UK retailer and MVNO, Tesco Mobile has teamed up with the charity, Marie Curie Cancer Care to launch a new way to raise money on the move. Customers can now visit Marie Curie Cancer Care on their mobiles following the launch of a mobile internet site, built by Tesco Mobile, as part of their support for the Tesco Charity of the Year 2008.
As well as picking up fundraising hints and tips, visitors can download exclusive wallpapers featuring the Marie Curie Cancer Care emblem - daffodils. There are four different designs to choose from, each one guaranteeing a burst of summer colour. Downloading a wallpaper costs £1.50 with 50p from every download being donated to the charity.
The site also has a “one-click” call button for visitors wanting to make donations.
Ashley Schofield, Head of Customer Marketing at Tesco Mobile said “We run a mobile internet site for Tesco customers where anyone can read the latest news, sports and gossip as well as download ringtones and mobile games. With over 100,000 visitors every week we thought it would be a great place to raise awareness of Marie Curie Cancer Care and generate some extra donations”.
Marie Curie Cancer Care provides high quality nursing, totally free, to give terminally ill patients the choice of dying at home supported by their families.
28 May, 2008
Friends of the Earth lobby over climate change with the plane you can't ignore
Mike Fletcher Revolution UK
Friends of the Earth is campaigning to have UK aviation emissions included in the climate change bill via a digital lobbying initiative.
Friends of the Earth has teamed up with CHI & Partners to launch an online lobbying campaign. The plane you can't ignore initiative is aimed at getting UK aviation emissions included in the climate change bill, currently passing through Parliament.
A series of quirky animations feature plane designs that are difficult to ignore including a rocker, a pearly queen and a stripper. People are invited to visit http://thebigask.com/aviation to book their seat on the ‘one plane the Government can't ignore'. By booking a seat, passengers are emailing their MP asking them to vote for a stronger climate law. From next month, passengers can also watch a film of the flight taking a journey through London to Parliament.
Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Martyn Williams said: "The web offers us a quick and simple way to tell our politicians what we think."
Friends of the Earth is campaigning to have UK aviation emissions included in the climate change bill via a digital lobbying initiative.
Friends of the Earth has teamed up with CHI & Partners to launch an online lobbying campaign. The plane you can't ignore initiative is aimed at getting UK aviation emissions included in the climate change bill, currently passing through Parliament.
A series of quirky animations feature plane designs that are difficult to ignore including a rocker, a pearly queen and a stripper. People are invited to visit http://thebigask.com/aviation to book their seat on the ‘one plane the Government can't ignore'. By booking a seat, passengers are emailing their MP asking them to vote for a stronger climate law. From next month, passengers can also watch a film of the flight taking a journey through London to Parliament.
Friends of the Earth climate campaigner Martyn Williams said: "The web offers us a quick and simple way to tell our politicians what we think."
27 May, 2008
Internet 'raises profile'
Using the internet can help charities to raise their profiles at a relatively low cost, it has been claimed.
According to communications agency Society Media, internet campaigns in the past have had a "huge impact" on a low budget.
Henry Palmer, the company's director, said that viral campaigns like the Big Ask campaign carried out by Friends of the Earth can be "really-successful" and be seen by a lot of people.
He commented: "People often talk about the viral stuff; it often appears accidental, that's the beauty of them, they appear to be accidental successes.
"[The internet] is a hugely important platform for charities … that are trying to raise awareness and raise their profile on a low budget."
Viral internet campaigns include those carried out through videos distributed via email from one person to another.
According to the National Statistics Omnibus Survey, in 2007 some 15.2 million households in the UK had internet access - 61 per cent of total households in the UK.
© Adfero Ltd
According to communications agency Society Media, internet campaigns in the past have had a "huge impact" on a low budget.
Henry Palmer, the company's director, said that viral campaigns like the Big Ask campaign carried out by Friends of the Earth can be "really-successful" and be seen by a lot of people.
He commented: "People often talk about the viral stuff; it often appears accidental, that's the beauty of them, they appear to be accidental successes.
"[The internet] is a hugely important platform for charities … that are trying to raise awareness and raise their profile on a low budget."
Viral internet campaigns include those carried out through videos distributed via email from one person to another.
According to the National Statistics Omnibus Survey, in 2007 some 15.2 million households in the UK had internet access - 61 per cent of total households in the UK.
© Adfero Ltd
23 May, 2008
New report says online fundraising needs more than “donate now”
New report says online fundraising needs more than “donate now”: donors must be engaged on their own terms in online world
A full copy of the 50-page “Passion, persistence & partnership: the secrets of earning more online” report or a 4-page summary is downloadable from www.nfpSynergy.net from late May.
