Mandar Shinde is the CEO of Blotout, a Y Combinator restoring identity and data accuracy in a cookieless era. He also volunteers with ProductNation/iSPIRT, a nonprofit sourcing public goods for Indian product startups. In this role, Mandar helps enable data democratization with zero trust. As a data-driven entrepreneur, he has experience in privacy, analytics, blockchain, advertising, compliance, and cloud computing.  

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [1:28] Mandar Shinde shares the genesis and iterations of Blotout
• [6:48] How to navigate a post third-party cookies landscape
• [12:42] Why customer data platforms (CDPs) must evolve to address the latest data storage issues
• [16:02] The roadmap to sustainable, compliant, and effective digital data management 
• [24:53] How dynamic data scoring can improve advertising API performance
• [29:06] What is the connection between unified data and marketing outcomes?
• [37:05] Mandar talks about the shift toward data decentralization
• [42:17] Predictions on how major platforms will adapt to data fragmentation

In this episode…

The deprecation of third-party cookies threatens the stability of targeted marketing, and businesses are navigating uncharted territories. With the cornerstone of personalized advertising crumbling, how can companies navigate the landscape without relying on third-party data?

Apple’s aggressive stance on data privacy has placed limitations on digital advertising, specifically after the advent of iOS 14, which allows users to opt out of third-party tracking. Data-driven eCommerce entrepreneur Mandar Shinde emphasizes adjusting your lifecycle and performance marketing strategies to align with the shifts in data regulations and online tracking. This involves conducting an internal assessment of your customer data collection, storage, and processing systems to ensure compliance and effective adaptation. Transitioning to first-party data collection by adopting CDPs and server-side tracking is a viable solution to privacy concerns in a cookieless environment.

In today’s episode of The Digital Deep Dive, Mandar Shinde, the CEO of Blotout, joins Aaron Conant for a discussion about adapting to a cookieless landscape. Mandar talks about the imminent shifts and the necessary actions brands must take to ensure their digital presence and customer relationships remain strong.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Aaron Conant on LinkedIn   
• BWG Connect  
• Mandar Shinde on LinkedIn 
• Blotout 
• “Navigating the Sunset of 3rd Party Cookies With David Cost” on The Digital Deep Dive

Quotable Moments:

• "The world is coming to an end where only the device might remain as the attribution of choice for unifying data."
• "You have lost the third-party cookie, but when the first-party cookie gets deprecated, you're dealing with a multidimensional problem."
• "Brands must become the source of truth and take charge of the data because, in a couple of years, somebody could be asking, 'How did my data end up there?'"
• "We play the game theory chess board every day, trying to evaluate feeding the monsters or moving towards data decentralization."
• "The next few years will be interesting, but once the right tools are in place, owning and compliantly managing data will create a path to success."

Action Steps:

1. Analyze the dependency on third-party cookies within your current digital marketing strategy: This step is essential as it prepares marketers for the shift away from a method that has been foundational, addressing the immediate need to innovate.
2. Develop a robust first-party data collection and management system: By focusing on first-party data, brands can gain control and reduce future risks related to data privacy and compliance issues.
3. Implement server-side tracking to improve data accuracy and speed: Server-side tracking can offer precise and real-time data that significantly enhances marketing performance.
4. Establish unified identifiers for reliable cross-channel marketing outcomes: Using a common identifier ensures all marketing channels work harmoniously, leading to improved segmentation, targeting, and personalization.
5. Stay educated on the latest data privacy laws and technological advancements in the digital marketing space: Continuous learning in this rapidly evolving field is critical for staying compliant and seizing opportunities driven by innovation.

About BWG Connect...

BWG Connect provides executive strategy and networking sessions that help brands from any industry with their overall business planning and execution. We network and knowledge share together to better understand and adapt to the newest trends, strategies, and pain points shaping growth in the digital space. BWG Connect, in conjunction with BWG Strategy, has built an exclusive network of 125,000+ senior professionals and hosts over 2,000 virtual and in-person networking events on an annual basis.

In addition, we have had 1x1 conversations with over 5,000 brands and have a real-time pulse on what digital strategies are successful and why. This in-depth knowledge allows our team to operate on the cutting-edge and provide our clients with best-in-class guidance on how to win in the digital world. We have provided free consultations and strategy sessions for companies of all sizes, from start-ups to Fortune-100, to enable growth, resolve issues and make curated service provider introductions that can impact your digital footprint.

We have held to the philosophy of providing high-level insights and actionable knowledge with no sales pitches in order to provide to our network the ability to listen, learn and act to improve themselves as well as their organizations. Our ultimate goal is to be the resource out there to help digital executives find the research they need to excel in the modern marketplace.

If you are interested in getting involved with any of our current or past events, you can find them here. If you are looking for help & would like to set up some time to chat with our team, you can schedule a time or reach out directly to Aaron@bwgconnect.com or Tiffany@bwgconnect.com.