Advertisers need to treat the internet not as
mobile-first, but mobile-dominated.
More than half (53%) of all internet ad spend will go to ads viewed on mobile devices in 2017. Mobile is forecast to account for 62% by 2019, according to
Zenith’s Mobile Advertising Forecasts 2017.
Two-thirds of individuals in the 52 countries examined by Zenith (66%) will own a smartphone in 2018, up from 58% in 2016. This spread
increases the number of contacts between brands and consumers, giving consumers new opportunities to connect to media content wherever they are, at any time of the day, says Zenith.
"Some of
these contacts take the form of paid advertising in third-party content, but mobile technology is also enabling broader brand experiences, such as branded content and social media engagement," says
the report.
Mobile devices, including both smartphones and tablets, are now the primary means of accessing the internet for most users. They will account for 73% of time spent using the
internet in 2018, up from 65% in 2016. By 2019, Zenith expects this percentage to account for 76%.
"By reaching consumers at the right occasions with tailored messages, brands can guide them
through the consumer journey more effectively," says Vittorio Bonori, global brand president, Zenith.
Spain accounts for the highest share of people accessing the Internet from their devices
(81%), followed by Italy (78%), China, and the U.S. (each at 77%), and India (73%).
"Most other markets with comparable mobile use, like China and India, have a smaller installed base of
fixed-line internet connections. Many consumers have gone straight to smartphones without first owning a desktop or laptop computer," says Jonathan Barnard, head of forecasting and director of global
intelligence, Zenith.
Western Europe and Asia-Pacific continue to lead the world in smartphone ownership, with more than 80%-90% penetration. But the specific countries with the highest user
levels next year will be China (1.3 billion), India (530 million), and the U.S. (229 million).
Tablet penetration, by comparison, is stabilizing at about 20%. Tablets have not caught on in
China, where Zenith says penetration is a mere 4.8% this year, compared to 85.4% for smartphones. Tablet penetration is even declining in Thailand. This is likely due to the fact that these devices
tend to be shared by households and many users prefer to use larger smartphones instead.