The results on digital ad spending for the last year are out and they are juicy. As was to be predicted, mobile advertising has finally surpassed that of desktop spending. For years we’ve been saying mobile is the future, and the future is now, boys and girls. Let’s take a look at this data, shall we?
Advertisers Moving with the Tides
The recently-released IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report shows that mobile ad spend reached $36.6 billion in 2016, or 51% of total digital ad spending. This is up 22% from 2015 and a whopping 77% from 2014. If these numbers seem bonkers, that’s because they are. Advertisers spent a dizzying $72.5 billion in digital ads in 2016.
Should I Still Invest in Desktop Ads?
In short, absolutely. Though many users are utilizing their phones for everything these days, we can’t ignore the vast number of users who are still chained to their desks. This is especially true for the legal industry. Though there are certainly a horde of people searching for legal help via mobile device, 67% of people polled in 2016 said they use a desktop device to find a lawyer.
That’s what we say, anyway. We recommend splitting your total monthly digital ad spend between desktop and mobile. In another year, we predict the legal advertising industry to close the desktop/mobile gap significantly, but as of now it is important to invest in both.
