2024 back-to-school marketing trends

CES 2025 will be an exciting opportunity to explore how we can work together to shape the year ahead. Here are four themes we expect to take center stage at the event. “There is no better way to kick off the calendar year than with clients and industry peers that are excited to collaborate on new business opportunities. People come straight off the holidays energized by CES and with a pipeline of deals to work on for the coming month. In-person meetings always trump virtual calls and everyone in the industry comes together to make it a fruitful week.”Crystal Jacques, Head of Enterprise Partnerships 1. Addressability in a signal-loss world Addressability has become a cornerstone in AdTech as brands aim to deliver personalized experiences while navigating evolving privacy regulations and signal loss. This shift has prompted advertisers to rethink how they reach and engage audiences. In this environment, alternative identifiers such as UID2 and ID5 have gained traction, offering brands new avenues to target consumers across platforms while respecting privacy. Addressability has shifted from a straightforward tracking mechanism to a multifaceted strategy that combines identity solutions, contextual insights, and collaboration across the ecosystem. ID Bridging and the new OpenRTB 2.6 specs As the industry loses identity signals, it becomes increasingly difficult to identify audiences on the supply-side and make them reachable for the demand-side.   The supply-side has used the practice of ID bridging to do just that. ID bridging is the supply-side practice of connecting the dots between available signals to infer a user’s identity and communicate it to prospective buyers. This practice sparked debate, as buyers want full transparency into the use of a deterministic identifier versus an inferred one.  "The OpenRTB 2.6 specifications are a critical step forward in ensuring transparency and trust in programmatic advertising. By aligning with these standards, we empower our partners with the tools needed to navigate a cookieless future and drive measurable results.”Michael Connolly, CEO, Sonobi The industry needs widely accepted standards, and that's what we believe the industry has with the IAB Tech Lab's OpenRTB 2.6. The specifications dictate the data the supply-side needs to include in the Primary ID and Enhanced Identifier (EID) fields. In doing so, the demand-side receives more transparent information on when bids have inferred IDs and where they came from.   As authenticated signals decrease due to cookie deprecation and other consumer privacy measures, we will continue to see a rise in inferred identifiers. Experian’s industry-leading Digital Graph has long supported both authenticated and inferred identifiers, providing the ecosystem with connections that are accurate, scalable, and addressable. Experian will continue to support the industry with its identity resolution products and is very supportive of IAB’s efforts to bring transparency to the industry around the usage of identity signals.  2. Commerce media consolidation As the world of commerce media expands beyond traditional retail media, we’re seeing a surge of networks across various verticals—financial, travel, and beyond—all competing to capture shoppers’ attention. With each company independently building its own media network, the need for strategic partnerships has never been more evident. Key players face challenges in scaling these networks and meeting growth targets due to infrastructure and funding limitations. In response, the industry is shifting toward partnerships – and potentially consolidation – to create networks that allow advertisers to reach customers across the entire shopping journey – from digital to in-store. To succeed, commerce media networks must form strategic partnerships to enhance their data and identity capabilities and provide advertisers with a complete view of their customer. “With annual growth in billions of dollars, the revenue potential for RMNs is massive. Organizing customer data, segmenting customers, generating insights, creating addressable audiences, and activating campaigns are all critical steps for a RMN to realize that revenue potential. RMNs should select a partner that provides the data, identity and analytical resources to create the winning formula for marketers, customers and retailers.”Steve Zimmerman, Director of Analytics With Experian’s expertise in data and identity solutions, commerce media networks can overcome data fragmentation, create high-quality audiences, and maximize addressability across their entire customer base. This collaborative, partner-led approach empowers retailers to utilize their first-party customer data but not be limited by in-house resources. As the commerce media space matures, those who embrace these partnerships and data-driven solutions will be well-positioned to capture the full potential of this expanding market. 