The fact that internet users don’t like ads is no secret—especially for marketers. With them in mind, HubSpot Research prepared a report on ad blockers. Below are several key statistical findings.
1. Adblock Plus, the world’s most popular ad-blocking extension, has been downloaded over 500 million times.
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Ad blocking in numbers – 7 facts for marketers
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2. Due to ad blocking, the advertising industry lost EUR 19.6 billion (USD 22 billion) in 2015.
3. Regarding upcoming losses, Ovum estimates they could reach as high as EUR 30.9 billion (USD 35 billion) by 2020.
4. As many as 64% of users claim that today’s ads are annoying and intrusive.
5. Pop-up ads and auto-playing video ads are particularly disliked.
6. 70% of respondents stated they don’t think highly of companies that use pop-up ads.
7. Mobile ad blocking is growing at an alarming rate. A Priori study suggests that about 419 million people (approximately one-fifth of internet users) already have some form of mobile ad blocker.
Summary
The HubSpot Research report shows that ad blocking is not a temporary trend but a real challenge for marketers. Adblock Plus has been downloaded over 500 million times, and advertising industry losses reached EUR 19.6 billion (USD 22 billion) in 2015—potentially rising to EUR 30.9 billion (USD 35 billion) by 2020, according to Ovum. As many as 64% of users consider today’s ads annoying, and 70% have a negative opinion of companies using pop-up ads. Mobile ad blocking is also accelerating—already 419 million people, or one-fifth of internet users, use such tools.
