Programmatic Isn’t Replacing Traditional Media; You’re Just Using It Wrong

There’s a narrative out there that programmatic media buying is the future and everything else is on the way out.

That’s not what’s happening.

What’s actually happening is simpler—and more problematic. People are confusing tools, using them the wrong way, and then blaming the results when they don’t perform.

In this conversation, Jackson Del Weaver and Keith Samuels, hosts of the Media Insultants podcast, sit down with longtime agency owner and media buyer Ed Steenman of Steenman Associates to break down linear vs. programmatic audio buying, where each works, where each falls short, and how to actually use the right tool for the job.

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Media Insultant – Special Edition – will Ai cheat you out of budget consideration and what you can do about it.

Our ad agency guru, Ed Steenman of Steenman & Associates joins us for a SPECIAL EDITION of Media Insultant.  Ed compares his media buying strategy with an AI buy with Chat GPT.  The results may surprise you.  He also talks about how to best deal with AI planning if you are in media sales.  Welcome to episode 269 of Media insultant.

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What Car Dealers Can Learn from Enthusiast Auctions Like ‘Bring a Trailer’

Photo describing Bid Nerds You Tube

Part One of a Two-Part series. Published in Dealer Marketing Magazine April 30, 2025 By Ed Steenman. DMM Expert Panel Car dealers across the country have been noticing a shift in how cars are being bought and sold. Traditional wholesale channels are still the backbone of the industry, but online enthusiast car auctions—like Bring a…

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That’s A Wrap (for now)!

ARC Seattle Home Show Interview

Been doing the advertising/publicity for the Evergreen Shows longer than I can remember. This weekend will be their largest home show (by booth count) ever. Thanks team KOMO TV + our other media partners for lots of coverage beyond the base buys. We appreciate you! For me, this wraps up over six months of almost…

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Streaming Audio Advertising: A Game-Changer for Local Advertisers

As consumers increasingly shift from traditional radio to streaming audio, local automotive dealers have a powerful new tool to reach potential car buyers. Platforms like iHeartRadio, Spotify, and Pandora offer precise targeting based on geography, interests, and behavioral intent—capabilities that traditional radio cannot match. To maximize the benefits of streaming audio advertising, dealers must understand platform functionalities and tailor their messaging accordingly.

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The New Age of Branding: Data, Creativity, and Streaming TV

Streaming TV allows you to combine creativity and data in new and exciting ways

But with everyone having access to the same tools and data, the real competitive edge now needs to come from something deeper. The true power of an ad isn’t just about where or when it’s seen, but whether it can stand out and make an emotional connection. You can measure impressions, clicks, and engagement all day, but the “a-ha” moment—that spark that sets a campaign apart—is much harder to quantify.

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Should you use QR codes on your streaming TV & Video ads?

90% of TV viewers in the U.S. now stream.  If you’re one of them, you’ve probably seen video ads that feature QR codes. For reference, QR codes are a type of barcode, or scannable pattern, that can contain various forms of data, like website links, account information, phone numbers, or even coupons. Using a QR code in your streaming ads can be a good idea, but it depends on specific advertising goals and the context in which you plan to use it. 

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Three Industry Thought Leaders: Key Changes in the Automotive Industry Part Two

Dealer Marketing Magazine Steenman Feature Article

(Ed note: this article first appeared in July 2023. As of mid-September it, and the accompanying video, has received the most views of all content on the Dealer Marketing Magazine website). In Part One, Steenman engaged Hollenbeck, Phillips and Conley on Key Changes in the Retail Automotive Landscape. In Part Two, the focus shifts to understanding…

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