Will mobile advertising surpass online?

Investments in mobile advertising keep growing worldwide across various sectors. That is increase in ad spend on all mobile devices. Below Emarketer.com article shows some pretty interesting forecasts. They're worthwhile browsing through when you consider shifting money to your mobile channel in your online marketing strategy.

Mobile ad spending around the world more than doubled last year, eMarketer estimates, and though growth will moderate this year, double-digit increases in mobile ad spending will continue in coming years as outlays approach $37 billion by 2016.

In 2012, mobile spending was at $8.41 billion, according to eMarketer’s forecast—up from just over $4 billion the year before and $2.34 billion in 2010. eMarketer’s estimates of worldwide mobile ad spending include dollars going toward display and search advertising only, and exclude spending on messaging-based formats. Spending on tablets is also included.

The fastest growth in 2012 came from North America, especially the US, where mobile search and display ad spending was up 220%. Spending doubled in the Middle East and Africa, from a very small base, while growth in the rest of the world’s regions was below average. In Asia-Pacific, spending was up a comparatively small 40%.

In emerging markets, however, growth was booming. Mobile ad spending in China was up 138%, and Indonesia and India each enjoyed 110% growth rates.

eMarketer forms its estimates of worldwide mobile ad spending based on the analysis of various elements related to the ad spending market, including macro-level economic conditions, historical trends of the advertising market, estimates from other research firms, and consumer mobile usage trends.

In terms of absolute dollars, North America already has an edge on other world regions, and will widen that gap considerably by 2016. That year, eMarketer projects, advertisers will spend over $21.39 billion on mobile in the US and Canada, compared to over $6.19 billion in second-place Asia-Pacific.

Read more at http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1009582#Aes6mCORjUSbMVZX.99