Online publishers predict 16% growth in digital revenues

UK online publishers are predicting 16% growth in digital revenues from online advertising, subscriptions, paid content, eCommerce, sponsorship and commercial content in 2009.

According to the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) Census 2009, 63% of online publishers expect to increase their digital investment this year, with only 7% anticipating a decrease in investment.

The report, conducted from 9 February to 2 March 2009, also found that 65% of online publishers expect more functions across departments to become integrated this year.

Training budgets are to be increased by 40% of respondents, while 51% will keep them at the same level as 2008.

Tim Cain, AOP’s head of research and insight, said: “This year’s Census has highlighted that the revenue model for advertising doesn’t appear to be significantly shifting.

“While we’re seeing CPC increasingly adopted as a pricing mechanism (up 50% year-on-year) the advertising model is still predominantly led by CPM (89%) and sponsorship (84%), which are also being used more widely amongst publishers.”