Resources

In 2020, I had a chance to intern at Verto Analytics. This blog post tells the story about that experience. For me it was very important that I would solve problems to benefit both Verto Analytics and myself. My Verto internship lasted around five months—but it felt like I had an intensive year of studying in the data domain.

In our previous post, we discussed how intense demand for the new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S gaming consoles led to shortages of both—and how that consumer demand played out across online retailers and search engines.  But the clickstream data from Verto’s single-source panel shows there’s still more to discover in the PlayStation v. [...]

In November 2020, the new series of Xbox and PlayStation consoles launched in the U.S. Intense demand for both consoles led to shortages that are persisting even after the Christmas season.  At Verto Analytics, we collect data (including the activity of consumers across all the devices they own: smartphones, PCs, and tablets) to uncover valuable [...]

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have dramatically changed the way they work, shop, and eat. As restaurants are forced to limit their capacity and institute social distancing requirements, consumers have increasingly relied on food delivery platforms for their meals.  So, which apps have gained traction across 2020? At Verto Analytics, we uncover [...]

In January 2020, the first patient in the U.S. was diagnosed with COVID-19. Since then, people have drastically changed the way they work, live, and shop. As consumers have continued to socially distance themselves, they have increasingly relied on e-commerce platforms for their groceries and daily necessities.  So, what has been the effect?  At Verto [...]

In January 2020, the first patient in the U.S. was diagnosed with COVID-19. Since then, people have drastically changed the way they live. As consumers practice social distancing, they have transitioned to remote work and are utilizing online video conferencing tools as their primary means of face-to-face communication. At Verto Analytics, we collect behavioral data [...]

Behavioral clickstream data has spurred a new wave of market research—applied especially toward understanding the consumer journey. Previously, companies would use surveys, interviews, focus groups, and even mystery shopping to better understand how consumers shop and buy. However, with clickstream data becoming increasingly accessible, more big brands are beginning to rely on it to understand [...]

Our previous blog post talked about the individual aspects of consumer journeys. Verto Analytics has a unique approach that enables publishers and advertisers to look at the overall journey by stages to deliver actionable insights. Verto’s passive measurement has best-in-class coverage with a focus on both cross-device passive measurement as well as retaining a high [...]

It used to be that most online advertising was based on simple click attribution models. Back then, all that mattered was an efficient optimization of clickthrough rates, conversions, on the spot—on that specific context and moment. However, that is not how people behave, which is becoming increasingly apparent today, with such an abundance of products [...]

The Verto Analytics COVID-19 Tracker continues to provide insight on different service categories: how online services are seeing increased use during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how offline places are losing across the board. Context Previously we shared early insights on recent offline and online consumer behaviors. This post will extend our insight into consumer behavior [...]

The Verto Analytics COVID-19 Tracker reveals how, during the COVID-19 pandemic—while most offline categories have lost visitors—the online world has more or less kept its audience. Digital devices and screens, as well as the online availability of services and content, have fulfilled needs for which users might otherwise have looked in the offline world.

In this cross-platform media environment, we need to remember to distinguish screens from devices as well as acknowledge how consumers use different screens simultaneously—as shown in Verto’s recent study with Snap Inc. Among media companies, content producers, and researchers like us at Verto Analytics, one of the big themes over the past decade has been [...]

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, the first half-year with the pandemic is over. The seriousness of the pandemic has developed in waves, with the number of emerging cases varying by country; and, as has been shown in our previous COVID-19 trackers, overall consumer behaviors have also varied.

This year has been a very strange one. From the personal to the professional, online or offline, we’ve seen many dramatic changes and shifts in behavioral trends. However, it’s fair to assume that, over time, some changes won’t stick, and our behaviors will go back to normal. However, there are also changes triggered by the global pandemic that will stick over the long haul. So, what does the data tell us about a post COVID-19 world, after a vaccine is developed and economies start to rebound?

As early as February, alarm bells were going off in the U.S. regarding COVID-19. By March, businesses and the economy were deeply impacted, and these effects mostly intensified in April.  How has digital consumer behavior changed amid all this turmoil? In previous blog posts, we reported no radical changes in audience engagement for most app [...]

