Good Copy, Bad Copy
It’s surprising how much bad copywriting exists online, ranging from PPC ads through to content on websites. Ultimately, this can affect a company’s internet presence and damage any digital strategy they may be engaged in. But how do you create effective, eye-catching copy?
Government websites criticised for lack of usability
A new study has been critical of the quality and accessibility of UK government websites.
The report (pdf), by the Public Accounts Committee, finds that the public sector has some work to do on the usability of its websites - which it says have barely improved since 2001.
New PM boosts Downing Street YouTube traffic
Downing Street's YouTube channel has achieved a "milestone" one million video views since it was launched back in May.Weekend visits by the new prime minister to a hospital and a children's centre took the site, a brand partnership with the Google-owned video sharing network, passed the seven-figure mark.
Google data capture under EU scrutiny
Google is facing concerns from EU officials over the length of time it stores users' search habits.
A working party of data protection officials from members states last week sent a letter to the search giant demanding justification for its policy of keeping hold of users' identity and search patterns for up to two years.
Election fiasco shows importance of usability tests
The cost of failing to usability test designs before deployment has unfortunately been shown again in Scotland's controversial election results.
Google inks partnership for better govt. info access
Google is working with US state governments to make online information more easily accessible to citizens.
The search site partnered with Arizona, Utah, California and Virginia so that "information that previously did not appear in a casual Google search will now appear when searching for results on relevant topics ranging from education to health to property records or regulations", Reuters reported and Google announced.
Labour taps Experian for e-mail campaigns
The Labour Party has appointed credit reference agency Experian to create a direct marketing campaign that will rely in part on e-mail.
The effort will reportedly see Experian create, build and manage a database of UK voters for use in permission-based e-mail and marketing campaigns.
Govt 'must act' to ensure super-fast broadband
The UK government must do more to ensure consumers get broadband well in excess of the speeds offered by today's packages, according to a telecoms advisory group.
Although 50% of all adults live in a home with 'broadband', according to a recent Ofcom report, the Broadband Stakeholders Group warned that current speeds will be too slow to handle the requirements of the most bandwidth-hungry businesses by 2012.
Internet fraud hits one in 10 Brits, accounts for 15% of total fraud
Twelve percent of British internet users fell victim to online fraud last year, with around half of them losing out while shopping according to new research.
Some 2,441 survey respondents to the Internet Safety: The State of the Nation paper reported an average £875 loss in 2006.
SMS reminds immigrants to go home
The UK government could turn to mobile marketing technologies in an effort to get on top of immigration control.
Among measures proposed by the Home Office, visitors to the country would receive a text message reminding them when their visa is due to expire.
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Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
