iMedia Connection Blog

Demand-side platforms, or DSPs are becoming a buzzword lately, along with impression scoring and real-time bidding.  These three terms all point to platforms that allow an advertiser to procure its inventory "on the spot" without any waste.  This is very different from the many ad networks that pre-buy their inventory in bulk and parse out on the back-end. 
Full disclosure here.  We are an ad network that does not pre-buy inventory.  We buy on demand as clients agree to work with us so that we can get the exact inventory that independent data says will fit their goals.  That said, firms like Invite Media and Media Math are now making news for similar functionality.  The gist is that whether buying through exchanges or through publishers directly, and pairing the latest behavioral data with that inventory, DSPs are able to acquire only the impressions that are the best fit for their advertisers' needs while turning away any impressions that don't make sense for clients on the roster at that time.  Many on the DSP side say that this method eliminates waste and improves metrics.
Networks that pre-buy, and most ad networks that have become popular in the last few years do so,... Read more