How to get customer intelligence without third-party cookies

‘Free’ is a myth: Digital marketing's customer 'value exchange' collapses when data is weaponised against them - industry, surprisingly, is starting to agree https://lnkd.in/gnKK5nEp

As third-party cookies disappear and privacy regulations tighten, the real winners won’t be the ones with the biggest ad budgets... but the ones who own their data. First-party data collected directly from your customers is the new foundation of performance marketing. It’s accurate, privacy-compliant, and uniquely yours. But most brands still make one mistake: they collect data without designing a system to learn from it. If your data doesn’t drive smarter decisions, it’s just digital dust. The shift we’re living is deeper than it looks: we’re moving from data collection → to data intelligence. From audience reach → to relationship depth. From ROAS → to lifetime value and learning speed. In 2025 and beyond, performance marketing will not be about buying attention, it will be about owning insight. #PerformanceMarketing #DataStrategy #DigitalTransformation #PrivacyFirst #MarketingInnovation

🚨 The Future of Analytics in a Cookie-Less World For years, cookies powered digital marketing and analytics. They helped track users, personalize experiences and measure campaign success. But that world is changing fast. Privacy laws, stricter browser policies and growing user awareness mean third-party cookies are on their way out. So, what comes next? 👉 The future isn’t about panic. It’s about reinvention. Here’s what cookie-less analytics looks like: ✅ First-party data – build trust and collect insights directly from customers. ✅ Server-side tagging – process data at the server level for cleaner, more reliable insights, less dependency on browsers and stronger compliance. ✅ Event-based tracking – measure every interaction as an event for better behavioural insights. ✅ Consent management – respecting user choices and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations. ✅ Privacy-friendly identifiers – using secure, consented approaches to understand user journeys.   Why it matters: 1.More accurate data 📊 2.Stronger compliance ✅ 3.Increased customer trust 🤝 4.Future proofing as privacy rules continue to evolve The transition away from cookies may feel like a challenge, but it’s also a big opportunity. Businesses that adapt early are already seeing better data quality and stronger customer relationships. At its core, analytics has never been about cookies. It’s about understanding people. And with the right strategies, the future looks stronger than ever. 👉 How is your organization preparing for the cookie-less world? #analyticstracking #xerago #analytics #data #digitalanalytics #cookielesssolution #digitalmarketing

How to: Use a Bitmask-Based Rights System for Cookie Consent Have you ever been in a position where you need to track multiple choices of a user and want to avoid having to create a new seperate variable for each of those choices? That is where Bitmask can be your hero! In the following example we will set up user cookie consent using bitmask to have a real-world example. Managing user consent for cookies can get messy when dealing with multiple categories. A bitmask-based rights system offers a compact and efficient way to store and evaluate consent using binary flags. Assign each cookie category a unique power-of-2 value: [Flags] public enum CookieConsent { None = 0, Necessary = 1, // 2^0 Preferences = 2, // 2^1 Statistics = 4, // 2^2 Marketing = 8 // 2^3 } This allows combinations to be stored as a single integer. If a user consents to Necessary, Statistics, and Marketing, the combined value is: var consent = CookieConsent.Necessary | CookieConsent.Statistics | CookieConsent.Marketing; You can store 13 https://lnkd.in/gaZCEdkM

The future of #marketing lies in mastering personalization without sacrificing privacy. Organizations that treat #data as a privilege and prioritize high-quality insights will lead the way in creating impactful, consumer-centric strategies. My colleagues explain how brands can build loyalty through zero-party data strategies: https://lnkd.in/gfAmBw7e

We have a love-hate relationship with cookies. 🍪 And no, we don’t mean the debate over chocolate chip vs. raisin. With evolving privacy laws and growing concerns about data use, cookie compliance is no longer optional. In fact, cookie consent is reshaping digital marketing — from those annoying pop-ups to deeper implications for how you track and analyze user behavior. If you rely on tools like Google Analytics, this shift affects you. Privacy-first marketing is here. Learn what marketers and business owners need to know about cookie compliance and Google Analytics Consent Mode: 🔗 https://shorturl.at/KxWCd

How to: Use a Bitmask-Based Rights System for Cookie Consent Managing user consent for cookies can get messy when dealing with multiple categories. A bitmask-based rights system offers a compact and efficient way to store and evaluate consent using binary flags. Assign each cookie category a unique power-of-2 value: [Flags] public enum CookieConsent { None = 0, Necessary = 1, // 2^0 Preferences = 2, // 2^1 Statistics = 4, // 2^2 Marketing = 8 // 2^3 } This allows combinations to be stored as a single integer. If a user consents to Necessary, Statistics, and Marketing, the combined value is: var consent = CookieConsent.Necessary | CookieConsent.Statistics | CookieConsent.Marketing; You can store 13 in a cookie or database. To check if a user has consented to a specific category: bool hasMarketing = (consent & CookieConsent.Marketing) != 0; bool hasPreferences = (consent & CookieConsent.Preferences) != 0; This works even if multiple flags are combined. When reading the stored value (e.g. from a cookie): var https://lnkd.in/gaZCEdkM

The Biggest Advantage in Marketing? The Data You Own. Stop borrowing your customer data. I’m talking about third-party lists. The broad, aggregated segments. They feel safe because they offer scale. But here is what they actually give you: Lower accuracy. Higher compliance risk.   And a dependency you can’t afford. The real marketing gold is the data you own:- First-party data. It’s collected directly from your audience.     It’s accurate, specific, and relevant to your business.   Crucially, it is compliant because you managed the consent. In a world obsessed with privacy, this data is the ultimate competitive advantage. It allows for hyper-personalization.     It lowers your cost of acquisition. And it builds trust, which is the only thing that lasts. Stop renting segments. Start building your data asset. It’s the foundation for every strategic win in 2025. What is one unexpected piece of first-party data that drives your best conversions? 

CMOs are being asked to prove ROI with 8+ fragmented tools that don't communicate with each other. And the crisis runs deep; 59% of marketers report declining trust in social data — 57% say the same about programmatic data (IAB, 2024). This forces marketers into impossible choices: transparency OR performance. Control OR results. Speed OR accuracy. But what if you didn't have to choose? There's a new framework emerging that integrates verification, optimization and outcomes measurement — without the compromises. No black boxes. No fragmented data. No blind faith in platform metrics. Read about DV MAP and the future of advertising: https://buff.ly/pYjck6P

A lot of small businesses think they’re covered on GDPR because they’ve ticked the boxes by including a privacy policy, cookie banner, and maybe even a consent form somewhere. But there are a few everyday habits that can quickly put you on the wrong side of the regulations, even with the best intentions. Here are the top three I see small businesses struggle with most: 1. Uploading customer lists for ads – even if someone’s already bought from you, you need their explicit consent before using their data for targeting. 2. Sending marketing emails after a purchase – a receipt email is fine; adding them to your promo list isn’t, unless they’ve agreed to it. 3. Using tracking tools without opt-in – analytics and remarketing cookies need permission before they load, not after. There are other areas worth keeping an eye on, too, but these are the ones I see trip people up again and again. This post isn’t about scaring anyone; it’s about sharing information that will help your business stay trustworthy.
 Because doing things right protects your customers, your business, and your reputation.