Ad Metrics

The Wall Street Journal has reported that spending on Internet advertising in the U.S. should “almost completely recover” from the recession this year, while search advertising and search market leader Google Inc. (GOOG) likely will enjoy the most growth in the next few years, according to a report published Wednesday by IDC.

Between 2009 and 2014, “search advertising gains the most dollars,” according to IDC  analyst Karsten Weide.

This invariably means more than just a sign that we are heading through recovery. It seems to indicate a wholesale maturing of online advertising, marketing and associated methodologies as a bona fide means of marketing and promoting products and services across the spectrum of business sectors. Those companies, large and small, who had embraced these tools prior to the recession will likely have a decided advantage against their competition as the economic climate improves.

Compared to 2009, this data represents a 7.5% increase for the same period and marks the highest first-quarter revenue level ever for the internet advertising industry.

“The year-over-year growth we are seeing reflects marketers’ confidence in the value and effectiveness of interactive advertising,” said Randall Rothenberg, President and CEO of the IAB. “The Internet, together with explosive technological innovation in devices and platforms, has transformed consumers’ lives, giving them access to entertainment and information however, whenever, and wherever they want it. That’s why the vibrant interactive advertising and marketing industry lends major fuel to the U.S. economy.”

“We are seeing continued signs of an improved economy and interactive advertising market,” said David Silverman, PwC Assurance partner.  “The media industry —like the economy as a whole—saw tremendous challenges this past year, and uncertainty about the recovery remains.  However, entering 2010 with such strong Q1 revenues is a sign of the health and vitality of online media, and of marketers’ continuing investment in interactive as a cornerstone of their advertising campaigns.”