The Power Of Trust: Why Microsoft Advertising Is Ready For Life After Cookies
Microsoft has developed a far-reaching ecosystem throughout the years, currently boasting assets such as Microsoft Bing, MSN, Windows, Microsoft 365, LinkedIn, and Xbox.
In April 2019, the company added a new name to the mix – Microsoft Advertising, which came as a rebrand of Bing Ads.
Speaking to B&T, Microsoft Advertising Vice President APAC Nick Seckold [feature image] said the change was about highlighting how Microsoft can help advertisers across various network solutions for both search and native advertising.
“Because Microsoft Bing has always been closely associated with Search, we needed a new brand that better reflects what we deliver to clients,” he said.
“Microsoft Advertising is more expansive and can represent intelligent solutions that empower marketers to deliver personalized experiences that value people.”
One of the main services provided by Microsoft Advertising is their search engine, Microsoft Bing, which currently helps power the 182.3 million searches from 9 million searchers (comScore qSearch, Sept 2020) in Australia each month as part of the Microsoft Search Network. However, what advertisers may not know is that Microsoft Advertising also empowers advertisers to run targeted ads across Verizon Media properties (AOL, Yahoo), as well as providing search capability across Microsoft services like Windows, Office and Microsoft Edge as well as more than 30 different search partners.
Microsoft Advertising’s Regional Marketing Lead Adam Goodman [pictured below] explained that Microsoft demonstrates the ability to meet customers where they search across multiple products and services, and across multiple search partners, rather than only on Microsoft Bing.
“Brands see enormous value in reaching customers across the Microsoft Search Network, whether consumers are searching on Microsoft Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo or the ever-growing sustainability search engine Ecosia,” he said.
“Australians are not limited to a single search engine; they have choice and it’s important that our advertisers reach those consumers where they are searching. For us it’s not about search being a destination site but it’s about empowering consumers the ability to search across all of the Microsoft properties and our search partners too, and the opportunity for advertisers to reach them.”
Launching native advertising in Australia and New Zealand
Earlier this year, Microsoft Advertising launched The Microsoft Audience Network as a new network which helps advertisers deliver native advertising across Microsoft properties leveraging a wealth of demographic, professional and interest profiles.
“The Microsoft Audience Network is a new AI-powered audience marketing solution that helps you connect to the right people using native content placements in brand-safe environments. We empower advertisers to reach a highly relevant audience using the Microsoft audience intelligence graph which contains rich consumer understanding through our assets, including Microsoft Bing, MSN, Outlook, LinkedIn, Edge and others,” continued Seckold.
With access to a vast amount of consumer data through various Microsoft networks, the Microsoft Audience Network connects user intent data with user profile data to help advertisers get a 360-degree view of a customer.
“The on-going signals we receive and new data sources, along with the machine learning algorithms, allow us to maintain a deep understanding of the user based on both explicit intent and implicit signals that is updated continually,” said Seckold.
“Our advertising offerings, including audience marketing solutions, are anchored in the understanding provided by the Microsoft audience intelligence graph, delivering terrific performance for our clients.”
Balancing trust and privacy
And while Microsoft Advertising is all about helping its customers achieve results using data from across the ecosystem, privacy is still a guiding principle for the company.
At its core, Microsoft Advertising’s approach to privacy is all about earning trust through long-term engagement and strong marketing performance whilst also leveraging the industry leading technology, solutions, and services across the wider Microsoft brand.
“As the use of data increases in our day-to-day lives, Microsoft will continue to focus on earning the trust of its customers every day,” said Seckold.
“We believe putting people first is the key to greater engagement and a better customer experience and when you put people first, you can build a strong, trusted relationship. We deliver value to marketers and more meaningful connections for people. Our commitment to protecting peoples’ privacy and starting from a foundation of trust helps people and brands connect more meaningfully.”
With the deprecation of third-party cookies in the coming years, advertisers across the globe are on the lookout for the next ‘cookie-less’ solution, which enables privacy-compliant tracking.
“Microsoft Advertising is well-positioned to help advertisers reach their target audiences at-scale, due to our vast first-party data and industry-leading AI that uses different signals to reach the right audience with the right message,” said Seckold.
