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"Mobile may be the future, but right now mobile ad units still command a lower price point on average than print and web advertisements.\nEarlier this year, the renowned venture capitalist and former Wall Street analyst Mary Meeker gave her much-watched annual presentation on Internet trends, during which she revealed a startling statistic based on her own research: The effective cost per thousand impressions (CPM) for desktop web ads is about $3.50, while the CPM for mobile ads is just $0.75.\nMore recently, leading mobile ad platform Opera Software broke down the average cost for mobile ads by device, and found that even the iPhone, which has the highest average CPM for mobile ads of any smartphone, at $2.85, still falls short of that CPM for web ads on a desktop. Importantly, Opera's mobile ad estimates likely skew higher because its business focuses on mobile display ads rather than mobile search ads, which tend to have a much lower CPM.\nPrint ads, by comparison, can command rates of as much as $100 per thousand impressions.\n\nTo be sure, there are certainly instances when a particular kind of mobile ad costs more than print and desktop ads. For example, when Apple launched its mobile advertising unit iAd in 2010, the CPM was initially somewhere between $10-$15 (or more, depending how you calculate the click-through rates.)\nHowever,\u00A0in the aggregate, mobile ads continue to be cheaper than web and print, due to a combination of limited screen real estate, a lower price point for search ads and less sophisticated advertising technology to entice marketers to pay more.\nThe Problem With Mobile Search Ads\nAt the moment, marketers devote more advertising dollars in total to mobile search ads than to mobile display ads, according to the most recent data from eMarketer. However, the CPM rates of these search ad units tend to be significantly lower than for display ads, for a couple of reasons.\n\nMobile display ads refer to banner advertisements, video placements and other rich media experiences, which are thought to be more engaging and therefore more valuable to advertisers. Search ads, on the other hand, are basically synonymous with Google listings \u2014 in fact, Google currently controls 95% of the mobile search advertising market. According to analysts, these search ad listings have not yet proven themselves particularly effective models for encouraging mobile users to make purchases.\n\"Advertisers know that consumers are less willing to make purchases \u2014 especially large purchases \u2014 on their phones, so a lot of the money that goes into direct response advertising that fuels ecommerce on desktops doesn't move over to mobile,\" says Clark Fredrickson, VP of communications at eMarketer. Indeed, Fredrickson suggests that Google is aware of the low conversion rate for search ads and keeps ad prices low as a result.\n\nSEE ALSO: How Google Could Lose Its Grip on Mobile Search\nGoogle, for its part, wouldn't comment on pricing trends for mobile search ads, but the company's third quarter earnings suggest that low mobile ad rates are dragging down its overall cost per clicks. Google reported Thursday that its paid clicks were up 33% year-over-year, but its cost per clicks declined 15% year-over-year. Even so, Google touted the success of mobile ads so far for those marketers who \"get the experience right,\" in a statement provided to Mashable.\n\"While it\u2019s still early days, mobile has shown incredible momentum, and it's become clear that, when done right, mobile works for advertisers,\" says Jason Spero, head of global mobile sales and strategy at Google.\u00A0\"We're seeing this today with immersive brand building and direct response campaigns that take proximity, call and device capabilities into account. When marketers get the experience right and measure effectively, mobile can be a game-changer for them.\"\nThe problem is that getting the experience right is often easier said than done. Not only is the conversion rate lower, but there are concerns that the smaller\u00A0screen size on mobile devices make search and display ads seem more obtrusive and less appealing to consumers. As a result, publishers and advertisers can't just shrink down their desktop web ads for mobile and call it a day; they need to rethink their strategies.\nMarketers Remain Hesitant About Spending on Mobile\nU.S. mobile ad spending nearly doubled in the first half of this year to $1.24 billion, according to the most recent data from the Interactive Advertising Bureau. However, mobile still only represented 7% of total online ad spending for that time period.\n\"Mobile is something that everyone is excited about, but we're still seeing a very small share of ad dollars at this point,\" Fredrickson says. \"You're starting to see a bigger and bigger gap between the amount of time people spend on mobile devices and the amount of dollars spent there.\"\n\nFor marketers, a big part of the hesitation is that mobile advertising technology is still in its infancy; many of the tools they've come to rely on with desktop web ads have yet to make their way to mobile.\n\"The desktop industry had the better part of 15 years to build profiles and have cookie exchanges and re-targeting engines that have made display advertising pretty interesting,\" says\u00A0Mahi de Silva, executive VP of consumer mobile at Opera Software. \"That technology just doesn't work in mobile.