‘Google poised for retail launch’
Ronan ShieldsGoogle’s rivalry with Apple could take on a new front with the search giant preparing to open its own retail stores in the US according to reports.
Google underlines link-building terms after penalising Interflora
Ronan ShieldsGoogle has moved to justify its penalisation of Interflora for bypassing its PageRank rules with a reminder to publishers that selling links on their sites may results in poorer search results.
Google training scheme to address shortfall in digital skill set
Ronan ShieldsGoogle has partnered with the IPA and 35 advertising agencies to address a digital skills gap in the agency sector with the launch of an UK internship programme dubbed Squared.
ICO in mobile app developer outreach drive
Ronan ShieldsThe Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is briefing smaller app developers on data protection obligations as it and other data protection authorities draft an official “opinion” on how developers should treat consumers’ data.
Digital climbs to a third of total radio audience
Ronan ShieldsDigital accounted for a third of UK radio audiences in the final quarter of 2012, when total listening time hit 1.04 billion hours, up marginally year-on-year, according to the latest RAJAR figures.
Health Lottery rapped over ‘loser’ ad
Ronan ShieldsThe ASA has ordered Richard Desmond’s Health Lottery to withdraw a TV ad that depicted people describing themselves as ‘losers’ for not entering its new Wednesday draw, branding the execution as “socially irresponsible.”
Online dating brands couple-up to safeguard industry reputation
Ronan ShieldsLeading online dating brands including eHarmony, Match.com and MySingleFriend are holding preliminary talks to establish a code of conduct to distance themselves from less reputable operators in the sector, valued at £170m in the UK last year by Metaflake.
eHarmony’s UK chief exits
Ronan ShieldsEHarmony’s UK country manager Bryn Snelson has left the company five months after taking on the role and just four weeks after the exit of its top marketer Ottokar Rosenberger.
Google touts retail solutions
Ronan ShieldsGoogle is briefing retailers to prepare their high street stores for emerging consumer behaviours in wake of the failure of brands including Comet, HMV and Jessops to adapt quickly enough to such changes.
National Citizen Service inks cross platform tie-up with Bauer
Ronan ShieldsBauer Media has kicked off a three-month sponsorship deal with the National Citizen Service (NCS) targeting teenagers with executions across its broadcast and digital channels including Kerrang and Kiss.
Sony fined £250,000 over data breach
Ronan ShieldsSony has been fined £250,000 by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) under the Data Protection Act for a data breach on its Playstation network in 2011.
IAB: ‘ Brands see 11-1 return on affiliate marketing’
Ronan ShieldsBrands investing in online performance marketing (OPM) are seeing return of £11 for every pound spent, according to the IAB’s debut report on the industry sector as it seeks to cast-off negative perceptions through the trade body.
Nielsen and MMA prepare to measure the value of mobile
Ronan ShieldsNielsen and the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) are preparing to launch their joint bid to measure the economic value of mobile advertising as the trade body aims to bolster the profile of the media among brand-side marketers.
Mobile ad budgets set to hit $11.4bn in 2013
Ronan ShieldsThe mobile advertising market will hit $11.4bn in 2013 at the expense of traditional offline advertising budgets as smartphone and tablet adoption continues to rise according to a forecast from research firm Gartner.
Camelot to double National Lottery prices
Ronan ShieldsCamelot is doubling the price of National Lottery tickets for the first time in almost 20 years in an overhaul of its weekly offering taking place in 2013 after market research indicated gamers wanted bigger payouts and more chances to win prizes.