Reports and resources>The State of Publisher First-Party Data, Engagement and Revenue 2026

The State of Publisher First‑Party Data, Engagement and Revenue 2026

How are publishers building direct audience relationships, and what is making a measurable difference? Add your organization to the 2026 benchmark.

Co-published by

Take part in the 2026 benchmark

23 questions, most of them tick-boxes
Open to publishers at any stage
Closes 30 November 2026
Report published January 2027

Take The Survey

Help shape the 2026 publisher benchmark on first-party data, engagement and revenue

SODP and Ezoic are inviting publishers to contribute to our first co-published benchmark on first-party data and personalization. Whether you are just starting or already connecting data across your business, your experience matters.

Participants can request early access to the report, including practical findings on data collection, activation, measurement and publisher priorities, plus an optional one-page scorecard comparing their answers with the benchmark.

What the survey covers

Data collection

How publishers collect first-party data, and what readers get in return.

Audience identity

How much of their audience publishers can recognize through logins or consented identifiers.

Activation and results

Where the data is used across content, newsletters, reader revenue and advertising, and what results publishers can measure.

Barriers and priorities

What is holding progress back, and where publishers plan to invest next.

Who should take part

Publishers, media companies and content-led digital businesses of any sizeIncluding those without a formal first-party data strategy.
People who lead or contribute to audience, product, data, technology or commercial decisions
One response per organizationIf a colleague is closer to this work, please forward the survey to them.

What participants receive

Early access to the reportPractical findings on data collection, activation, measurement and publisher priorities.
An optional one-page scorecardYour answers compared with the benchmark.
The option to be interviewed or featuredNothing is attributed to you or your organization without your approval.

Findings are reported in aggregate. Contact from Ezoic is optional and asked for separately. How we use your answers

Add your organization to the 2026 benchmark

23 questions, most of them tick-boxes. Closes 30 November 2026.

Take The Survey