Just b/c they're at work, doesn't mean they're working...

At-Work Internet Usage

Summary Table of Contents Sources Estimates of the number of US workers who go online from work—not including people who worked from home or checked e-mail via mobile phones—range between 65 million and 68 million. At-work Internet users log on for longer hours, visit more domains and own more digital devices than other Internet users.

The At-Work Internet Usage report analyzes the demographics and behavior of users who log in at their places of employment.

“At-work” appears to be almost everywhere.

Two-thirds of employed adults use the Internet and e-mail at their workplace, and nearly one-half of them do at least some work from home, with 18% working from home every day or nearly every day.

Being online at work does not mean loafing, either. The more mobile the workforce, the more work they are expected to do. Similarly, social media may be further blurring the line between personal and work-related Internet use.



Key questions the “At-Work Internet Usage” report answers:

•How many people use the Internet at work?
•What devices do workers use to go online? How do they feel about being “always at work”?
•Can social media use boost productivity?
•How can marketers reach this super-connected crowd?
•And many others…
eMarketer Reports—On Target and Up to Date

The At-Work Internet Usage report aggregates the latest data from a wide range of sources with eMarketer analysis to provide the information you need to make timely, well-informed digital media and marketing decisions.

Online Bargain Hunters go Social

Though email from retailers is still the best way for consumers to learn about discounts and deals online, nearly 30% of shoppers now say they look to links forwarded from friends, peer comments and social sites for the best bargains, according to a survey from Guidance, in association with Synovate.

When asked what they thought was the best way to find out about bargains and deals on the internet, the majority of the 1,000 respondents surveyed still cited traditional “top-down,” retailer-to-consumer channels. Nearly half (45%) said email is the best way to learn about deals, while 16% looked to messages from retailer websites and 10% cited banner ads.

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Power Moms are Online

Our advertisers want to connect with woman, specifically moms, but why? Find out for yourself

Gen X and Gen Y moms use the internet differently than my mom does:

The top three activities of Gen Y moms are reading blogs, participating in an online community of moms, and creating and sharing their own video.

The top three online activities of Gen X moms are: using a photo site, rating and reviewing products, and shopping.

Gen Y moms are much more attached to media that connects them to other moms online - such as internet communities, blogs and video-sharing sites - suggesting they prefer to rely on peers rather than experts to help them parent, according to the study.

Moms who are members of Gen Y also are highly involved in creating their own content and show a preference for time-shifting behaviors, such as watching TV online...READ MORE
Have you told your advertisers that this is what women and moms are looking for online? Let's help educate our advertisers and continue to bring them ideas that offer them marketing solutions.

Consumers Pick Up Clip of Coupons

Last year was the first time in 15 years that coupon redemptions didn't decline, research shows. Individual companies have mixed reports on coupon usage, but a broad Unilever NV study in the U.S. found that in the first quarter, the percentage of goods sold via coupon rose from a year earlier. Read More

46% of online consumers take action after viewing local ads....

According to a new report by the Online Publishers Association, local media sites hold a distinct advantage when it comes to delivering results for advertisers. The study finds that consumers trust advertising on local newspaper, magazine and television Websites, and are very likely to take action after viewing ads on these sites.

Newspapers rank first, with 46% of consumers taking action, including making a purchase, going to a store, conducting research, after viewing a local ad, as compared to 37% of consumers acting after viewing a local ad on a portal.

Percent of Consumers Taking Action after Viewing Local Ads:

Local Newspaper Site: 46%
Local Television Site: 44%
Local Magazine Site: 42%
User Review Site: 39%
Portal: 37%
OPA president Pam Horan, says "... local media sites deliver concrete results for local advertisers... consumers are more likely to act on the ads they see on local TV, newspaper and magazine sites... "

Consumers on these sites are desirable advertising targets, concludes the report. Local magazine, newspaper and TV sites attract significant percentages (48%, 40% and 39%, respectively) of consumers who spent more than $500 online in the past twelve months. Thirty-seven percent of portal visitors and 34% of the overall online population spend this amount in a year.

