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A shift in the marketing landscape
When Google made the phase-out of third-party cookies worldwide in 2020 - starting in Chrome browsers - it stirred up a lot of excitement among marketers. And not surprisingly so. Since then, that deadline has been adjusted slightly: to the second half of 2024. Still, it remains an exciting story. Some are eagerly looking forward to life without cookies, while others are still a tad apprehensive.
The digital advertising landscape will change greatly with the banning of third-party cookies. Perhaps so much so that we will still be talking about this milestone in 10 years' time. But what impact should we expect from blocking third-party cookies? Well, Chrome is the number one browser with more than 65% market share. The term "shift" is perhaps appropriate.
But: a cookie-less era also offers opportunities, for the marketer and the organisation. Find out in this blog post what is changing and how you can make the most of this shift.
Why is Google banning cookies?
Firefox is already one step ahead of the tech giant. Other browsers and even Apple have already provided their answers to the latest developments in the data landscape with ITP. So, what prompted Google to finally take this step?
According to Justin Schuh, Google's Chief Chrome Engineer, Google operates with its users’ best interests at heart, they say they want "more privacy, transparency, freedom of choice and control over how their data is used and for what purposes."
Another reason that undoubtedly played a role in Google’s decision-making processes was the investigation by the Irish Data Protection Commission (IDPC) into Google's online advertising model. This large-scale study – coupled with growing consumer dissatisfaction with cookies, privacy, and data usage – clearly shows how we look at data more critically today compared to the past.
The Digital Markets Act was added in March 2024, which should give users more control over their consent management and sharing of their data with third parties. The impact on cookies is smaller here, but it does strengthen the power of the end user in refusing tracking.
How happy do cookies make us?
Third-party cookies, where third parties receive the collected data, have seen their popularity decline over time. For many users this is because of the often-annoying pop-up cookie notifications, but also for marketers, they are less relevant due to the emergence of new digital touchpoints (such as the Internet of Things). Another blow to the long-term survival of cookies is the fact that they cannot identify users in a multi-device world, a deficiency which may well have proved fatal after the shift to mobile by swathes of web users.
Web browsers have not been idle either and that is not good news for cookies. In recent years, browsers have increasingly applied restrictions on the use of third-party cookies to limit tracking by companies, such as private browsing (Opera and tracking protection van Internet Explorer). In addition, other, similar techniques – such as statistical identification and fingerprinting – are actively blocked.
A shift to first-party data is thus increasingly imminent, and this has its advantages. Although the volumes of first-party data are usually considerably smaller than those of third-party data, the added value of first-party data in communication and customer relationship building is many times greater.
The fight for - and the right to - privacy
And then there is privacy, a sensitive word when it comes to data. GDPR and the e-Privacy Directive are some examples of legislation that wants to exert more control over data collection and privacy. Both governments and consumers are actively working on the way in which companies collect and use data.
In March, the results of an extensive user survey appeared in the Global Privacy Monitor. The main conclusion? The modern consumer is willing to hand over data, provided that it is clear what happens to that data. Transparency and relevance are key concepts today.
“The modern consumer is willing to hand over data, provided that it is clear what happens to that data.”
Cookieless era or not, it will be more difficult to collect data outside your own environment. As a modern marketer, you are faced with a challenge: how do you balance respect for privacy with getting the right, relevant data?
What happens (immediately) after the disappearance of third-party cookies?
Analytics & conversion tracking
Unsurprisingly many analytics-related applications are severely affected as a side effect of the efforts to prevent tracking. Without taking appropriate action, conversion tracking is often limited to a maximum of 24 hours.
A/B testing & personalisation
If first-party cookies are not set-up on your site correctly, they will be affected by the tracking prevention measures. That means users either won't see their personalised content or multiple A/B test variants will not be visible. The immediate impact of this is that the results from A/B campaigns are a lot less reliable.
Advertising & remarketing
Remarketing based on (third-party) cookies is becoming more difficult and will become almost impossible within a couple of years. Only self-identified users can still be targeted with their (hashed) email address on advertising platforms like Facebook and Google.
We have never been more ready for cookieless
Today, the digital world increasingly flows seamlessly into everyday life, coupled with increasing expectations and standards of users. Not to mention the expectations of different generations, which are often far apart.
That is precisely why now is the time for marketers to really get in touch with the customer, so that supply and demand can grow even closer together.
Over the past decade, there has been a prominent place in digital marketing for the strategic placement of cookies. With very little effort, we as marketers arrived at impressive amounts of data. Quantity over quality.
"In the cookieless era, there is – first and foremost – room for a new mindset. No (unavoidable) cookies, but a more personal connection with your target group. In short, context becomes key."
Contextual advertising and first-party data gathering
In the cookieless age, contextual advertising is more relevant than ever. You advertise based on your own data, collected from the right, relevant visitors.
An important element of contextual advertising is that you are betting on your own content. This means that effective content marketing, inbound/outbound marketing and SEO are crucial because that’s how you ensure that the right visitors find their way to your channels. This means your first-party data gathering is accurate and this is the foundation for the further strengthening of your content.
Collecting first-party data becomes a well-oiled machine over time because you get to know your own target group and can approach them in an informed and targeted way. Central to your success in the cookieless era is building a genuine relationship with your target group – supported by relevant content and advertising in the right context. The days of redundant data collection are over.
Your first steps in cookieless
Time for the transformation to cookieless? Keep the following things in mind.
How dependent are you on third-party data? First, research which 'own' data you have, and which owned media you can use to operate as a first-party.
A cookieless era is more than marketing. Reviewing existing data collection processes is a story of marketing, development, legal and more. An organisation-wide task force, representing different layers and teams, offers you the best chance to seize opportunities in this transformation.
Data – third- or first-party – is a means, not an end. It’s easy to forget, but collecting data is not the end goal for your processes. Data is and will remain an important tool for gathering valuable insights for your business. First and foremost, you explore human behaviour with data as an asset.
