DDM's Neil Vogel on Navigating Change

Dotdash Meredith CEO Neil Vogel joins the show to discuss how a publisher reliant on search traffic is back in growth mode, the future of the affiliate business, the impact of generative AI on traffic-dependent publishing businesses, why performance comes before premium in advertising strategies and that time Prince played the Webby Awards.Troy Young's People vs Algorithms newsletterBrian Morrissey's The Rebooting newsletterAlex Schleifer's Universal EntitiesFollow Alex, Brian and Troy on TwitterTopics:00:00 Introduction and Subscription Banter01:24 Introduction to the Show and Hosts01:38 Discussion on Media Industry and Technology02:10 Introduction to Dotdash Meredith and its CEO02:59 Discussion on Media Business and Advertising04:22 Feedback and Contact Information04:47 Discussion on Upcoming Guest and Industry Challenges05:31 Discussion on AI and Technology News09:07 Introduction of Guest Neil Vogel09:31 Discussion on Media Business and Future Predictions11:33 Discussion on AI and Content Generation13:22 Discussion on Brand Advertising and Content Budget Allocation39:42 Content Strategy Across Different Verticals40:32 The Importance of Local Decision Making41:11 The Role of Innovation in Media Industry41:32 Exploring the Potential of Technology in Media44:21 The Power of AI in Content Creation44:35 The Future of Recipe Content45:14 The Impact of Personalities in Branding45:45 Reflections on the Print Business48:56 The Challenges and Opportunities in Media Industry49:34 The Role of Brands in the Digital Age52:19 The Importance of Innovation and Taking Risks54:06 The Future of Media in the Age of AI54:48 The Power of Optimism in Leadership57:46 The Impact of Celebrity Appearances in Events01:04:29 The Influence of Google on Publishers01:09:05 The Future of Content Creation with AI01:11:31 Closing Remarks and Future Predictions