Microsoft Audience Ads run on massive reach properties owned by Microsoft such as MSN and Outlook whilst leveraging powerful first-party data graph, enhanced with LinkedIn’s 722 Million+ global user profiles.
“We have created a unique, brand safe marketplace for advertisers to reach the millions of people who use Microsoft products every single day. Launching our native advertising solution as well as leveraging the unique Microsoft audience intelligence graph, helps brands drive great performance across their search and native advertising strategies here in the Australian market.”
“We are actively developing solutions to help advertisers in the transition of moving ‘cookie-less’ working with our partners, agencies, and clients. Today, we have strong alternatives to help advertisers reach their target audience at scale, such as the Microsoft Audience Network, as few companies in the industry have the first party data footprint and cutting-edge AI matching technology that Microsoft has.” said Seckold.
Rewarding Australians for searching with Microsoft Bing
Give with Bing is now live in Australia! Give with Bing lets Microsoft Rewards users earn and donate points to causes they care about every time they search.
By joining Microsoft Rewards and switching on Give Mode, points you earn searching the web with Microsoft Bing will automatically be donated to a cause that is important to you. And because we believe giving is most rewarding when it’s personal, we have over one million non-profit organisations for you to choose from, including the Australian Red Cross, UNICEF Australia, Doctors without Borders and many more. Microsoft will also be matching all donations through to the end of December to double the impact.
Charities will receive real donations, and users are able to track their lifetime giving and see the global impact Give with Bing is making through their dashboard. As we grow this program internationally and continue to expand our range of causes, we hope to build on the massive success we’ve already seen in the US and make a real difference to the causes our users in Australia care most about.
Latest News
TV Ratings (18/04/2024): I’m A Celebrity Wins Prime Time And Key Demos
Aussie viewers can be a harsh lot at times. Only days after Ellie Cole bled her heart out, she has been sent packing.
Effie&co Launches New ConnectAsia Division To Help Aussie Brands Market To Asian Consumers Overseas & At Home
Not provided is advice on using chopsticks and not spilling ramen down your shirt.
Cashrewards Sets Out Stall For New CMO
Thinking of applying for the Cashrewards CMO gig? Here are some insider tips that, yes, are tantamount to cheating.
‘I Ask For The TV Industry To Stand Up And Defend Itself’ – Seven Boss James Warburton Steps Down
The Seven supremo heads for the exits after five years. Here's hoping the Spotlight team organised the farewell bash.
Poh! Jamie! Adriano! Paramount ANZ reveals its tasty plans for this year’s MasterChef
It's your fan's guide to this year's MasterChef! Although no tips on how to pronounce crudités or use a un fait-tout.
Dentsu’s iProspect Partners With MOOD Tea Ahead Of May Campaign Launch
We love a Mood Tea here at B&T. Although we do store old screws and nails in the International Roast caterer's tin.
Opinion: When Culture Starts Eating Itself: Navigating The Age Of Self-eating Nostalgia
Born boss David Coupland asks is adland going through a nostalgia period? But please, no repeats of Best Of Red Faces.
Who’s Going To Cannes?! The TikTok Young Lions Winners!
It's Aussie adland's next gen! They're off to Cannes with high hopes of bringing back a Lion & a foot-long Toblerone.
Adobe Launches Express Mobile App With Firefly AI
Want to be the coolest kid at Friday staff drinks but forgot your retro Nikes? This new Adobe wizardry may do the trick.
ThinkNewsBrands & IMAA Extend News Publishing Education In Brisbane
Industry duo takes its publishing roadshow to Brisbane. Was disappointed no male attendees were wearing walk socks.
B&T Chats With Wavemaker’s Provocative Pioneers On Their Cross-Pacific Sojourn
B&T TV heads to Wavemaker's Sydney digs to interview two staffers from its New York & LA digs. If that makes sense?
HoMie & Champion Launch “Give One. Get One” Campaign Supporting Youth Homelessness Via Town Square
Much like the fête's prized chutney wears a blue winners sash, so too should this top initiative from HoMie & Champion.
Thinkerbell Takes Us Back To Summer In Latest Work For XXXX
This beer ad wants to take you back to summer! Just minus any chance of a shark attack on your morning bus commute.
