According to a recent Reuters article, Facebook's U.S. advertising revenue will total approximately $2.2 billion in 2011, consisting of a 17.7 percent share of the U.S. market for graphical displays that appear on websites. This is an increase from Facebook's 12.2 percent share last year and vaults Facebook to the top spot in online advertising revenue, which formerly belonged to Yahoo Inc. According to Reuters, "the figures underscore the growing clout of Facebook, the world's No.1 Internet social network."

The overall U.S. display market's growth in 2011 is projected at 24.5 percent, and Facebook is not the only company reaping the benefits. Writes Reuters: "Internet companies such as Yahoo, Google Inc and Microsoft Corp are competing for those advertising budgets, while new players such as online coupon company Groupon are offering marketers alternatives to traditional online display ads." Google will earn an estimated $1.15 billion from U.S. display ads in 2011, up 34.4 percent from last year.

The article is based on an eMarketer report.

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