Search is not growing as quickly as in previous years, but Search is still growing!
eMarketer just released The Search Ad Spending report dissecting the economic downturn impact on the Internet’s most important business model and economic driver. eMarketer estimates that search ad spending growth will remain positive from ’08 through ’11. That’s another 3 years. The projected bounceback—with growth increasing to 13.7%, due to a combination of economic recovery and the influence of that year’s national elections and Summer Olympics—will not occur until 2012.
eMarketer estimates show search ad spending rising steadily from $10.7 billion in 2008 to nearly $20 billion by the end of 2013.
Search spending delivered greater growth (a 23.6% gain) in the first half of 2008 than any format other than video advertising. Search’s share of the total spend reached 44% in the first half of 2008, too, up from its 41% slice in 2007’s first half.
