Over-the-top (OTT) and Connected TV (CTV) advertising has become increasingly popular of late as many consumers are cutting the cord and turning to streaming services for their entertainment.
Statisticians predict that OTT users will reach over 5 million by 2027. Considering that millions around the world are bound to consume content, OTT and CTV advertising should be a part of anyone's marketing strategy.
What are OTT and CTV?
Over-the-top (OTT) refers to delivering video content via the internet without the need for traditional cable or satellite subscription.
Connected TV (CTV), on the other hand, refers to the delivery of video content on a connected TV, a television connected to the internet.
OTT and CTV advertising offer unique benefits to advertisers, and understanding the differences can help you make the most of your advertising budget.
OTT and CTV - Benefits
One of the critical benefits of OTT advertising is the ability to target specific demographics.
Streaming services often require users to create an account and provide personal information, such as age, gender, and location. This crucial data can be used to target specific audiences, making OTT advertising more effective than traditional TV advertising.
Additionally, OTT advertising allows for more personalized ad experiences, such as dynamic ad insertion, which can be used to display different ads to different users based on their viewing history.
Interactive ads that allow users to interact with the ad and learn more about the advertised product or service can also be pushed via OTT.
Another benefit of OTT advertising is that it allows advertisers to reach consumers across multiple devices.
With OTT, ads can be delivered to users on many devices, including smart TVs, streaming devices, and mobile devices. This allows advertisers to reach consumers wherever they are and target ads based on the device used.
CTV advertising, on the other hand, offers the benefits of traditional TV advertising, such as the ability to reach a large audience and the ability to create visually impactful ads.
CTV advertising also allows advertisers to take advantage of advanced TV targeting options, such as frequency capping and addressable advertising.
With frequency capping, advertisers can limit the frequency of an ad being shown to a specific user. With addressable advertising, advertisers can target ads to specific households based on factors such as income, education level, and occupation.
How Do You Choose Between OTT and CTV Advertising?
When it comes to choosing between OTT and CTV advertising, it ultimately depends on your advertising goals.
OTT advertising is best for targeting specific demographics and creating personalized ad experiences, whereas CTV advertising is best for reaching a large audience and creating visually impactful ads.
Further, OTT advertising is the way to go if your goal is to reach consumers across multiple devices. However, if you want to take advantage of advanced TV targeting options, CTV advertising might be a better choice.
Summing it Up
OTT and CTV advertising offer unique benefits to advertisers, and understanding the differences between them can help maximize the value of your advertising budget.
For example, OTT advertising allows for demographic targeting, personalized ad experiences, and reach across multiple devices, while CTV advertising allows for traditional TV benefits and advanced targeting options.
By understanding your advertising goals, you can make an informed decision on whether to use OTT or CTV advertising or to use a combination of both.