The Australian online advertising market grew by more than 40 per cent last year, outstripping the broader ad industry and giving rise to claims that the medium has finally landed a permanent place on the advertiser’s schedule…

The Audit Bureau of Circulations has found $AU236 million was spent on online ads in 2003, up from $AU140 million in 2002…

Classifieds took the lion’s share of online ads with 37 per cent, followed by display ads, such as banners and sponsorship, at 34 per cent. The search engine advertising category attracted 29 per cent.

But this category is expected to be the fastest growing this year. Starcom reported growth rates of 100 per cent. “It’s the ultimate ad. We serve an ad at exactly the moment that the user wants it,” Mr Hoffman said…

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