- “Donate now” buttons forget all rules of fundraising
- Exploit modern e-habits via social networks and blogs, or “painlessly” as donors surf and shop, experts urge
- “Passion, persistence and partnership” lucrative cyber keys for charities, large and small
Many charities overly rely on passive online fundraising tactics like “donate now” buttons that are, in isolation, a decade out of date; failing to more proactively engage with habits, interests and lifestyles of the 21st Century donor - according to a new report out later this month.
These are the key findings of “Passion, persistence & partnership: the secrets of earning more online”, produced by nfpSynergy, working with MissionFish - the innovative force behind eBay for Charity - and supported by the Institute of Fundraising.
The report has been published to mark the imminent relaunch of eBay for Charity, which has already raised over £5m for good causes. The new eBay for Charity platform is the result of a 12 month project, and will mean that every eBay user can donate to charity in a couple of clicks whenever they sell on eBay.
The report highlights a widespread missed opportunity. Although extremely cost-effective - raising an average of around £10 for every £1 spent on direct costs - online fundraising currently has relatively low impact as a portion of total voluntary income, averaging just 2% per charity (compared with 27% from supporter development and retention; and 7% from major donors).
Moreover, larger charities - perhaps more able to invest in their websites and online functionality - are twice a likely as smaller ones (67% v 34%) to agree that income from the internet has grown strongly over the last 12 months.
MissionFish UK’s Chief Executive, Nick Aldridge, said:
“In the last few years, charities of all sizes have become more confident and sophisticated in using the web to attract supporters. Many are exploring more innovative forms of e-commerce and integrated fundraising than were possible before the internet became mainstream.
"Meanwhile, charity staff are learning to engage the public in a deeper, more balanced dialogue, and are willing and able to explore partnerships with the big players online. An online strategy now involves far more than ‘click here to donate’. The web is teaming with possibilities, but charities - large and small - need passion, persistence and partnerships to effectively reap its rewards."
nfpSynergy’s Driver of Ideas, Joe Saxton, said:
“Ten years ago, when the internet was shiny, new and fast-proliferating, many charities thought they could just sit back and watch the money roll in. Whilst they sat back, society – not least young, affluent professionals – did almost everything else online apart from click-and-donate. They paid bills, went shopping, bought cars, sought love – increasingly accessing the web where-ever and when-ever they wanted.
"And what a missed bounty of opportunity for those charities unwilling or unable to mirror and integrate with this lifestyle – complete with its blogs and social network spaces - first engaging with potential donors where their interests and habits lie and thereby, over time, subsequently motivating them to donate, whether on- or off-line.”
Five top trends and tips in charitable online income generation…
1. Charities are using the power of their stories online. Putting stories online – whether from beneficiaries or front-line staff - creates great content and compelling messages for prospective and actual donors.
- 2. Charities are engaging first and fundraising second. The internet is now used as a tool for engaging people first – through blogs, emails, forums, interactive games etc; and only then persuading them over time to become donors in ways that match their interest in the charity and their preferred ways to give.
3. Social networking is forcing charities to make friends. Social networking sites are forcing charities out of their websites and into the places where people socialise. This is both scary and exhilarating - scary because charities are less in control on such spaces, their brand is more diluted and their competitors quite possibly their next door neighbours; exhilarating because of the passion and third-party endorsement that only those individuals who inhabit social networks can bring.
4. Integration and internal communications are keys to success. New media is, in reality, a multi-purpose tool – for communications, IT, fundraising etc – and, in which ever “department” it sits, it is vital that all the different users work together to maximise the coherence and power of the charity’s message. Earning online should be part of an integrated whole.
5. Multiple income-generating partners are key. The old paradigm of getting people to give money via credit card donation and a “donate now” button is gradually giving way to a multi-partnership model, whereby a charity may offer multiple ways to give and generate revenue. The most effective of these generally involve the mutually beneficial “hijacking” of a web user’s existing habits for a charity’s purposes.
There are already ways of raising money online through search engines, auction sites (eBay for Charity being the largest and most successful), affinity partnerships etc. These partnership arrangements are a “painless” win/win for donors and charities. They reach new audiences, give supporters ways to raise money without giving, are usually low or no cost to set up and easily embedded into existing websites.
A full copy of the 50-page “Passion, persistence & partnership: the secrets of earning more online” report or a 4-page summary is downloadable from www.nfpSynergy.net from late May.
