Pros
I had the chance to work with a few bright, like-minded individuals who genuinely wanted to solve problems for our clients. The people who share this mindset make the environment bearable.
Cons
Where to start? The product offering is simply outdated and low quality. While we can tout low CPMs, what clients actually get is low visibility, low-quality reach, and even junk traffic. If you're looking for vanity metrics like reach and clicks, this might be okay. But if you're serious about quality and engagement, steer clear. Most of the traffic is clickbait, and the inventory is in shambles. Taboola's product is far too focused on desktop and website-heavy experiences, which are becoming irrelevant in today's mobile-first world. Younger generations don't engage with blogs or news websites the way Taboola assumes they do. The company’s "native" ad comparisons to social media platforms are misleading; social media ads blend seamlessly, whereas Taboola's ads are riddled with bizarre images, irrelevant content and clickbait headlines. Leadership is another glaring issue. The CEO is a figurehead with no real authority, parroting talking points while internal bias in hiring and promotions is blatantly ignored. Most employees are well aware of this and don't take leadership seriously. Even the much-hyped Yahoo deal was a complete disaster, with a significant revenue loss. The work culture is another disaster. Colleagues disappear without a trace a number of times due to quiet layoffs or discreet complaints that lead to legal battles, show-cause terminations, or hush-money payoffs. This is especially damaging for expat employees at the APAC HQ, many of whom have relocated and are caught in a vulnerable position due to the visa framework. Instead of fighting for their rights, most expats just lick their wounds and move on with their lives. HR, unfortunately, protects the company over seeking the truth, and it’s no surprise there have been multiple Heads of HR leaving the company in a short span of time.