5 tips & tricks for a successful transition
Don't wait any longer: Every step is a step forward and even the smallest step is of great value.
Trust your own strength: First-party data is the foundation to build on because its valuable and unique.
Create a relevant story: Hunt for relevance in all phases of the customer journey, so you turn your customers into ambassadors who are happy to share their data.
One truth, full of high-quality content: Content marketing, SEO, and relevant leads? All part of an essential and continuous process.
Work iteratively and ambitiously: Experiences guide tomorrow and support iterative thinking. The process is never finished and can only ever be improved and offer you more.
Whitepaper ‘Impact of the cookieless future on marketing’
In this whitepaper, we will immerse you in the world of cookies, discuss what exactly is about to happen and how you can prepare your company for it. Enjoy!
Will your future soon be cookieless and future-proof?
The cookieless era is a leap into the unknown and can sometimes even be frightening. The above tips and advice will help your organisation to navigate its way from third-party data to first-party data, obtained through your own relevant media.
Do you want to learn more about cookieless? Download our whitepaper The impact of cookieless future on marketing to find out more.
Would you like a helping hand and some guidance? Our marketers, content creators and strategists are ready and thinking with you. We are happy to help you create an outstanding experience for your visitors - one they will love coming back for.
Glenn Weuts
Head of Marketing Technology - iOAs Head of Marketing Technology at iO, Glenn Weuts is absolutely in the right place. Convinced of the watertight truth that only data can offer — in combination with his profound knowledge of analytical tools and platforms — measuring and interpreting user data energises him every day. His output? Advice for sound marketing.
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The digital revolution has profoundly changed the B2C market, and B2B soon followed. None of it happened overnight, by the way. In fact, the trend was initially slow to take off in the B2B sector. Today, digitalisation reached essential status in B2B for anyone wishing to stay ahead of the competition. Its secret? An omnichannel approach, the new standard for B2B sales.Today, B2B customers expect the same standards as B2C customers do in terms of access and service from self-service platforms and digital portals. They expect to find the right products, services or ecosystems across all stages of the customer journey. How do you manage B2C expectations in a B2B context?Read moreWhite paper
Get more insights into the effectiveness of media with Marketing Mix Modelling
Digital marketing offers enormous opportunities in the field of data-driven working. We often fail to take advantage of these opportunities. That's means you miss out on a lot of opportunities to maximise the impact of your budget.Read moreWhite paper
How to build an effective content marketing strategy
Producing content is a tactic everyone seems to rely on these days. Many organisations are creating content today — they have blogs, are active on social media, and might even publish their own magazine. But the underlying, supporting strategy? Something you rarely come across.Read moreWhite paper
Digitise your trade union services for your sector
Trade unions play a crucial role when new technologies and trends emerge. But how do you ensure that your trade union keeps up with the expectations of your demanding customers, members, and users.Read moreWhite paper
Flawless content migrations
Do you want to rebrand your organisation? Is an acquisition or merger imminent? Or do you want to improve your customer experience, and does this require an organisational change? For these types of digital transformations, changing technology is often a challenging and crucial part for organisations of all sizes. Whether you need to upgrade the CMS system to a newer version, or you want to increase your innovation speed with a headless CMS, there is often one element that receives little attention: the content migration. Far too often, a content migration is nothing more than the last thing on the list, because it’s the technology that requires a lot of attention and budget, isn’t it? How complex can it be to lift and shift the content from the old system to the new?Read moreWhite paper
Whitepaper: How to unburden your business with ‘first time right’ marketing execution
Ideally, as a (Digital) Marketing Manager, you focus on developing and executing your strategy to achieve your organisation's goals. But what if your strategic focus is constantly disrupted by operational issues?Read moreWhite paper
Whitepaper: Creating exceptional customer journeys with a Digital Experience Platform
In markets that are saturated with options and with customers that are overloaded with choices, it's an exceptional customer experience set will set you apart. A Digital Experience Platform can help you accomplish this - and we'll tell you how.Read moreWhite paper
Every experience matters: Unravel customer experiences with the Experience Model
Your brand has to compete with an unprecedented number of messages and stimuli for attention. To stand head and shoulders above the rest, it is essential to offer distinctive customer experiences. And that starts with a deep understanding of customer experiences.Read moreWhite paper
AI beyond technology, your AI guide to business value
AI is everywhere. The challenge is how to make it tangible. It is no longer just about the technology, but about the business value and integration into processes. In this white paper we take you through the developments that affect your business and revenue.Read moreWhite paper
7 essential steps to build an effective MarTech stack
An overwhelming array of marketing technology choices often leads to a fragmented and inefficient MarTech stack. Discover how to optimise your stack, strengthen integrations, and build a future-proof MarTech strategy.Read moreBlog
Digital transformation: past, present, and future
The time for digitisation is now - not later, tomorrow, or next week. At iO we have been telling this same story for some time now, and it continues to be relevant. In recent years digitisation has proven itself to be, and continues to be essential, the user is still central, and the growth of digital consumers has - as was predicted - only accelerated.Read moreBlog
This was INBOUND 2022 - Are you connected?
