Subscriptions Versus Ads
[T]here’s a dark lining to Facebook’s mobile triumph. The company is transitioning to a business, mobile advertising, that just isn’t very good, yet. Just last week, Google announced that mobile clicks were dragging down the average value of their ads. This was a harsh reality check. On a desktop, clicking a Google ad is worth $1. On a phone, it’s worth $0.50. The more users move from desktops to phones, the cheaper the clicks.
Derek Thompson writes about the dark side of Facebook’s triumphant day in The Atlantic.
(And if you are wondering why companies are looking to digital subscriptions—like my current employer had—this is a very good explanation.)