21 May, 2008
‘Big Brother’ database for phones and e-mails
Richard Ford, The Times
A massive government database holding details of every phone call, e-mail and time spent on the internet by the public is being planned as part of the fight against crime and terrorism. Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies would hand over the records to the Home Office under plans put forward by officials.
The information would be held for at least 12 months and the police and security services would be able to access it if given permission from the courts.
The proposal will raise further alarm about a “Big Brother” society, as it follows plans for vast databases for the ID cards scheme and NHS patients. There will also be concern about the ability of the Government to manage a system holding billions of records. About 57 billion text messages were sent in Britain last year, while an estimated 3 billion e-mails are sent every day.
Home Office officials have discussed the option of the national database with telecommunications companies and ISPs as part of preparations for a data communications Bill to be in November’s Queen’s Speech. But the plan has not been sent to ministers yet.
Industry sources gave warning that a single database would be at greater risk of attack and abuse.
Jonathan Bamford, the assistant Information Commissioner, said: “This would give us serious concerns and may well be a step too far. We are not aware of any justification for the State to hold every UK citizen’s phone and internet records. We have real doubts that such a measure can be justified, or is proportionate or desirable. We have warned before that we are sleepwalking into a surveillance society. Holding large collections of data is always risky - the more data that is collected and stored, the bigger the problem when the data is lost, traded or stolen.”
David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: “Given [ministers’] appalling record at maintaining the integrity of databases holding people’s sensitive data, this could well be more of a threat to our security, than a support.”
The proposal has emerged as part of plans to implement an EU directive developed after the July 7 bombings to bring uniformity of record-keeping. Since last October telecoms companies have been required to keep records of phone calls and text messages for 12 months. That requirement is to be extended to internet, e-mail and voice-over-internet use and included in a Communications Data Bill.
Police and the security services can access the records with a warrant issued by the courts. Rather than individual companies holding the information, Home Office officials are suggesting the records be handed over to the Government and stored on a huge database.
One of the arguments being put forward in favour of the plan is that it would make it simpler and swifter for law enforcement agencies to retrieve the information instead of having to approach hundreds of service providers. Opponents say that the scope for abuse will be greater if the records are held on one database.
A Home Office spokesman said the Bill was needed to reflect changes in communication that would “increasingly undermine our current capabilities to obtain communications data and use it to protect the public”.
A massive government database holding details of every phone call, e-mail and time spent on the internet by the public is being planned as part of the fight against crime and terrorism. Internet service providers (ISPs) and telecoms companies would hand over the records to the Home Office under plans put forward by officials.
The information would be held for at least 12 months and the police and security services would be able to access it if given permission from the courts.
The proposal will raise further alarm about a “Big Brother” society, as it follows plans for vast databases for the ID cards scheme and NHS patients. There will also be concern about the ability of the Government to manage a system holding billions of records. About 57 billion text messages were sent in Britain last year, while an estimated 3 billion e-mails are sent every day.
Home Office officials have discussed the option of the national database with telecommunications companies and ISPs as part of preparations for a data communications Bill to be in November’s Queen’s Speech. But the plan has not been sent to ministers yet.
Industry sources gave warning that a single database would be at greater risk of attack and abuse.
Jonathan Bamford, the assistant Information Commissioner, said: “This would give us serious concerns and may well be a step too far. We are not aware of any justification for the State to hold every UK citizen’s phone and internet records. We have real doubts that such a measure can be justified, or is proportionate or desirable. We have warned before that we are sleepwalking into a surveillance society. Holding large collections of data is always risky - the more data that is collected and stored, the bigger the problem when the data is lost, traded or stolen.”
David Davis, the Shadow Home Secretary, said: “Given [ministers’] appalling record at maintaining the integrity of databases holding people’s sensitive data, this could well be more of a threat to our security, than a support.”
The proposal has emerged as part of plans to implement an EU directive developed after the July 7 bombings to bring uniformity of record-keeping. Since last October telecoms companies have been required to keep records of phone calls and text messages for 12 months. That requirement is to be extended to internet, e-mail and voice-over-internet use and included in a Communications Data Bill.
Police and the security services can access the records with a warrant issued by the courts. Rather than individual companies holding the information, Home Office officials are suggesting the records be handed over to the Government and stored on a huge database.
One of the arguments being put forward in favour of the plan is that it would make it simpler and swifter for law enforcement agencies to retrieve the information instead of having to approach hundreds of service providers. Opponents say that the scope for abuse will be greater if the records are held on one database.
A Home Office spokesman said the Bill was needed to reflect changes in communication that would “increasingly undermine our current capabilities to obtain communications data and use it to protect the public”.
