SHAPING WHAT’S NEXT IN MEDIA

Last chance to save on Digiday Publishing Summit passes is February 9

SECURE YOUR SEAT

Short Takes: iSocket Bets on Simplicity

iSocket is one ad tech startup banking on simplicity. Its BuyAds platform wants to marry advertisers directly with publisher inventory. It is currently used by more than 600 websites and claims a growth rate of 10 percent per month.

The devil is in the details, of course, and the company may face challenges in the future from a market crowded with rapidly cloning real-time bidding products. That doesn’t mean that they will be able to get their hands on premium inventory, but it doesn’t take a genius to imagine that premium private exchanges and publishers can make multiple deals with RTB solutions that appeal, for whatever reason, to blue-chip buyers.

iSocket’s true strength appears in its dedication to simplicity, as it aims to streamline agency and publisher connections. This swims against an industry tide that seems to complicate ad buying, rather than simplifying it. iSocket has a healthy clutch of investors, and recently pulled Ben Trenda from the Rubicon Project to help direct sales. It also has a snazzy animated video explaining what it does.

More in Media

football

Brands invest in creators for reach as celebs fill the Big Game spots

The Super Bowl is no longer just about day-of posts or prime-time commercials, but the expanding creator ecosystem surrounding it.

WTF is the IAB’s AI Accountability for Publishers Act (and what happens next)?

The IAB introduced a draft bill to make AI companies pay for scraping publishers’ content. Here’s how it’ll differ from copyright law, and what comes next.

Media Briefing: A solid Q4 gives publishers breathing room as they build revenue beyond search

Q4 gave publishers a win — but as ad dollars return, AI-driven discovery shifts mean growth in 2026 will hinge on relevance, not reach.