3. Navigating complex privacy regulations With privacy concerns intensifying, consumers are more conscious about data usage, and a series of state-level privacy laws are poised to take effect across the U.S. Multiple state-level laws makes compliance more challenging for marketers since no two laws are the same. While a federal privacy law remains unlikely for 2025, discussions around data ethics, compliance, and transparency will be prominent at CES, especially as a new administration assumes office. Our privacy-forward audience solutions Our Geo-Indexed and Contextually-Indexed Audiences help marketers reach the right consumers while prioritizing data privacy. Created without sensitive personal information, these audiences utilize geographic and contextual signals – not personal identifiers — to offer relevant targeting. These new tools provide both privacy and accuracy, giving advertisers and publishers a competitive edge. “By embracing innovations in geo-based targeting and adhering to responsible data strategies, you can not only comply with these laws but continue to reach your intended audiences effectively.”Jeremy Meade, VP, Marketing Data & Operations As privacy regulations evolve, marketers need trusted allies who can provide transparent, compliant solutions. With deep roots in data protection and security, you can confidently partner with Experian as we proactively stay ahead of regulations and strictly follow all consumer privacy laws. 4. Rise of curation As privacy regulations and signal loss reshape the AdTech ecosystem, curation can optimize programmatic campaigns by connecting advertisers with valuable audiences. This emerging trend utilizes audience, contextual, and supply chain signals to curate high-quality inventory packages for advertisers. By blending insights with inventory, curation ensures greater addressability, efficiency, and performance for both advertisers and publishers. Supply-side platforms (SSPs) are taking a more active role in curating audiences and inventory. SSPs now collaborate with data providers to match buyer and publisher first-party data in real-time, creating curated private marketplaces (PMPs) that deliver transparency, efficiency, and improved match rates. SSPs can send deal IDs to multiple DSPs, which allows advertisers to deploy audience-based campaigns without restrictions on which DSPs or identifiers can be used. However, curation isn’t without challenges. It can add complexity, lead to redundant buys, and even reduce publisher control over inventory. Transparency, quality benchmarks, and strategic partnerships will be critical for maximizing the benefits of curation in 2025. Experian, in partnership with Audigent and others, is at the forefront of enabling privacy-forward curation strategies. Experian and Audigent’s combined capabilities bring together first-party publisher data, contextual signals, and advanced identity resolution to create curated PMPs that empower marketers to deliver precise, impactful campaigns. Follow us on LinkedIn or sign up for our email newsletter for more informative content on the latest industry insights and data-driven marketing. What were the top themes at CES 2025? Read our CES recap to find out. Read now Contact us Latest posts

At Experian, we understand the importance of audience targeting when it comes to crafting a successful marketing campaign. We are excited to share a curated list of audience recommendations to support your campaign planning so you can confidently connect with your audience. What separates Experian’s syndicated audiences Experian’s 2,400+ syndicated audiences are available directly on over 30 leading television, social, programmatic advertising platforms, and directly within Audigent for activation within private marketplaces (PMPs).   Reach consumers based on who they are, where they live, and their household makeup. Experian ranked #1 in accuracy by Truthset for key demographic attributes. Access to unique audiences through Experian’s Partner Audiences available on Experian’s data marketplace, within Audigent for activation in PMPs and directly on platforms like DirectTV, Dish, Magnite, OpenAP, and The Trade Desk. New and improved audience segments we recommend for Q1 campaigns Q1 is the ultimate season for TV, with the NFL playoffs, Super Bowl, College Football playoffs, award shows and so much more capturing viewers’ attention. That’s why we're excited to introduce 14 new and 8 updated television audiences. Recently released on major platforms, these new television audiences offer unique opportunities to align your campaign planning with the latest viewer behavior trends. Cable Satellite or Streaming Network Subscribers Satellite Service Subscribers Mutli Brand TV Owners Seasonal audiences for Q1 New Year’s audiences As the new year approaches, it’s the ideal moment to connect with consumers inspired by their New Year’s resolutions. In 2024, one-third of U.S. adults set goals for the year, focusing on key areas like healthier living, getting organized, exploring new experiences, and improving financial wellness. Experian’s New Year’s resolution audiences provide valuable insights into these aspirations, allowing you to tailor your messaging and engage with consumers determined to make positive changes in 2025. From promoting healthy lifestyles and travel to supporting organization and financial goals, Experian’s data-driven solutions help you capture these motivated audiences with precisely targeted messaging. Learn more here Football audiences Football season presents an unmatched opportunity for brands to connect with one of the most engaged audiences in the U.S. As in-game ad costs continue to rise and slots fill up quickly, brands are seeking innovative ways to reach passionate football viewers beyond the game. Experian’s specialized football audience segments allow advertisers to engage with fans across categories like NFL stadium visitors, college football enthusiasts, beer drinkers, and dedicated TV viewers, ensuring your brand connects meaningfully with consumers throughout the season. Read more here Financial audiences With tax season just around the corner, brands have the opportunity to connect with financially engaged audiences in the U.S. Whether your goal is to reach self-starters managing their own returns or high-net-worth individuals seeking advanced tax solutions, Experian can ensure your brand connects meaningfully with the right financial audience at the right time. Experian’s specialized financial audience segments empower brands to engage with key groups, such as: Tax Return – Self prepare user Tax Return – Online tax software user Tax Return – Professional Service Preparer user Savvy Sounding-Board Seeking Investor Price Sensitive, Self-Directed Investor Top recommendations for Q1 Based on the top Experian audiences activated in Q1 of 2024, our top 10 list is designed to assist agencies and media buyers plan data-driven advertising campaigns. Occupation 1) Small Business Owners: This segment contains consumers who are likely to be small business owners. 