Google Analytics has introduced a powerful new benchmarking function, allowing businesses to compare their key metrics against industry peers. This new feature enables local publishers to assess their audience engagement against competitors, providing valuable insights into performance gaps and opportunities.
For local news publishers, maximizing audience engagement is critical for revenue generation and long-term sustainability. The iAppNetwork, a leading provider of digital publishing solutions, is demonstrating extraordinary results across multiple engagement metrics—far surpassing the industry median and even the best-in-class benchmarks. On every metric measured, iAppNetwork publishers were best in class, achieving results far better than the local news peer group.
Example 1: Audience Engagement Time
One iAppNetwork licensee recently compared its average engagement time with the local news peer group. While the industry median engagement time stands at just 35 seconds, the iAppNetwork-powered publisher is achieving an impressive 3 minutes per session. This represents a nearly sixfold increase over the median and is significantly better than the highest-performing local news providers in the benchmark data. Such deep engagement levels translate to greater ad revenue potential and stronger reader loyalty.
Example 2: Event Count Per Active User
Another key metric analyzed through Google’s benchmarking tool is event count per active user, which measures interactions within a given period. The industry median for local news publishers is 5.43 events per active user. However, an iAppNetwork licensee is recording close to 20 events per user—nearly four times the median. This exceptional level of interactivity underscores how the iAppNetwork is driving deeper user participation and content engagement.
Example 3: Events Per Session
A third iAppNetwork licensee evaluated its events per session against local news benchmarks. The industry median for this metric is 4.03 events per session, whereas the iAppNetwork publisher is achieving a remarkable 12.23 events per session. This figure is more than three times the industry standard, confirming that iAppNetwork platforms are facilitating more immersive and interactive user experiences.
Setting a New Global Standard
The iAppNetwork’s performance in these critical metrics highlights its ability to deliver world-class audience engagement, far surpassing the standards set by traditional local news publishers. In an era where digital advertising revenue depends on sustained user interaction, these results underscore the importance of adopting advanced audience engagement strategies.
With Google Analytics’ new benchmarking feature, publishers can now quantify their competitive position more accurately than ever before. For those seeking to thrive in the digital landscape, the iAppNetwork’s success proves that achieving best-in-class—indeed, world-class—performance is within reach.