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WFA survey identifies rapid growth in Chinese mobile investment
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A survey of 21 key Chinese advertisers spending RMB 25bn (US$5.7bn) annually on communication conducted in conjunction with PHD has found that 20% would claim that mobile has been a key priority for some time and that the channel is well integrated into an overall marketing plan. A further 35% claimed to have a strategic vision for mobile.
The results, which are due to be presented to the Mobile Marketing Association's Forum in Shanghai today, by Unilever's David Porter and Nishtha Mehta from PHD, revealed that Chinese advertisers put significant investment behind their mobile efforts.
The approximate weighted average of mobile spend found that 11% of interactive budgets in China were spent on mobile and a few Chinese respondents were spending up to 40% of digital budgets on mobile.
These results contrast with a separate global survey conducted by the WFA involving 23 companies spending an estimated US$39bn annual, which found that just 4% of respondents had successfully integrated mobile into their marketing plan, although 57% said a strategic vision for the channel had been developed.
Global advertisers were also spending significantly less of their digital budgets on mobile, with the weighted average showing a 6% share of digital budgets. No global advertiser was spending more than 20% of digital spend on mobile.
The gap between the global picture and the Chinese market is likely to get bigger with all respondents in China reporting that they planned to increase their mobile spend in the next 12 months, 72% said they planned to make a large increase. This contrasts with 54% of global advertisers who had similar plans.
One thing that could explain the disparity between these two groups is that the way mobile is being utilized and the marketing aims that brands are seeking to achieve are very different.
In China the top use of mobile in the last year has been QR codes (84%), while the global community has focused on paid search and mobile display (both 88%).
Global respondents were also are more likely to invest in mobile video (used by 83% in the last year) and social media mobile advertising (79%) than their Chinese counterparts who are putting more emphasis on mobile social content or engagement (68%).
The biggest common challenge faced by both groups was the difficulty of measuring the impact of mobile and comparing it with other channels, which was mentioned by 67% in China and 50% globally.
“It is clear that marketers are recognizing the potential of mobile. But we also see great complexity and the need to drive better measurement and transparency. We applaud the increasing energy with which industry bodies in China are addressing these issues,” said David Porter, Media Director North Asia, Unilever and WFA member.
@WFAmarketers
@Unilever
@PHDworldwide
-ends-
For all media enquiries please contact:
Will Gilroy
[email protected]
+6592300629
Note for editors:
The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) is the voice of marketers worldwide, representing 90% of global marketing communications spend – roughly US$700 billion per annum – through a unique, global network of the world's biggest markets and biggest marketers. WFA's champions responsible and effective marketing communications worldwide. More information at www.wfanet.org
The results, which are due to be presented to the Mobile Marketing Association's Forum in Shanghai today, by Unilever's David Porter and Nishtha Mehta from PHD, revealed that Chinese advertisers put significant investment behind their mobile efforts.
The approximate weighted average of mobile spend found that 11% of interactive budgets in China were spent on mobile and a few Chinese respondents were spending up to 40% of digital budgets on mobile.
These results contrast with a separate global survey conducted by the WFA involving 23 companies spending an estimated US$39bn annual, which found that just 4% of respondents had successfully integrated mobile into their marketing plan, although 57% said a strategic vision for the channel had been developed.
Global advertisers were also spending significantly less of their digital budgets on mobile, with the weighted average showing a 6% share of digital budgets. No global advertiser was spending more than 20% of digital spend on mobile.
The gap between the global picture and the Chinese market is likely to get bigger with all respondents in China reporting that they planned to increase their mobile spend in the next 12 months, 72% said they planned to make a large increase. This contrasts with 54% of global advertisers who had similar plans.
One thing that could explain the disparity between these two groups is that the way mobile is being utilized and the marketing aims that brands are seeking to achieve are very different.
In China the top use of mobile in the last year has been QR codes (84%), while the global community has focused on paid search and mobile display (both 88%).
Global respondents were also are more likely to invest in mobile video (used by 83% in the last year) and social media mobile advertising (79%) than their Chinese counterparts who are putting more emphasis on mobile social content or engagement (68%).
The biggest common challenge faced by both groups was the difficulty of measuring the impact of mobile and comparing it with other channels, which was mentioned by 67% in China and 50% globally.
“It is clear that marketers are recognizing the potential of mobile. But we also see great complexity and the need to drive better measurement and transparency. We applaud the increasing energy with which industry bodies in China are addressing these issues,” said David Porter, Media Director North Asia, Unilever and WFA member.
@WFAmarketers
@Unilever
@PHDworldwide
-ends-
For all media enquiries please contact:
Will Gilroy
[email protected]
+6592300629
Note for editors:
The World Federation of Advertisers (WFA) is the voice of marketers worldwide, representing 90% of global marketing communications spend – roughly US$700 billion per annum – through a unique, global network of the world's biggest markets and biggest marketers. WFA's champions responsible and effective marketing communications worldwide. More information at www.wfanet.org