\"\nSome of this might never come to mobile. Cookies, for example, are a key way that advertisers have managed to target desktop users with specific ads related to their browsing history, but today's mobile browsers do not support cookies. This has forced advertisers to rely on other information, such as the mobile device's unique ID number, which gives the advertiser far less data about the user to go on.\nBeyond that, to really make the most of mobile advertisements, marketers need to invest in additional efforts, like building mobile landing pages and a system to capture users who do click through the ads.\u00A0Combine this with lingering doubts about the effectiveness of these ads in converting clicks into customers and the deficit of targeting tools, and you have a marketing option slow to take off.\nThe Future of Mobile Ad Spending\nWhile mobile ads may be cheaper on average now, analysts we spoke with expect prices to tick up over the next few years, as advertising technology improves and consumer behavior on mobile devices evolves.\nBoth Fredrickson and de Silva expect that publishers will roll out more sophisticated ad tools, including better targeting intelligence and profile management, which should persuade marketers to make bigger ad buys and boost CPMs. Indeed, Facebook is already testing a system that lets marketers place mobile ads on third party apps and websites based on Facebook's data about what content its users have Liked.\nWhile some desktop features like cookies may be difficult to replicate on mobile, there are opportunities for other marketing tools. This could include targeting ads to consumers based on their GPS locations, through geofencing technology. In this scenario, companies would be able to push out promotions to consumers as they they walk by particular stores.\nMeanwhile. mobile search ad prices should continue to increase as consumers get more comfortable making bigger purchases on their phones and tablets. \"As mobile commerce starts to grow...you are going to see more and more interest from advertisers who are looking to convert people,\" Fredrickson says.\nMoverover, de Silva argues that increasing tablet adoption should drive up the average CPM rate for mobile ads as well. According to the Opera study, iPads in particular had a CPM of $3.96 \u2014 more than a dollar higher the iPhone \u2014 but accounted for less than 7% of mobile traffic in the second quarter of this year. As it becomes more popular, it could boost the average rate for mobile ads overall.\nImage courtesy of Flickr, BuzzFarmers\nGet Your Tickets to Mashable Media Summit\n\nThe Mashable Media Summit 2012 will explore the impact that technology is having on media, and how digital media is affecting our lives and changing the world. This one-day conference will bring together the brightest minds in media, including content creators, technology leaders, entrepreneurs, social media executives and journalists.\nDate: Friday, Nov. 2, 2012 \nTime: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. \nLocation: The TimesCenter, 242 West 41st Street, New York, NY 10036\nTickets: Purchase tickets on Eventbrite.\nA Look Back at Last Year's Mashable Media Summit\n\n\nMashable Media Summit 2011\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011\nThe Mashable Media Summit on Nov. 4 at the Times Center in New York City attracted professionals in digital, tech, advertising, sales, marketing, mobile and publishing from all over the world.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011\nWe had a packed house in attendance for this year's Media Summit.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Future of Social Media\nPete Cashmore, founder and CEO of Mashable, speaks on the future of social media, its current landscape and what trends to expect for 2012.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011\nThis year's Media Summit was located at the Times Center in New York City.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSocial Media Grows Up: The Evolving Role of Social Media in News Organizations\nMashable's community manager Meghan Peters chats with Katie Rogers, social media manager at The Washington Post; Anthony De Rosa, social media editor at Reuters; and Drake Martinet, social media editor at AllThingsD.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTeaching \u2013 and Learning From \u2013 The Old Grey Lady\nBrian Stelter, a media reporter and blogger at The New York Times speaks at the Media Summit.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Filter Bubble: How to Fix Content Curation\nEli Pariser, author and chairman of the board at MoveOn.org, discusses how human editors and algorithms can work together to get users clicking on content that matters.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhat Facebook's New Features Mean For Journalism\nAdam Ostrow, executive editor and senior vice president of content, Mashable speaks with Vadim Lavrusik, journalist program manager of  Facebook, about how the social network's new features can help journalists.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n The Evolution of Sports Illustrated\nSports Illustrated Group editor, Terry McDonell, talks about the magazine's transition from print to digital with Mashable's Editor in Chief Lance Ulanoff.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nFrom Tactile to Mobile\nJosh Koppel, co-founder and chief creative officer of ScrollMotion, speaks on the reinvention of content experience and engagement.