HubSpot INBOUND, one of the biggest marketing events of the year, took place in Boston in early September. This edition was host to several intriguing speakers – a name like Barack Obama always stands out. In this blog you can read all about the new features announced by HubSpot, and their future perspectives on the field of inbound marketing.Read moreBlog
Tokenisation and data interoperability: Digital drivers of tomorrow
At iO we use today’s insights to build the organisations of tomorrow. Lander Janssens and Kristof Bossuyt report on their visit to Web Summit 2022. They explain what tokenisation and data interoperability mean — and why organisations should switch their focus to it now.Read moreBlog
The importance of e-commerce for B2B
As of 2022, 65% of B2B companies conduct their business exclusively online. In addition, last year—for the first time ever—organisations sold more online than through personal sales. It is therefore about time for your B2B company to move towards—and reap the benefits of—a digital story. Discover the difference e-commerce can make in a B2B context.Read moreBlog
The most common pitfalls in digitisation and how to avoid them
In the beginning of this year, we launched the Opportunity report 2023. A collection of visions and insights from our experts to help you get the most out of the new year. On the 9th of March during the Opportunity online live event we brought these insights live to an interested audience to speak and discuss how to ‘Accelerate your business in 2023’. In this article, we’ll share the key takeaways of the presentation of Digital Strategist Tom van Mierlo with you.Read moreBlog
11 marketing automation mistakes you should avoid
Do you use marketing automation tools? Read on to find out how to avoid the most commonly made mistakes and learn how to make this innovative software work for you.Read moreBlog
How do you develop distinctive marketing campaigns?
Marketing campaigns are becoming more standardised and less distinctive due to automation. Today, you have to differentiate your campaigns on a strategic and creative level, where we are still better than the machine. What impact does that have on marketing organisations?Read moreBlog
The Future is Modelled: strengthening Online Marketing with Data Modelling
We notice that, in the dynamic world of digital data, modelling marketing data is taking an increasingly prominent role. The ability to model data and gain valuable insights is becoming more and more accessible to organisations. In this blog, we explore what makes data modelling so important and what has contributed to its increased accessibility. We’ll also share our experiences with helping our clients discover the potential of data modelling during our Data Discovery workshops.Read moreBlog
HubSpot announces new Sales Hub and CRM features at INBOUND 23
Elevate your sales journey and maximise data efficiency with HubSpot's Sales Hub 2.0 and Smart CRM.Read moreBlog
How to choose an appropriate data analytics platform?
A data analytics platform extracts data from websites and apps and processes it into actionable insights for your business operations. At the beginning of 2023, Google Analytics still had a market share of over 85% in our region and the choice was often an easy one. However, after a series of complaints and questions about its compatibility with GDPR legislation, Google Analytics is balancing on the edge of legality. Consequently, the following question arises: what should you pay attention to when choosing another data analysis platform?Read moreBlog
2023: a year in an era of change
Does the name Leonhard Huizinga still ring a bell for anyone? Once a popular Dutch writer, now forgotten. He made his debut in 1936 with the book 'De Gestroomlijnde Wereld'. Already a wanderer at a young age, Huizinga's book opened an unknown world to many readers. An exotic world, which seemed to be getting smaller and smaller, because it was more accessible by car, train, boat, and airplane. Faster, more comfortable and with more and more streamlining — quite literally. Curious, boundless, full of wonder. Not realising, as early as 1936, that over that same world lay the shadows of tomorrow.Read moreBlog
Discover conversational AI search
Conversational search in the form of an AI chatbot lets your website visitors interact with your content, resulting in a better customer experience.Read moreBlog
The professional communication dilemma: To email or not during the festive season.
Email campaigns during December are always a challenge. The volume of email increases steadily every month of the year and reaches a peak during the festive season. For example, MailChimp, the leading email service (according to their 2023 annual report) sends no less than 21.3 billion emails in December. Do you want to know how to make sure your festive emails reach your target audiences?Read moreBlog
6 tips for maintaining focus in a fragmented MarTech landscape
Navigating the rapidly expanding MarTech landscape can be overwhelming, but with a clear strategy and focused approach, you can build an effective MarTech stack that drives your marketing success.Read moreDossier
Dossier: Brands & society
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Dossier: B2B - Turning B2B challenges into solutions
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Dossier: The Opportunity Report
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Infinite opportunities: Thierry Geerts (Google Belgium)
"Digitisation in Belgium is progressing rapidly, but not as fast as it could or I hoped it would," says Thierry Geerts, CEO Google Belgium. He wrote a book, Digitalis, about his vision on digitisation. He talks about how we can — and should — pick up the pace of digitisation.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Peter Van Hoecke (Van Hoecke)
According to Peter Van Hoecke (CEO Van Hoecke), the client is always central, especially — in digital transformation. By automating, accelerating, and rationalising processes, you help your clients save time — our most finite and valuable resource.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Steven Van Belleghem (iO)
Steven Van Belleghem (partner iO) talks about the three main advantages he sees in technology and digital transformation: faster than real-time service, hyper-personalisation, and the ultimate convenience.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Tim Colman (Proximus)
Creative concepts can elevate a campaign, says Tim Colman (Head of Digital Communication at Proximus). He talks about the importance of creativity at every stage of the customer journey.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Joaquin Zschuschen (KLM Health Services)
Digital transformation isn't just about technology — it’s also about people. Joaquin Zschuschen, Digital Manager at KLM Health Services, talks about customer satisfaction and personalisation.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Yannick de Bièvre (MediaMarkt)
MediaMarkt is an omnichannel retailer, and that is a very conscious choice. Digital and non-digital channels flow seamlessly into each other, according to Yannick de Bièvre (Head of Marketing BeLux).Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Paul Smeets (Cadac)
You can't do partial digital transformation, says Paul Smeets (CTO Cadac). In this video, he tells you more about his vision on digitisation.Read moreVideo
Digitising a business: the most common mistakes and how to avoid them
How is it that only 30% of the companies are successful in adopting digital transformation? In large part because it affects every aspect of a business: people, processes, infrastructure, and customers. We walk you through the most common mistakes we see in digital transformation projects so you don’t have to make them yourself. Expert:Tom van Mierlo, Digital StrategistRead moreVideo
AI - The future is not what it used to be
Do you remember when ... the invention of the computer caused a seismic shift in the job market? People unwilling to work with computers were quickly replaced by people who were; and today everyone carries a laptop. Today the same thing is happening with AI. In this webinar, Rodger Werkhoven will share his passion for Artificial Intelligence and introduce you to OpenAI as a love brand.Read moreVideo
The Canon of Flanders: from Van Eyck’s brothers' Ghent Altarpiece to Rock Werchter.
