Online Advertising plateaus - w(h)ither next?

Saw this graph on Nic Brisbourne's Equity Kicker.




Nic's analysis is spot on:

Nor are they the sort of growth rates that have made this space such fertile ground for startups over recent years. A rising tide floats all boats, but when the tide stops rising…

This chart nicely illustrates the scale of the growth we have enjoyed. Note also the similarity in the shape of the Q4 2007-Q3 2008 and Q2 2000-Q4 2000 curves.

I remain a believer in the secular growth story of the internet though, and the good times will return.

I agree...I recall in 2000/01 in all the doom and gloom, we were just watching the traffic go up month after month on our servers, and deciding there was a big disconnect between what the 'Net was doing and the market sentiment. And I think we are in exactly the same situation now, this industry is going to be at least as revolutionary as Telecom, if not the invention of the Printing Press.