Six Surprising Marketing and Advertising Statistics

For industry sectors that has been around for centuries, marketing and advertising still have the ability to surprise us. Just when you think you've got a handle on things, along comes a shocking stat or amazing evolution that flips everything you know on its head. With that in mind, we've searched out several stats that are sure to have you reconsidering how and where you allocate your next marketing or advertising spend. Let us know what alters your outlook, we're always around on  Facebook, Twitter, or Google+. [caption id="attachment_3060" align="aligncenter" width="458"] Stats that make you go 'hmmm' | Image Credit: David Goehring[/caption]

6 Surprising Statistics from Marketing and Advertising in 2014

1. High and Ninety for Consumer Reviews and Research Online - We know that search and testimonials matter, but the critical nature of online reputation may have passed some businesses by. Consider that somewhere between 85-93% of purchase decisions start with a web search, while some 89% of consumers consider the reviews of others (WebDAM) before buying, and it's easy to see why reputation must be bumped up the list of marketing priorities.

2. Video Kills the Banner Ad Star - Banner ads and pop-up impressions are still the meat and potatoes of the online advertising world, but it's video ads that really rule the roost. $1.13 billion in YouTube ads alone in 2014 should  convince business owners to shuffle some of the ad dollars into creating compelling video content.

3. Hold their Attention, Win their Business - NN/g research indicates that your website has to hold the visitor's attention within ten seconds, or lose them forever (well, a long time at least). Sites that do so hold an excellent chance of keeping the visitor on site and winning their business. Perhaps the most surprising aspect for experienced online marketers will be that they actually have as much as 10 seconds. In some cases it can only take a split second for a visitor to decide they've made the wrong choice and bounce from a site. 

4. Facebook Flips the Mobile Script - No one now disputes that Facebook is the place to reach almost any consumer you can think of, but less than two years ago there were major questions over how well the site would serve mobile users. In 2014 those questions are completely answered, as more than half of its ad revenue comes from mobile devices. Overall, Facebook makes up 21.7% of the global mobile advertising market, second only to the ever-dominant Google according to eMarketer.

5. Blind Spending? - Although marketing budgets continue to expand, particularly online, almost half of marketers in the B2B space aren't clear as to how that spend benefits their business financially. According to a Marketing Charts study, only 51% of marketing leaders surveyed believed that the financial value of their efforts was clear.

6. Ads Sell, Content Tells - And business owners prefer to be told rather than sold, it seems. As reported by the Content Marketing Institute, 80% of business owners prefer a series of online articles to explain the value of a product or service, as opposed to an advert or promotional literature.