Building a website: How to get the best out of your web developer
By Sue Fidler, Third Sector, 21 May 2008
When you select a web developer for your new website, always ask how the building process works.
First, you need a kick-off meeting to discuss your statement of requirements. Next, it's a good idea to consider the design process, iterations and sign-off - ask the developers what they need from you in terms of logo, brand guidelines, palette and images.
Next comes slicing, where the design is converted to templates and the developers upload your copy of the content management system, add any bespoke functions and incorporate the templates.
You should then have a demo site that you can work on before the launch, to test functionality and preview the design and content.
When it comes to content, there are a few important points to consider. Does your quote include them doing this or are you doing it? Does your content need rewriting? This is guaranteed to be the most painful part of the project, because you have to either write it all or chivvy everyone else into doing it. The key is to start early and plan for delays.
If you are having any interactive elements, these need to be built for testing. Similarly, donations, shopping and payments need to be built and tested in advance, as do navigation, links, interactive and e-commerce elements.
Further testing can be provided by volunteers. As for the launch itself, plan when and how this will happen. If you already have a website, do you need to make sure people are redirected from the old address?
With all of this thought through and planned, you should be in control of the process and know what is required from you and when. Managing your relationship with and expectations of the web company is critical for a happy build.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT, database and internet consultant.
When you select a web developer for your new website, always ask how the building process works.
First, you need a kick-off meeting to discuss your statement of requirements. Next, it's a good idea to consider the design process, iterations and sign-off - ask the developers what they need from you in terms of logo, brand guidelines, palette and images.
Next comes slicing, where the design is converted to templates and the developers upload your copy of the content management system, add any bespoke functions and incorporate the templates.
You should then have a demo site that you can work on before the launch, to test functionality and preview the design and content.
When it comes to content, there are a few important points to consider. Does your quote include them doing this or are you doing it? Does your content need rewriting? This is guaranteed to be the most painful part of the project, because you have to either write it all or chivvy everyone else into doing it. The key is to start early and plan for delays.
If you are having any interactive elements, these need to be built for testing. Similarly, donations, shopping and payments need to be built and tested in advance, as do navigation, links, interactive and e-commerce elements.
Further testing can be provided by volunteers. As for the launch itself, plan when and how this will happen. If you already have a website, do you need to make sure people are redirected from the old address?
With all of this thought through and planned, you should be in control of the process and know what is required from you and when. Managing your relationship with and expectations of the web company is critical for a happy build.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT, database and internet consultant.
19 May, 2008
AOL completes £417m acquisition of Bebo
Luan Goldie nma.co.uk
AOL has completed its £417m acquisition of Bebo. Bebo will now form the centrepiece of AOL's newly formed unit People Networks.
One of the first steps by the unit will be to integrate AOL and Bebo. This will see AOL's mail, instant messaging offering AIM and chat service ICQ rolled in with Bebo.
There will also be a cross-promotion of content, with AOL beginning to promote interactive shows such as Sofia's Diary and The Gap Year across its channels while Bebo will take on AOL music and entertainment channels.
Bebo president Joanna Shields (pictured) will head up the unit, taking the title executive VP of AOL and president of People Networks.
Randy Falco, chairman and CEO of AOL, said, "AOL is now fully focused on growing our business in three key areas - our advertising network, publishing and people networks - by delivering relevant content and advertising across the web, and we're making great progress in each area."
AOL has completed its £417m acquisition of Bebo. Bebo will now form the centrepiece of AOL's newly formed unit People Networks.
One of the first steps by the unit will be to integrate AOL and Bebo. This will see AOL's mail, instant messaging offering AIM and chat service ICQ rolled in with Bebo.
There will also be a cross-promotion of content, with AOL beginning to promote interactive shows such as Sofia's Diary and The Gap Year across its channels while Bebo will take on AOL music and entertainment channels.
Bebo president Joanna Shields (pictured) will head up the unit, taking the title executive VP of AOL and president of People Networks.
Randy Falco, chairman and CEO of AOL, said, "AOL is now fully focused on growing our business in three key areas - our advertising network, publishing and people networks - by delivering relevant content and advertising across the web, and we're making great progress in each area."
PRCA endorses Netemic's Web 2.0 monitoring tool
Bowser Brand Republic
The Public Relations Consultants Association is to endorse Netemic's automated online social media monitoring tool, after striking a discount deal with the software firm.
Netemic's iFeed tool, which launched last November, allows PR agencies and digital marketers to monitor Web 2.0 media, such as blogs, forums and wikis in real time.
The iFeed tool scours the sites to discover content matching companies, products and services; it then delivers the relevant results to the user.
