Microsoft launches all-in-one ad solutions
Microsoft has struck a blow in its online ad war with Google with the launch of a set of services that firms can use to target consumers via PCs, game consoles, mobiles and PDAs.
Announced at Advertising Week, ‘Microsoft Digital Advertising Solutions’ brings the company’s ad products and services under a single umbrella, assisting firms that want to reach customers across different digital platforms at a time when media continues to fragment.
Growth in online ad spending slows
Research firm eMarketer has forecast that growth in US online ad spending will slow slightly this year as due to weaker consumer spending and as the market matures.
A report by the firm predicted internet ad revenues would rise 26.8% to $15.9bn this year – a move that may calm some fears in the industry after Yahoo!’s warning sent shares tumbling last week.
SEO as effective as paid search, study says
WebSideStory has released an interesting study that indicates paid search is only slightly more effective than optimisation when it comes to conversion rates.
The research, which focused on 20 major B2C sites over the first eight months of this year, basically suggests that neither paid or organic search advocates are right to claim their methods are better.
Yahoo! reportedly close to Facebook deal
Speculation is growing that Yahoo! is close to a $1bn deal for social networking site Facebook.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Facebook is in "serious discussions" to sell itself to the search engine and portal, following months of reported takeover bids from big media players.
Web venture aims to shake up film distribution
The makers of Scenes of A Sexual Nature, out in November, are not just hoping it’s a hit in the box office – they are also testing a new online distribution model which they say could help independent and low-budget films.
Ed Blum, the film’s director, and Suran Goonatilake, the investor behind Blum’s production firm Tinpanfilms, hope the system will reduce distributors’ control and give private investors more of a say in how movies are marketed and where revenues end up.
Yahoo! online ad warning sees shares tumble
Yahoo!'s CFO warned of a weakening in online advertising demand yesterday, causing jitters among investors in major US internet stocks.
Bebo's ad model: letting users decide what ads they see
Bebo are overhauling their advertising model in order to let its users choose what types of ads they see. The idea has caused quite a stir in the press and publishing community.
Is this idea misguided? Or is this the future of advertising?
Cookie deletion discrepancies take the biscuit
Vinny Lingham’s blog has carried some interesting research into cookie deletion – an area which has not been studied in depth but affects user privacy, as well as advertisers’ measurements and conversion rates.
The research will also be of great interest to affiliates who may not be getting the credit they deserve.
Old media get act together on the web
Traditional media companies are increasing their share of online advertising budgets at the expense of big internet players such as Yahoo! and Google, according to research by New York-based private equity firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson (VSS).
Google – the ultimate marketing tool?
With more 'toys' in the lab, Google could soon know what we listen to, as well as all the other information they can track (searches, clicks etc).
Will this become the ultimate marketing tool or the ultimate privacy nightmare?
Social media: the best and worst of 2009
Email marketing: six steps to improving customer engagement in 2010
Web 2.0
Graham Charlton
Strategy & Planning