From Van Eyck’s brothers' Ghent Altarpiece to Rock Werchter: the Canon of Flanders is finally here. The much-discussed list resulted in a bulky book of more than 300 pages and includes an overview of the Flemish language, culture, and history from the end of the last ice age to today. But there is also an online version: www.canonvanvlaanderen.be . iO developed this on behalf of the Commission Canon of Flanders, which received a mandate from the Flemish Government, Department of Education & Training.Read moreVideo
Primagaz & iO: a shared journey of growth and success
Discover the fruitful collaboration between Primagaz and iO in this 'Walk and Talk' video. In this video, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative dynamics between Primagaz and iO. We discuss how we dealt with challenges, how we exploited opportunities and what strategies we developed. We'll take you through our shared journey of growth and success, where trust and a commitment to excellence are central. This Walk and Talk is more than just a conversation - it is a celebration of a collaboration that has stood the test of time. It is a story of mutual growth, of learning and evolving, and of creating value for both organizations.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Brandt & Levie turns the meat industry on its head
For Brandt & Levie, responsible production is not an afterthought, but the core business. The Amsterdam sausage maker produces animal-friendly meat according to its own recipe — exclusively from well-kept pigs. An impactful story about sustainability in an industry that sometimes struggles to find it.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Natuurhuisje protects local biodiversity
Natuurhuisje is not just a booking platform for holiday homes, it's a full-fledged climate company. Nature is at the heart of everything they do, and it's — in their own words — their responsibility to protect it. The booking platform is merely a means to that end. That's why Natuurhuisje donates part of its revenue back to local projects to improve biodiversity.Read moreCase
How do you support expats moving around the world?
Gosselin, active in international relocations, wanted more leads to boost growth. Our experts helped to bolster their digital presence.Look at this client storyCase
How to combine rebranding and site redesign for a better user experience?
Creating a Cohesive Platform: Assuralia's Rebranding and Site Redesign for Enhanced User Experience Read the story here.Look at this client storyCase
How to use social networks to modernise your digital communication?
Modernizing Automotive Digital Communications: Unleashing the Potential of Social Networks. Read the story here.Look at this client storyCase
How do you bring years of delicious creativity to life?
With creative always-on and ad hoc campaigns, our experts help Manna Sauzen grow into a leading Belgian brand.Look at this client storyCase
How do you launch a completely new brand for a global leader in marine recreation?
Read how we worked with Brunswick to create a full branding and international go-to-market strategy to launch their latest brand Navan.Look at this client storyCase
How do you make customers salivate for your brand again?
Find out how we helped cheese brand CAMBOZOLA reactivate its existing customers and attract younger generations. Read the case.Look at this client storyCase
How has fresh branding contributed to a stronger position in the market?
For Prowise, an interactive display and educational software expert, iO designed a new WordPress website complemented by a new brand voice and copy.Look at this client storyCase
Repositioning a meat brand in full transition
Discover how iO helped Imperial transform into a future-proof food brandLook at this client storyCase
How to deliver a consistent brand experience across 35 countries
How do you develop a digital and internationally deployable retailer concept that takes your customer experience to the next level?Look at this client storyCase
Realising growth through marketing
How iO convinces travelers to choose Brussels Airport for their next trip. Discover the marketing campaigns.Look at this client storyStack
Work smarter in the cloud with Google Cloud Partner iO
Google Cloud Partner iO helps organisations harness the power of the cloud for storage, analytics, development, and more.Read moreWhat we do
Reach your users with better persona and journey research
iO helps you find the best channels to reach your customers and leads – with in-depth research on buyer personas and customer journeys.Read moreWhat we do
Research and audits, vital to strong organisations
Is your strategy based on a gut feeling or research and analysis? Our experts will lead the way.Read moreWhat we do
A marketing strategy that works
With a strong marketing strategy, you will reach your business goals. Our experts are happy to guide you along the way.Read moreWhat we do
Convince customers and employees with your value proposition
Discover how organizations with a clear employee and customer value proposition (EVP & CVP) stand their ground. Our experts will be happy to help you.Read moreWhat we do
Media & performance auditing: where is your marketing today?
From content to advertising and tracking tools: with media and performance audits, our experts will show you the next steps to take in the digital world.Read moreWhat we do
Organising and managing effective digital marketing projects | iO
We help you with optimal project management, coordination and execution of your entire digital marketing project. Discover how iO can help you.Read moreWhat we do
A future-proof organisation with the right marketing technology
A martech stack that scales with your organisation: that’s what you need to outsmart the competition.Read moreWhat we do
Media buying: the key to successful advertising
Marketing is so much more than a slogan. Our experts allow your message to shine with strategic media buying.Read moreWhat we do
iO, marketing automation partner for increased sales and centralised data
Marketing automation brings in leads faster, saves precious time and optimises your business processes. Discover how we can help you achieve this.Read moreWhat we do
Secure applications for all: user and access management
Identify users quickly and safely and give them the necessary access to your platform. Our experts will help you.Read moreWhat we do
AI makes your organisation smarter and more efficient | iO
AI is more than a trend. Our experts are here to show you how AI can add value to your organisation.Read moreWhat we do
Creating business value with AI - AI workshops & trainings
iO helps you to turn AI into action. Discover our AI workshops & trainings to find the potential in your business.Read moreWhat we do
Digital accessibility: opening doors to all users
Enhance your website's accessibility with iO's expert guidance. Discover where your organisation stands, prioritise accessibility, and ensure transparency. Build a more inclusive digital world today.Read moreWhat we do
Engage your target audience with dynamic online and offline activations
Activate your target audience with dynamic online and offline experiences. At iO, we blend marketing, technology, and strategy to create impactful brand activations.Read moreWhat we do
Cloud, Data & Integration: technology fueling digital experiences
We make your IT, data and marketing infrastructure scalable. And integrate it with the right cloud partnerships and data setups.Read moreWhat we do
Measurement and attribution: does your marketing have impact?