As we reported in our previous few posts, among the top 984 digital services (which had at least five million monthly users as of January 2020), two-thirds experienced only modest losses or gains in audience reach since the pandemic was officially declared in March.  That said, a few key services have had wild spikes or [...]

For the past few months, the COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted most countries in the Western world (before that, the Chinese economy and citizens suffered intensely through the initial wave). Although some countries are slowly starting to open borders and loosen restrictions, the effects on many businesses and consumer behaviors are still very visible. How [...]

The COVID-19 pandemic has created historic turmoil all over the world. It’s also injected a huge amount of uncertainty into business operations. As consumers practice social distancing and work remotely, audience researchers, advertisers, and publishers are left with a number of big-picture questions:     How might future cycles of social distancing affect how we connect with [...]

In 2019 Walmart posted a whopping $510.33 billion in revenue. Why? Part of the reason is that more than double the amount of US Smartphone owners are shopping on Walmart Online versus In-Store.

When it comes to data privacy, many of the biggest Internet companies in the world have received lots of criticism over the past years. Massive fines have been issued, and legal proceedings and hearings have taken place.

Think about the last time you booked travel plans, bought a new computer, or settled on a big financial package (like a mortgage payment). You probably went through a series of steps that included multiple decision points and milestones as you reviewed, compared, and considered your options before making a decision.  Verto Analytics arrived at [...]

Recently I participated in a panel discussion at OTTxSCIENCE; and it proved to be one of the most interesting onstage experiences I’ve had all year. All about Audience Measurement The purpose of the conference was to explore key questions around audience preferences and habits. By 2022, more than 58 percent of the US population will [...]

Continuing our recent theme of entries regarding marrying telemetry/clickstream and survey data, this week we are taking a look at how online habits/visitation differ among those having a different number of children (under age 18) in their households, whether it be zero, one, two, or more.  

If you have already checked out Verto’s recent entries regarding marrying telemetry/clickstream and survey data, you know that when combined, they can lead to rich consumer insights that exceed those of surveys and telemetry data in isolation. 

Survey data and digital behavioral data married together can lead to rich consumer insights.  To demonstrate this, we are going to focus on our passively-metered, cross-device panelists who have moved to a new home in the past six months.

Media Apps, As Opposed to System Apps, Are 50% More Likely to Keep Consumers Engaged Right After Unlocking the Mobile Device!

“Surveys show that surveys never lie.” Even if surveys are properly designed to extract pertinent information, they inherently have bias in some way, shape, or form. So how does Verto overcome this challenge?

Almost 50% of Mobile Unlock Sessions Are Shorter Than 30 Seconds! How can mobile unlocking provide opportunities to better capture user attention effectively?

Is the Big Apple Still the Hub for Media & Advertising… Amidst all the Disruption Originating from the West Coast?

Did you know that most of us unlock our phones about 50 times a day? How can mobile unlocking provide opportunities to better capture user attention?

Did you know that mobile users unlock their device 49 times a day? Here are some first-level insights on unlocking.

Dubbed a visionary by many of his colleagues, Bill Harvey has helped spur the communications industry to a number of positive changes involving information and new technologies for over 3 decades. We had the chance to speak with Bill Harvey to get his perspective on the future of audience measurement.

We had the chance to speak with Richard Marks, Director at ResearchTheMedia earlier this month to get his perspective on the media measurement industry and what disruptions and disruptors still lie in store.

This year again, I had the honor of attending the annual Media Honeypot conference, where I presented some of our data and thoughts right after the keynote from Axel Springer. I spoke about big trends in digital usage, as shown by our proprietary data, which are currently shaping the thinking of startups, internet-based, and digital-only companies, as well as traditional media companies.

The event was produced originally by Heikki Rotko, former CEO of MTV3 (the largest commercial TV network in Finland), with the intention of connecting the different companies, startups, and corporations within the media industry to exchange thoughts in this very dynamic environment for media and advertising companies.

Once the turkey has been eaten, the family time shared, and the football games have been watched; the holiday shopping season begins. A flurry of trips to different stores, presents to be bought, sales to be compared. The possibilities (and stressors) are endless! Which begs the question: are people shifting their shopping online?

Here’s an expert explanation of how cross-device measurement actually works, plus insight into how Verto Analytics measures audience engagement to track today’s convoluted consumer journey.

