A new report by the Interactive Advertising Bureau shows digital ad revenue at an all-time high. The report, released on May 7th, shows that ad revenue surpassed the $100 billion mark for the first time, hitting a landmark $107.5 billion in 2018. This growth signifies a 22% year-over-year increase from $88.3 billion in 2017.
According to IAB’s CEO, Randall Rothenberg,
“Surpassing $100 billion in annual revenue is a watershed moment for the digital advertising ecosystem—one built on its power to build direct relationships between brands and today’s consumers.”
Mobile and video advertising lead the steady growth. Mobile advertising accounted for 65% of internet ad revenues, up 40% from the previous year. Video saw a large rise among all formats, up to $16.3 billion compared to $11.9 billion in 2017.
The report also states “revenue stemming from eCommerce, including the emergence of the direct brand economy” has played a key role. Social stories on social media have also been identified as a motivating factor in the investment.
