There’s still space for 30-second mobile ads: study

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It’s long been believed that people in the millennial and Gen Z demographic have shorter attention spans.

Now a new study conducted by the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB), in partnership with Millward Brown Digital and Tremor Video, confirms that stereotype. The study looked at the ad-viewing habits of digital audiences and found that digital video ads around 10 seconds resonate better with younger viewers. At the same time, ads measuring around 30 seconds play better with Gen X and young baby boomer audiences.

The study was conducted among 1,800 people in the U.S. ranging from the age of 18 to 54. They watched two versions (10 seconds and 30 seconds) each of three different video ads (which ran across three industry verticals: automotive, consumer goods and quick casual restaurants) and then asked a series of questions based on those ads. A total of 600 respondents watched the ads on desktop, 600 on smartphones and 600 on tablets.

Across all mobile platforms, those in the 18-34 demographic generally preferred 10-second spots, with 63% of respondents reporting better brand appeal for the shorter ads on smartphones (54% for 30-second ads) and 68% on tablets (61% for the longer videos).

Respondents also reported that they were 3% more likely to be persuaded to buy a product from a 10-second ad on a smartphone, and 8% more likely on a tablet.

For those over 35 years, the reactions were reversed: respondents in this age group reported 60% brand preference and 56% brand persuasion for 30-second ads on smartphones (49% and 43% respectively for 10-second ads) and 72% brand appeal and 64% persuasion for 30-second ads on tablets (63% and 60% respectively for the shorter ads).

The study also looked at the impact of the platforms the ads appeared on. Respondents under 35 found ads on smartphones and tablets to be relatively similar in terms of brand appeal and the likelihood that they would buy the product. However, the difference was more drastic among those over 35 years — smartphone ads were rated at 55% for brand appeal and 49% for likelihood to buy among the demographic (regardless of the ad length), whereas the same ads on tablets logged 68% and 62%, respectively, leading the IAB to determine that larger screens are sometimes better for communicating more complex messages.

Other conclusions found in the survey include:

• Brand awareness and persuasion on smartphones and tablets alike was significantly higher among all age demographics, for all ad lengths, than on desktop.
• Viewers felt that mobile advertising was better targeted.
• Viewers responded better to mobile ads that were full-screen ads, with touch-screen options.
• Millennial respondents showed a general dislike toward physically “cluttered” ads.
• When asked what platforms they felt there were too many ads on, 33% of millennials responded with “desktop,” 48% with “smartphone” and 36% with “tablet.”
• When asked the same question, respondents over 35years responded with 32% for “desktop,” 43% for “smartphone” and 25% for “tablet.”

Joe Laszlo, VP, industry initiatives at IAB, said in a statement that the findings are “critical” to create more effective digital advertisements

“The conventional wisdom is that all video ads on mobile screens must be short in order to resonate with audiences. Our research shows that for some demographics… this doesn’t hold up,” he said.

The full IAB report can be found online here.