Book, CD Advertising Sees Explosive Growth

Advertising for books and CDs, the most active category for consumer products on the Web, is experiencing explosive growth, according to the latest NetRatings report.

For the month of May, there were 294.8 million banner ad impressions in this category. For the week of June 14-20 alone, there were 100.6 million, NetRatings said. For the week of June 21-28, there were 154.4 million impressions, which represents 53% growth. Four of the banners in the Top Ten in the current week are music-related.

For the week of June 21-28, NetRatings’ BannerTrack service said the average Web user viewed 132 banners and clicked on 1.25 banners (for about a 1% click rate). Top 10 ad banners were:

1. Goto.com: Type in what you’re looking for
2. Kingston Technology: It’s a snap – Kingston memory/Microsoft NT sweepstakes
3. Music Boulevard: Storewide Sale
4. Spree.com: Hundreds of Greatest Hits CDs for $9.99
5. K-Tel Express: Click here to register
6. TabNet: Get your own Web address – domain registration
7. RealPlayer: Voice E-mail for Netscape
8. Link Exchange: Promoting E-bay, World’s Largest Auction
9. Catalog Link: Click here to request free catalogs
10. Speedlane: Select Internet Connection Speed
11. Music Boulevard: Storewide Sale

Rankings are based on measurement of Web activity by a representative panel of approximately 2,000 Internet users 18 years and older who access the Web from home, NetRatings said.