Cannes Lions Unveils 2024 Programme Featuring Queen Latifah, Jay Shetty & P&G’s Mark Pritchard
Are you one of the lucky ducks heading to Cannes in June? Check out the headliner acts you'll be queueing hours to see.
Scroll Media Recruits Costa Panagos From Twitch
Costa Panagos set to bring South American flair to the Scroll offices. Assuming that he is, indeed, South American.
Year13, Microsoft & KPMG Australia Launch AI Course For Gen Zs
Born around the 2000s? Need to amp up your AI creds? This guide's for you (although it's not really that age specific).
General Motors Snares Heath Walker From Scania
Do you rage about oversized American cars on our roads? You need to bail up Heath Walker at parties & industry events.
VML Launches New “Envoyage” Brand For Flight Centre
VML unveils new brand for travel operator Flight Centre. Alas, no sign of those paid actors pretending to be pilots.
Subaru Places Media Account Up For Review
Subaru puts media up for review, as adland journos get set for mandatory "agency drives off with..." headline.
TV Ratings (17/04/2024): Contestants Faced With Harsh Realities As Alone Australia Heats Up (Or Cools Down)
Alone still doing the business for SBS. Overly long train journeys not doing the business, but they persist anyway.
Ben Fordham Loses Number One Spot As Ray Hadley Celebrates 156th Ratings Win
The radio numbers are in! Discover who's off for a boozy lunch today & who's waiting for the dreaded HR death knock.
Gourmet Ice Cream Brand Connoisseur Launches New “Thrill Your Senses” Iteration, Via SICKDOGWOLFMAN
Rattling the old "truth in advertising" adage comes this ice-cream spot full of noticeably thin people.
Paramount’s Global Sales Boss: ‘Australia’s Converged Model Is A Blueprint For How I’d Like All Of Our Markets To Be’
Paramount's global sales boss gives local sales ops the thumbs up. Didn't weigh-in on the Lisa Wilkinson debacle.
TikTok Starts Testing Its Instagram Rival In Australia
In exciting news for piano playing cats & brattish pranks in shopping centres, TikTok unveils its Insta rival plans.
Man Wrongly Named By Seven As Bondi Killer Hires Lawyers
Struggling to save for a house deposit? Why not get wrongly identified by Sunrise!
Smartsheet Appoints Indie Agency Sandbox Media To Its Media Account
Can't stand your colleagues? Like to dob them in when they miss a deadline? These work management platforms are ideal.
Boss Not Letting You Come To Cannes In Cairns? Use This Business Case To Convince Them!
Stingy boss won't spring for a ticket to Cairns? Add this to your persuasive argument repertoire. Or grovel.
Alt/shift/ Brisbane Builds Portfolio With Ausbuild Creative, PR, Content & Social Account Win
The Brisbane comms/PR agency lands constructor Ausbuild. Also hoping for a discount on its new glass conservatory.
Young Guns Versus The Old Guard: Who Adds More Value to Our Industry?
Cannes In Cairns poking this hornet's nest in a lively debate. Just so long as the oldies can get up the stairs.
70% Of Aussies Don’t Have Green Power Plans ENGIE Says In Major Brand Campaign Via HERO
Are you the notorious "light leaver on-er" in your flatshare? Quell any infighting with this green energy news.
PrettyGood Launches Offering Brand & Media Solutions For Australasian SMEs
B&T applauds the charitable nature of this new agency. Although we'd hate to see it impact any Chrissie present sends.
A Blunt End: Dolphins Medicinal Cannabis Sponsorship At Risk
Yes, it's another NRL drug story. Yet, thankfully it doesn't involve coke in Kuta during the off-season.
Slew Of New Creative Hires At Leo Burnett Australia
Ahhh, all black! The outfit of choice for agency creatives, David Jones staff and everyone in Melbourne.
Under Armour Unveils Local “Live in UA” Campaign
American apparel brand set for yet another tilt at the Aussie market, as Nike declares "we'll see about that".
Pepsi Launches New Look, Refreshing Classic Fashion Staples Via Special PR
Are you always the bridesmaid, never the bride, as the old saying goes? How do you think Pepsi feels?
Pure Blonde Returns To A Place Purer Than Yours In New Campaign Via The Monkeys
B&T's always been a huge fan of the 'drink yourself thinner' diet plan. So big thanks to Pure blonde, vodka & tequila.