On Nov 6, Americans went to the polls to make their voices heard. We analyzed visitation to news websites and apps to understand how news consumption changed leading up to the midterm elections.

At the end of October, the NFL hit the midseason mark. As a whole, there is plenty of good news: TV ratings are up 2% year over year, teams are scoring more points than ever before, and games are very competitive. This led us to question how fans are interacting with the brand in the digital space.

Given Discord’s new online game marketplace, we decided to look at how Discord compares to some of the other major online game stores in terms of reach, and specifically how many of Discord’s users are already using another store.

Earlier this month, Uber EATS announced bold ambitions to expand its food delivery services to 70% of the U.S. population by the end of the year. We analyzed four of the most popular online food delivery services to understand reach and usage metrics.

All’s fair in love and war – and in online dating, apparently. While Bumble and Tinder spar over who really “invented” the swipe right, we looked at the most popular online dating services (apps and websites) on the market.

Streaming music services have had an exciting Autumn, with major acquisitions and hires made by the likes of Apple Music and SiriusXM. With so many shakeups and mergers in the works, which streaming music services are attracting the biggest music fans?

Earlier this week, Foursquare announced a new $33 million series F round of funding. The company apparently has retained the loyalty of its long-term investors, many of whom returned to participate in the latest round. But can the same thing be said about its users?

The Verto Audience Spotlight provides a cross-device, consumer-centric view on a selected audience segment. This month, we take a closer look at Fitness Fans.

This week, YouTube announced a new type of in-stream ad format. While these new ads offer advertisers with an expanded set of branding opportunities, is YouTube the best way to reach their target audience? Who actually watches ads on the streaming video platform?

Earlier this month, a new survey from Pew Research indicated that “1 in 4 Americans deleted the Facebook app from their phones.” But Verto Analytics data on actual Facebook app installs tells a much different story.

For most students (and their parents), the school year is already well underway, preceded by that annual late summertime ritual: shopping for school supplies. In our latest Chart of the Week, we look at which family-friendly online retailers are attracting the highest-income shoppers.

In his latest post, CEO Hannu Verkasalo shares his takeaways from TubeCon’s Industry Day and what they mean for the future of the streaming video industry.

The Verto Audience Spotlight provides a cross-device, consumer-centric view on a selected audience segment. This month, we take a closer look at Finance Geeks, the top 20% of U.S. adults based on the amount of time they spend per month online with finance brands and content, via apps or websites.

With Apple’s highly-anticipated iPhone event scheduled for today, we decided to revisit our earlier February analysis of the smartphone market, based on device manufacturer. Is Apple still beating Samsung’s market share?

Music Lovers share unique demographic characteristics and behaviors that set them apart from the general population. Which streaming music services do they prefer and use most often?

Earlier this month, a new study from the Pew Research Center confirmed what many of us already know: we’re concerned about the amount of time we spend online. So how much time are teens and adults actually spending with their devices?

Verto Analytics is pleased to bring a new group of backers and their expertise to the Verto family. These include two media industry veterans, Steve Farella and Steve Marshall. We had the chance to sit down down and get their take on of our favorite topics: data and the future of the media industry.

As part of our monthly Verto Glossary series, we define a Verto or Industry specific term in an effort to make our content more useful and easier to understand. In our last post, we discussed Parent Companies. This month, we take a look at focus-outs.

As Verto Analytics data has shown, Amazon dominates the e-commerce landscape and is on track to drive 80% of e-commerce growth in 2018 alone. So how are traditional retail stores and brands maintaining their competitive edge, especially when it comes to clothing and apparel?

MoviePass’s near-shutdown in July made headlines – and many angry customers. Despite an eleventh-hour bailout, the company is facing a shaky future. Can it retain both its user base and its bottom line?

CEO Hannu Verkasalo shares the second installment of his takeaways from TV of Tomorrow Show in San Francisco. Today, he takes a deeper dive into the intersection of advertising, digital video, and linear television.

The Verto Audience Spotlight provides a cross-device, consumer-centric view on a selected audience segment. This month, we take a closer look at Music Lovers, the top 20% of all adults who accessed a streaming music service during June 2018.