Consumers express significant faith in advertising on local content sites. Newspaper sites lead the way, with 56% of visitors expressing strong trust of the advertising found on these sites, followed by local TV station sites and portals.

The OPA report finds that satisfaction with local content is high overall, and portals and media sites each have strengths. Portals lead in satisfaction among all local content visitors, followed by local newspaper and TV station sites.

Local media sites have a significant lead over portals:

79% of frequent visitors are satisfied with local TV sites
77% are satisfied with local newspaper sites
65% of frequent visitors to portals are satisfied
Portals, Newspaper and TV Sites Lead in Satisfaction with Local Coverage (% Local Content Users)


% Satisfied with Local Community Coverage

User review sites
13%

Local magazine sites
20%

City guides
26%

Classifieds sites
34%

Online yellow pages
36%

Local TV station sites
48%

Local newspaper sites
48%

Portals
58%

Source: Online Publishers Association, August 2008


An important common trait of all local online content sites is an ability to attract high concentrations of influencers, says OPA:

10% of consumers are considered "Influential’s" according to research done by GfK Roper
29% percent of local online content site users say they are the first person people come to for recommendations about local restaurants and bars
26% of local online users say they are the first person people come to for local shopping recommendations
23% for local entertainment recommendations
23% for local consumer electronics recommendations
Source: Online Publishers Association, August 2008

Consumers Cut Spending Amid Inflation, Go to Web for Deals!

Everyday consumer spending is taking a beating, with some 56% of 3,359 online shoppers surveyed April 29 to May 23 indicating that they are cutting back because of the weak economy and growing inflation, according to PriceGrabber.com’s Consumer Behavior Report, writes MarketingCharts.

(View chart of the categories in which consumers are trying to save money.)

According to the report:

42% of respondents indicated retail shopping as the primary category in which they are reducing spend.
More than one-third of respondents indicated that their top money-saving trick for retail shopping is the use of comparison-shopping websites.
Other ways consumers are reducing their retail spending is through discount and bargain shopping and using low-interest credit cards or cash.
Tax refunds to pay off debt

Some 65% of 1,328 online shoppers surveyed March 25 to April 19 said they plan to spend their tax refund.

Of that group, 45% plan to use that money on an existing loan. Of the respondents applying their refund to a loan, 68% indicated a credit card as that loan (see chart).

Even with concern about an unstable economy, 22% of tax refund spenders indicated using the refund for home improvement and 11% for a vacation.

Economic stimulus checks

Despite government efforts to increase consumer spending through the economic stimulus program, a June survey of 2,483 online shoppers found that 89% of respondents are still cutting back.

Similar to the results of the tax-refund survey, more than one-third of consumers who indicated that they spent their economic stimulus checks used them to pay off debt.

31% of online consumers spent their checks on retail shopping. Of those who spent their stimulus checks, 27% bought onvone large item and 25% spent the money immediately on multiple items.

Half of Adults Text, Blog, Use Other Social Media

They sleep with them, too

Over 50% of US adults use text messaging, blogging and other types of social media to regularly communicate with others, according to MediaPost, which reported results from the latest wave of Universal McCann's large-scale "Media in Mind" tracking study (via MarketingCharts).

For those 18-34 years old, the reigning form of personal communication is social media, which 85% of those in this age group say they use to connect with people they know.
Below, additional findings from the survey.

Older tech, such as email and instant messaging, are also still replacing analog communications:

22% of all American adults say they rely on instant messaging, up from 9% in 2007.
21% of adults age 18-34 rely on instant messaging, up from 14% in 2007.
Mobile media is becoming a dominant force as well, as evidenced by the pervasive use of texting:

Only 41% of US adults say they've never sent a text message, down 8% from a year ago.
Among 18- to 34-year-olds, the proportion of those who have never sent a text message has fallen to 22%, a decline of 16% from last year.
Self-publishing online and reading blog content also are growing:

10% of US adults now publish blogs. That number was only 5% last year.
Younger Americans publish blogs at twice that rate: Some 20% of US adults age 18-34 publish a blog, up from 10% last year.
About the research: Universal McCann's Media in Mind study is an annual proprietary survey of 5,000+ adults that analyzes how consumers relate to media and products in their daily lives.

