In this memo to subscribers and clients, Gordon Borrell outlines our local online advertising is forecast for 2013 and lists the fastest-growing (and slowest) in digital sales so far this year. The memo details YTD digital advertising growth rates for 43 local media companies, as well as our forecast for online ad spending in 2013 by formats (video, banners, email, etc.). It also offers detail on our new Digital Marketing Regions (DMRs), with benchmarks based on the results of more than 1,600 companies to help clients determine their market potential. Two appendices and an Excel download include the full list of DMRs and the counties included in each of the 513 regions, plus the ad-spending levels.
Our latest report, “Budgeting for 2012: Local Online Advertising Forecasts and Key Growth Opportunities,” points to two amazing phenomenon. First, traditional media companies are gaining online share over pureplay Internet companies. And second, in a few short years, the vast majority of what we know as "online" will be served up on mobile devices. We are forecasting 18% growth next year as local online advertising goes from $15.7 billion to $18.5 billion in 2012. This report details the categories and formats pegged for growth, as well as individual market estimates.