acquires DSP LiquidM

Smart today announced the acquisition of the LiquidM DSP. Smart until now worked on the supply side only, but with this acquisition it will move also towards the buy side as well. According to Smart, LiquidM’s technology will be integrated into Smart’s technology stack.
“Our industry currently faces a crisis of value erosion that puts increasing pressure on the entire programmatic ecosystem. Buyers seek transparency, accountability and more value from their media investments while publishers yearn to better monetize their core assets, including audience and 1st party data,” says Arnaud Créput, CEO of Smart AdServer. “LiquidM’s proven record in innovation will boost Smart’s commitment to creating Value Path Optimization emphasizing full transactional transparency. This will enable conflict-free, premium value and low-fee buying so both advertisers and publishers can flourish in a shared-interest approach.”
LiquidM is based in Berlin and was owned by Bertelsmann. According to Digiday, LiquidM was founded in 2013, and then was acquired by Bertelsmann in 2016, being folded into Gruner + Jahr’s native ad network Ligatus. The native ad network Ligatus was sold in April to Outbrain, but LiquidM was not included on the sale.
Thomas Hille, Managing Directors of LiquidM said to be very please to join Smart. “Smart is the ideal partner to grow our business given their premium publisher clients and their strong global footprint. We look forward to enlisting in Smart’s mission to bring even greater value to both advertisers and publishers,” he added.
MARKETING
Martech failure? 50% say loyalty programs don’t offer much value

The goal of martech is to add value for business and customer via personalized experiences which increase brand engagement. Loyalty programs seem like the perfect channel for this. So why is there such a huge gap between customers’ expectations for those programs and what they get?
Half of all US customers say loyalty programs don’t offer much value, according to a report from digital insights firm Incisiv and Punchh, a customer loyalty services provider. This is a real problem, given the huge impact these programs have on customer retention, satisfaction and brand advocacy. Customers who sign up for them engage with that brand 70% more than those who do not.
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The gaps. So what is it customers want and aren’t getting?
- 70% prefer to manage loyalty programs via app.
- 26% Top 150 retailers and restaurant chains have a dedicated loyalty app.
- 67% expect surprise gifts.
- 28% Retailers and restaurant chains send gifts, offers or discounts on special occasions
- 75% prefer instant discounts/redemptions.
- 16% Retailers and restaurant chains offer instant discount on purchases instead of reward points.
- 72% expect personalized rewards.
- 48% Retailers and restaurant chains offer some form of personalization.
Enough with the cards already. It’s 2022 and people have been irritated about physical loyalty cards for decades. In case your own experience isn’t proof enough: 43% of shoppers say physical cards are the biggest obstacles to claiming rewards. And, this shouldn’t be surprising, 57% of shoppers like to engage with loyalty programs on their mobile phones. This means a digital rewards card is the bare minimum if you don’t have an app.
Read next: Leaning on loyalty, Chipotle orchestrates engagement across channels
If you do have an app, it should clearly provide more functionality and benefits than a card. The more it does that, the more people are likely to use it. Over 70% of shoppers are more likely to participate in a loyalty program that provides access to loyalty cards and rewards via its mobile app. However, only 4% of grocery retailers offer enhanced rewards or benefits on their apps.
Make members feel special. Joining a loyalty program signals that a customer values your brand (37% of shoppers are willing to pay to join or upgrade to a higher tier of their loyalty membership). Make sure they know you feel the same about them. Nearly 60% say loyalty programs don’t make them feel they are a part of an exclusive group. How? Well, 46% want premier or exclusive access to sales and promotions.
Why we care. I can’t tell you how many websites I registered with and forgot about that send me an email on my birthday. I get them from a few loyalty programs as well. I’ve never gotten one with an offer or a discount.
The bare minimum martech stack provides data unification, digitization and channel integration. A good one offers real-time analysis of customer behavior (past purchases, browsing history, etc.) combined with things like product attributes and availability to create an attractive personalized offering. For the customer, loyalty programs have to be more than a way to earn points. They have to give something unique and special. If your stack can’t tell you what that thing is, there’s something wrong with it.
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