Good news: a new report shows that Internetadvertising continued its sharp upward trend in the first quarter of 1998 withthe top 25 industries increasing spending 92% compared tothe same period in1997.
Good news: a new report shows that Internet advertising continued its sharp upward trend in the first quarter of 1998 with the top 25 industries increasing spending 92% compared to the same period in 1997.
The InterWatch first quarter trend report was released by InterMedia Advertising Solutions (IAS).
While computers and software (including online and Internet services) continued to account for nearly half of all Internet advertising (49.7% at $96.7 million), its growth was less than average (75.7%), the report said. The largest growth was seen in industries such as government and organizations (up 455%), medicines (up 409%), local services and amusements (up 223.9%), direct response companies (up 250.9%), retail (up 131.3%) and automotive (up 128.8%).
Over 400 industries were tracked, making the report “an accurate and detailed picture of the dramatic growth in advertising activity on the Internet,” IAS said. The study also tracks Internet spending as part of overall advertising expenditures.
Among the approximate 300 Web sites tracked, the top 50 sites accounted for over $181 million in revenue in the first quarter of 1998, a growth of 101.4% over 1997.
In making the announcement, Joe Philport, president of IAS, said: “By examining industry trends to this level of detail we are able to get a sense of what industries are influencing the future of Internet advertising, and just how big a role they are playing. We will make this trend analysis available quarterly as a complement to our monthly InterWatch expenditure report.”
For the first time the Internet claimed over one percent (1.3%) of overall ad budgets, and the percentage is growing, the report said. Computers and software are now at 14.6%, business and technology at 7.3%, direct response companies at 2%, financial at 1.7% and surprisingly games, toys and hobbycrafts and schools, camps and seminars are both at 1.6%.
Microsoft was the top spender on the Internet in the first quarter of 1998 at $7.7 million, up only .1% over 1997. IBM, with a strong 147.8% increase, is closing in fast in the second spot at $7.67 million. And Digital Equipment Corp. jumped an astounding 478.8% to place third at $2.5 million.
Following computers and software, the financial industry represented 8.5% of the ad dollars spent on the Internet at $16 million. Direct response companies jumped to $11 million with 5.7% and media and advertising were a close fourth at $10.6 million, with 5.5% of the total first quarter 1998 expenditures.
InterMedia Advertising Solutions was formed to monitor and provide detail on advertising and expenditures on the Internet. The information is delivered using the industry standards developed by IAS’ sister company, Competitive Media Reporting (CMR). CMR provides strategic advertising intelligence to advertising agencies, advertisers, broadcasters and publishers. CMR and IAS are VNU Marketing Information Services companies.
For more information on the IAS InterWatch report, contact Michael Simoni at