This gives subscribing agencies a real time measure of brand awareness and consumer sentiment.
As part of the deal, the PRCA will recommend iFeed to its members, made up of over 140 PR consultancies. In return, Netemic will discount the price of the software licence to these agencies.
PRCA members will be charged £495 per month for three months for a five-licence package. This will allow the use of iFeed for five clients at a discounted price of £99 per licence (against a list price of £300 per licence).
Members who continue with the service will be offered their first five licences at £150 each per month, or half the usual price.
Netemic said that iFeed was created in response to the explosion in social media content and its rapidly growing importance as a key channel of influence.
Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA, said: "Social media has huge implications for brands.
"At the very least companies should be monitoring what is said about them in these uncontrolled and uncensored environments to ensure they are able to anticipate potential issues.
"More proactive companies will see the ability to monitor unconstrained influencers as an opportunity to improve their products and services. iFeed makes these processes much easier."
The Public Relations Consultants Association is to endorse Netemic's automated online social media monitoring tool, after striking a discount deal with the software firm.
Netemic's iFeed tool, which launched last November, allows PR agencies and digital marketers to monitor Web 2.0 media, such as blogs, forums and wikis in real time.
The iFeed tool scours the sites to discover content matching companies, products and services; it then delivers the relevant results to the user.
This gives subscribing agencies a real time measure of brand awareness and consumer sentiment.
As part of the deal, the PRCA will recommend iFeed to its members, made up of over 140 PR consultancies. In return, Netemic will discount the price of the software licence to these agencies.
PRCA members will be charged £495 per month for three months for a five-licence package. This will allow the use of iFeed for five clients at a discounted price of £99 per licence (against a list price of £300 per licence).
Members who continue with the service will be offered their first five licences at £150 each per month, or half the usual price.
Netemic said that iFeed was created in response to the explosion in social media content and its rapidly growing importance as a key channel of influence.
Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA, said: "Social media has huge implications for brands.
"At the very least companies should be monitoring what is said about them in these uncontrolled and uncensored environments to ensure they are able to anticipate potential issues.
"More proactive companies will see the ability to monitor unconstrained influencers as an opportunity to improve their products and services. iFeed makes these processes much easier."
16 May, 2008
Facebook lands blow to Google Friend Connect
Andrew McCormick Media Week
Google's plan to become a leading player in social networking suffered a blow today, as Facebook blocked its users from using Google Friend Connect.
Websites signing up to Google Friend Connect can offer users access to social network features such as profiles and message boards. The feature also enables users to access personal profiles they have built on other social networks.
Facebook said that it has problems with Google's privacy policy. Google has since said that users are in control of their data at all times.Charlie Cheever, a developer at Facebook, wrote on Facebook's blog: "Now that Google has launched Friend Connect, we've had a chance to evaluate the technology. We've found that it redistributes user information from Facebook to other developers without users' knowledge, which doesn't respect the privacy standards our users have come to expect and is a violation of our terms of service."
As a result, Facebook has effectively withdrawn from Friend Connect, by denying Google access to its users' data.Facebook, MySpace and Google have all launched initiatives aimed at easing access to multiple social networks. The issue highlights the importance of protecting personal information when building commercial opportunities around social networks.
Facebook faced controversy when it launched Beacon, an ad platform that caused uproar among Facebook users, unhappy with the social network's use of data.
Google's plan to become a leading player in social networking suffered a blow today, as Facebook blocked its users from using Google Friend Connect.
Websites signing up to Google Friend Connect can offer users access to social network features such as profiles and message boards. The feature also enables users to access personal profiles they have built on other social networks.
Facebook said that it has problems with Google's privacy policy. Google has since said that users are in control of their data at all times.Charlie Cheever, a developer at Facebook, wrote on Facebook's blog: "Now that Google has launched Friend Connect, we've had a chance to evaluate the technology. We've found that it redistributes user information from Facebook to other developers without users' knowledge, which doesn't respect the privacy standards our users have come to expect and is a violation of our terms of service."
As a result, Facebook has effectively withdrawn from Friend Connect, by denying Google access to its users' data.Facebook, MySpace and Google have all launched initiatives aimed at easing access to multiple social networks. The issue highlights the importance of protecting personal information when building commercial opportunities around social networks.
Facebook faced controversy when it launched Beacon, an ad platform that caused uproar among Facebook users, unhappy with the social network's use of data.
Oxfam harnesses power of social media to end poverty
Brand Republic
Oxfam and Global Call to Action Against Poverty have joined forces and appointed specialist social media agency NixonMcInnes to launch a widget as part of their campaign to end poverty.
