Ad tech evolves faster than humanity. New programmatic platforms arrive in no time. Existing ones launch upgrade after upgrade, trying to keep up with rising trends. The process never stops, so how do you catch up with the machines? Read digital advertising blogs. Learn. Implement.
Did you know that online advertising was born in 1994? The first banner ever is likely younger than you. Today, the average person sees at least 64 banner ads per day, while the avg. demand-side platform (DSP) processes 5.7 million impressions per second.
Those are huge numbers that indicate the rapid growth of the industry. Ad tech advances year by year, and if you want to stand firm in your advertising business, you'll need to become geeky about ad tech news in a good way. So we prepared a list of 45 top-grade digital advertising blogs and media to draw up your daily read.
This one is a remastered version of our dusty article from 2019. Things have changed for advertising and us, and it would be a crime to leave the list as it was. Enjoy!
Table of Contents:
1. Ad Age
Ad Age is the “founding father” of modern digital advertising blogs. Launched in 1930 as a Chicago newspaper, it evolved into a prominent online publication about advertising as a whole. Nowadays, it's oriented more on the creative side of the industry, yet you'll find ad tech news and data insights there as well.
2. Digiday
Digiday is the home to attention-grabbing headlines and confessions coming from digital advertising insiders.
This digital ads blog hosts over 250 events and runs weekly podcast series with speakers like Bloomberg Media CEO Justin Smith and Pinterest's CMO Andrea Mallard. There is also a paid Digiday+ membership with access to independent research and data.
3. Single Grain
Being a full-stack advertising agency by nature, Single Grain summoned the power of content marketing and built a formidable community around its services.
The company can be called the second Hubspot but among online advertising blogs. You can expect one in-depth post every two days, which may cover any marketing-related topic from SEO to programmatic.
4. Martech Series
Martech Series has a granular focus on the tech side of the advertising industry, unveiling the secrets of B2B marketing platforms and publishing your daily dose of key ad tech news. It can't be called a digital advertising blog but a full-fledged media with C-level executive interview series and inspiring guest columns.
5. Epom Ad Server
I proudly include Epom digital advertising blog in this solid list. We dismantle the myth that being an ad tech brand means being boring. No way! We write about what we love: that's why our articles emit crisp enjoyment and are so simple to read.
On the other hand, we favor practical advice and in-depth analysis, getting to the heart of the topic in each piece. Check out our best stuff — join the Epom community below.
6. Bannerflow
Bannerflow belongs to the rare breed of SaaS companies that feature both excellent products and page-turner blog posts.
Their digital advertising blog is a gold mine of actionable advice on your display campaign optimization. Case studies, step-by-step guides, best examples of banner ads — all advertisers' favorite stuff is packed here.
7. Smart Insights
“Become a free member — build your knowledge — grow a business.” — That's the latest slogan of Smart Insights digital advertising blog. Every weekday, they publish 2-3 articles with a thematic focus.
The blog consists of 35+ categories, each dedicated to a specific marketing niche. Aside from the articles, there are 10 free toolkits to help you refine your digital advertising strategy.
8. MarTech.org
The next portion of martech news for you flows directly from MarTech.org. It's one of the sister-site triad, which also includes Marketing Land and Search Engine Land. That's a wise move that made this website the best programmatic blog to get robust knowledge about ad tech instead of looking for related articles hiding behind more general pieces.
9. Ad Exchanger
Ad Exchanger is not a resource to learn about advertising technology for neophytes. Instead, this media site features highly sophisticated articles based on thorough studies and industry leader opinions on the latest ad tech news. If you already have hands-on experience in programmatic technology, that's the best place to broaden your horizons even more.
10. HeaderBidding
Automatad, a managed header bidding provider, runs the blog named (surprise!) HeaderBidding. They share actionable advice, ad revenue optimization strategies, and insider tips to help publishers stay ahead of the ad tech curve.
Aside from regular articles, Automatad runs weekly roundups (focused on the sell-side of the ecosystem) and publishes enlightening guides & long-form content.
11. MonetizeMore
MonetizeMore's brand name has already made it obvious: this digital advertising blog is for publishers. All posts here are aimed at increasing your website or app revenue. The blog is their secondary venture, though. The major one is the professional tools for publishers like header bidder management and discrepancy optimization.
12. Clearcode
Clearcode is a software development company that specializes solely in ad tech products. They created an analytics suite Piwik PRO, developed CDP for Isoskele, and some custom DSPs for top-tier clients.
The company regularly publishes tutorials on what's inside ad tech platforms and how they work. Clearcode's programmatic advertising blog is the best place to learn more about the tech side of advertising.
13. AdPushup
The next-gen tool for publishers, AdPushup helps them utilize machine learning to deliver the best results while running digital ad campaigns. Their blog about advertising is a one-stop shop for supply partners and ad-tech lovers who want to improve their knowledge with expert roundups, guides, and even free webinars.
14. AdPulp
AdPulp blog is positioning itself as “The Chronicle of Bright Ideas.” You won't find ad tech news or digital advertising tips here, yet its pages are full of creative inspiration and thoughtful articles on the societal impact of modern advertising. Blog posts are released 2-3 times per week.