2) Military – Inactive: This segment contains consumers who are likely to be inactive in the military. 3) Legal/Education and Health Practitioners: This segment contains consumers who are likely to have an occupation in Legal/Education and Health Practitioner. 4) Technical: Computers/Math and Architect/Engineering: This segment contains consumers who are likely to have an occupation in Computers/Math and Architect/Engineering. Consumer Lifestyles 5) Vacation/Leisure Travelers: Weekend Getaways: This segment contains consumers who are likely high spenders or frequent purchasers of weekend getaway travel. 6) Women's Sleepwear and Lingerie: High Spenders: This segment contains consumers who are likely high spenders at women's sleepwear and lingerie stores (e.g., Soma, Victoria's Secret). 7) Smart Investors: This segment contains consumers who are likely actively seeking out as much information about an investment as possible before committing, shopping around for the best investment deal, and aversion to financial debt. 8) Computers/Software Frequent Spenders: This segment contains consumers who are likely frequent spenders of computer software. Life Events 9) New Movers: High Spenders: This segment contains consumers who are likely new mover high spenders. 10) New Parents: Child Aged 0-36 Months: This segment contains consumers who are likely to be new parents for children aged 0-36 months. You can find the complete audience segment name in the appendix. Activate the right audiences with Experian For a full list of Experian’s syndicated audiences and activation destinations, download our syndicated audiences guide. Need a custom audience? Reach out to our audience team and we can help you build and activate an Experian audience on the platform of your choice. Connect with our audience team Contact us Appendix Here are the complete audience segment names (taxonomy paths) for all audience segments discussed in this blog post. TV Audiences Television (TV) > Household/Family Viewing > Cable Satellite or Streaming Network Subscribers Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Seasonal > Discount Holiday Shoppers Television (TV) > Brand Owners > Multi Brand TV Owners Financial Audiences Lifestyle and Interests (Affinity) > Financial Behavior > Tax Return – Self prepare user Lifestyle and Interests (Affinity) > Financial Behavior > Online Tax Software user  Lifestyle and Interests (Affinity) > Financial Behavior > Tax Return –Professional Service Prepare user Financial Personalities > Investments Financial Personality > Savvy Sounding-Board Seeking Investor, Average Investable Assets Financial Personalities > Investments Financial Personality > Price Sensitive, Self-Directed Investor, Very High Investable Assets Occupation Consumer Behaviors > Occupation: Small Business Owners Lifestyle and Interests (Affinity) > Occupation > Military – Inactive Demographics > Occupation > Professional: Legal/Education and Health Practitioners Demographics > Occupation > Technical: Computers/Math and Architect/Engineering Consumer Lifestyles Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Travel > Vacation/Leisure Travelers: Weekend Getaways Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Apparel > Women's Apparel (Clothing): Women's Sleepwear and Lingerie: High Spenders Financial Behavior > Smart Investors Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Technology/Telecom > Computers/Software Frequent Spenders Life Events Retail Shoppers: Purchase Based > Shopping Behavior > New Movers: High Spenders Life Events > New Parents > Child Age 0-36 Months Latest posts

The advertising ecosystem has seen significant transformation over the past few years, with increased privacy regulation, changes in available signals, and the rise of channels like connected TV and retail media. These changes are impacting the way that consumers interact with brands and how brands understand and continue to deliver relevant messages to consumers with precision.  Experian has been helping marketers navigate these changes, and as a result, our marketing data and identity solutions underpin much of today’s advertising industry. We’re committed to empowering marketers and agencies to understand and reach their target audiences, across all channels. Today, we are excited to announce our acquisition of Audigent—a leading data and activation platform in the advertising industry.  With Audigent’s combination of first-party publisher data, inventory and deep supply-side distribution relationships, publishers, big and small, can empower marketers to better understand their customers, expand the reach of their target audiences and activate those audiences across the most impactful inventory.     I am excited to bring together Audigent’s supply-side network as a natural extension to our existing demand-side capabilities. Audigent’s ability to combine inventory with targeted audiences using first-party, third-party and contextual signals provides the best of all worlds, allowing marketers to deliver campaigns centered on consumer choices, preferences, and behaviors.   The addition of Audigent further strengthens our strategy to be the premier independent provider of marketing data and identity, ultimately creating more relevant experiences for consumers.  To learn more about Experian and Audigent, visit https://www.experian.com/marketing/ and https://audigent.com/. Contact us