We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Ben Silverstein

UPDATE: Einführung in Programmatic Advertising gibt es jetzt auch auf Deutsch. Schalten Sie einfach die deutschen Untertitel ein, wenn Sie das Video starten, und sehen Sie, wie der gesamte Kurs ins Deutsche übersetzt wird. Hallo an meine Freunde aus Deutschland. (Now available in German. )

Have you heard the term Programmatic Advertising before? What about RTB? Maybe you've heard of an SSP or a DSP or an exchange. But do you really know what these terms mean and what these companies do?

Read more

UPDATE: Einführung in Programmatic Advertising gibt es jetzt auch auf Deutsch. Schalten Sie einfach die deutschen Untertitel ein, wenn Sie das Video starten, und sehen Sie, wie der gesamte Kurs ins Deutsche übersetzt wird. Hallo an meine Freunde aus Deutschland. (Now available in German. )

Have you heard the term Programmatic Advertising before? What about RTB? Maybe you've heard of an SSP or a DSP or an exchange. But do you really know what these terms mean and what these companies do?

In 2020 programmatic advertising was a $65B a year industry, or about 20% of all digital ad dollars. By 2022 90% of all digital ads were transacting programmactially, totally nearly $200 Billion. An industry of this size, with such explosive growth requires a lot work by many different companies. It also requires a complex system that results in benefits for all parties.

In Introduction to Programmatic Advertising you'll be taken through the process of a programmatic ad buying, the ad-tech companies involved, and the benefits for both advertisers and publishers. I'll breakdown the ecosystem piece by piece in order to clearly explain what "programmatic" actually means.

By taking this course you'll be joining over 50,000 students that I've taught to date in over 130 countries. My classes on digital advertising have received hundreds of 5 star reviews from seasoned media professionals, to recent college grads. I know you'll not only learn something from this course, but you'll enjoy the experience.

Overview: Get immersed into the world of programmatic advertising. In this introductory level course, designed for those with an intermediate understanding of the digital marketing space, I'll explain exactly what programmatic advertising actually is, and how it's executed. I use simple visuals to illustrate complex systems, and provide clear definitions for industry terms and short-hand. It is perfect for anyone who is interested in advertising their business online, looking for a job in digital media planning, wondering how major brands decide to place an ad online, a student focusing on marketing and advertising, or those who are generally interested in how the ads you see online are created and served to you.

Course Subjects:

  1. Define Digital Advertising - What is considered digital advertising

  2. Ad Sizes & Standards - Which ad sizes and units are actually covered in a programmatic buy

  3. Common Pricing Models - What are the common pricing models and the formulas to calculate

  4. Ad-Tech Companies - There are lots of different companies that handle programmatic, but they all have different traits that make them unique and valuable

  5. Publisher Integrations - How does a publisher like a website or mobile app, actually go about working with a programmatic tool

  6. Programmatic Process - We'll visualize the actual process of executing a buy

  7. Using Data to Inform Buys - Data is the new oil and that's no different in programmatic. We'll discuss how companies can use data to enhance their buys

  8. Programmatic vs. RTB - These two terms are used together a lot, but they are not the same thing

  9. Pricing The Bid - How do both publishers and advertisers decide how much to price their bids

  10. Auction Types - To execute a bid there must be an auction, but there are multiple kinds to review

  11. Reporting - What information is reported with a programmatic buy and why is it important

Real-Life Student Reviews:

“I'm in advertising sales and have been looking for a clean easy way to explain and also test my root knowledge of the programmatic ad space. It was very helpful and simple to understand which is hard to do with this topic.” - Raul Bonilla

"Being an advertising agency media planner and buyer, having this hands on information helps when we face a decision to go into the digital advertising space. Your 101 and 201 was extremely informative and truly like your overviews in a very simplistic explanation. Thank you and look forward to your future courses." - Diane Tody

Reviews from Other Courses

Digital Advertising & Marketing 101

“The real-world examples almost makes it self-explanatory. Professionally done and author speaks with authority - i.e. he knows what he's talking about and it shows.” - AJ Du Toit