15. More About Advertising
More About Advertising brings the most exciting industry events to the surface. Advertising bloggers gather gripping stories here, weed out topical ad tech news, and interview Fortune 500, C-level executives. So if you're from the UK and your brain craves more food, check out their bookstore with the best advertising titles for sale.
16. Video Ad News
Some of today's heroes are quite generalistic but not Video Ad News. This display advertising blog is a haven for video marketers of all breeds: video programmatic, connected TV, social video, and other trends are covered here. Want to increase your ad conversions by 200-300%? Embrace video ad serving and read Video Ad News.
17. AdRoll
AdRoll is a growth marketing platform with a crafty digital advertising blog. Very handy: learn how to create personalized cross-channel experiences and become one of 37,000+ young brands to implement them right away. Featured topics include general advertising stuff seasoned with growth hacking and D2C marketing techniques.
18. AdEspresso
AdEspresso goes one step further than conventional blogs about digital marketing: it organizes the whole academy, where you can learn more about Google & Facebook advertising.
The Academy includes educational tools, guides, e-books, and blog articles for sure. Sometimes they also provide some tips on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram marketing.
19. MediaPost
MediaPost is a credible advertising insider created to empower marketing & advertising professionals.
There are thousands of articles about data, ad tech, programmatic news, mobile & video advertising, and more. MediaPost hosts 30+ annual events in the US and gives out awards to the best agencies and companies in the niche.
20. ExchangeWire
ExchangeWire is a collection of the most relevant ad tech news and programmatic advertising insights. It delves deep into the essence of advertising technology and is by no means an entry-level programmatic advertising blog. Highly recommended for industry business owners and programmatic experts.
21. Mobile Marketer
Mobile Marketer is probably the most entertaining digital advertising blog on our list. It's impossible to get tired of reading the pieces about marketing with memes, TikTok's top 100 viral videos, and voice-driven holiday season. But not all the materials boil down to fun: the media also explores AI, VR, and the role of innovation in the future of mobile advertising.
22. AdMonsters
AdMonsters is your concentrated digest to stay in the loop of what's happening in ad tech. You got to admire their tagging system: thanks to it, you can find articles laser-focused on GDPR, IAB news, data management, or ad fraud in one click. The advertising blog also features “Monstership” with access to exclusive RTB Supply Path Benchmarking research and event summaries.
Read our piece about 5 DSP tweaks to increase programmatic performance on AdMonsters.
23. Smaato
Smaato blog is a compilation of some of the best tips and insights for publishers and advertisers. While the core of its content is tips about Smaato’s own platform, these guys pack their blog posts with fresh and straight-to-the-point information. If you aim to enhance your advertising strategy, Smaato is a must-read.
24. Magnite
Magnite is also a blog platform targeted towards brands and site owners. What makes them stand out is that Magnite analyzes the best ad tech decisions and explains them entertainingly. Expert forecasts, handy advice, and many topics underlooked by others – you’ll find it all on Magnite. Plus, they have a great UI.
25. Roqad
Roqad is a pit stop for anyone dealing with digital advertising. They provide both entry guides for the basics of advertising and advanced tips for business owners in ad tech.
You won’t find a mountain of articles here, but all of them contain deep research that you won’t find anywhere else. And well, would you look at their website design – it’s pure style, no less.
26. OnAudience
As their name suggests, OnAudience is everything you need to know about audience data and more. It’s not just some overcomplicated data science stuff; these guys dive into current ad trends and teach how to use their data insights. Over the years, OnAudience has gathered a ton of useful material that is mostly relevant even today, so feel free to check it out.
27. ClickZ
ClickZ is a rich media resource that covers almost everything you could think of when it comes to ads. Emerging tech, customer data, analytics, marketing – you name it. What’s great is that despite the variety, they never fail to bring up trendy topics and provide a razor-sharp look at things.
28. AdTechExplained
Whether you’re new to digital advertising or simply want to refresh your knowledge, AdTechExplained is the place for you. This blog is one massive guide to ad tech that covers everything from the concept of SSPs and RTB bidding to IPv6's impact on ads and Google Privacy Sandbox.
Trey Titone (a single author of AdTechExplained) packs these articles with banger analytics while explaining complex tech and events in simple terms. Truly, a must-read for anyone in our industry.
29. TheViewPoint
TheViewPoint has a strong focus on Connected TV and programmatic advertising. They will teach you how to prevent CTV fraud, provide unique analytics and explain the differences in streaming services. Moreover, you’ll find conference reports, webinar recordings, and some general articles about ad tech.
30. MarketingDive
MarketingDive jumps to the exciting side of marketing and ad tech. Nissan’s TikTok, Roblox metaverse, the hype around AI – these guys just don’t pick dull topics. Their articles are easy to understand, even for newbies in the ad industry, and they never miss action-packed events. Marketing can be fun, and MarketingDive will always remind you about that.
31. Ad Tech Daily
We have a kink on self-explanatory names here, with Ad Tech Daily being no exception. Their articles aim at people who are more or less familiar with ad tech, so that you won’t find basic guides and how-tos.
