According to newly released statistics by the Interactive Advertising Bureau in 2012, digital advertising hit a record high of $36,6 billion (R330 billion) in 2012. This spike was partly due to huge growth in mobile and video advertising.

And already, spend on digital (online) advertising is 15% higher than this time last year, which makes it a big deal. Not that it isn’t, already. The latest IAB Internet Advertising Revenue Report states that the United States’ internet advertising revenue is greater than its TV revenue.

Smart phone handset popularity has resulted in an increase on spend for mobile advertising. In 2012 mobile advertising spend stood at $3,4 billion (R27 billion), which was up a staggering 111% from 2011. As of now, mobile advertising accounts for 9% of all digital advertising.

Chief Executive of the investment bank Gridley & Co, Linda Gridley said mobile and mobile video coupled with social media will “underpin everything we’re going to talk about,” regarding the digital space. Gridley also said:

This was the beginning of the year of mobile. Finally, advertisers are playing a catch-up game with consumers.

[Source: LA Times]