Google Adsense

Internet Advertising Sees Q1 Year Over Year Increase

Written on May 14, 2010 by admin

Filed Under: Advertising, marketing, seo

In an attempt to possibly calm people’s nerves about the state of the online advertising industry, the Interactive Advertising Bureau and PricewaterhouseCoopers highlighted the year over gains in Internet advertising rather than the decline between Q4 ’09 and and Q1 ’10. Of course, that decline is the new ‘normal’ considering the heavy concentration on advertising during the holiday buying season. It hasn’t always been that way though.

The chart below tells the story of an industry that is certainly hitting a plateau of sorts as it charts Internet advertising revenues by quarter since 2001. Q4 to Q1 drops were not the norm until they started in Q1 2008.

What one makes of these numbers and the trending seen is really a matter of perspective as is all interpretation of business data. The year over year increase is encouraging unless you decide to say that since Q1 of 2009 was so bad that the increase is to be celebrated in a cautionary way. This year’s first quarter just got back to the levels of Q1 2008 (even surpassing by a bit) so while the increase is invited it is by no means an indication of growth. Recovery maybe. Scratching and clawing our way out of the abyss? Kind of. Growth? Not so much.

So while this can be officially touted as the largest first quarter ever it is just by a small margin and it is barely squeaking past a record set 2 years ago. Things may be getting better but moving forward it may be a prudent move to look at any growth in terms of what it is really saying.

Just as SEO has evolved to concentrate on conversions over ranking, the way we measure success in the Internet marketing industry needs to recognize that we too may have to look at things differently. We have suffered during this time and nothing, including the wonderful Internet, is impervious to taking a hit moving forward in the new world economic order.

Your thoughts?

Pilgrim’s Partners: SponsoredReviews.com – Bloggers earn cash, Advertisers build buzz!

Go here to see the original:
Internet Advertising Sees Q1 Year Over Year Increase

EU Chimes In On Facebook and Privacy

Written on May 14, 2010 by admin

Filed Under: book, marketing

Now the party must really be going full steam. If there is something to complain and whine about in the world at all the EU is usually the lead dog. Although they are merely just dog piling on Facebook at this point it now feels like there is no one left to put up a fuss about Facebook, privacy and even the people behind the ‘Book.

The Telegraph tells us

The Data Protection Working Party, which advises the Commission on data and privacy issues, wrote a letter to Facebook, saying recent changes that made previously private information publicly viewable by default were “unacceptable”.

In the letter, the group said that profile information, and data about the connections between users, should have a default setting in which this information was only shared with “self-selected” contacts.

Nice name for a “party” by the way. What’s their logo? A sickle, hammer and a router? So now the data police in the EU are using the “u” word to strike at Facebook. No doubt there are some dimly lit and smoky backroom meetings that are taking place to fully understand Facebook’s role in Greece’s economic meltdown. After all, if there is a problem in the world, Facebook must be the root cause .

At this point there really is nothing else to say about this fiasco is there? Michael Arrington is trying to call off the dogs regarding their attacks on the industry’s favorite person to pummel, Mark Zuckerberg. Accounts are being closed. Maybe Facebook could go to some journalistic governing body and get a press bail out?

Facebook apparently has responded but anything they say now makes them look tired and getting weaker.

Facebook, which has 400 million users around the world, responded to the European Union’s concerns, saying that it provided extensive tools for users to protect their profiles and choose what information they shared with friends.

“We already enable users to exclude themselves from being indexed by search engines, and recently introduced granular data permissions for applications,” said Facebook in a statement. “We are happy to continue working with the Data Protection Working Party.”

Translation: We’ve heard it all. What else can we say? We are not as evil as you think and we have done virtually everything we can to give our users the means to protect their privacy.

Of course, they didn’t mention the confusion they have created and the reality that most aren’t talking about which is that the vast majority of Facebook users aren’t reading Marketing Pilgrim, TechCrunch and the kinds of press that is currently having a field day with this train wreck.

Until everyone is officially notified with a permanent box at the top of every Facebook page stating that you should adjust your privacy settings by clicking here there will be complaints. Heck, even that won’t be enough to shut everyone up but it could go a long way toward it.

So, good luck Facebook and have a nice private weekend!

Go here to see the original:
EU Chimes In On Facebook and Privacy