Online Advertising posts
FeedPosted Nov 24th 2009 10:30AM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Internet, Apple Inc (AAPL), Research in Motion (RIMM), Media World, Initial public offerings, Technology
Twitter is on the prowl. Though it made its last acquisition more than a year ago, company founder Biz Stone said on Tuesday that it's looking to add to the stable. There aren't any specific targets yet -- at least none revealed -- and Twitter is keeping its options open. The likely pool of potential acquisitions consists of third-party Twitter application developers, which is largely responsible for the micro-blogging service's growth in popularity.
Stone, one of Twitter's founders, said at a Tel Aviv news conference, "As our attention is grabbed by some of these developers, we will take a hard look at them." This refers to companies that develop applications for Apple's (AAPL) iPhone and Research in Motion's (RIMM) Blackberry. It also refers to developers for the Web and desktop, such as HootSuite and TweetDeck.
Continue reading Twitter to make acquisitions, generate revenue in 2010
Posted Nov 21st 2009 3:40PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Internet, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Technology
Twitter calls Google (GOOG) a "good role model," but says it isn't ready to rush down the road to advertising.
Nonetheless, an ad-based revenue model is something that cofounder Biz Stone says they "will be looking to do down the line." But, for now, he continues, Twitter is focused on "creating value for our users." For now, revenue generation ideas are being put on paper, "and we're definitely going to get to them," Stone says.
Continue reading Twitter finally reveals revenue ambition, wants to be Google -- but not yet
Posted Nov 20th 2009 4:40PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Newspapers, New York Times'A' (NYT), Gannett Co (GCI), Media World
We've put three quarters behind us in 2009, and the most recent one was merely another miserable step downward for the beleaguered newspaper industry. Total ad revenue plummeted in the third quarter to $6.4 billion for the print jockeys, a decline of 28%. This info from the Newspaper Association of America drives home the notion that conditions will only worsen for the newspaper industry. So, if you're hoping those shares of New York Times Company (NYT), Gannett (GCI) and Washington Post Company (WPO), holding your breath will leave you little more than dizzy.
Of the total advertising revenue generated in the third quarter of 2009, $5.8 million came from print, the lowest quarterly amount this year. The $623 million in online advertising sold by America's newspapers was also 2009's worst. Both are down substantially from the same quarter in 2008, when the newspapers posted print ad revenue of $8.2 million and online ad revenue of $750 million, according to NAA data. At this time last year, we lamented year-over-year declines approaching 20%. Now, we have the same feelings as ad revenue drops approach 30%.
Continue reading Newspaper ad revenue of 28%, 8 quarters of double-digit drops
Posted Nov 8th 2009 10:10AM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Internet, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Apple Inc (AAPL), Media World, Technology
The Twitter ecosystem may be changing constantly, but most of that comes on the back of individual developers and outside companies. They beat on Twitter APIs to create new products that may win them glory, recognition or cash. Over the past month, though, Twitter itself has gotten into the game, releasing or announcing a handful of new features.
A new function for "retweeting" (echoing another's tweet to your own followers), changes to how trending topics are managed, and the ability to create lists are new tools intended to engage users ... on the Twitter.com website. Considered within the context of Twitter's changed terms of service this year, the upgrades may be part of a broader ad-based revenue plan.
Continue reading New Twitter features suggest ad-based financial future
Posted Oct 21st 2009 8:30AM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Earnings reports, Good news, Internet, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Technology
The number two search engine in the United States turned in a fantastic third quarter, far ahead of expectations. Cost-cutting, layoffs and business divestitures led to a surge in Yahoo's (NASDAQ: YHOO) profits and a 4.8% increase in share price in extended trading on Tuesday evening. Net income more than tripled to $186.1 million (13 cents per share) from the third quarter of 2008's result of $54.3 million (4 cents a share). Sales (exclusive of fees passed to partner sites) reached $1.13 billion, slightly above the $1.12 billion expected by analysts, according to a Bloomberg survey.
With the advertising market in rough shape and competition from Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) continually rising, Yahoo refocused on its core properties: the home page, messaging and mobile services. The company trimmed what it didn't need, which is why it was able to boost its earnings even with a decline in revenue. Increased ad revenue from auto manufacturers, travel companies and consumer product manufacturers also helped.
Yahoo's chief financial officer, Timothy Morse, says that the company's markets are "starting to stabilize." Of course, Yahoo itself must be doing something right: its share price is up 41% this year.
Continue reading Yahoo profit triples year-over-year
Posted Aug 10th 2009 2:00PM by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Filed under: Starbucks (SBUX), Coca-Cola (KO), Marketing and advertising, AT and T (T), Johnson and Johnson (JNJ), Sears Holdings (SHLD), Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE), Expedia Inc (EXPE), NIKE, Inc'B' (NKE)
Facebook is making the biggest ad splash since Google, according to an article in the Financial Times.
More than four-fifths of the largest advertisers in the United States have turned to the social networking platform to promote their wares -- after several years of fearing these types of communities. The lure of Facebook must have been too much to resist, with 340 million monthly unique visitors. Now, it's not unusual to see the likes of Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), Nike (NYSE: NKE), and AT&T (NYSE: ATT) advertising in this world.
Continue reading Major brands buying up Facebook ads
Posted Feb 25th 2009 11:20AM by Michael Fowlkes (RSS feed)
Filed under: Earnings reports, Bad news, Products and services, Newspapers, Competitive strategy, Marketing and advertising, Recession

Shares of the
Washington Post Company (NYSE:
WPO) are trading in the red this morning after the company reported that its fourth quarter
profit dropped by a massive 77%. Net income came in at $2.01 per share, verse $8.71 per share in the same period last year.
As I noted in the earnings preview yesterday, the company's flagship newspaper and its magazine division (
Newsweek Magazine) have been hit hard with losses in advertising revenue, and both had a dismal 2008 year. The company's newspaper division
lost $14.4 million in the fourth quarter and had a $192.4 million operating loss for the entire 2008 year. Its newspaper division had a slight profit of $10.9 million in the fourth quarter, but on a full year basis it posted a loss of $16.1 million.
Continue reading Washington Post (WPO) misses the mark
Posted Oct 17th 2008 9:27AM by Steven Mallas (RSS feed)
Filed under: Earnings reports, Internet, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Time Warner (TWX), Technology

The most famous search engine in the world,
Google (NASDAQ:
GOOG), reported third-quarter
numbers on Thursday after the market closed for the day. They were pretty good, all things considered. But hold on before buying the stock. Let's get to the data first.
Google saw its top line increase over 30% to $5.5 billion. On an adjusted basis, earnings per share came in at $4.92 per diluted share. That was good for only a 6% rise in the bottom line, but it did handily beat analyst estimates. According to this source, expectations were for $4.75 per share. Even better, net cash from operations soared just about 34% to roughly $2.2 billion. There's no question that Google has a good advertising model with its search-based technology. Indeed, Google is an innovative leader and a major brand on the Internet. It offers an efficient way for advertisers to target users who might be interested in their products. And it's true that an advertiser can see what it's getting for its investment. Even competing against big guns such as Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO), and Time Warner's (NYSE: TWX) AOL, Google more than holds its own (although I'd really like to see management make better use of its expensive YouTube acquisition -- check out this article by Sheldon Liber on the subject).
Continue reading Google beats expectations and brings in the cash, but I'll pass on stock for now
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