I’m Convinced. You Don’t Need Personalization.

In personalization, there’s a zoology of naysayers and the things they naysay. Just the same, it’s critical to engage constructively with dissenting views. I’ve learned a lot this way. You might, too.

If you know how to spot them, the dissenting arguments on personalization (see a working definition and background here) are few, but consistent, in conforming to a common line of complaint:

1. The critic. For some, personalization is synonymous with filter bubbles, overzealous retargeting, or dark patterns. It can’t be done virtuously.
2. The skeptic. For us, personalization is a hill too high to climb. We can’t execute reliably or effectively.
3. The pundit. The personalization gap is a disillusioning horse race of have and have-nots. The game is rigged.
4. The pragmatist. We don’t need personalization to compete. It’s irrelevant.

(Bucket Brigade is hosting the full version of this article. Read on there!)