Networks are at the heart of modern life. The Internet, social networks, financial systems, airlines, communication systems, and more – all of these complex networks shape the way we live today. Understanding how these networks form and evolve is critical, and that’s where the field of network science comes in.
Rooted in statistical physics and graph theory, network science is the study of complex networks and the phenomena that drive them. One of the key principles of network science is preferential attachment, or “the rich get richer.” This refers to the idea that popular nodes in a network (such as popular websites, domains, or social influencers) are more likely to attract new links and grow even more popular.
Preferential attachment is what makes the Internet work. It results in the clustering of related web pages, which is essential for modern search engines like Google. Marketers can now use network science to understand the dynamics of their market ecosystems, providing them with numerous benefits.
By mapping and measuring the connections within a marketing ecosystem, marketers can shift away from last-click attribution and other oversimplified models. They can identify the nodes that drive traffic and revenue and track their competitors. Graph theoretic methods allow marketers to construct precise maps of their market, track competitors, and predict where the greatest revenue opportunities lie.
The Power of Network-Level Views in Marketing
By coupling network science with artificial intelligence techniques like reinforcement learning, marketers can optimize budget allocation and drive revenue. Marketers know that connections in a competitive ecosystem are constantly fluctuating, so a network-level understanding of these connections is critical.
With advanced mathematical techniques, marketers can determine the direct and indirect traffic contributions of a particular web domain. This indirect traffic, known as “propagation value,” is the value a source contributes to the network beyond its direct traffic.
The best marketers prioritize opportunities with high propagation value and are able to anticipate competitive shifts, seize market share, and win the traffic and revenue game.
The Future of AI in Marketing
Marketing has become an incredibly complex field, with a proliferation of channels, data, and shifting consumer preferences. The future of AI in marketing is centered around dynamic optimization methods like reinforcement learning, which can learn from historical data and provide real-time, actionable results.
AI isn’t about building algorithms, it’s about defining problems in a way that algorithms can learn and provide the best solution. Temporal network models are an essential tool for marketers, as they allow marketers to form a context for defining marketing problems and optimizing predicted outcomes across a wide array of possible marketing actions.
The future of AI in marketing is all about real-time, actionable results that drive revenue and improve the bottom line. With the help of network science and AI, marketers can navigate the complex waters of modern marketing with greater precision and success.