How do you know if your creative marketing campaigns are working? With measurement and attribution - iO experts will guide you through the processRead moreWhat we do
Data analysis: get useful insights from your data
By analysing raw data correctly, you get stronger results. Our experts will help you get started with data analysis.Read morePress
AI without measurable impact? Nothing more than an empty gimmick for your business
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iO bolsters ambition with the arrival of Collin Seyger as new CFO
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AkzoNobel unveils Colour of the Year 2024: Sweet Embrace™ with digital support from iO
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iO appoints Rachel Vermeulen as Managing Director of Campus Eindhoven
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iO study: majority of retail chains missing out on local SEO benefits
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iO focuses on talent: Wouter Dolle becomes HR Director in the Netherlands
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iO appoints Marco Merola as Managing Director on Campus Herentals
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iO launches magical end-of-year campaign for Brussels Airport
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4 out of 10 Belgians are digitally vulnerable
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iO helps KNMI keep the Netherlands safe in terms of weather and climate in 2024
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Manna boosts brand awareness with a wink
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iO welcomes Martine Lemans as Managing Director of Consultancy Division in the Netherlands
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Lidl Belux selects blended agency iO as digital partner
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iO helps companies tap into their innovation potential
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Amnesty International Vlaanderen and iO put a human face on hope with ‘the power of the people’
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NMBS picks iO as innovation partner and service design expert
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Nagelmackers strengthens long-term relationships with a brand-new platform
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VRT joins forces with iO’s digital experts
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Amnesty International calls attention to human rights violations in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Read moreWebinar
E-inclusion: how to leave no one behind in the digital world
There’s a digital gap between our marketing personas and the real people we service. And that gap is significant: nearly 50% of the population is digitally vulnerable. How do you handle that as an organisation? And how do you make sure your products and services don’t exclude anyone from the digital world? Register for our webinar now and allow David De Block, Public Services Director at iO, to show you the “reason to believe”, so you can take action.Read moreWebinar
Webinar: Boost your online visibility and revenue with local search
Pretty much everyone has a smartphone these days, using navigation systems like Google Maps every day. Leveraging local search has never been this crucial to enhance online visibility and growth. Google reports that nearly half of all search queries on its platform (46%) have a local intent. You need to take advantage of that as a retailer. After all, you want potential customers to be able to find you, especially when you’re nearby. Sign up to join our exclusive webinar on local search to find out how to elevate your local presence.Read moreWebinar
Leveraging customer data in your marketing communications
With the ever-evolving laws and technology, reaching your target audience as a marketer is complex. In this webinar, we'll show you how to make the most of the customer data you already have. During the Dutch webinar on March 19, 2024, Evelyne Berden (Domain Lead Marketing Automation at iO Campus Herentals) explains how you can unlock customer data to take your marketing campaigns to the next level.Read moreWebinar
SEO & TikTok: the dynamic duo for digital success
From libraries to Google to TikTok...in just a few decades, our source of information has shifted to unexpected places. Today, a whopping 40% of young people use TikTok as their primary source of information. Did you know that this platform is increasingly focusing on its own search function? This makes TikTok SEO an essential part of your digital strategy.Read moreWebinar
Corporate Alt Delete - give your organisation an innovation boost
How do you keep your business dynamics fresh and boost the innovation potential and that pioneering mindset in your organisation? Corporate Alt Delete invites you to take a fresh look at your organisation and jointly rewrite your story. Corporate Alt Delete is a book, a workshop, a mindset, and now also a webinar.Read moreWebinar
Webinar | Will your organization be ready on 28th June 2025 for the EU's Digital Accessibility Law?
Will your organization be ready on 28th June 2025 for the EU's Digital Accessibility Law? Today, for your organization or business to thrive, a digital presence is essential. However, this online presence also brings about a growing need for digital accessibility. Moreover, the EU expects your organization to be digitally accessible by mid-2025. Discover why this is important and how to approach it during our webinar on 22nd August.Read moreWebinar
Webinar: Increase your online impact with strategic SEO
Is your website not being properly found by relevant visitors? Is your SEO traffic not generating enough conversions? But do you think you already have an SEO-friendly website? Then it's time to switch from tactical to strategic SEO. Find out how during our webinar on 23 August.Read moreWebinar
How to become a Social Brand - Building your business with social media
Learn how to move from merely being present on social media to making an impact with an effective social strategy.Read moreWebinar
Discover what's new in HubSpot: your quick guide to the INBOUND '24 updates
With over fifty new features every month, the HubSpot express train shows no signs of slowing down. Last month at the annual INBOUND event in Boston, you could explore all the latest updates and get an exclusive preview of the roadmap for the coming year. Couldn't make it? Sign up quickly for our free webinar to get a concise overview of all the highlights from INBOUND '24.Read moreWebinar
Inclusivity at the forefront: Embracing digital accessibility
Discover how prioritising accessibility can transform digital presence and drive business success.Read moreWhite paper
Customer Data Platforms (CDP)
A Customer Data Platform collects your customers’ data and is mainly at home in the more ‘mature’ marketing departments of the organisation. A CDP combines customer data from different platforms and hands it back to you in a 360° package. This whitepaper illustrates how a CDP gets assembled, where its added value lies CDP can be for your organisation and which conditions best serve a CDP.Read moreWhite paper
How do you find and motivate talent in Belgium?