“Thought this was an excellent introduction course. Working in the industry without a huge amount of experience in this area, it was a great way to familiarize myself with topics in ongoing conversations internally and externally. Will be taking 201 to further my understanding.” - Jocleyn Armour

“It is advertised as a 101 course and it did exactly that and very well, touching on the building blocks of Digital Advertising and Marketing. Good job Ben.” - Jean C

Digital Advertising & Marketing 201

“When combined with Ben's 101 course, the two classes make for a thorough and well-organized primer on digital media today. Perfect for marketing people and agency folks (creative, account) who are not immersed in a media agency. It will give you a foundation for how digital media is structured, a clear explanation of the jargon and acronyms you'll hear bantered about, and a better understanding of the opportunities available. The 201 course goes into important detail about some of the key changes that have taken place in digital advertising recently. Ben explains the concepts clearly and succinctly. Definitely worth the time investment.” - Shawn E Fraser

“This course is amazing. I do affiliate marketing and always wanted to learn about programmatic advertising and this course me taught that. I completed this for an interview and the employer was really impressed by the knowledge I had. Hope there is another in-depth version of this course. Where he goes into ad platforms or ad servers and teaches the real world applications.” - Suryameet Singh

“Comprehensive overview...detailed. ” - Kaithlean Crotty-Clark

Enroll now

What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn what programmatic advertising is from a 10,000 foot view
  • Get introduced to all the players in the programmatic advertising space
  • Understand advertising strategy and how programmatic fits in
  • Digital marketing processes and how programmatic changed that
  • What is header bidding vs. waterfalls and why is it important?
  • Learn from an industry expert
  • What is programmatic advertising & rtb (real time bidding)?
  • Make smarter decisions about your digital advertising efforts
  • Advance your career with a deeper understanding of the digital advertising industry
  • An understanding of the complex way digital advertising companies work together
  • Join over 7,000 students in 130 countries who have taken these courses
  • Be able to clearly and confidently present ideas to clients and co-workers
  • Show more
  • Show less

Syllabus

In this section you'll be introduced to programmatic advertising and how it's changing how digital ads are being bought and sold
Welcome to Programmatic Advertising - Digital Marketing in Today's World
Read more

Test your understand of a floor CPM.

Quick math on some first and second price auctions

Bid Shading has been around for a few years, but recently has risen in use due to some major programmatic platforms moving to a First Price Auction format. In this video I explain what Bid Shading is, and how advertisers use it to optimize their programmatic advertising strategy.

More on Bid Shading:

- WTF is Bid Shading? https://digiday.com/media/wtf-bid-shading/

- Everything You Need To Know About Bid Shading: https://www.adexchanger.com/online-advertising/everything-you-need-to-know-about-bid-shading/

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Appropriate for people who work with digital media planning or ad operations
Appropriate for students who are focusing on marketing and advertising
Appropriate for anyone who wants to learn about programmatic advertising
Appropriate for beginners and those with intermediate understanding of digital marketing
Taught by an industry expert with extensive experience in digital marketing and programmatic advertising
Covers a broad range of topics, including the basics of programmatic advertising, the different players in the industry, and how to use data to inform buying decisions

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Essential programmatic advertising introduction