Online Video Info!

Convincing Clients to Buy Web Video
Even in 2008, Web Video can be scary for clients looking to place ads. Your arsenal of facts supporting a Web-video buy is expanding.
By Tod Sacerdoti

Published: July 29, 2008

Convincing clients to use online video involves three key elements: sharing key facts, making specific recommendations and backing all initial video efforts with a strong research effort.

Key Facts
Clients are aware of online video, but they generally don't realize the growth, scale or performance facts.

1. Video is Bigger Than Search: 12 billion videos are watched per month vs. 10.5 billion searches conducted.
2. Video Consumption is Quickly Moving Online: 19% of total video consumption is now online, versus 11% a year ago.
3. Most Users Consume Video: 80% of Internet users watch video, moving to 88% by 2012.
4. Consumption is High Across All Demos: 76% of children and 44% of seniors watched online video.
5. Video Is Fastest Growing Ad Category: Video advertising will growth 45% this year vs. 37% for social media.
6. TV Scale is Accessible Online: Many vendors now represent unique and volume numbers that are larger than prime-time TV.
7. Video is Highest Performing Unit Online: Pre-roll video outperforms all traditional display units on brand lift, brand recall and lift in purchase intent.


Specific Recommendations
Clients need simple ways to get started and clear ways to add to existing programs or campaigns.

1. Use Existing Creative: Current 15 and 30 second television spots can be used to create most video ad units online.
2. Customize the Skin: Rather than creating new and expensive video ads, focus customization on skinning pages or players.
3. Always Have a Companion Banner: Companions bring down the effective cost per thousand and are a key to performance, so always have one.
4. Clarify Target Metrics: Vendors can easily optimize for clicks, duration, cost per view or conversion so recommend the metric upfront.
5. Test Multiple Ad Units: For clients just starting in video, run multiple different video units and quickly cancel underperforming units.
6. Avoid direct response—Focus on Brand Budgets: With regurgitated TV creative, direct response campaigns will likely miss targets, so avoid getting off to a bad start.
7. Do Not Pay Rich Media or Serving Fees: Many vendors exist that do not charge fees, so preserve the client's budget for the media.

Research Efforts
Clients need to know if video is performing in three key areas: attitude /brand metrics vs. display and within-ad units.

1. Research Attitude/Brand Metrics: Proof of performance will drive increased budgets so demonstrate brand lift, brand recall or an increase in purchase intent for branding campaigns. Work with a third party who is credible and has experience in video advertising.
2. Research Performance of Video vs. Display Advertising: Your video budget will come at the expense of display advertising, so it is important to demonstrate video outperforms. For any campaigns with a direct response metric, measure the impact of video advertising on the conversions of display and search.
3. Research Ad Units: Video ad units have widely varying performance, measure both by hard metrics such as clicks and conversions, but also on the user perception of a brand and on the impact of the performance of other, non-video units.

Online Video Info!

Convincing Clients to Buy Web Video
Even in 2008, Web Video can be scary for clients looking to place ads. Your arsenal of facts supporting a Web-video buy is expanding.
By Tod Sacerdoti

Published: July 29, 2008

Convincing clients to use online video involves three key elements: sharing key facts, making specific recommendations and backing all initial video efforts with a strong research effort.

Key Facts
Clients are aware of online video, but they generally don't realize the growth, scale or performance facts.

