Online advertising spend up 7% year on year, classifieds contribute one-in-five digital ad dollars

Classified advertising was one of the major boosters to Australia’s online advertising spend last year, up 15% year on year to contribute $1.5bn to total revenue of almost $7.9 billion, according to a report by the IAB and PwC.

The strength of the classifieds – which now sees them represent one in five digital advertising dollars – is attributed to companies such as REA Group, carsales.com and Seek.

According to the latest IAB PwC Online Advertising Expenditure Report for calendar year 2017, Australia’s online advertising spend climbed 7% from 2016, with all categories – general display, search and directories, classifieds, mobile and video – up by at least 5% on the previous year.