25 digital marketing statistics for businesses in 2021

While the world of online marketing has expanded far beyond paid advertising, digital sales still play a very important role in generating revenue and business. Digital marketing and advertising are at the top of the “new advertising stack,” and it’s what can create brand awareness, drive sales and create visibility across a variety of channels that are oversaturated with businesses trying to stand out.

Although there are many new players in the online marketing landscape, including email, social media and brand reputation, digital advertising isn’t set to slow down yet—even against traditional marketing outlets like TV and radio. According to Forbes, in the 2019-2020 election cycle, political advertising reached $8.5 billion across digital media, TV and radio. That’s not even including the $299 million used during the Georgia Senate race.

And even with a 9.3 percent decrease in money spent due to the coronavirus pandemic, eMarketer summarized ad spending at $6.28 billion in 2020 and a 6.9 percent decrease of $7.03 billion in the entertainment industry. Videos in particular have been given a sharper focus.

So where should your business invest your advertising dollars in 2021? We’ve compiled this list of 25 top advertising and marketing stats so you can spend wisely and where it matters. Get the return-on-investment you need to thrive in the digital marketing and advertising world.

E-Commerce Advertising Statistics for 2021

1. Amazon will lead the pack for major digital ads businesses in 2021 and 2022.

2. Digital ad spend is set to grow as much as $129-plus billion this year.

3. Mailchimp, the Atlanta-based small business marketing service, is adding another way for its customers to reach out to the world in 2021: text messaging via Chatitive. In 2019, 20 percent more text messaging advertisements were sent out during thriving shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

4. Word of mouth still reigns supreme; Single Grain reports that 63 percent of consumers trust influencers’ opinions of products much more than brand advertisements.

5. Consumers prefer to shop directly on a brand’s website 39 percent of the time rather than a marketplace website.

TV/Video Advertising Statistics for 2021

1. National TV ad spend fell by 7.9 percent in 2020 but is set to grow by 6.6 percent this year.

2. National TV ads are recovering from pre-coronavirus pandemic levels and are performing better than any category outside of pure-play digital advertising.

3. Video has improved conversion rates for 72 percent of businesses.

4. Product videos made consumers 52 percent more confident in online purchase decisions.

5. Video advertising is the only format where both media and entertainment industries in 2021 are getting a boost—14.2 percent and 20.7 percent.

Mobile Advertising Statistics for 2021

1. Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reported its weakest revenue growth in nearly five years in the first quarter of 2020, largely due to coronavirus, which affected its advertising sales. But it bounced back with 9.8 percent growth by Quarter 3.

2. A geo-fencing market increase is set to grow to $2.4 billion by 2023—along with the rise of mobile use.

3. Pinterest’s Lens now recognizes 2.5 billion home and fashion objects. Since then, Samsung and Target have partnered with the social media site to incorporate visual searches in its latest smartphones and catalogs.

4. Voice shopping is set to increase by $40 billion in 2022.

5. At least twice as many people sign up for web push notifications compared to a newsletter.

Consumer Advertising Statistics for 2021

1. Four in 10 consumers shopped at a new website during the coronavirus pandemic, reports Globe News Wire.

2. Positive customer service resulted in 45 percent of consumers continuing to shop at a new website during the pandemic.

3. Personalization is both a gift and a curse to consumers; 79 percent of consumers surveyed believe companies know too much about them, but 90 percent are willing to share behavioral data for a cheaper, easier brand experience.

4. Try not to annoy the customer; 63 percent of consumers are irritated by generic advertising blasts.

5. Purpose-driven brands that advocate for sustainability are a driving force for 65 percent of consumers. However, only 26 percent actually do so.

Social Media Advertising Statistics for 2021

1. YouTube and TikTok are expected to gain about 1 percent of shares from 2020 to 2022.

2. Influencers, including on social media, have helped increase sales—with 58 percent of people confirming a purchase was made because of an influencer’s recommendation.

3. Brands are predicted to spend up to $15 billion on influencer marketing by 2022.

4. Nearly four in five (79 percent) brands predominantly tap Instagram for influencer campaigns, compared with Facebook (46 percent), YouTube (36 percent), Twitter (24 percent) and LinkedIn (12 percent).

5. Snapchat revenue increased 52 percent to $679 million in Quarter 3 of 2020 compared to 2019.

Contact us to get started with digital advertising for your business today!