Equation of Excellence

EP014: Eric Seufert | Invest, Analyst & Founder MobileDev Memo

GuestEric Seufert is an independent analyst, investor, and proprietor of the Mobile Dev Memo newsletter and podcast. He is a leading expert on mobile marketing, advertising, and the economics of free-to-play games. Seufert previously worked in strategic roles at companies like Rovio, Wooga, and Skype.SummaryThe conversation covers Eric's journey from finance to tech, his experience at Skype, insights into the freemium model, and the evolution of mobile gaming and advertising. It also delves into the state of mobile user acquisition, the impact of IDFA deprecation, and the transformation of Facebook to Meta. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to digital advertising, marketing, and the role of the CMO. It delves into the impact of IDFA deprecation, the metaverse, probabilistic attribution, and the function of excellence. Eric shares insights on value optimization, channel specialization, and the role of the CMO in driving sales and revenue growth. He also discusses the importance of balancing work and personal life, and the significance of doing what one enjoys. The conversation concludes with a discussion on where to find Eric and his consulting services.TakeawaysEric's diverse career journey from finance to tech, including his experience at Skype and insights into the freemium model.The evolution of mobile gaming and advertising, the impact of IDFA deprecation, and the state of mobile user acquisition.The transformation of Facebook to Meta and the challenges and opportunities in the digital advertising landscape. The CMO role should focus on driving sales and revenue growth through performance advertising and brand advertising.Achieving excellence involves doing what one enjoys and finding a balance between work and personal life.Probabilistic attribution is a method for assessing the performance of advertising campaigns using data sets that can't be directly linked.The impact of IDFA deprecation has led to a shift towards probabilistic attribution and a flight to quality in digital advertising.Eric's consulting services and insights can be found on Heracles Capital, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Mobile Dev Memo.Here are the mentions from the transcript that should be added to the show notes:Eric Seufert's Contact Information and Resources: - Twitter: Eric Seufert (@ericseufert) - Email: eric@hrcls.vc - Website: Mobile Dev Memo - Subscription Information: Mobile Dev Memo has a subscription tier for $8.99 a month, with enterprise packages for multiple seats. - Mobile Dev Memo Features: Access to "Dark Pool" app store market intelligence tool and upcoming dashboard product for tracking app rankings across platforms and countries.Discussion Highlights: - Eric’s professional background and roles at Heracles Capital, Mobile Dev Memo, and consulting for larger companies. - The focus of Heracles Capital on companies navigating privacy changes and infrastructure enhancing privacy technologies. - Insights into the evolution of mobile user acquisition, particularly in response to iOS changes and the deterioration of identity targeting. - Eric’s analysis of the Facebook and Apple ATT (App Tracking Transparency) impact on the digital marketing landscape and mobile economy. - The shift towards probabilistic attribution in mobile marketing.Important Concepts Explained: - Probabilistic Attribution: A method for assessing advertising campaign performance using datasets that cannot be directly linked. - Freemium Model: Leveraging zero marginal production costs in digital products to maximize market reach. - Privacy Enhancing Technologies: Tools and methodologies helping companies navigate privacy-related frictions.Additional Recommendations: - Subscribe to the Geometry of Growth Newsletter mentioned by Rabah. - Explore Mobile Dev Memo’s Dark Pool for app store intelligence.These key points encapsulate the valuable content shared in the conversation that would be useful for the audience to reference in the show notes.Chapters00:00 Eric's Journey: From Finance to Tech03:13 The Evolution of Mobile Gaming and Advertising09:22 Challenges and Opportunities in Digital Advertising55:13 Achieving Excellence: Balancing Work and Personal Life57:09 Consulting Services and Insights from Eric