DCM vs. DBM: The Main Differences

Safalta Expert Published by: Aditi Goyal Updated Mon, 27 Mar 2023 02:02 PM IST

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The two products that marketers don't quite understand are DCM vs. DBM. DCM (DoubleClick Campaign Manager) and DBM (DoubleClick Bid Manager) are both advertising platforms offered by Google as part of its DoubleClick platform for programmatic advertising, but they serve different purposes in the digital marketing ecosystem and have different functions. Formerly known as Google's DoubleClick Bid Manager (DBM), the platform, now called Display & Video 360 or DV360, is a demand-side platform (DSP) for buying ad inventory programmatically. DoubleClick Campaign Manager (DCM) now called Campaign Manager is an advertising platform for generating tags and tracking digital campaigns.

Demand-side platforms, like Display & Video 360, are the powerhouse of media buying, whereas Campaign Supervisor serves and oversees advertisements, ad labels, and reporting.

Source: SAFALTA.COM

You'll get most sorts of announcing for your display and video campaigns specifically out of DV360, but in case you need to see how all your marketing platforms work together, you’ll have to utilize an advertisement server to tie all those channels together. Campaign Supervisor permits you to see a client's way to transformation. Let's look at the differences between DCM and DBM in detail.
  Table of contents
On basis of market size
On basis of its uses
On basis of its Market Operations
On basis of its Target Audience
On basis of its Ad Formats

 

 

On basis of market size

DCM and DBM are both important components of Google's advertising stack, and many advertisers use both platforms in combination to manage and serve their ads across multiple channels. While DCM is more focused on ad serving and campaign management, DBM is more focused on programmatic buying and real-time bidding. Overall, it's safe to say that DCM and DBM are both significant players in the digital advertising market, and they play an important role in helping advertisers reach their target audience and achieve their marketing goals.


On basis of its uses

DCM is primarily used for ad serving, campaign management, and tracking performance across multiple channels, including display, video, and mobile. DCM allows advertisers to create, manage and track their ad campaigns across multiple ad networks in one place. DBM, on the other hand, is a demand-side platform (DSP) that enables advertisers to buy ad inventory from multiple ad exchanges and supply-side platforms (SSPs) in real time through programmatic buying. DBM is used to reach a wider audience by accessing a larger inventory of ad spaces from multiple ad exchanges and SSPs.


On basis of its Market Operations

DCM is designed for large advertisers and agencies that have complex ad serving and tracking requirements. DCM is ideal for advertisers who want to manage their ad campaigns across multiple channels, including Google's own ad network and third-party ad networks. DBM, on the other hand, is designed for advertisers who want to access a wider range of inventory from multiple ad exchanges and SSPs through programmatic buying. DBM is more suitable for advertisers who want to target specific audiences based on their browsing behavior, interests, and other data points.


On basis of its Target Audience

DCM is targeted towards large businesses, such as multinational corporations, that have complex ad serving and tracking requirements. DCM is used by advertisers who want to manage their ad campaigns across multiple channels and ad networks in one place. DBM is targeted toward mid-sized and large businesses that want to access a wider range of inventory from multiple ad exchanges and SSPs. DBM is used by advertisers who want to target specific audiences and maximize their ad spending through programmatic buying.


On basis of its Ad Formats

DCM supports various ad formats, including display, video, and mobile ads. DCM also allows advertisers to create and manage rich media ads, including expandable ads, video ads, and HTML5 ads. DBM supports a wide range of ad formats, including display, video, and native ads. DBM also allows advertisers to create and manage dynamic creative ads that are tailored to a specific audience.

In summary, while both DCM and DBM are designed to help advertisers manage and serve their ads, they have different uses and market operations. DCM is more suitable for large advertisers with the complex ad serving and tracking requirements, while DBM is more suitable for mid-sized and large advertisers who want to access a wider range of inventory and target specific audiences through programmatic buying.
 
So how to choose between DCM and DBM marketing?

The choice between DCM and DBM will depend on the company's specific needs and goals. It may be helpful to consult with a digital marketing agency or specialist to determine which platform is the best fit for a business. Along with this, it is important to have the knowledge of the advantages of both types of marketing:

DCM advantages
  • Streamlines the creation, delivery, and measurement of digital advertising campaigns 
  • Offers sophisticated targeting options, such as behavioral and demographic targeting 
  • Provides thorough reporting and analytics to assist users in enhancing their campaigns. 
  • Combined with additional tools, like DBM, to create a full advertising environment. 
  • Able to manage a variety of campaigns and ad styles 
  • Google Analytics, Google AdWords, and other Google tools may be incorporated.
DCB advantages
  • Real-time bidding makes it possible for users to purchase and manage digital ad inventory from a variety of ad exchanges, networks, and publishers. This enables users to reach specific audiences and optimize ad expenditure in real time. 
  • Combined with additional tools, like DCM, to create a full advertising ecosystem. 
  • Offers real-time bidding and optimization capabilities, and can manage a huge volume of campaigns and ad styles. 
  • Google Analytics, Google AdWords, and other Google tools may be incorporated.
Overall, DCM and DBM marketing are effective tools that can be used to plan, distribute, and evaluate the effectiveness of digital ad campaigns as well as to real-time optimize ad expenditure. A full advertising environment can be provided by integrating them all. A complete advertising environment can be created by combining the two technologies. Both of them include complex targeting options, in-depth reporting, and analytics. Several businesses, including agencies, brands, magazines, and platforms commonly use them for their digital marketing needs. 

What is the difference between DCM and DBM?

DCM is primarily designed for ad serving and campaign management, while DBM is designed for programmatic buying and real-time bidding. DCM provides a centralized platform for managing campaigns across multiple ad networks, while DBM provides access to a wider range of inventory from multiple ad exchanges and supply-side platforms.

Which platform is better for ad serving and campaign management?

DCM is generally better for ad serving and campaign management, as it provides a centralized platform for managing campaigns across multiple channels, including display, video, and mobile. DCM also integrates seamlessly with Google's ad network.
 

Which platform is better for programmatic buying and real-time bidding?

DBM is designed for programmatic buying and real-time bidding, allowing advertisers to access a wider range of inventory from multiple ad exchanges and supply-side platforms. DBM also provides advanced targeting capabilities based on browsing behavior, interests, and other data points.
 

Which platform is more expensive?

DCM is generally more expensive than DBM, which may be a consideration if you have a limited budget. However, DCM may be a better option if you have a larger team or agency with the more complex ad serving and tracking requirements.
 

Which platform is better for rich media ad creation?

DCM is better for rich media ad creation, as it allows advertisers to create and manage expandable ads, video ads, and HTML5 ads.
 

Which platform is better for tracking and attribution?

DCM provides advanced tracking and attribution capabilities, allowing advertisers to track user behavior across multiple touchpoints and channels. This can help advertisers to understand the effectiveness of their campaigns and optimize their ad spend accordingly.
 

Can I use both DCM and DBM together?

Yes, it is possible to use both DCM and DBM together to manage your ad campaigns. However, this may require additional resources and expertise to ensure that the two platforms are integrated properly.
 

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