While most China internet companies, including Tencent, generate revenues through value added services, advertising will play an increasingly larger role as innovation and technology improves and catalyses growth, Lau told 600 delegates at the China World Hotel.
"We believe that online advertising is poised for very significant growth in the future." Tencent now has a responsibility to provide the platforms and help advertisers and agencies create interesting, and different, campaigns, Lau said. "That sets the stage for the further development of internet advertising."
Tencent draws about 13 per cent of its total revenues from advertising, but it is targeting that area, and search, for growth. It has just launched a marketing solutions initiative, called MIND, to help advertisers and the industry effectively harness the potential of digital marketing.
