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Smarter ad buys start with decisioned media

Decisioned media leverages data and AI to make buying decisions for ad placements in real time. This helps you to deliver more targeted, relevant advertising – at a better price. Best of all, it’s likely to lead to a better experience for audiences and more cost-effective campaigns for you.


With programmatic advertising making up 83.5% of the United Kingdom’s digital advertising spend in 2022, decisioned media is increasingly becoming the chosen buying model for many advertisers. Why? Because decisioned media leverages data and AI to make buying decisions for ad placements in real time, helping to deliver more targeted, relevant advertising for a better price. This all adds up to a better experience for audiences and more cost-effective campaigns for you. 

Traditional, non-decisioned buys rely on paying pre-set prices and placements regardless of quality, performance data, or audience demographics. By utilising the comprehensive data points available in decisioned media – from user behaviour to market trends – you’re empowered to make informed decisions that help optimise your ad spend for maximum ROI and engagement.

Transitioning to decisioned media buying

One of the misconceptions about decisioned buying is that your ads could appear in a context that compromises quality, such as next to content that isn’t brand-safe. Traditionally, you might have turned to insertion order and programmatic guaranteed buys to secure guaranteed placements directly with publishers and mitigate these risks.

But programmatic advertising can offer a marketplace approach that prioritises your needs. Our platform gives you access to premium inventory – including premium content on channels like Channel 4 and Disney – underpinned by our marketplace quality standards for both private marketplace and open-market transactions. The emphasis on transparency in reporting and optimisation, alongside ad-fraud prevention and brand-safety verification, reassures you of the premium quality and placement of your ads.

Focussing on value over cost: Audience-first strategies for enhanced engagement

While working directly with publishers and locking in a single rate might give the illusion of cost-efficiency, it’s just as important to consider the value a particular placement brings. Transitioning from a cost-centric to a value-centric approach means shifting towards an audience-first mindset, placing a premium on understanding and targeting the audience effectively. In other words, you’re aiming to ensure that every dollar spent helps you reach potential customers in a more impactful way.

This approach not only optimises your budget and focusses on cost-effectiveness, but also prioritises quality audience engagement. By leveraging data-driven insights, you can tailor messages to resonate more deeply with the target audience, potentially leading to higher conversion rates and more long-term value for you – including better return on investment. Plus, with audience-first strategies and intelligent price discovery, you can evolve your digital advertising, pushing for more personalised, efficient, and outcome-driven campaigns.

Future-proofing your media buying: The role of AI and data-driven decisioning

As the digital landscape continues to transform rapidly, AI and data-driven decisioning can offer a better framework to help you future-proof your strategies adapt to market changes and consumer behaviour shifts.

  • Analyse vast data sets and identify patterns

    This allows you to identify patterns, trends, and insights that can inform smarter media buying decisions. Save time by automating the bidding that is most likely to achieve your campaign objectives, ensure efficiency, and maximise ROI.

  • Automate optimisations

    AI-driven tools such as our platform’s Koa™ offer advanced features for bid adjustment, volume control, and performance forecasting. These features can enhance the precision of media buying and provide you with the flexibility to adjust your strategies in response to real-time data.

  • Get a holistic understanding of your audience

    By integrating data from multiple sources, you can create detailed audience profiles and tailor campaigns to address specific needs and preferences. This audience-first approach ensures that campaigns are more engaging, relevant, and effective.

  • Allocate advertising budgets strategically

    You can identify the most cost-effective channels and audience segments to reduce waste and enhance the overall value of your media buys.

Decisioned media buying revolutionises digital advertising by harnessing real-time data and AI to ensure ad placements are not only more relevant and targeted, but also variably priced. This method contrasts traditional non-decisioned buys by offering more precise audience targeting and optimisation for maximum ROI. It’s a smarter, more dynamic approach to advertising that can deliver tangible value and effectiveness across the digital landscape.

Disclaimer: This information is provided solely for background and is not a representation or guarantee of any future performance.