Digital Advertising in a World Without Cookies

In April 2024, Google announced the deprecation of third-party cookies was delayed again until mid-2025. This move, intended to protect users’ privacy, has prompted a seismic shift in the digital advertising landscape, one Google—which represents a staggering 63.6 percent of internet users—wants to make sure they get right.

Recently, Charleston Orwig Collective Media Director Amanda Janssen-Egan appeared on the State of the Plate podcast to discuss the transition and how advertisers will have to operate differently once the cookies crumble. Read on for a summary of the conversation, and be sure to listen to the entire discussion wherever you listen to your podcasts.

In early 2024, Google introduced a new browser feature called Tracking Protection, which, when activated, will cut off a site’s access to third-party cookies. Initially, the Tracking Protection feature is being tested with 1% of Chrome users globally, chosen at random. Those in the test group are greeted with the option to “Browse with more privacy” upon opening Chrome on desktop or Android devices. This marked the start of a gradual rollout, which originally aimed to fully phase out third-party cookies by the end of 2024. However, these initial tests did not meet U.K. regulatory standards. The latest delay will allow Google, industry partners, and regulators enough time to work through a laundry list of concerns.

This latest delay does not mean digital advertisers should stand by and wait. It provides advertisers and industry partners more time to fine tune their cookie-less strategies. Advertisers must now embrace a multi-layered approach to reach their target audience. And it will be important to test, test, test, and optimize accordingly. You can’t make a cake using just flour. You need other ingredients like eggs, sugar, baking powder, butter, milk, oil, and more. Similarly, the new digital landscape will require a mix of contextual targeting, audience predictive modeling, leveraging first-party data for addressable targeting, look-a-like audience targeting, and leveraging machine learning for optimal ad placements based on relevant keywords and content. These are just some of the ingredients that could make up the perfect digital advertising cake.

The foundations of programmatic advertising and many past measurement solutions, like Meta conversion pixels, were built on third-party cookies. In this new landscape, advertisers are challenged to redefine what success looks like. Enhanced onsite tracking is crucial to understanding the consumer’s journey and interactions more deeply.

The digital pivot, accelerated by the stay-at-home directives of 2020, led to an increased focus on digital channels. While this shift resulted in the decline of traditional channels, it also opened up new avenues. The rise of ad-funded options on streaming platforms and the growing addressability of Connected TV (CTV) offer fresh opportunities to engage consumers online. Moreover, with the digital ecosystem continually evolving, advertisers must stay agile and open to new methods and technologies.

As we progress through 2024 and now into 2025, the industry faces the challenge of adapting to a post-cookie world. This entails exploring and investing in alternative solutions like privacy-focused tracking technologies, cookie-less tracking solutions (e.g., Meta’s Conversions API), and integrating CRM and Customer Data Platform (CDP) for Offline Conversion Tracking.

The deprecation of third-party cookies underscores the value of first-party data. Businesses must now focus on building direct relationships with their audience to collect and leverage this data effectively. This approach not only ensures compliance with privacy regulations but also provides a more reliable and sustainable strategy for audience engagement.

With personalized targeting becoming more challenging, contextual advertising is witnessing a resurgence. By aligning ads with the content of the webpage rather than user behavior, advertisers can still effectively reach their target audience while respecting user privacy.

The move away from third-party cookies also brings legal and ethical considerations to the forefront. Advertisers must navigate the complex web of privacy laws, such as GDPR and CCPA, ensuring compliance while maintaining effective marketing strategies.

The phasing out of third-party cookies by Google Chrome marks a pivotal moment for digital advertising. This transition not only reflects the growing importance of user privacy but also challenges advertisers to innovate and adapt. As the industry continues to evolve, those who embrace change, leverage diverse strategies, and prioritize user privacy will be best positioned for success. The industry is evolving, and change is a good thing. How ready is your business for the post-cookie era? If you need assistance making sense of the ever-changing digital landscape, the Charleston Orwig Collective is here to help.