The battle for talent – in other words, valuable, talented, and motivated employees – is raging harder than ever before. And that's not surprising. For every organisation, the key to success lies with the right talent. Young and old, highly educated, and self-taught, native and immigrant. How do you get them on board? And how do you stop them from looking elsewhere? Instead of using recruitment as a means to attract talent that’s based on financial promises and incentives, in the long term it’s wise to have a sustainable approach that starts from within your own organisation. In this whitepaper we will analyse the importance of your employer value proposition and take you through the recruitment do's and don'ts. Peppered with facts, figures and statistics that are relevant to the Belgian jobs market, and concrete tips, tricks, and trends.Read moreWhite paper
The Opportunity Report: take advantage of the latest developments in strategy, marketing and technology
How do organisations stay ahead of the pack in a constantly evolving world? With a collection of expert insights in a single guide, to make the most out of new market trends, emerging technologies and upgraded industry standards. This Opportunity Report is created and curated by professionals across marketing, strategy, content, and technology, using their common vision on what will shape the world, the market or their field of expertise.Read moreWhite paper
Get the most out of your social media marketing
Many companies use social media to reach their target audience. Too few companies use social media to engage their target audience. A shame really. Because engaging content is the key to success on social media.Read moreWhite paper
Composable Commerce: hype or here to stay?
The world of online commerce is becoming increasingly complex. Businesses need to be able to create appropriate and unique customer journeys across multiple channels. But this is proving to be quite a challenge for those still using traditional commerce platforms. Luckily, the world of online commerce is also constantly developing. When new and greater challenges arise, fresh solutions are created. Solutions like composable commerce.Read moreWhite paper
Your channel mix only has value if you manage it effectively
To make your online business run smoothly, there are several aspects you can focus on. One of them is your channel mix. But how do you know if your mix is the right one? And do you stick to your initial choices or is it better to adjust your mix regularly? Channel management provides answers to these questions. Channel management involves monitoring and adjusting the entire channel mix of your business or client based on predetermined goals. You work on all aspects that ensure better results, at every stage of the funnel.Read moreWhite paper
Building brands with content
Brands are built with advertising, and content then adds depth to the brand, right? Not if you ask Aart Lensink. As a content expert, he helped several brands tell strong stories, and now he's sharing his knowledge on building brands with content in this e-book— packed with examples and with a concrete step-by-step plan.Read moreWhite paper
Download the "2023 Local SEO Benchmark Report"
For the 2023 Local SEO Benchmark, we analysed nearly 100,000 business locations in 36 cities in the Netherlands and Belgium, across 14 different industries. Curious about how the retail sector in the Netherlands and Belgium is doing in terms of Local SEO? Find out in our 2023 Local SEO Benchmark Report . Some key conclusions of the 2023 Local SEO Benchmark Report:Read moreWhite paper
Increase your webshop turnover
Webshops have reached the status of shopping standard in the digital age. Users are just a few clicks away from their favourite items. Anywhere, at any time of the day, from the comforts of home. This is why online advertising on digital channels has become key to webshop owners: channels allowing you to maintain your margins and successfully activate consumers throughout the purchase process.Read moreWhite paper
Sales, leads, goals: your guide to Performance Marketing
Performance marketing is a branch of marketing where you focus on results. Which results? How can you measure it and - more importantly - how do you achieve it? This is different for every organisation, but the potential of performance marketing to deliver results? That’s universal. The efficient combination of leads, sales and targets is crucial.Read moreWhite paper
Get more revenue from Google Shopping with Google CSS Managed Service
In 2017, Google was fined €2.4 billion by the European Commission for abuse of power. The internet giant was pushing comparison websites (Comparison Shopping Services, or CSS) lower in search results with Google Shopping. That fine was bad news for Google, but good news for organisations looking to make more online sales.Read moreWhite paper
Download the all-in-one social media checklist
For many organisations, social media is still a Pandora's box. Yes, they are useful online channels, and yes, we might need to have a presence there. But how exactly do you tackle that? What do you need to take into account? This helpful social media checklist will take you a long way.Read moreWhite paper
Successful digital transformation: 5 pitfalls you should avoid
Globally, only 30 percent of companies successfully implement digital transformation. This is because digital transformation touches every aspect of a business: from people and processes to infrastructure and customer relationships. The key to a successful transformation is to pay attention to all these aspects - but that doesn't always happen. In this white paper, we take you through five common pitfalls in digital transformation and give advice on how to avoid them.Read moreWhite paper
Employer branding insights - How to recruit talent in 2024?
