Opti Day London: From Traffic Decline to Value Optimisation. How Publishers Are Reframing Monetisation in 2026

Opti Digital, the leading AdTech company specialising in publisher revenue optimisation, hosted the London edition of Opti Day last week, bringing together senior publisher revenue leaders to exchange on the operational realities shaping monetisation strategies today.

Following previous editions in Paris and New York, the London session reinforced the role of Opti Day as a platform for practical, experience-led discussions, moving beyond high-level trends to focus on how publishers are adapting their models in increasingly complex and constrained environments.

A changing paradigm: from volume to value

Opening the session, Magali Quentel-Reme, CEO at Opti Digital and Olly Aulakh, CRO, outlined the structural shifts currently impacting publisher monetisation.

Traffic volatility, declining acquisition from key channels, and sustained pressure on open market CPMs are redefining how growth is approached. Scale alone is no longer a viable lever.

At the same time, user experience and technical performance have become directly linked to revenue outcomes. Page speed, latency, and overall site efficiency now play a central role in audience acquisition, engagement, and monetisation.

“Publishers can no longer rely on volume alone, maximising value per user has become the new growth driver,” Magali Quentel-Reme told That's Business.

In this context, publishers are facing a fundamental challenge: how to maximise the value of each user interaction while operating within increasingly complex and fragmented environments.

Drawing on its experience working with a broad portfolio of publishers globally, Opti Digital emphasised a model combining lightweight, performance-driven technology with a consultative approach, positioning itself as a strategic partner focused on balancing revenue growth, user experience, and operational efficiency.

Publisher panel: navigating complexity in practice

The publisher panel, featuring Hasan Ramadan (Head of Digital Advertising, Euronews) and Alistair Patterson (Head of DataLab, 1XL), provided a grounded perspective on how these challenges are translating into day-to-day operations.

A key theme was the growing complexity of publisher stacks. Fragmented setups, multiple demand partners, and evolving ecosystem dynamics are not always generating incremental value — and in many cases, are introducing inefficiencies and revenue leakage.

Audience behaviour is also shifting, particularly among younger users, pushing publishers to rethink both distribution strategies and monetisation approaches.

Rather than relying solely on traditional setups, publishers are actively experimenting with new formats, new integrations, and alternative ways of capturing demand more effectively.

Both speakers also highlighted the importance of close collaboration with partners such as Opti Digital, not only from a technology perspective, but in enabling faster execution, improving performance, and aligning monetisation strategies with operational realities.

Client spotlight: execution as a competitive advantage

The session with Thomas Porteus (Director of Product and Partnerships, Navigate Health) illustrated how these challenges translate into execution.

Facing legacy technology constraints, performance issues, and declining monetisation efficiency, the publisher partnered with Opti Digital to rebuild its infrastructure and improve site performance.

By focusing on speed, mobile optimisation, and simplified monetisation frameworks, Navigate Health achieved a significant uplift in revenue performance (up to +46%), while also reducing operational complexity for a lean internal team.

Beyond performance gains, the collaboration enabled the team to shift focus from technical troubleshooting to growth, highlighting the importance of execution speed in a fast-moving ecosystem.

From insight to business impact

Across all sessions, one element stood out: the level of operational depth in the discussions.

Rather than focusing on abstract trends, conversations centred on execution, what's working, what isn't and where publishers are actively testing new approaches.

Opti Day London confirmed publishers are operating in a market defined by structural constraints, but also by increasing opportunities for those able to adapt.

Performance will increasingly depend on:

maximising value per user rather than scale

aligning monetisation with user experience

simplifying infrastructure

executing faster and more efficiently

More broadly, the event reinforced the role of collaborative, peer-driven formats in helping publishers navigate these challenges.

As the ecosystem continues to evolve, the next step is clear: translating insight into execution, and execution into measurable business outcomes.

Britt Nollé is new MD of PMG subsidiary X-CAGO

Since the beginning of the year, Britt Nollé has been the new MD of X-CAGO B.V., the Dutch specialist for data and content conversion in the international publishing business. 

She takes over from Ingo Kästner, who held the position of X-CAGO MD last year alongside his role as MD of the parent company PMG Presse-Monitor in Berlin.

"Britt Nollé meets the requirements for the position of Managing Director in an outstanding manner: leadership experience, knowledge of international publishing, and strong technical expertise – she brings all of this to the table. 

"She has acquired numerous well-known customers and has permanently strengthened relationships with X-CAGO's partners around the world. These successes impressively demonstrate Britt Nollé's market knowledge and initiative," Ingo Kästner told That's Business.

Her career at X-CAGO began in 2011 in project management, where she was responsible for planning and optimising digitisation processes. She then worked as a key account manager, advising English-speaking publishers and partners of the company. Finally, in recent years, as Director of Sales, she was responsible for the strategic development of sales and the establishment of an international customer base.

On taking up her new position, Nollé said: "Since joining X-CAGO, I have gained comprehensive insights into our organisation, markets and partners. My team and I will actively shape the future of the company, drive forward innovative solutions and strategically develop X-CAGO. In doing so, I always keep our maxim in mind: we are successful when our partner publishers are successful."

