In its first buyers panel survey, Interevco, an online advertising consulting and rep firm, found that 57 percent of the planners it queried were "somewhat bullish" or "bullish" with regard to the
second quarter outlook for online media.
Paul DeBraccio, Interevo's chief executive, recruited 73 online media buyers to become part of an informal buyers panel. He plans to ask one question per
month about the business. "It's a real world indicator of where spending will be going in the next quarter," he says. Conducted by email, the panel is comprised of media planners who handle clients
across all categories--pharmaceutical, packaged goods, automotive, and more. The buyers include entry- to mid-level media buyers at agencies.
"The market is guardedly optimistic," DeBraccio says.
The survey doesn't pretend to be scientific. It merely reflects a feeling on the part of online media practitioners, the people who do the work, that things aren't too bad.
Planners had the
choice of responding to DeBraccio's question with: "Bearish," "Very Bearish," "Somewhat Bearish," "Neither," "Somewhat Bullish," "Very Bullish," and "Bullish."
Of the 73 panelists, 27 responded
to the survey for a 37 percent response rate. The next survey, due out the first week of April, will be sent to more than 100 online media buyers.