According to learners, this course provides a clear and concise overview of programmatic advertising, making complex industry jargon easily understandable. Students frequently highlight its utility as a strong foundational course for professionals in digital marketing, sales, and media planning. While some wished for more in-depth practical application or advanced topics, the course is widely praised for its ability to distill essential concepts into bite-sized modules, serving as an excellent primer for those new to the field or seeking a quick refresh.
Instructor is praised for expertise and engaging teaching style.
"Professionally done and author speaks with authority - i.e. he knows what he's talking about and it shows."
"Ben explains the concepts clearly and succinctly."
"The instructor has a great teaching style, clear and to the point."
"Your overviews are very simplistic explanations. Thank you and look forward to your future courses."
Highly valuable for professionals in digital marketing roles.
"Being an advertising agency media planner and buyer, this information helps when we face a decision to go into the digital advertising space."
"I'm in advertising sales and have been looking for a clean, easy way to explain and also test my root knowledge of the programmatic ad space."
"I completed this for an interview and the employer was really impressed by the knowledge I had."
"It will give you a foundation for how digital media is structured and a better understanding of the opportunities available."
Offers an excellent introductory primer for newcomers and professionals.
"This is an excellent course, really helpful to give you a great foundational base if you are new to Programmatic."
"It was a great way to familiarize myself with topics in ongoing conversations internally and externally."
"The course did exactly what it said it would, and very well, touching on the building blocks of Digital Advertising and Marketing."
"Perfect for marketing people and agency folks who are not immersed in media, providing a clear explanation of jargon and acronyms."
Distills complex programmatic concepts into understandable terms.
"The course does an amazing job at explaining complex programmatic advertising topics in simple language."
"Very good explanation of the main concepts of programmatic advertising. It helped me to understand complex terms like DSP, SSP, RTB."
"Explained concepts clearly and succinctly, which is hard to do with this topic, making it very helpful and simple to understand."
"The content is very well explained, simplifying really complex topics in programmatic advertising."
Some learners desired more detailed, hands-on, or advanced topic coverage.
"Hope there is another in-depth version of this course. Where he goes into ad platforms or ad servers and teaches the real-world applications."
"Very good, just could have done with more in-depth examples of how it applies practically."
"Great overview for beginners, but a bit high-level for someone looking for hands-on application."
"It’s good as an introductory, but for me, I felt like it was too basic and did not get much out of it that I didn’t already know."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Introduction to Programmatic Advertising - Digital Marketing with these activities:
Find a mentor who can provide guidance on programmatic advertising
Enhance your knowledge of programmatic advertising by seeking guidance from an experienced professional.
Browse courses on Programmatic Advertising
Show steps
  • Identify potential mentors who have experience in programmatic advertising
  • Reach out to your potential mentors and express your interest in learning from them
  • Meet with your mentor regularly to discuss programmatic advertising and your career goals
Review ad sizes and standards
Review basic ad units to ensure that you understand their purpose and implementation.
Show steps
  • Find a resource that describes ad sizes and standards
  • Review the different ad sizes and formats
  • Understand the different ways to measure ad effectiveness
Discuss programmatic vs. RTB with a classmate
Deepen your understanding of programmatic advertising by discussing its differences from RTB with a peer.
Browse courses on Programmatic Advertising
Show steps
  • Find a classmate who is also taking the course
  • Schedule a time to meet and discuss programmatic vs. RTB
  • Share your knowledge and insights with each other
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Walk through a programmatic ad buying process
Gain hands-on experience with programmatic ad buying by following a step-by-step tutorial.
Browse courses on Programmatic Advertising
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on programmatic ad buying
  • Follow the steps in the tutorial
  • Experiment with different settings and options
Practice pricing programmatic bids
Improve your skills in pricing programmatic bids by completing a series of practice drills.
Browse courses on Programmatic Advertising
Show steps
  • Find a resource that provides practice drills for pricing programmatic bids
  • Complete the practice drills
  • Review your results and identify areas for improvement
Create a presentation on the benefits of programmatic advertising
Develop a deeper understanding of programmatic advertising by creating a presentation that outlines its benefits.
Browse courses on Programmatic Advertising
Show steps
  • Research the benefits of programmatic advertising
  • Create a presentation that outlines these benefits
  • Present your findings to a group of peers or colleagues