Olivera Kipcic, Head of Frankfurter Allgemeine Archive and Rights Management and Chairwoman of the Shareholders' Committee of PMG Presse-Monitor, welcomes Nollé to her new position: ‘Britt Nollé's career represents the perfect combination of continuity and progress, resulting in the sustainable growth of X-CAGO. Ingo Kästner and Britt Nollé will integrate PMG and X-CAGO even more closely and create a state-of-the-art, agile full-service network for publishers and content producers whose services are in demand worldwide.’

X-CAGO is a leading provider of digital conversion, archiving and content transformation services that help publishers unlock the value of their data and publications. With a focus on innovation and customer-centric solutions, X-CAGO delivers technologies that enable publishers, eKiosk providers, app providers and MMOs to thrive in the digital age.

https://x-cago.com

Luxury Magazine Title to Launch in Birmingham

69 Magazine LTD – publishers of youth fashion title, 69 Degrees Magazine - has announced plans to imminently launch a new luxury title in the West Midlands. Taking the tried-and-tested platform of sister title, dluxe LEICESTERSHIRE, which launched to great acclaim last summer, the West Midlands edition – called dluxe BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL - will focus exclusively on Birmingham and its immediate environs - a rarity in the current luxury magazine market and something the publisher is keen to stress.

Group Editor in Chief, Kevin Urquhart, says “It has been a number of years since Birmingham has had a luxury magazine title of its own. There are a great many magazines out there, but none that concentrate solely on the Second City. Birmingham is such a fantastic and vibrant 24-hour city that it justifies a title in its own right. My biggest dilemma will be what NOT to include!”

Content will appeal to the “New generation of Over 40s”, Kevin explains. “dluxe is targeted squarely at the educated and savvy consumer; our aim is not to be prescriptive, but simply give the readers a contemporary, beautifully designed editorial magazine that enhances their lifestyles – it’s our job to give them content that keeps them one step ahead of the Jones’s”.

He continues; “dluxe will cover everything from the latest fashion trends (re-interpreted to suit the more sophisticated reader), to inspirational interiors, celebrity interviews, luxury travel right though to ideas on the very best cultural exploits in the Second City. It’s also, very importantly, not just for the girls. We pride ourselves on creating magazines that fully incorporate the gents, too”.

The launch edition is due out late September and will be available in carefully selected venues in and around Birmingham, Solihull and Sutton Coldfield, as well as through the most exclusive letterboxes. It will be produced quarterly thereafter.

FACTFILE:

69 Degrees was first published in 1999. Fiercely independent, it has gone on to become the region’s most influential voice on ‘youth’ culture, fashion and lifestyle. The same Director team heads up dluxe BIRMINGHAM. It is backed up online at www.69-degrees.co.uk

(EDITOR: As a displaced but fiercely proud Brummie, I will take the opportunity to offer them my very best wishes)

FeaturesExec Media Database enhanced with help of the PR community

Daryl Willcox Publishing, the company that connects PR professionals and journalists, has enhanced the FeaturesExec Media Database to create a simpler and more personalised website allowing users to target contacts faster.

Following consultation with the PR community, FeaturesExec has been significantly improved with a new look and functionality.

In addition to clearer navigation across the site, time-saving functions have been introduced:

• Sector Search: Build quick press lists with an improved sector search.

• Breadcrumbs: Search results are remembered; navigate away from results and back again in an instant.

• Recently Viewed: Dashboard links to recently viewed data.

• Most Viewed: Quick links to most popular personal searches.

"FeaturesExec is constantly evolving based on feedback from our users - the new site has been designed to make things easier and help people get more done," said Daryl Willcox, Chairman of Daryl Willcox Publishing. "The aim is to make it simple, personal and effective. We are always looking at ways of improving our services and continue to update them directed by suggestions from the PR community."

www.featuresexec.com helps media professionals work more efficiently when communicating with journalists. It gives PRs access to over 10,000 media outlets, 40,000 editorial contacts and 100,000 forward features.

The introduction of user-based log-ins earlier this year adds to the personalised experience of FeaturesExec. PR professionals can now assign an 'owner' to information stored, which allows teams to see who is responsible for which press list, forward feature profile or campaign. Owners are automatically assigned to any notes, lists and profiles added. Owners can be reassigned as required and full ownership history is recorded, helping users to track ongoing campaigns more efficiently.

FACTFILE:

Daryl Willcox Publishing (www.dwpub.com) provides information services for people in journalism, public relations and marketing. Launched in 1997, the company connects media professionals to create opportunities for timely, relevant press coverage. Products include the Response Source Journalist Enquiries System, SourceWire and Response Source press release wires, the Freelance Journalist Directory and the FeaturesExec Media Database. Over 2,500 companies use Daryl Willcox Publishing's media relations services, including around 120 of the top 150 PR companies. The services are used by tens of thousands of journalists.

(EDITOR: Just when you think they could not improve on perfection, Daryl and the team do this and go one better! If you are a journalist or PR professional who doesn't use a Daryl Willcox Publishing service, do yourself a favour. Sign up today.)