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Currently 23.7% of online adults have ad blocking software installed. While there was an uptick in rates between October 2015 and February 2016 (17.8% to 22.1%), there has not been a significant increase since. In 2017, IAB UK launched the Gold Standard, requiring certified digital advertisers to improve the online experience for users by adhering to principles laid out by the Coalition for Better Ads. This coincided with a drive from digital publishers to communicate the advertising value...

IAB UK commissioned YouGov in Feb 2020 to conduct a survey of 2,037 GB online adults. This is a follow up from the ad blocking data collected in Feb 2019, Feb 2018, Feb 2017, July 2016, Feb 2016, Oct2015, June 2015 and March 2015. The key findings from the research and a link to the full report can be found below: Ad blocking levels have been relatively stable for the past four years – 23.7% of GB Online Adults claim to be currently using ad blocking software 21% of GB online adults are using ad...

This is a difficult time for many businesses around the globe, with most business leaders expecting financial upheaval for at least six months. Today we are in the eye of the storm, just days into an almost global “lockdown” due to the COVID-19 pandemic. How can marketers reorient themselves within the current crisis in order to emerge in the best possible shape once consumer spend starts to flow again? Whilst a limited number of retail categories are witnessing a mini-boon; most consumer brands...

The latest guest to join James live from social distancing at home is Google's UK Director of Agencies Matt Bush. Whether via Joe Wicks' PE lessons on YouTube, a new reliance by teachers on Google Classroom, or a nation suddenly turning to Google Hangouts, there's a lot going on at remote Google HQ. As well as sharing some of his own working from home habits, Matt reveals some of the efforts Google is making to support the World Health Organisation and to keep public service information flowing...

With latest figures suggesting that the newspaper industry stands to lose £50 million due to keyword blocking during the Coronavirus outbreak, content verification is back in the spotlight. In this episode, James Chandler talks to BBC Global News' Programmatic Trading Manager for EMEA, Emily Roberts, about how the BBC's commercial arm are tackling this issue. Emily also discusses the role of trusted news at the moment and why social distancing might be the perfect time to borrow a dog... For...

The UK’s newspaper publishers, co-ordinated by trade body Newsworks and supported by industry bodies including IAB UK, have joined forces to call on advertisers to support quality journalism during the COVID-19 crisis. With people turning to digital news brands to stay up-to-date with the fast evolving situation, demand for quality, accurate reporting is surging. However, advertisers’ use of keyword blocklists is preventing ads from being served alongside this content. As a result, Newsworks...

As we slide into week four of national social distancing, great original content created and curated by companies like LADbible Group feel like they might be what see us through all this. In our latest episode, James catches up with LADbible Group's Head of Agency Sales, Jack Cowin, to chat myth-busting, live streams and how - at times like this especially - young people are looking for ways to act rather than just watch. And if you have any light to shed on James' cheesy mystery please tell us...

At IAB UK, we champion initiatives and practices that help build a sustainable future for digital advertising. With the UK currently in lockdown due to coronavirus, people are turning to digital channels to stay updated on the news and for guidance on how to stay safe. From an advertising perspective, it is therefore not just important that we sustain quality journalism by continuing to place ads around this content, but it also makes good business sense as the vast majority of consumers do not...

Facebook's Nick Pestell is the latest IAB UK member to chat to James on the IAB UK Connected podcast. With the COVID-19 outbreak hitting businesses hard, Facebook were quick to announce their support for small businesses. In this episode, Nick explains how Facebook's mission of giving people the power to build community and bringing the world closer together is the perfect mission for times like these. For more information about how we are supporting our members at this time, as well as...

Coronavirus is impacting the way we live, work, shop and - of course - eat. One of the brands offering a crucial service throughout this is Gousto, the direct to consumer recipe box company. In this episode of the IAB UK Connected podcast, James speaks to Gousto's CMO Tom Wallis about the impact of COVID-19 on their supply chain, how its impacting their comms approach and why the nation's favourite PE instructor is the perfect ambassador for their brand. For more information about how we are...

The current COVID-19 pandemic is creating unprecedented disruption for all businesses and industries, including those engaged in digital advertising. The pandemic has led to heightened advertiser sensitivity towards coronavirus related content and, as a result, some are turning to keyword blocking as a primary way of safeguarding their brand from appearing against pandemic-related stories. With coronavirus dominating the news agenda and heightened sensitivity of content at this time, brands are...

Industry bodies representing UK advertisers, agencies, publishers and ad tech companies have come together in support of a message by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) calling on brands to review their use of keyword blocking during the COVID-19 outbreak. It follows concerns that overzealous keyword blocking of coronavirus-related terms is impacting publishers’ ability to monetise news content. Newsworks recently said that if the pandemic lasts for another three months...

With a vast range of clients - from small brands to global household names - data, insights and consulting company Kantar are well positioned to not only understand the COVID-19 crisis' impact, but also to help brands survive it. In this episode, James talks to Kantar's Jane Bloomfield about the seven point checklist they have developed for how brands can deal with this unusual, disruptive and rapidly changing global situation. For more information about how we are supporting our members at this...

The industry body for digital advertising has appointed its first Head of Ad Tech in a move that strengthens its ability to support the ad tech sector, understand key developments and address current challenges. Starting immediately, Tina Lakhani, IAB UK’s current Ad Tech Manager, takes on the newly created role. It will see her formulate and communicate the IAB’s position on key ad tech issues, be an expert resource for its members and become a voice for the sector at an industry-wide level...

In our latest episode, and marking the first in a weekly series exploring consumer trends, James speaks to Flora Williams, Business Director at OMD and all-round audio expert. They discuss the impact that lockdown is having on podcast listening and how the role of audio is changing at a time when people are working from home. For more information about how we are supporting our members at this time, as well as resources and trends from across the industry, take a look at our IAB UK Connected hub...

James is joined by another Direct to Consumer (DTC) brand on the latest episode of the IAB UK Connected Podcast. Steph Douglas is the founder of Don't Buy Her Flowers a 'thoughtful gifting company'. She shares how lockdown has affected her business and how a small initiative to show love for key workers had a huge impact. Find out more about Steph and her business in this film, part of our Born Online study into DTC brands. For more information about how we are supporting our members at this...

In conjunction with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the IAB has produced the twice yearly digital advertising spend figures in the UK since 1997. As used by the Advertising Association, these figures are the most authoritative means of assessing the size of the online advertising market in the UK. You can view the full results from 2018, including various breakdowns, below. Full results One pager Headlines Smartphone Video Display Tables

Since 1998, IAB UK has been reporting on digital ad spend every year. Back then, overall spend stood at £8.1 million, the smartest mobiles had just been upgraded to carry ‘snake’ and Ask Jeeves was the new kid on the search engine block. Suffice to say, a lot has changed in the last two decades. We’ve seen huge growth in the digital ad market (take a look at our Adspend Analyser tool to easily chart trends across the years), and our latest report shows that ad spend grew by 15.4% year-on-year in...

Connected TV (CTV) provides massive opportunities for streaming services and brands to engage with consumers through compelling content and advertising. Because of this opportunity, it is incredibly important for the CTV ecosystem and brands to work together through a collectively protected advertising supply chain to ensure fraud is recognised, addressed and eliminated as quickly as possible as bad actors always follow the money. Ad fraud can happen when you buy inventory through unprotected...