This morning, Unruly is officially launching a new video lab designed to help advertisers deal with the increase in ad blocking software. I got an advanced tour on Tuesday afternoon, and it is well worth visiting. In fact, advertisers may need to visit the video ad tech company’s “Future Video Lab” in the very, very near future because ad blocking is a rapidly growing phenomenon.
A new survey from Unruly has found that that 90% of US consumers would consider using ad blocking software in the future because 59% think there are too many ads, 52% are sick of seeing the same ad, and 59% find ads which “follow them” around the web “creepy”.
Key findings from the survey – which asked 3,200 consumers from around the world what they want from video advertising online – include:
- 30% of US consumers are likely and 22% are very likely to use ad blockers in future, while a total of 90% would consider using them in the future;
- American consumers like to be in control of their advertising viewing, with 71% citing control as very important, and 63% saying they are “annoyed” with brands that advertise using forced pre-roll formats;
- Consistency of brand behavior in advertising is most important to Americans with 74% wanting ads to embody brand values;
- The majority (81%) of US internet users, reveal they regularly put video ads on mute.
The results highlight the growing issues faced by advertisers who are struggling to engage their target audiences online. In fact, a recent YouGov survey found that trust in advertising is at an all-time low, and McKinsey has cited that word of mouth is still the primary factor behind 20-50% of all purchasing decisions.
To help advertisers deal with the rise in ad blocking, Unruly has launched its Future Video Lab at its New York City office, ahead of Advertising Week. The Unruly Future Video Lab provides brands and agencies with an interactive overview of the online video ecosystem, customized real-time data for brands and agencies and best practices on how to use targeting and distribution strategies to cut through the clutter and deliver ads that beat the ad blockers and earn consumer attention.
Unruly’s US President Richard Kosinski says, “Our Lab addresses some of the huge challenges facing the ad industry right now. There is so much video content being pumped out by brands into people’s newsfeeds and social feeds, it’s no wonder that people are feeling overwhelmed.” He adds, “We’re hurtling towards an ‘ad-pocalypse’, where there’s a risk that internet users will abandon advertising if brands abuse their relationship with consumers. But we are not there yet. We launched the Unruly Future Video Lab to help advertisers reconnect with their target audiences and restore this trust.”
Unruly co-founder and co-CEO Sarah Wood says, “The key to reconnecting with consumers is to forge an authentic, emotional connection, and make advertising a more collaborative experience. The data in the Future Video Lab, helps brands to power up their video content and ensure their video distribution strategy doesn’t alienate the very audience they’re trying to attract.” She adds, “The digital video advertising landscape has evolved so rapidly – with viewability, mobile audience data and ad avoidance all becoming critical pain points – that we saw an urgent need to help our clients future-proof their digital video advertising strategies.”
To tackle these issues in an academically valid way, Unruly has partnered with the University of South Australia’s new Centre for Digital Video Intelligence (CDVI). Led by Dr. Karen Nelson-Field the CDVI will help to translate ad:tech research into tangible insights that maximize return on digital spend, which will help Unruly deliver intelligence to its clients. Dr. Nelson-Field, and her team will be using Unruly’s data as the basis for this research.
Dr. Nelson-Field says, “Unruly was the first industry partner to support my research some five years ago. It seems only fitting that we celebrate the launch of our center dedicated to fostering the growth of the online video sector with those who supported my vision.” She adds, “Industry partners bring such relevancy to academic research adding perspective to our rigorous investigations. Our research agenda focuses on big questions about content creation and impact, mechanisms for distribution and viewability. Research that will drive accountability from platforms and efficiency for brands.”
You can read the survey findings and Unruly’s Future Video Manifesto here. To book a tour of Unruly’s Future Video Lab, just email labtour@unrulygroup.com.
Greg Jarboe
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