A tight job market and a short attention span from your target audience, who are also bombarded with content on a daily basis. Does recruiting new talent sometimes feel like a lost battle to you? We believe it doesn't have to be! Break through your target audience's content overload: invest in in-depth content to reach them and strengthen your employer brand. How can you successfully recruit and retain new talent for your brand? Discover it in "From Employer Branding to Recruitment - Insights 2024".Read moreWhite paper
6 best practices for successful business innovation
How will your organisation challenge the status quo? What role do you hold in a market where the lines between different domains are becoming less distinct? How are you going to shape a future-proof business model that ensures that you are still relevant the day after tomorrow? The challenges of innovation aren't so much centered around refining your existing business model, but about responding smartly to a dynamic market where the rules are constantly changing. Therefore, innovation within your company remains essential: it enables you to tap into new markets, address new target groups and develop new propositions. Unfortunately, not every form of innovation actually leads to improvement. Our white paper shares 6 best practices for successful business innovation so that innovation does not remain a buzzword but delivers tangible results.Read moreWhite paper
The key insights from Corporate Klooien – Back to Tomorrow
If you were to start all over again tomorrow, would you end up where you are today? In the 2023 edition of Corporate Klooien, we worked with professionals from influential organisations to explore their ideal future scenarios. We examined how they can deliver value and determine the right priorities in their specific situations. We did this using our own Corporate Alt Delete method.Read moreWhite paper
Corporate Alt Delete – Rewrite your organisation’s founding story
Corporate Alt Delete is a book that bridges the gap between two worlds within an organisation: Team Horizon, thinking in opportunities, and Team Business, focused on current results and business value. This book invites you to breathe new life into the old founding story of the organisation, enriching it with today's market knowledge and business capabilities. Why read Corporate Alt Delete?Read moreBlog
Boost your SEO with structured data
How Google presents search results has changed a lot in recent years, with an increase in the use of snippets and rich results. The addition of structured data to your content helps Google to understand your website better. That improves your score and gives you more chance of achieving a place at the top of the search results. In this blog iO experts explain how you can make structured data work for your organisation.Read moreBlog
Transforming technology into a catalyst for innovation
In the beginning of this year, we launched the Opportunity report 2023. A collection of visions and insights from our experts to help you get the most out of the new year. On the 9th of March during the Opportunity online live event we brought these insights live to an interested audience to speak and discuss how to ‘Accelerate your business in 2023’. In this article, we’ll share the key takeaways from Raymond’s session with you - just a few of the many ways modern technology plays the part of enabler for digital transformation.Read moreBlog
Creativity is the differentiating factor for brands
How do you ensure that your brand stands out in the avalanche of content that consumers receive every day? According to the iO Opportunity Report , the key lies in creativity. "If you succeed in formulating answers to the questions, needs and problems of your target group with creative, audience-oriented content experiences, then you are just as creative as if you come up with an original advertising campaign that blows everyone's socks off," says strategy director content Ruth Nys. She has been working on content all her professional life and she regards creativity as an essential constant.Read moreBlog
Why graphs are great: the power of infographics
Will you publish a story online using only text? Good luck. Chances are your reader will tune out before it even gets interesting. Don’t beat yourself up, it’s not your fault. The online world is dominantly visual: images keep the scrolling audience captivated. The alphabet alone won't cut it: when presenting data you can’t do without infographics.Read moreBlog
How to craft a brand name or tagline in 5 minutes (and whether it's the right one)
Seriously, it's done in no time. And we're about to show you how. The question is: is this what you want? In this blog post, you'll read how we do it at iO, you'll find some tips and tricks to apply on your own work and you'll start to grasp the added value of the human factor.Read moreBlog
15 Reading, listening, and viewing tips for the holiday season (and Beyond)
The end of December is list time. My colleagues at iO invited me to fill the last square of 24till24 with an inspiring list. December 24 is the last day of work before the Christmas holidays for many. That magical time of the year when the professional merry-go-round comes to a complete standstill. It isn’t just the time for family celebrations, it’s also the perfect moment to curl up on the sofa with a good book, a podcast, or a film. So, get into my personal list of the very best viewing, reading, and listening tips. Slide into the holiday season and keep the boredom at bay. Enjoy!Read moreBlog
E-inclusion: how to leave no one behind digitally
There is a digital divide between the personas we use in marketing and the population. In Belgium, this gap is large: almost 50% of the population are considered to be digitally vulnerable. How do you deal with this as an organisation? And how do you ensure that your products and services do not exclude anyone digitally? This blog contains nine practical tips to help you on your way to digital inclusion.Read moreBlog
Building trust in a cookieless era
We all know third-party cookies, a marketer's bread and butter, are leaving the building. The cookieless future was irrevocably set into motion when Google decided to remove them completely by 2024. This presents us with the unique challenge of tracking an audience that does not only demand an excellent experience but is increasingly privacy-conscious, too – quite paradoxical, we know. You’ve probably also heard that first-party data is the way to go. So, how can you turn leads into returning customers and, more importantly, how will you procure their data? We suggest a trust-first marketing approach that focuses on excellent content to establish a relationship with customers and users, making them more inclined to share their data with you.Read moreBlog
3 trends in content marketing for 2024
Users are becoming increasingly mobile: they're freely moving from channel to channel, looking for the content they want to consume. So keeping an eye on trends and taking full advantage of them is more important than ever. After all, trends offer a perfect opportunity to be creative. But what can we expect in 2024? In this blog, you'll discover three trends you can address to increase your impact with your target groups.Read moreBlog
Bing: a new search engine gateway to your target audience
Google is the unequivocal search engine market leader (and probably will be for a while). However, when it comes to search queries, there’s a challenger to that monopoly: Bing by Microsoft. In the last few months, Bing made some significant strides, moving from 1 in 20 search queries to almost 1 in 5. That growing influence and Bing’s market share are some aspects you should leverage in your digital strategies. You can ignore 5% of your potential visitors, but ignoring 18% of the queries that lead to your business would probably have a significant impact on your business – and not in a good way.Read moreBlog
Hot in 2024: sustainable websites
“Refresh your website every five years.” Sound familiar? Well, listen carefully. Because in 2024, things have changed. The tech keeping your website up and running used to be out-of-date after five years. But now, it’s become more stable. So, don’t jump on the new website bandwagon just yet, and do your homework to see what you can repurpose first.Read moreBlog
3 valuable SEO insights from Friends of Search 2024
As an SEO specialist I had the opportunity to attend Friends of Search, a well-known SEO and SEA conference in Amsterdam. The event attracts at least 600 visitors annually and guarantees thought-provoking talks, an exciting award show, and a networking moment. I was immediately impressed by the international expertise presented by the other attendees during this eleventh edition, held on 21 March 2024. Discover 3 valuable SEO insights that stuck with me.Read moreBlog
Historical data export - Universal Analytics
Deadline for exporting Universal Analytics: 1st of July 2024 After the 1st of July 2024, it will no longer be possible to access data in Universal Analytics. Therefore, it’s essential to take timely action and export the data before that day. By exporting the data before the access is closed, you can gain valuable insights, store the data securely and take any further actions. It is wise not to do this at the last minute, as there may be obstacles, such as errors in extraction or technical challenges. To avoid potential problems, it is advisable to transfer the data in time to environment where it can be stored securely. That way, you can later use the data for further analysis or transformation purposes. By acting now, you can ensure that you don’t lose the valuable data and are well prepared for the future. So don't wait until the last minute - make sure you export the data from Universal Analytics before 1 July to a secure environment, where you can continue to use it.Read moreBlog
Content marketing has become communication (and that’s bad news)
Does content marketing still serve a purpose in 2024? Patrick Severein (Head of Content and Strategist) raises some questions.Read moreBlog
Four steps toward a flawless customer experience: the Double Diamond model
Good customer experience – say, the positive feeling that occurs and sticks when people interact with your brand – starts with a strong strategy. It requires lots of guessing, thinking, and doubting. Not to mention: hours of deciding and designing how to make it happen. So, how do you develop a strategy tailored to your organisation and goals? At iO, we use the Double Diamond model. It’s our creative guide to thinking from a problem-solver perspective. From product design to UX and far beyond, the Double Diamond model helps solve complex issues efficiently. In this blog post, we shed some light on the model, its pillars, and its possibilities, so that you can start using it to create flawless customer experiences that stick.Read moreBlog
What is search intent? And why is it important for SEO?