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Programmatic Advertising - Digital Marketing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Director of Programmatic Advertising
A Director of Programmatic Advertising is responsible for overseeing all aspects of programmatic advertising for their organization. This course can help Directors of Programmatic Advertising stay up-to-date on the latest trends in programmatic advertising and how to use it to achieve their business goals.
Programmatic Advertising Specialist
A Programmatic Advertising Specialist is responsible for managing and executing programmatic advertising campaigns. This course provides a comprehensive overview of programmatic advertising and the different technologies used in this field. By taking this course, Programmatic Advertising Specialists can gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in this role.
Digital Marketing Manager
A Digital Marketing Manager is responsible for planning, executing, and measuring the success of digital marketing campaigns. This course provides a comprehensive overview of programmatic advertising, which is an increasingly important part of digital marketing. By taking this course, Digital Marketing Managers can gain the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in this field.
Senior Digital Marketing Manager
A Senior Digital Marketing Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of digital marketing for their organization. This course can help Senior Digital Marketing Managers stay up-to-date on the latest trends in programmatic advertising and how to use it to achieve their business goals.
Media Buyer
A Media Buyer is responsible for purchasing advertising space on behalf of their clients. This course can help Media Buyers learn about the different types of programmatic advertising and how to negotiate the best rates for their clients.
Digital Marketing Analyst
A Digital Marketing Analyst is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to measure the effectiveness of digital marketing campaigns. This course can help Digital Marketing Analysts gain a better understanding of how programmatic advertising works and how to use data to improve campaign performance.
Marketing Technologist
A Marketing Technologist is responsible for using technology to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of marketing campaigns. This course can help Marketing Technologists learn about the different types of programmatic advertising and how to use technology to manage their campaigns.
Media Planner
A Media Planner is responsible for developing and executing media plans for their clients. This course can help Media Planners gain a better understanding of how programmatic advertising works and how to use it to reach their target audience.
Ad Operations Specialist
An Ad Operations Specialist is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of advertising campaigns. This course can help Ad Operations Specialists learn about the different types of programmatic advertising and how to use technology to manage their campaigns.
Technical Account Manager
A Technical Account Manager is responsible for managing relationships with clients and ensuring that their technical needs are met. This course can help Technical Account Managers learn about the different types of programmatic advertising and how to use technology to manage their clients' campaigns.
Web Analyst
A Web Analyst is responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to measure the effectiveness of websites. This course can help Web Analysts learn about the different types of programmatic advertising and how to use data to improve the performance of their websites.
Advertising Account Manager
An Advertising Account Manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of an advertising campaign, from planning and execution to measurement and reporting. This course provides an excellent foundation for this role by teaching the fundamentals of programmatic advertising, as well as the different players in the programmatic advertising space. This knowledge can help Advertising Account Managers make more informed decisions about their campaigns and achieve better results.
Publisher Account Manager
A Publisher Account Manager is responsible for managing relationships with publishers and ensuring that their content is displayed on the right websites. This course can help Publisher Account Managers learn about the different types of programmatic advertising and how to negotiate the best deals for their publishers.
Social Media Manager
A Social Media Manager is responsible for managing social media accounts for their organization. This course can help Social Media Managers learn about the different ways to use programmatic advertising to promote their content on social media.

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Introduction to Programmatic Advertising - Digital Marketing.
A comprehensive guide to programmatic advertising for publishers. covers the basics of programmatic advertising, including how it works, the different types of inventory, and the metrics used to measure success.
Great starting point for anyone who wants to learn about real-time bidding (RTB), which form of programmatic advertising. It uses simple explanations and includes helpful diagrams.
A comprehensive guide to programmatic advertising for practitioners. covers the principles and best practices of programmatic advertising, including how to use data, execute campaigns, and measure performance.
A comprehensive guide to programmatic advertising for practitioners. covers the principles and best practices of programmatic advertising, including how to plan, execute, and measure programmatic campaigns.
A comprehensive guide to programmatic advertising for those who are new to the topic. covers the basics of programmatic advertising, including how it works, the different types of campaigns, and the metrics used to measure success.
A comprehensive guide to programmatic advertising for beginners. covers the basics of programmatic advertising, including how it works, the different types of campaigns, and the metrics used to measure success.
This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of digital advertising, including programmatic advertising. It is essential for anyone who wants to learn more about the digital advertising landscape.
This practical guide is written for marketers who want to learn how to use programmatic advertising to achieve their marketing goals.
This introductory book great starting point for anyone who wants to learn about the basics of programmatic advertising.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser