Social Media Ad Spend Surpasses Print Ads for the First Time

Social media will own 13% of global ad spend in 2019, according to a Zenith forecast.

“Small businesses in the U.S. are spending heavily on social media and paid search, and are fueling much of the global growth of these channels,” writes Zenith.

Facebook reported   last Friday  that it estimates more than 140 million businesses are currently using its family of apps (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger  and  WhatsApp) every month, “To find new customers, hire employees or engage with their communities.” During the company’s  first quarter  earnings report call earlier this year, COO Sheryl Sandberg said that Facebook’s top 100 advertisers accounted for less than 20% of the company’s ad revenue. “Our advertiser base is more diverse compared to the same period over last year,” said Sandberg in April, backing up Zenith’s theory that the surge in social media ad spend is a direct result of SMB ad investments.