About a year ago, I posted a story about AOL’s new large display ad format called “Project Devil.” In that blog, I speculated over whether this new format would help change the game for the online media company.
Today, it appears that my predictions may be coming true. According to Marketing Magazine, AOL managed to see growth in the fourth quarter of 2011 – “with display ad revenue – the present and future of its business – up to $363.8 million, up 10% from $331.6 million a year ago.”
With the recent acquisitions of online media heavyweights like The Huffington Post and TechCrunch, I think this is going to be the year that all of AOL’s hard work finally pays off. Tim Armstrong, CEO at AOL was quoted in the Marketing Magazine story — saying that “the hope is to return all of AOL to profitability by the end of 2012.” I guess we’ll just have to wait and see if he’s right.
As a former employee of AOL, I am definitely hoping that they do turn the ship around. My colleagues and I all saw the potential for the company to be great again one day.
AOL and other Internet pioneers, like Microsoft, have been playing second fiddle to heavyweights like Google and Apple over the past five years or so. However, I predict that we may see a comeback from both of these giants in the next few years. Only time will tell whether I am right.
Which other online media or technology companies do you think are headed for a comeback? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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