Unlocking the Power of News Advertising for Small Businesses
In a rapidly changing advertising landscape, small businesses face unique challenges in maximizing their advertising investments. A recent survey conducted by DoubleVerify reveals a surprisingly positive outlook towards news advertising, showcasing that it not only delivers better performance compared to other digital channels, but also represents a largely underutilized opportunity that small businesses should not overlook.
A Surprising Finding: News Ads Outperform Campaign Baselines
The DoubleVerify survey, which included responses from 1,970 marketers worldwide, found that 60% of these professionals reported that advertising inventory in news environments significantly outperformed their campaign baselines. This is particularly noteworthy given that many brands have historically shied away from news content due to concerns about brand safety. In fact, only 11% of respondents found that news placements underperformed when compared with other media. For small businesses striving for high returns on their limited advertising budgets, embracing news content could prove to be a game changer.
Is Brand Safety a Real Concern?
While apprehensions about content adjacency persist, the data signifies a shift in industry attitudes. Interestingly, just 1% of respondents viewed all news environments as unsuitable for advertising. A significant 95% were comfortable with their ads appearing near soft news topics, such as sports and entertainment. This suggests that while fears about negative content exist, they may be overstated in relation to the actual performance benefits that news ads bring to the table.
Diverse Perspectives on News Content
Furthermore, the study pointed out that marketers apply nuanced judgment regarding the specific types of news content they are comfortable associating their brands with. For instance, soft news content is broadly accepted, but even sensitive content like breaking news garners approval from 84% of marketers. This segmentation encourages small business leaders to think more strategically about their advertising placements and to consider opportunities they may have previously discounted.
Strategies to Tap into the News Market
Given the findings, it’s essential for small businesses to reassess their advertising strategies. Investing in news content not only aligns with consumer preferences — as previous studies indicate audiences appreciate brands supportive of journalism — but could also yield significant gains in customer engagement.
Moreover, DoubleVerify's recent initiatives, including the implementation of more sophisticated suitability controls, provide marketers with the capability to target their advertising more precisely, thus alleviating concerns about undesirable content adjacency.
The Future of News Advertising
As economic pressures on news publishers continue to mount, the need for support from advertisers is more vital than ever. More than half of the marketers surveyed indicated current investments in news content, with an additional 28% planning to allocate budgets in the future. With news publisher impression volumes growing by 58% in the first half of 2025, the momentum seems to be shifting towards recognizing the value of news advertising.
Actionable Insights for Small Business Owners
Small businesses should not only consider news advertising as a channel but actively seek to engage with it. Understanding the current trends and consumer sentiment provides an excellent foundation for maximizing advertising budgets. Employing a focused approach with a nuanced understanding of content adjacency could lead to tapping into a high-performing segment that many brands are currently overlooking.
Conclusion
As the advertising landscape evolves, understanding where consumer attention lies is paramount. News advertising represents an opportunity not to be missed. Small businesses looking to enhance their advertising results should consider integrating news placements into their marketing strategies. Taking advantage of the documented benefits seen in the latest DoubleVerify report could lead to successful campaigns and healthier engagements.
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