With the prospect of spending crypto on your next cappuccino on the horizon, we thought we’d revisit our earlier analysis of Coinbase, one of the most popular crypto exchanges currently on the market. Has Bitcoin’s market volatility impacted its user base over the past 6 months?

Last month, Verto presented the webinar, “Verto Audience Spotlight: Shopaholics,” based on our new Audience Spotlight report series. The latest webinar focused on Shopaholics, the top 20% of U.S adults (ages 18 and above) based on the amount of time they spend on shopping properties.

This year’s Amazon Prime Day has outperformed other e-commerce extravaganzas like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But what does a side-by-side comparison of the three shopping events look like?

As part of our monthly Verto Glossary series, we define an industry- or Verto-specific term, in an effort to make our content more useful and easier to understand. In our last post, we discussed exclusive users. This month, we take a look at a key part of Verto’s taxonomy, parent companies.

The World Cup is one of the most highly anticipated sporting events. How did the World Cup effect Fox Sports and Telemundo’s traffic? Which broadcaster was best able to capture the attention of football fans?

Amazon just wrapped up its annual Prime Day online shopping event. While the e-commerce giant finishes tallying up its Prime Day numbers, we took a look back at 2017’s figures to get some historical context on how e-commerce’s so-called “Christmas in July” has performed in the past.

CEO Hannu Verkasalo shares his takeaways from last month’s TV of Tomorrow Show in San Francisco, where he participated in a panel discussion about the future of TV.

The line between online shopping and digital content (especially social media) is getting thinner by the day. With even more online shopping opportunities at their fingertips, which other apps and websites are avid shoppers using besides their favorite e-commerce portals?

Last month, Verto presented the webinar, “Verto Audience Spotlight: Social Media Savvy Millennials,” based on our new Audience Spotlight report series. The latest webinar focused on Social Media Savvy Millennials, consumers between the ages of 18 and 35 who comprise the top 20% of all digital consumers based on time spent within social media and communications apps and sites.

This month’s Audience Spotlight takes a closer look at Shopaholics, the top 20% of all adults who accessed an online shopping property during May 2018, based on the amount of time they spend per month online with shopping brands and shopping content.

Next week marks the 10th birthday of the iOS App Store, which was originally launched on July 11, 2008. A decade later, the apps available through these two online stores seemingly run our digital lives. What are today’s most popular apps for the iOS and Android mobile operating systems?

As part of our monthly Verto Glossary series, we define an industry- or Verto-specific term. In our last post, we discussed competitive cohorts. Now, we take a look at a complementary term, exclusive users.

The online beauty business is booming. With an expanding number of brands and ways to shop for beauty products online and offline, which retailer is winning the battle for consumers and their attention?

Which social media platforms are still holding on to user attention – especially among the lucrative Millennial market?

Last month, Verto’s team attended the Incite Brand Marketing Summit 2018, alongside more than 300 senior brand marketers in San Francisco. The conference was a great opportunity for Verto to share some of our own marketing insights while gleaning a few tricks and tips from top marketing executives.

Compared to other leading music streaming services, does SoundCloud have a distinct advantage when it comes to touting (and monetizing) its audience?

Audience Spotlight monthly reports provide a cross-device, consumer-centric view on a specific audience, with a deep dive into user demographics and rich behavioral metrics on a selected audience segment. The latest webinar focused on Heavy Gamers, users who comprise the top 20% of all gamers based on the amount of time they spend per month with games on PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

CEO Hannu Verkasalo summarizes highlights from his appearance at the Media Honeypot conference in Stockholm and some of the show’s most interesting questions and takeaways.

Last week, Mary Meeker delivered her annual internet trends report, a much-anticipated and extensive look at the global consumer behavior landscape, technology and device market, and political and regulation climate, especially as it relates to Silicon Valley and the investment sphere. Do her findings align with Verto’s own observations of consumer behavior?

This month’s Verto Audience Spotlight takes a closer look at Social Media Savvy Millennials, those users between the ages of 18-35 who comprise the top 20% of all digital consumers based on the amount of time they spend with social media and communications apps and sites

As part of our monthly Verto Glossary series, we define an industry- or Verto-specific term, in an effort to make our content and the consumer-centric measurement more useful and easier to understand. This month, we take a look at competitive cohorts.