The new widget can be installed across multiple websites and in a variety of different languages. Initially it will installed on a number of partner websites to Gcap including ActionAid, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International, Christian Aid, Make Poverty History, Unicef and VSO.
NixonMcInnes said campaigners will feel more connected with fellow activists around the world as they see messages come in from dozens of countries, and the number of people who have taken action grow.
Non-governmental organisations are increasingly using social media to help spread their messages virally across the web, raise awareness and recruiting new supporters to the cause in the process.
Karina Brisby, interactive campaigning manager at Oxfam, said: "Using this widget allows Oxfam to reach out to a wide audience of people who want to make a difference, but might not necessarily be aware that they can do this by visiting our website.
"If we put this widget on our site and other online spaces we can capture the energy of all who take part, no matter where or when they take the action.
"In the end it means that we are more effective at putting pressure on those in power to put an end to extreme poverty and suffering."
Will McInnes, the managing director of NixonMcInnes, said: "In harnessing the power of widgets Gcap and Oxfam have not only created a smart digital marketing campaign but also laid down the gauntlet to the majority of so-called fast-moving business brands who are still using the same tired and increasingly ineffective advertising-based marketing formulae."
Gcap is a diverse range of coalitions, community groups, trade unions, individuals, faith groups and campaigners, who are all committed to the fight against poverty. These groups have formed country-based coalitions in more than 100 countries who support and promote Gcap’s demands and enable concerned citizens to join with Gcap, to put pressure on their country’s leaders and decision makers.
Oxfam and Global Call to Action Against Poverty have joined forces and appointed specialist social media agency NixonMcInnes to launch a widget as part of their campaign to end poverty.
The new widget can be installed across multiple websites and in a variety of different languages. Initially it will installed on a number of partner websites to Gcap including ActionAid, British Red Cross, Cafod, Care International, Christian Aid, Make Poverty History, Unicef and VSO.
NixonMcInnes said campaigners will feel more connected with fellow activists around the world as they see messages come in from dozens of countries, and the number of people who have taken action grow.
Non-governmental organisations are increasingly using social media to help spread their messages virally across the web, raise awareness and recruiting new supporters to the cause in the process.
Karina Brisby, interactive campaigning manager at Oxfam, said: "Using this widget allows Oxfam to reach out to a wide audience of people who want to make a difference, but might not necessarily be aware that they can do this by visiting our website.
"If we put this widget on our site and other online spaces we can capture the energy of all who take part, no matter where or when they take the action.
"In the end it means that we are more effective at putting pressure on those in power to put an end to extreme poverty and suffering."
Will McInnes, the managing director of NixonMcInnes, said: "In harnessing the power of widgets Gcap and Oxfam have not only created a smart digital marketing campaign but also laid down the gauntlet to the majority of so-called fast-moving business brands who are still using the same tired and increasingly ineffective advertising-based marketing formulae."
Gcap is a diverse range of coalitions, community groups, trade unions, individuals, faith groups and campaigners, who are all committed to the fight against poverty. These groups have formed country-based coalitions in more than 100 countries who support and promote Gcap’s demands and enable concerned citizens to join with Gcap, to put pressure on their country’s leaders and decision makers.
15 May, 2008
MySpace wins $230m claim against spammers
Brand Republic
LOS ANGELES - MySpace has won a landmark $230m (£118m) claim against a pair of persistent spammers, who sent hundreds of thousands of unsolicited and inappropriate messages to the site's users.
A Los Angeles district judge has ordered Sanford Wallace and business partner Walter Rines to pay the fine to the News Corporation-owned social networking site.
The court heard that the pair made money on a per-click basis by sending more than 700,000 messages, disguised as genuine user comments, directing users to gambling and adult sites.
In a statement, Hemanshu Nigam, the MySpace chief security officer, said: "MySpace has zero tolerance for those who attempt to act illegally on our site.
"We remain committed to punishing those who violate the law and try to harm our members."
Wallace, who has earned the nickname of "spam king" in the US, is reported to have begun circulating junk messages in the 1990s by fax, before turning to the internet.
His company, Cyber Promotions, was successfully sued by AOL and Compuserve for reportedly sending as many as 30m junk emails a day.
Wallace and Rines did not turn up for the hearing in Los Angeles yesterday.
LOS ANGELES - MySpace has won a landmark $230m (£118m) claim against a pair of persistent spammers, who sent hundreds of thousands of unsolicited and inappropriate messages to the site's users.
A Los Angeles district judge has ordered Sanford Wallace and business partner Walter Rines to pay the fine to the News Corporation-owned social networking site.
