Ad Network? Video Ad Network? Why Not Both?

Ever wonder why a separate class of so-called video ad networks emerged over the last decade? Or, why more display ad networks don’t serve pre-roll video ads? The reason is simple: a lack of standards for video ad serving required specialized technology to translate between a network’s ad server and the growing hodgepodge of different publisher video player implementations. This was not an insignificant undertaking, so networks choosing to focus limited technical and operational resources on it became, de facto, video ad networks. But all that’s about to change, due to the IAB’s ground-breaking standard for online pre-roll video advertising (or “VAST”, if you like acronyms).

Read More: AdAge

Ad Servers Rigged To Be DSP’s

Previously I wrote about adservers touching on Full Service options and open source options on the publisher side. One trend I would like to highlight is manipulating Adserver arrangements to put together a Demand Side Optimization Platform (DSP).  This seems to be a trend with smaller networks setting up “private networks”.

Read More: Mobtown Labs

On a Scale From 1 to 10, How Weird Are You?

This interview with Tony Hsieh, the chief executive of Zappos.com, was conducted and condensed by Adam Bryant.

Q. What are some of the most important leadership lessons you’ve learned?

A. After college, a roommate and I started a company called LinkExchange in 1996, and it grew to about 100 or so people, and then we ended up selling the company to Microsoft in 1998. From the outside, it looked like it was a great acquisition, $265 million, but most people don’t know the real reason why we ended up selling the company.

Read More: NY Times