1. Video is Bigger Than Search: 12 billion videos are watched per month vs. 10.5 billion searches conducted.
2. Video Consumption is Quickly Moving Online: 19% of total video consumption is now online, versus 11% a year ago.
3. Most Users Consume Video: 80% of Internet users watch video, moving to 88% by 2012.
4. Consumption is High Across All Demos: 76% of children and 44% of seniors watched online video.
5. Video Is Fastest Growing Ad Category: Video advertising will growth 45% this year vs. 37% for social media.
6. TV Scale is Accessible Online: Many vendors now represent unique and volume numbers that are larger than prime-time TV.
7. Video is Highest Performing Unit Online: Pre-roll video outperforms all traditional display units on brand lift, brand recall and lift in purchase intent.


Specific Recommendations
Clients need simple ways to get started and clear ways to add to existing programs or campaigns.

1. Use Existing Creative: Current 15 and 30 second television spots can be used to create most video ad units online.
2. Customize the Skin: Rather than creating new and expensive video ads, focus customization on skinning pages or players.
3. Always Have a Companion Banner: Companions bring down the effective cost per thousand and are a key to performance, so always have one.
4. Clarify Target Metrics: Vendors can easily optimize for clicks, duration, cost per view or conversion so recommend the metric upfront.
5. Test Multiple Ad Units: For clients just starting in video, run multiple different video units and quickly cancel underperforming units.
6. Avoid direct response—Focus on Brand Budgets: With regurgitated TV creative, direct response campaigns will likely miss targets, so avoid getting off to a bad start.
7. Do Not Pay Rich Media or Serving Fees: Many vendors exist that do not charge fees, so preserve the client's budget for the media.

Research Efforts
Clients need to know if video is performing in three key areas: attitude /brand metrics vs. display and within-ad units.

1. Research Attitude/Brand Metrics: Proof of performance will drive increased budgets so demonstrate brand lift, brand recall or an increase in purchase intent for branding campaigns. Work with a third party who is credible and has experience in video advertising.
2. Research Performance of Video vs. Display Advertising: Your video budget will come at the expense of display advertising, so it is important to demonstrate video outperforms. For any campaigns with a direct response metric, measure the impact of video advertising on the conversions of display and search.
3. Research Ad Units: Video ad units have widely varying performance, measure both by hard metrics such as clicks and conversions, but also on the user perception of a brand and on the impact of the performance of other, non-video units.

Why do all advertisers think that everyone online is 15 years old!

Very interesting, please read and share!

Study: Age Affects Perceptions Of Internet Advertising Targets

Women Primary Searchers for Wellness Information Online

Two out of three (66.2%) online adults use the internet to gather wellness information - and women are significantly more likely than men to do so - 71.7% versus 60.5% - according to a Burst Media survey of nearly 1,700 web users age 18+.

The study sought to understand how consumers research wellness topics online, including fitness, diet, health and beauty.

Among the key findings:

Overall, nutrition information is the most popular wellness topic to research online (38.4%) among US adults.

One-third (33.9%) of respondents research wellness information at least once per week and 10.7% search daily.

Respondents age 25-34 are the most active consumers of online wellness information; among this segment, 45.9% research at least once per week, and one in six (16.3%) search daily.

Among other findings of the study:

Gender, not age, is the largest factor in reliance on online wellness information: High usage by women is fairly consistent among all female age segments, rising from 66.0% among women age 18-24 to 75% among women 55+.

Read More About Women searching wellness info online

More Coupons, More Online, Less Spending for Consumer

Gas Prices Force US Consumers to Reduce Discretionary Spending

Visits to Coupon Websites Up 56% from 2007, Classifieds Site Visits Up 113%

Additional Cost-Cutting Trends in Retail

US visits to comparison shopping websites increased 51% for the week ended June 6, 2008 compared with the equivalent period last year.

US visits to discount retailers increased 25% in the week ended June 6 compared with last year, while traditional department stores increased 15%.
US searches on the term “coupons” sending visits to Shopping & Classifieds websites doubled for the week ended June 6 compared with the previous year.


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