Latest Articles
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The social network audience will rise from 1.47 billion in 2012 to 1.73 billion this year, an 18% increase, according to a new eMarketer report. As social network usage has moved from taking place primarily in advanced markets to becoming a common activity around the world, the ranking of social network users by region will largely reflect the regional shares of the global population by 2014.
The US video game audience is vast, with estimates of total gamers reaching as high as 69%. Research finds that game sales reached only $14.8 billion last year, down from $16.4 billion in 2011, as digital formats take a fast-rising share of sales, and free online games gain popularity.
In Central and Eastern Europe, eMarketer expects digital ad spending to rise by 23% this year—the second-fastest regional growth rate worldwide—as outlays reach $4.55 billion. For total media ad spending, 8% growth is expected, almost three times the average worldwide rate.
UK smartphone users spend 119 minutes per day with their smartphones, engaging in an ever-increasing number of activities, according to research. Compared with a year ago, a greater percentage of users participate in nearly every smartphone activity.
Monday, June 17, 2013
The total worldwide ad spend market will rise by less than 3% this year to reach $516.95 billion. Western Europe and Asia-Pacific will drag down the worldwide rate, even as Central and Eastern Europe, and Latin America continue growing total ad spend at rates well above the average.
Marketers often lump tablets and smartphones together, yet consumer behavior on the two platforms can be quite different. This is especially the case when it comes to hotel research. Though both devices are driving substantial traffic to hotel websites, research finds the scales starting to tip in tablets’ favor.
Despite economic woes dragging down growth in total media ad spend in Western Europe, outlays on digital ads, both online and on mobile, will continue to rise. The UK will continue to lead digital ad spending in the region, followed by Germany.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Lack of money, among other factors, has dissuaded many US millennials from buying a car. According to a new eMarketer report, however, many car manufacturers are using digital technology to build their brand with this demographic, hoping to drive sales now and in the future, when a car becomes a greater necessity.
Mike Miller, director of business and industrial markets at Google, spoke with eMarketer for the B2B Perspective series about how business-to-business (B2B) clients are using video and social media.
Overall, research indicates, less than 15% of smartphone or tablet users in Canada have made a purchase on their mobile devices. Males and females exhibit similar behavior on this point, but younger adults are significantly more likely than those over 45 to buy on mobile.
Consumers are starting to take notice of where they can use mobile payment technology, with awareness of payment points and symbols doubling from 15% to 39% over the past year. As awareness grows, so too does usage.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
The mobile ad market is beginning to consolidate around a few major ad sellers, with Google taking nearly a 56% share of worldwide mobile ad revenues this year. Facebook will also more than double its share of net mobile internet ad revenues worldwide, to account for 12.9% of the total by the end of 2013.
A new eMarketer forecast breaks out US mobile ad revenues by company, and projects that Google will take in more than half of all dollars this year. Facebook and Twitter have also increased their share of the market since beginning to offer mobile ads last year.
B2C ecommerce in India has long been dominated by online travel, which represents more than 70% of all digital sales—and there’s still room for growth. Internet retail is also beginning to pick up steam, growing rapidly between 2010 and 2013 and slowly chipping away at travel’s market share.
Fashion closed 2012 as the second-biggest ecommerce category in Brazil. Much of that growth has come from Brazil’s less-seasoned internet users, with many online fashion buyers making their first category purchase in the last six months. Lower prices, greater vendor variety and improved payment and delivery practices are helping convert digital shoppers to buyers, especially among women.
The UK’s first mobile service provider to offer 4G service, EE, announced in June that it had hit 500,000 customers. And with three mobile service providers planning to offer 4G later this year, 4G connections in the UK are set to rise substantially. As these services come to market, more options for 4G data plans will follow.
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Android is just ahead of iOS as the operating system (OS) in use by the greatest percentage of smartphone owners in the US, according to research. Android phones are more common among men and younger users, while the wealthiest consumers favor the iPhone.
The US auto industry is continuing to devote more dollars to digital ad spending, as carmakers and dealers seek to reach consumers in the “constant consideration” phase, according to a new eMarketer report. Direct response takes the greatest share of digital spending by auto companies.
Total media ad spending in Chile was essentially flat in 2012. Newspapers and radio, which garnered about a third of all ad spending in Chile last year, suffered the greatest losses. Meanwhile, online ad spending expanded by 24.3% and paid TV did so at a 17.7% rate.
Research finds that one-fifth of UK online sales were made on mobile in Q1 2013. That’s up from 15% in Q4 2012. As more consumers get comfortable with the idea of buying via mobile, the convenience offered by the devices, along with the deals shoppers find on mobile, are convincing more to buy.