The court heard that the pair made money on a per-click basis by sending more than 700,000 messages, disguised as genuine user comments, directing users to gambling and adult sites.
In a statement, Hemanshu Nigam, the MySpace chief security officer, said: "MySpace has zero tolerance for those who attempt to act illegally on our site.
"We remain committed to punishing those who violate the law and try to harm our members."
Wallace, who has earned the nickname of "spam king" in the US, is reported to have begun circulating junk messages in the 1990s by fax, before turning to the internet.
His company, Cyber Promotions, was successfully sued by AOL and Compuserve for reportedly sending as many as 30m junk emails a day.
Wallace and Rines did not turn up for the hearing in Los Angeles yesterday.
Government awards recognise technology for social good
Rosie Walker, Third Sector Online
A government-sponsored awards programme to recognise the use of technology for social good has been launched.
There are nine categories, and people can enter before 16 June individually or as a group. The entrants could either have created their own social technology or used existing tools in an innovative way.
A spokesperson for Make Your Mark, the youth enterprise campaign by the department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, said:
“The exciting part of this project is that we don’t really know what we are expecting to find. These kinds of ideas no longer exclusively sit within the tech world, and my guess is that there are social activists across the UK using technology to benefit communities in lots of different ways.”
A government-sponsored awards programme to recognise the use of technology for social good has been launched.
There are nine categories, and people can enter before 16 June individually or as a group. The entrants could either have created their own social technology or used existing tools in an innovative way.
A spokesperson for Make Your Mark, the youth enterprise campaign by the department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, said:
“The exciting part of this project is that we don’t really know what we are expecting to find. These kinds of ideas no longer exclusively sit within the tech world, and my guess is that there are social activists across the UK using technology to benefit communities in lots of different ways.”
14 May, 2008
Google heeds Red Cross link warning
Hannah Jordan, Third Sector
Google has removed a link to the Burma funds of two US charities from its UK home page after a request from the British Red Cross.
The Red Cross asked the internet search giant to replace the link with one to the Disasters Emergency Committee so that UK donations could go to British charities and benefit from Gift Aid.
Google removed the link on Monday, but had not replaced it with a DEC link when Third Sector went to press.
Mark Astarita, director of fundraising at the British Red Cross, worked with colleagues at the US Red Cross to put together the request to Google.
"People would have gone to that site first and just donated there instead of finding a British appeal," he said. "We were undoubtedly losing thousands of pounds."
Google, which has pledged to match the first $1m received by the two US charities in Burma appeal donations, was unable to say why the link was removed.
Google has removed a link to the Burma funds of two US charities from its UK home page after a request from the British Red Cross.
The Red Cross asked the internet search giant to replace the link with one to the Disasters Emergency Committee so that UK donations could go to British charities and benefit from Gift Aid.
Google removed the link on Monday, but had not replaced it with a DEC link when Third Sector went to press.
Mark Astarita, director of fundraising at the British Red Cross, worked with colleagues at the US Red Cross to put together the request to Google.
"People would have gone to that site first and just donated there instead of finding a British appeal," he said. "We were undoubtedly losing thousands of pounds."
Google, which has pledged to match the first $1m received by the two US charities in Burma appeal donations, was unable to say why the link was removed.
12 May, 2008
National Trust to invest millions in digital output
Third Sector Online
The National Trust is creating 21 jobs with the launch of a new digital media department.
Trustees have agreed to invest nearly £5m over the next two years to overhaul the National Trust’s digital output. The department will have a budget of £2m a year thereafter.
The department will implement a five-year ‘e-engagement programme’ to improve digital communication with the charity’s 1.7 million members.
The move comes after a 12-month review by consultancy firm Think Consulting Solutions.
“Until now, our digital capability has been relatively weak,” said Luke Whitcomb, member and visitor marketing director at the National Trust. “We had a small web team that operated on the fringes of our marketing communications and struggled to meet the demands of the organisation.”
The new projects will include streamlining and redesigning the website, creating a user forum, advertising and sponsorship pilots, implementing a user-friendly content management system and a network for legacy pledgers and tribute donations.
Jason Potts, director of digital activities at Think, developed the programme with Whitcomb. He said: “Too many charities just will not invest in digital communications, nor will they bring digital communications right into the centre of their operations. The National Trust has done both of these things and it is going to serve it well over the next five years.”
The National Trust is creating 21 jobs with the launch of a new digital media department.
Trustees have agreed to invest nearly £5m over the next two years to overhaul the National Trust’s digital output. The department will have a budget of £2m a year thereafter.
