E9: Lauren Newman (Red Ventures - CNET)

Lauren Newman, EVP of Revenue at Red Ventures, discusses her background in media and publishing and her experience in direct ad sales and commerce. She emphasizes the importance of innovation and relationship management in both areas. Newman shares her success in taking back influence in the beauty industry by showcasing editors as the original influencers. She also highlights the need for publishers to find unique experiences that can only be offered through direct sales, such as CNET’s coverage of the iPhone release. Newman then discusses her transition to Skimlinks and the value it provides to publishers in terms of marketplace intelligence and efficiency. She explains how Skimlinks can be a gateway drug to affiliate for new publishers and offers insights into the selling points and ROI of the platform. Lauren Newman discusses the challenges publishers face in making a million dollars and the investment required to succeed. She highlights the importance of publishers being prepared to invest in hiring, content production, and refreshes. Lauren also talks about her move to CNET and the opportunity to bring media expertise to Red Ventures. She explains the partnership between CNET and Best Buy, where CNET’s expert opinions and reviews are integrated into Best Buy’s store and online experience. This partnership allows for a seamless consumer journey and the ability to measure the entire funnel.