Sky Not Falling for Online Advertising

A grim reality for media sellers is that a weak economy triggers marketing belt tightening that almost always includes spending less on advertising. Such reductions occur because they may be a preferred alternative to cutting expenses in other areas such as payroll. Also, cutting back on marketing spending may be viewed as a short-term situation that can be reversed relatively quickly. In today’s uncertain economy, it is not surprising to see marketing spending cut back, but perhaps surprising is that at least one area is seeing more spending… online advertising.

A report released by the Interactive Advertising Bureau indicates that Internet advertising revenues increased 11% in the 3rd quarter compared to the same period last year. Any growth at all is noteworthy; double-digit growth is astounding. The reasons are simple: 1) online ads allow for fairly precise targeting, and 2) marketers like that online ads allow for easier tracking of effectiveness than ads placed in traditional media. Whether it be the number of clicks an ad generates or tracking sales that occur from an ad that directs consumers to a URL created specifically to track ad performance, online ads enable marketers to better understand how well (or poorly) their communication efforts perform.

The need for advertising has not diminished just because of a slow economy. In fact, one could argue it is the time when advertising is needed most. What has changed is the need for greater accountability in how ad dollars perform, and online ads meet this need.

Link: Response Magazine – “Internet Advertising Revenues Up in Q3”

Author: Don Roy

Don Roy is a marketing educator, blogger, and author. His thirty-year career began with roles in retail management, B2B sales, and franchise management. For the past 27 years, Don has shared his passion for marketing as a marketing professor. Don's teaching and research interests include brands, sports marketing, and social media marketing. Don has authored over 20 articles in scholarly journals, co-authored two textbooks, and self-published three books on personal branding. Don is an avid hockey fan and enjoys running. He and his wife, Sara, have three sons.

One thought on “Sky Not Falling for Online Advertising”

  1. Advertising is, no doubt, still in effect. I have seen more advertising, especially online, during this time more than ever. For instance, I read articles on CNN.com every morning. Today, I noticed that an ad for Capital One “What’s in your wallet” popped up in the middle of the page. It is not unusual for ads to be placed at the top and sides of the page, but for one to be in the middle was something that I have never seen before. Another example, I just purchased an iPhone this weekend. Everyone knows that the beauty of this phone is the ability to make it your own by downloading applications. I proceeded to add a few games, the dictionary, and the Yellow Pages, which were all free Apps. To my surprise, there were mini-ads at the top of the phone when I opened the application.

    Online ads are everywhere, and as time goes on and the world becomes more comfortable with all things digital we will probably see a lot more…

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