What you will find is a galore of relevant content that dives into every possible aspect of advertising. From social media strategies to ad viewability, we don’t even try to count the number of news articles and tips.
Check out for yourself; no matter what you’re doing in the ad business Ad Tech Daily will provide useful info.
32. Martech Zone
Martech Zone’s goal is simple – to make your marketing better. They share insightful stuff on email practices, expanding your reach, and even content making. The amount of valuable tips for brands is almost overwhelming, and it’s not just some basic nonsense.
These guys know what they’re talking about and will gladly explain it. If you are an advertiser, this should go straight into your bookmarks.
33. IAB Tech Lab
IAB Tech Lab’s blog mostly consists of updates and nuances on their activities which are mostly technical standards coding and implementation. But don’t take that as a drawback. Their articles are full of technical insights, detailed reports, and expert opinions on RTB and CTV tech as a whole. If you’re a product developer or simply a curious mind, don’t skip this one.
34. Xenoss
When you click on our countrymen resource Xenoss, you won’t find a myriad of different articles. But once you pick any of them, you’ll realize that “quality over quantity” is a lifestyle for these guys.
When they pick a mar-tech/ad tech-related topic, they really invest themselves in it. Xenoss articles are long, detailed, and full of graphs and information with a level of quality that is hard to find anywhere else, even on our list.
35. ChiefMartec
ChiefMartec is about technology that changes marketing and marketing changing technology. This is no media for newbies. Here you’ll find complex market research along with insights and a bit of reflection from the author himself, Scott Brinker. If martech is your life as much as it is Scott’s, then welcome aboard.
36. Mountain (MNTN)
MNTN’s CCO is Ryan Reynolds, and if that fact is not enough, just check their blog yourself. You’ll find a heap of short-read articles that mainly focus on CTV and occasionally give advertising advice.
MNTN provides accessible and entertaining content with a consistent art style while packing it with statistics and research. Once again, if you’re into CTV advertising, don’t sleep on this blog.
37. Mobile Dev Memo (MDM)
Mobile Dev Memo is a digest on the digital advertising industry. Despite how much content they produce, these guys don’t lose it, staying informative and digging into the topic. Moreover, the resource is accompanied by blogs and articles from different media, so the content just doesn’t end. And we really like their podcast intro; check it out for yourself.
38. AdvertisingWeek
From metaverse and gaming to data and brands – AdvertisingWeek is yet another resource that rides a hype train of content. Their articles are diverse, their outlook on things is fresh, and their site is simply a pleasure to navigate. Hell, they even got podcasts. Hands down, AdvertisingWeek is one of the blogs that we can recommend to anyone, even if they are hardly familiar with digital advertising.
39. Today in Digital Marketing
Today in Digital Marketing is an ad tech blog for people tired of ‘dull’ and ‘wordy’ in this media type. We simply admire their ability to catch your attention with the headline and hold it long enough so that you won’t even notice once you’re reading the conclusions. Today in Digital Marketing is about consistency, humor, and news that really matter in ad tech. Review passed! Respect +
40. The FirstPartyCapital Newsletter
We don’t know if the almost complete absence of visuals is a concept, but this simplicity suits The FirstPatyCapital NewsLetter. As these guys are active investors in ad tech and martech, their look at things is deep and insightful. Industry analytics, tech nuances, and affection towards free Internet are why we firmly recommend this newsletter.
41. The Rebooting
The Rebooting feels like a reboot of media for publishers. A single person who travels around the world adds space images as headers and writes the whole blog as a reflection rather than a news digest. The personal touch makes the project feel like a breath of fresh air while being deeply informative and researched. If you are a publisher that wants a new outlook on publishing, you might accidentally fall in love with The Rebooting.
42. The Drum
The Drum is an ad tech media that pays attention to both “ad” and “tech.” Here you’ll find the best examples of creative ad placements and e-commerce next door to AI news and digitalization tips. The Drum creates a distinctive image of modern world advertising and shows you how to live and prosper in it.
43. InsiderIntelligence
InsiderIntelligence is the true researcher of digital advertising. These mad data scientists pack their resources with reports, charts, forecasts, briefings, and KPIs. The amount of data combined with experience makes for deep (though usually short) articles.
44. MarTechCube
MarTechCube is a media with a wide (like really wide) spectrum of content for marketers. There is so much material it’s difficult to count, but once you’re there – expect regular news on advertising and data management, interviews, podcasts, guest articles, and infographics. If you’re a marketer that wants to keep up with the industry, MarTechCube is just the media for you.
45. People vs Algorithms
To sum up our list, we’ve picked up People vs Algorithms, the horseman of media transformation. Resources led by a single person always have some kind of personal charm, and this one is no exception. Here you’ll find media advice on our difficult times, countless proofs that we live in a cyberpunk dystopia, and thoughts on where our beloved Internet is heading.
Conclusions
Now, that’s a lot of material for home reading, but even 45 resources are not everything that advertising has to offer. So don’t get mad at us for not mentioning your favorite one!
We were delighted to find so many entertaining blogs, each unique to how they write, publish and focus on content. Being proud to be a part of all this digital madness, we hope this list will help you find some qualified and helpful content.
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