The CAPS 2023: Meet The Jury

Welcome to our blog series, “Meet the Jury,” where we take you behind the scenes of the prestigious CAPS 2023. This event celebrates the creativity, innovation, and dedication of publishers in the commerce content and editorial affiliate marketing industries. 

Today, we have the pleasure of introducing you to some of the remarkable individuals who form the esteemed jury panel, entrusted with the task of recognizing excellence in this dynamic domain. 

We asked some of our jury members a few questions to gain exclusive insights from the top industry experts. 

Meet Mark Stenberg, Adweek

Mark is the Senior Media Reporter at Adweek, New York, where he covers the business of digital publishers, including advertising technology, subscription strategy, audio, experiential, video and other emerging channels. Prior to Adweek, Stenberg worked as a media reporter at Insider. He is from San Antonio, Texas, but now lives in Brooklyn.

How can Publishers strike a balance between delivering valuable commerce content and maintaining editorial integrity and independence?

I think the trick is for publishers to conduct their operations as if they were providing any other instance of service journalism. If someone has a knowledge gap, then a trusted publisher, preferably one with expertise in the subject that has vetted the product, is the ideal source of that information. So long as the publisher operates with its readers’ needs in mind, everything else falls into place.

What current content trends do you think are having the most significant impact?

The shifting nature of search and social, which are funnelling less traffic to publishers, is slowly upending many audience acquisition strategies. Also, the looming deprecation of third-party cookies and the disruption of data signals due to privacy initiatives means the retail media boom will continue, but publishers’ contextually relevant advertising solutions could also become more valuable.

Meet Charlie Calabrese, Partnerize

Charlie is the VP of Operations at Partnerize, with over 15 years of experience in the dynamic world of commerce content and editorial affiliate marketing. A staunch advocate of consumer-centric experiences, Charlie seamlessly integrates commerce elements into engaging narratives, fostering lucrative partnerships with top-tier brands and advertisers.

In your opinion, what is the most exciting opportunity within the commerce content industry right now?

The most exciting opportunity within the commerce content industry right now is the rise of voice search. As more and more people use voice assistants to shop online, publishers have a unique opportunity to create content that’s optimized for voice search. This means creating content that is short, concise, and easy to understand.

How can publishers strike a balance between delivering valuable commerce content and maintaining editorial integrity and independence?

Publishers can strike a balance between delivering valuable commerce content and maintaining editorial integrity and independence by being transparent about their relationships with brands. Publishers should clearly disclose when they are writing about a product or service that has been sponsored by a brand, and in many cases are required to do so. They should also avoid promotional, advertising, and language in their articles, as it comes across as disingenuous.

Meet Amanda McGrath, Rakuten

Amanda is the Senior Publisher Manager at Rakuten Advertising with over 10 years of experience in the affiliate industry, utilising her expertise to drive revenue and foster successful partnerships every day. 

In your opinion, what is the most exciting opportunity within the commerce content industry right now?

In my opinion, the most exciting opportunity within the commerce content industry right now is leveraging publisher products like Audience Engine and or Linkless Tracking to personalize and optimize affiliate strategies for increased conversions and elevated user experiences.

What do you believe makes the most effective commerce article?

I believe the most effective commerce article combines compelling storytelling with informative factual content. By integrating relevant affiliate products and or services, the article provides valuable insights and boosts conversions.

The Commerce Awards for Publishers (CAPS) will take place in New York City on September 28, 2023.  Publishers are invited to reach out to their Account Managers to RSVP.