Can You Prove ROI Without Tracking Everyone? Inside the Future of Ethical Ad Tech - Ollie James, Adttribution
In this episode of Inside Marketing with MarketSurge, Reed Hansen sits down with Ollie James, CEO of Adttribution, to unpack one of the most confusing—and most important—topics in modern marketing: how to measure performance without destroying consumer trust.
As cookies crumble, AI reshapes search, and privacy regulations tighten worldwide, Ollie explains how brands can still prove ROI, make smarter ad decisions, and protect the ecosystem that keeps publishers and creators alive.
Whether you’re a founder, CMO, or growth marketer, this episode delivers clarity in a world full of acronyms.
💡 What You’ll Learn:
• How to explain complex ad tech concepts to non-technical teams
• Why attribution is still unsolved—and how to think about it correctly
• The real impact of AI on media buying and measurement
• Why brand, not clicks, often drives conversion
• Ethical challenges around data privacy and consent
• What happens to publishers in an AI-first internet
• Why attribution is still unsolved—and how to think about it correctly
• The real impact of AI on media buying and measurement
• Why brand, not clicks, often drives conversion
• Ethical challenges around data privacy and consent
• What happens to publishers in an AI-first internet
👉 Key Highlights:
✅ “Explain it like I’m 5” – Why simplification is the secret weapon of great marketers
✅ The Cat Analogy – A surprisingly perfect way to understand customer acquisition & retention
✅ Multi-Touch Reality – Why last-click attribution fails modern buyers
✅ AI Media Buyers – How machines are starting to buy ads (and what scares Ollie about it)
✅ Privacy vs Performance – How to balance ROI with consumer trust
✅ Saving Publishers – Why ethical ad tech matters more than ever
✅ The Cat Analogy – A surprisingly perfect way to understand customer acquisition & retention
✅ Multi-Touch Reality – Why last-click attribution fails modern buyers
✅ AI Media Buyers – How machines are starting to buy ads (and what scares Ollie about it)
✅ Privacy vs Performance – How to balance ROI with consumer trust
✅ Saving Publishers – Why ethical ad tech matters more than ever
🧠 About the Guest
Ollie James is the CEO of adttribution, a next-generation ad tech company helping brands measure ROI across connected TV, mobile, and desktop—without compromising consumer privacy. Previously, Ollie worked at Rockerbox and Rocker Ad, partnering with global brands like Apple, iTunes, and American Express.
🔗 Website: https://adttribution.com
🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/olliejames
🔗 LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/olliejames
📈 At MarketSurge, we help you turn tools into systems — and systems into growth.
If you want marketing automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
If you want marketing automation that feels personal and performs like a team of 10, you’re in the right place.
🧠 Want to talk strategy or see it in action?
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🎯 Book your 15-minute Value or Free Coffee Call:
👉 https://link.marketsurge.io/widget/bookings/15minutevalueorfreecoffee
🔗 Useful Links
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
🌐 Website: https://marketsurge.io
🐦 X / Twitter: https://x.com/marketsurging
💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsurgeio
🎙️ Podcast: https://marketsurge.transistor.fm/
Creators and Guests
Host
Reed Hansen
Reed Hansen is a seasoned digital marketing executive with a proven track record of driving business growth through innovative strategies. As the Chief Growth Officer at MarketSurge, he focuses on leveraging AI-powered marketing tools to help businesses scale efficiently. Reed's expertise spans from leading startups to Fortune 500 companies, making him a recognized authority in the digital marketing space. His unique ability to combine data-driven insights with creative solutions has been instrumental in achieving remarkable sales growth for his clients.
