Over the past year, the emphasis on Made-For-Advertising (MFA) websites has dramatically increased due to industry investigations revealing their questionable inventory presentations. Consequently, MFA sites have been under constant scrutiny and further regulation to ensure a fair online advertising platform.
Despite this, MFA sites remain profitable, significantly benefiting Supply-Side Platforms (SSPs) and Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs). The substantial revenue generated by these sites creates a tempting compromise between ethics and financial benefits, perpetuating a seemingly unsustainable practice in the ad tech industry.
The emergence of Generative AI has fast-tracked the proliferation of MFA sites due to low production costs and high scalability. Industries like media, healthcare, and finance have been particularly drawn to this technology, revolutionizing their operational methods.
Expanding MFA influence in digital advertising
Technological advancements in AI promise even more favorable outcomes.
Regardless of stringent measures, MFA continues to prosper as the demand for cost-effective inventory persists. SSPs and DSPs have capitalized on this situation through scalable operations and the integration of new publishers, making the decline of this trend unlikely.
The term “open-market inventory” is now often linked with MFA and we are now seeing curated marketplaces being created by SSPs attempting to replace MFAs. There’s also significant momentum behind the rise of Private Marketplaces (PMPs). Still, MFA maintains dominance in open auctions, highlighting its continued relevance.
Programmatic advertising continues to evolve, potentially resulting in more direct relationships driven by real-time bidding insights and increased programmatic spending. However, predicting MFA’s future in online advertising is complex as the industry’s changing landscape brings about concerns regarding privacy regulations and data management.
The surge in programmatic spending points towards a promising future, but it also calls for strict strategies to address upcoming challenges. The success of MFA in the online advertising realm will depend on how well companies can leverage this technology while ensuring a fair, transparent, and effective ecosystem for all parties involved.
