15% of taxpayers are lucky enough to get a refund, and they’re looking for ways to spend it

The majority of search traffic around tax time is focused on finding tax services, learning tax rules, and gathering information on how to file taxes. That said, just because the tax deadline hits today doesn’t mean advertisers shouldstop targeting tax-savvy consumers---especially retail advertisers, because taxpayers lucky enough to get a refund are very likely looking for ways to spend it.

A recent CBS MoneyWatch article makes the point with some interesting stats. According to the IRS, the average tax return last year was $2,899. While the majority of taxpayers plan to use their returns to pay down debt or put money into savings, 15% say they're looking spend it on vacations or big-ticket retail items.

As smartphone and tablet use continues to rise, so does media multitasking. Here’s a look at the habits and behaviors of multitaskers.

The more online devices a consumer has, the more likely he or she will multitask on them while watching TV. That’s one of the key findings in this week’s infographic into the habits and behaviors of multitaskers. The infographic shows how online marketers can leverage this trend by developing second-screen apps that complement TV viewing experiences, which are shown to heighten consumer response to both ads and programming. Our own mobile multitasking study shows that mobile Web traffic spikes dramatically during major anchor events like the Oscars or Super Bowl, giving brands another great opportunity to connect with multitaskers while they’re deeply engaged in content.

Here are some highlights from the infographic:

• 65% of consumers with a computer, smartphone, and tablet are likely to multitask while watching TV
• 64% of those with four screens are likely to use social media while watching TV
• Adults under 30 switch platforms every 2 minutes during non-working hours
• People using second screen apps while watching TV scored 1.3 times higher in emotional response to ads than those watching TV only

Jump from whatever screen you’re on to check out the full infographic.

It hurts when you throw your heart into a creative, and the client tap-dances all over it. It’s also educational.

Drawing Ad Land cartoons isn’t David T. Jones’ only gig. David’s been a creative for his whole career and has delivered hundreds, maybe thousands of client presentations. Sometimes they didn’t resonate with clients, and despite all his experience and success, that can hurt. A lot.

“After throwing your heart and soul into creative work, a bad client reaction can be devastating,” he says. “And, in time, hilarious.” Now that’s resilience. Out of that heartbreak comes this week’s Ad Land, a collection of six bad client reactions that all really happened to David.

“I endured and learned from each of these little verbal daggers to my heart,” he says. “And now I offer them up for your enjoyment.”

So keep a stiff upper lip and jump on over to see David’s full cartoon.

Entries will be reviewed by top executives from six leading media agencies, Yahoo!, and the IAB

If you’re getting ready to enter Yahoo! Young Media Stars competition, you might be wondering exactly how the winners will be chosen. The answer is a thorough and objective process that's overseen by an all-star team of expert judges.

The jury for the Yahoo! Young Media Stars competition is made up of six top executives from leading media agencies (profiled below); representatives from the IAB; and Yahoo! executives Mark Ellis, Yahoo! VP, North American Sales, Global Client and Agency Partnerships, and Armando Rodriguez, Yahoo! VP and Managing Director, LATAM and U.S. Hispanic. They’ll work together to select our top 10 finalists and three winners in the U.S. by May 16, 2013. (For a detailed description of the judging criteria, see the official rules for the competition.) These judges really know their stuff, so it will be that much sweeter to be selected as a finalist or winner.

This year, we’re honored to have six top media executives joining our IAB representatives in the judging process. Here’s a quick look at the executives and their backgrounds.

Expandable rich media ad shows men how to “save face” with healthier products and grooming advice from a pro

“Are you torturing your face?” That’s the personal question that Dove asks men in an interactive dual expandable ad that ran during March Madness. If you’re like the guys in the ad’s videos who wash their mugs with hand soap, shave with cold water, and slap stinging cologne on their faces, the answer is yes.

No worries. The four videos in Dove’s ad share info on its new line of Men+Care products and tips from a grooming guru to help guys save face and say goodbye to nicks, rashes and dry skin.

2012 winner Marisa Wong talks about Cannes Lions, industry recognition, career growth, and why you should enter this year’s competition

If you’re thinking about entering the 2013 Yahoo! Young Media Stars competition, this video should spur you into action. When you hear Marisa Wong of 360i talk about her fantastic experiences as a Young Media Star last year, you’ll want to fill out that application ASAP. (And when you see her 2012 entry video, you’ll want to boost your chances of winning by making your own.)

Going to Cannes Lions was a “deeply rewarding experience that I’ll never forget,” says Marisa, packed with insights, inspiration, and valuable networking opportunities. Becoming a Young Media Star brought increased recognition, opened new opportunities, and helped grow her career. “This program offers amazing benefits that you can’t get anywhere else,” she says.

Check out Marisa’s video on her experiences and get inspired yourself. As she says, “Now it’s your turn.”

One out of four Americans is a tablet user. New research by VivaKI reveals the ad formats that users like best.

Editor’s note: “Mobile Matters” is our ongoing series where we look at top issues, challenges, and opportunities in the fast-moving world of mobile marketing.

It’s hard to believe the iPad, the tablet that started it all, launched just three years ago. Today, one out of four Americans is a tablet user, and tablets are said to be the fastest-growing innovation in history, outpacing the PC, radio, and even the car (see chart). Researchers from VivaKI saw early on that tablets offered new opportunities in digital marketing and launched a 14-month study into it. The study's results were just released and include recommendations for the three most-effective ad formats.

First , here’s a little background. The research involved 26 companies, including major advertisers and publishers (including Yahoo!). Some 37 ad models were tested with 20 million consumers, or one-third of the total tablet market in the U.S. The research spotlighted three ad formats as most effective and “liked” by tablet users. Check them out after the jump.

Consumers spend 127 minutes a day using mobile apps. Here’s a closer look at their habits and preferences.

Every day, consumers move more of their lives onto smartphones and mobile devices, using them for everything from social interactions to making payments. Over 1.5 million Apple and Android mobile apps let them do all these tasks on the move, while giving marketers a means to stay in almost constant contact with them. This infographic gives a good overview of the habits and preferences of today’s mobile users and how mobile apps will play an even greater role in their lives going forward.

Here are some highlights:

• The average smartphone user runs 41 applications and spends 127 minutes on them daily
• People check their smartphones an average of 150 times a day, or every 6.5 minutes
• The mobile app market will increase to more than 89 billion downloads in 2015
• By 2020, half of all payments will be transacted via mobile

As applications increase, so will users’ expectations, says the infographic. They’ll expect them to be increasingly reliable, intuitive, and integrated into their mobile lifestyles.

Jump to the full infographic for more insights.