When you look something up on the Internet, you always do so with a specific intention. Whether it's to gather information, compare products or actually make a purchase. Either way, you want to see results that match your intent as closely as possible. This intent - called search intent - is a crucial factor for both Google and marketers.Read moreBlog
Enhance your brand experience with strong content
Do you want to capture your target audience’s hearts? Well, great content is one way to achieve that. After all, positive content experiences are an essential part of the customer experience. They strengthen your brand and increase your growth opportunities. Find out how to build brand loyalty with consistent, quality content.Read moreBlog
iOS 18 and RCS: a gamechanger for brands and marketers
With the recent launch of iOS 18, the messaging service Rich Communication Services, or RCS, is finally widely available. This can have a huge impact on how brands and marketers reach their customers. In this article, we dive deeper into the ins and outs of RCS and why at iO, we believe that it will provide better experiences.Read moreBlog
The energy transition is enormous, how do you make it personal?
How do you explain the energy transition? iO and Enexis developed a permanent campaign with smart tech and several storylines.Read moreBlog
AI is changing how we search and it is time for brands to face this head-on
The impact of AI on search engine marketing and business models is huge. So start experimenting now, advises iO CEO Pieter Janssens.Read moreBlog
AI & E-commerce: 8 tips for navigating the changing SEO landscape
There is unrest in the SEO landscape, and it's no surprise given the rapid changes taking place. With the advent of AI, the future of SEO suddenly seems uncertain. The number one search engine is vigorously testing AI applications, reducing the need to click through to websites. This has serious implications for everyone whose traffic is partially dependent on Google, including e-commerce.Read moreBlog
From a brilliant seasonal whodunnit, to cringe-worthy singing oven mitts: here’s the very best (and worst...) Christmas commercials of 2024.
It's the most wonderful time of the year again! Christmas! Or no, better still: it’s time to feast our eyes on the spectacular (British) Christmas commercials. They’ve released a tidal wave of clichés (snow, turkey, tears, Santa Claus/women in all shapes and sizes and gifts, lots of gifts). What’s striking about this year: the brands you expect a lot from are disappointing (spoiler 1: Disney...) (spoiler 2: John Lewis...) and brands that you don't expect much from after years of misery and gloom, excel (spoiler 3: Etsy). Let’s get into the festive spirit with 2024’s Christmas offerings.Read moreDossier
Dossier: SEO strategy
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Dossier: E-commerce
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Dossier: Infinite Opportunities
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Dossier: Cookieless future
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Dossier: Video marketing
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Dossier: Marketplaces
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Dossier: Google Analytics 4
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Dossier: Public Brands
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Dossier: Marketing automation
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Dossier: Holiday marketing: how to score as a brand with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas
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Dossier: successful innovation
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Dossier: Maximize your marketing efforts with HubSpot
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Infinite opportunities: Daan Simonis (Perfetti Van Melle)
Creativity isn't just useful for building a strong campaign — it's essential. Daan Simonis (Global Media & Digital Marketing Director at Perfetti Van Melle) explains why this is the case and how a creative idea has a strong impact, especially on paid media platforms.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Wies De Graeve (Amnesty International)
Amnesty International shines a light on issues that would otherwise remain in darkness. According to Wies De Graeve (Director Amnesty International) creativity is essential for this. It helps people see that there are solutions to the world's problems —and how they can help.Read moreVideo
Are you fed up with boring marketing too?
Our attention spans are shorter, we skip commercials, and we click from video to video all the time. When consumers are bombarded with an avalanche of content every day, how can your brand stand out? Ruth Nys explains how to do creative content marketing without falling into the same old boring marketing tactics trap. Expert:Ruth Nys, Strategy Director ContentRead moreVideo
How to measure the value of innovations faster and more clearly
In 2024, you will be less likely to make long-term investments. ROI has become a more important factor in innovation compared to recent years. We share ways that will help you validate innovations faster and gain management’s support. Expert: Uilke Duinstra - Service Line Director Strategy at iORead moreVideo
Video: Leaving no one behind digitally (David De Block)
In his talk at the 2023 BAM Marketing Congress, David De Block (Public Services Director at iO) talks about e-inclusion — or what it means to leave no one behind digitally.Read moreCase
How do you bring brands and content creators together on one platform?
Famework is a platform where brands and content creators can connect. Our experts delivered the matching engine and algorithms that power the platform.Look at this client storyCase
How do you simplify ordering medicine online?
Do you want to offer services online in healthcare? Make the application process easier with an app.Look at this client storyCase
How do you innovate public transport with a single portal for travel and payment data?
Linking data sources by registering personal and credit card data on an online portalLook at this client storyCase
How do you optimize your membership management with OutSystems to make golf thrive?
A central database for software vendors and clear data of golf in the Netherlands: that's what we’ve built in OutSystems - using pure low-code development.Look at this client storyCase
How can you teach children about the dangers of social media?
The tool will help children learn about the impact of high screen time on their mental and physical health.Look at this client story