Marin Logs State of Global Search Marketing

The share of paid-search clicks from mobile devices rose around the world in 2012, and people are more engaged with search results when they're mobile, according to a new report from Marin Software.

The share of paid-search clicks from mobile devices rose around the world in 2012, and people are more engaged with search results when they’re mobile, according to a new report from Marin Software.

The State of Mobile Search around the Globe 2013, an annual report, analyzes more than $4 billion in paid search spend by brands and advertisers in 13 countries. Most of Marin’s clients are large advertisers spending more than $100,000 per month on paid search.

marin3-th
click to enlarge

Analyzing the average click-through rate across devices, Marin found CTRS for smartphones were 107 percent higher than desktops computers, while tablet CTRs were 37 percent higher. At the same time, cost-per-click was lower on mobile: Smartphones clicks are approximately 36 percent cheaper than desktop clicks, and tablet clicks are about 17 percent cheaper.

But the bargains won’t last. CPCs on tablets and smartphones increased 25 percent and 13 percent respectively during 2012, while CPCs on computers increased approximately 9 percent. Marin’s analysis suggests that tablet CPCs could equal desktop CPCs during 2013.

marin2

Conversion rates for smartphones were lower than for tablets and desktops, while conversions on tablet devices improved 31 percent in 2012, compared to 9 percent for smartphones and 7 percent for computers. Marin noted, however, that many smartphone conversions likely take place in physical stores, as consumers search for products or locations on their phones before traveling to the store to buy.

In the US, Marin Software clients saw an increase in paid-search clicks coming from Google, accounting for 23.4 percent in 2012, up from 14.2 percent the previous year. Marin’s US customers increased their mobile search spending by 85 percent in 2012, from 10 percent to 18.4 percent. The company says that mobile devices will account for one third of paid-search clicks and one third of search budgets by December 2013.

In the UK, Google’s share of paid clicks from mobiles increased 65 percent, while in Europe, the increase was even greater, increasing from 5.9 percent to 14.5 percent. UK advertisers increased their share of search budget on smart mobile devices from 9.94 percent to 19.32 percent last year, an increase of 94 percent, while Eurozone advertisers upped their investment in mobile search from 4.8 percent to 11.8 percent of paid-search budgets, an increase of 146 percent.

marin4

Mobile CTRs were higher than for desktops in the UK and Europe. In the UK, average clickthrough rate for phones was 5.8 percent, compared to 4.78 percent in Europe. UK tablet CTR was 3.93 percent, with 4.8 percent CTR on tablets in the rest of Europe.

Unlike in the US, mobile costs per click are rising, with tablet CPCs increasing an average of 36 percent in the UK and 24 percent in Europe. (Marin noted that some of this could be due to currency fluctuations.)

Rising CPCs could be the result of better mobile conversion rates in these regions. While desktops and laptops still offered the best conversion rates, in Europe, tablet conversion rates of 1.5 percent almost equal those of desktops at 1.8 percent, with phones lagging at .5 percent. Again, Marin noted that smartphone conversions are likely under-reported.

In the rest of the world, Marin analyzed Google search data and found that mobile’s share of paid-search clicks was highest in Australia (21 percent), Japan (16.2 percent) and Singapore (22.5 percent). While advertisers’ spending on paid mobile search in Singapore was close to on par with CTRs, at 22.5 percent of total budget, other countries had not caught up.

The report noted that optimizing mobile ads and handling them separately from other paid search campaigns can give marketers more control over campaigns and increase overall performance.

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Whitepapers

US Mobile Streaming Behavior
Whitepaper | Mobile

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

5y

US Mobile Streaming Behavior

Streaming has become a staple of US media-viewing habits. Streaming video, however, still comes with a variety of pesky frustrations that viewers are ...

View resource
Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups
Whitepaper | Analyzing Customer Data

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics for Media Groups

5y

Winning the Data Game: Digital Analytics Tactics f...

Data is the lifeblood of so many companies today. You need more of it, all of which at higher quality, and all the meanwhile being compliant with data...

View resource
Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its people
Whitepaper | Digital Marketing

Learning to win the talent war: how digital marketing can develop its peopl...

2y

Learning to win the talent war: how digital market...

This report documents the findings of a Fireside chat held by ClickZ in the first quarter of 2022. It provides expert insight on how companies can ret...

View resource
Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy
Report | Digital Transformation

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Experience Economy

1m

Engagement To Empowerment - Winning in Today's Exp...

Customers decide fast, influenced by only 2.5 touchpoints – globally! Make sure your brand shines in those critical moments. Read More...

View resource