• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer @mp_research, August 26, 2005

Nielsen//NetRatings, and its AdRelevance service, reporting June 2005 estimated online advertising revenue  and spending, found that::

• General community Web sites made the largest year-over-year leap to $33 million with a 214 percent growth
• Health and fitness grew 80 percent in estimated revenue to more than $4.5 million
• Business Web sites took in $12.6 million rising 46 percent

Gerry  Davidson, senior media analyst, Nielsen//NetRatings, said "General community sites tend to have a higher level of engagement or interactivity  with their users, making the sites very attractive to advertisers."

Davidson went on to say, "Our MegaView Financial data shows that 53 percent of the active Internet universe, or 74 million people in the U.S., are currently conducting financial activity online, (so that) financial services companies... (are) spending the most advertising dollars online as they seek  new online customers."

The top three categories, financial services Web sites, Web media sites and retail goods and services sites-spent nearly $228 million in online advertising, up 77% collectively, making up half of the estimated $456 million spent during June 2005.  

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