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTV Makes You Smarter\nChristy Tanner, TV Guide's general manager and executive vice president, explains how technology is changing entertainment for better and for worse.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTV Guide Audience\nA member of the audience asks TVGuide general manager and EVP Christy Tanner about technology's changes to the entertainment industry.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWho Owns Your Identity?\nMashable Senior Vice President Robyn Peterson speaks with Andy Mitchell, strategic partner of development at Facebook about how much of our identity is shared to third-party sites. Also on stage is Patrick Harding, CTO of Ping Identity, and Tim Dierks, senior vice president of engineering at Huffington Post.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWho Owns Your Identity?\nMashable Senior Vice President Robyn Peterson speaks with Andy Mitchell, strategic partner of development at Facebook; Patrick Harding, CTO of Ping Identity; and Tim Dierks, senior vice president of engineering at Huffington Post about how much of our identity is shared to third-party sites.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLike A Virgin\nTor Myhren, Grey president and chief creative officer, talked about the ultimate user experience, and how different it is today from when he was a teen. Here he is at age 14. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nLike A Virgin \nTor Myhren, Grey president and chief creative officer, talked about the ultimate user experience, and how different it is today from when he was a teen.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n The Problem of Prediction\nTony Haile, CEO of Chartbeat, discusses how real time data changes what you should be doing. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMashable's Big Announcement\nAt Mashable Media Summit, we announced the Mashable Publisher Platform, a new editorially curated syndication experience that brings content from select publishers to our site.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Importance of Being Awesome\nFaris Yakob, chief innovation officer of MDC Partners\u2019 kbs+p and founding partner of Spies &amp; Assassins, covers from art and copy to arduinos and code, and how important it is to be awesome.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAT&amp;T Brings 4G to NYC\nLarry Solomon, AT&amp;T's senior vice president of corporate communications, announced that 4G LTE will be coming to New York City.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nAT&amp;T\nSpecial thanks to our presenting sponsor, AT&amp;T. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nOne on One\nBloomberg TV anchor Emily Chang talks tech with Foursquare's General Manager Evan Cohen.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe New Model of Content and Commerce\nLauren Indvik, marketing and media associate editor at Mashable, is joined by a panel including Alexis Maybank, founder and chief marketing officer of Gilt Groupe\u2028; Maureen Mullen, research and advisory lead of L2; and David Granger, editor in chief of Esquire.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe New Model of Content and Commerce\nLauren Indvik, marketing and media associate editor at Mashable, is joined by a panel including Alexis Maybank, Founder and chief marketing officer of Gilt Groupe\u2028; Maureen Mullen, research and advisory lead of L2; and David Granger, editor in chief of Esquire.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Future of Social TV\nMashable's entertainment editor Christina Warren talks with a panel including Alex Iskold, GetGlue founder and CEO; Jesse Redniss, vice president of digital, USA Networks; and Tom Thai, vice president of marketing and business development at Bluefin Labs, about the future of social media in its relationship with television.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Future of Social TV\nMashable's entertainment editor Christina Warren talks with a panel including Alex Iskold, GetGlue founder and CEO; Jesse Redniss, vice president of digital, USA Networks; and Tom Thai, vice president of marketing and business development at Bluefin Labs, about the future of social media in its relationship with television.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nThe Future of Social TV\nMashable's entertainment editor Christina Warren talks with a panel including Alex Iskold, GetGlue founder and CEO; Jesse Redniss, vice president of digital, USA Networks; and Tom Thai, vice president of marketing and business development at Bluefin Labs, about the future of social media in its relationship with television.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nBreaking Down Content Barriers\nMichael Lazerow, founder and CEO of Buddy Media talks about the rules of content that need to be changed for social media.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSponsors for the Mashable Media Summit 2011\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nGetting Ready for the Post-Conference Reception\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nMedia Summit 2011 Reception \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSupporting Sponsor\nSponsorship Opportunities\nA limited number of sponsor opportunities are available for the Mashable Media Summit. This is an excellent opportunity to get in front of Mashable\u2019s passionate and influential audience. Contact sponsorships@mashable.com for opportunities."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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