The department will implement a five-year ‘e-engagement programme’ to improve digital communication with the charity’s 1.7 million members.
The move comes after a 12-month review by consultancy firm Think Consulting Solutions.
“Until now, our digital capability has been relatively weak,” said Luke Whitcomb, member and visitor marketing director at the National Trust. “We had a small web team that operated on the fringes of our marketing communications and struggled to meet the demands of the organisation.”
The new projects will include streamlining and redesigning the website, creating a user forum, advertising and sponsorship pilots, implementing a user-friendly content management system and a network for legacy pledgers and tribute donations.
Jason Potts, director of digital activities at Think, developed the programme with Whitcomb. He said: “Too many charities just will not invest in digital communications, nor will they bring digital communications right into the centre of their operations. The National Trust has done both of these things and it is going to serve it well over the next five years.”
Google expands social networking ambitions
Andrew McCormick Media Week
Google has made a play to become a leading social network provider by launching Google Friend Connect, an application that enables media owners to create social communities by embedding a piece of code on their website.
Websites signing up to Google Friend Connect will be able to offer users access to social network features such as profiles and message boards. It will also enable users to access personal profiles they have built on other social networks, such as Facebook.
In a statement, Google said that Google Friend Connect aims to break down barriers to social media spreading across the internet in two ways: firstly, the technology barrier preventing media owners from building their own communities and secondly, the nuisance for users of having to create profiles on multiple sites.
Now, a battle may commence over which company becomes the dominant player in providing social networking offerings to third party websites. MySpace has launched a similar initiative to Google Friend Connect, while Facebook is reportedly developing its own version.
Google has made a play to become a leading social network provider by launching Google Friend Connect, an application that enables media owners to create social communities by embedding a piece of code on their website.
Websites signing up to Google Friend Connect will be able to offer users access to social network features such as profiles and message boards. It will also enable users to access personal profiles they have built on other social networks, such as Facebook.
In a statement, Google said that Google Friend Connect aims to break down barriers to social media spreading across the internet in two ways: firstly, the technology barrier preventing media owners from building their own communities and secondly, the nuisance for users of having to create profiles on multiple sites.
Now, a battle may commence over which company becomes the dominant player in providing social networking offerings to third party websites. MySpace has launched a similar initiative to Google Friend Connect, while Facebook is reportedly developing its own version.
09 May, 2008
Google ponders Yahoo! ties
Marketing Week
Google has signalled its interest in discussing advertising partnership opportunities with Yahoo!. Google co-founder Sergey Brin made the comment before the company’s annual general meeting in the US yesterday (May 8).
He says the two search giants “share a lot of values” and following Yahoo!s “successful” test of using Google’s search advertising for two weeks, there is now scope for further discussions between the two.
“That’s a good basis to talk to Yahoo! some more,” Brin says. However, Google chief executive Eric Schmidt (pictured) says there is no official deal on the table at this stage.
At the annual meeting, Schmidt said it planned to launch new products on its web video service, YouTube, over the next few months. Google acquired the company for £1.6bn in 2006.
Brin added that YouTube and its online advertising company, DoubleClick, were still small compared to its core business. "They both have potential, but for it to be a sizeable part of our revenue, you're going to have to wait at least a couple of years," he says.
Google has signalled its interest in discussing advertising partnership opportunities with Yahoo!. Google co-founder Sergey Brin made the comment before the company’s annual general meeting in the US yesterday (May 8).
He says the two search giants “share a lot of values” and following Yahoo!s “successful” test of using Google’s search advertising for two weeks, there is now scope for further discussions between the two.
“That’s a good basis to talk to Yahoo! some more,” Brin says. However, Google chief executive Eric Schmidt (pictured) says there is no official deal on the table at this stage.
At the annual meeting, Schmidt said it planned to launch new products on its web video service, YouTube, over the next few months. Google acquired the company for £1.6bn in 2006.
Brin added that YouTube and its online advertising company, DoubleClick, were still small compared to its core business. "They both have potential, but for it to be a sizeable part of our revenue, you're going to have to wait at least a couple of years," he says.
07 May, 2008
Building a website: Writing a Spec
By Sue Fidler, Third Sector, 7 May 2008
Sue Fidler explains how to write a specification of requirements for your site.
Once you have worked through the content management system decisions (Third Sector, 23 April) - your objectives, audiences, content, navigation and functionality - you are almost ready to write your specification of requirements. The only thing left to add to it is your accessibility standards.
You should definitely include a text-only version of the site for people with screen readers and intelligent 'alt tags' to images and links. The use of cascading style sheets should mean that your site will adjust to fit the viewer's browser settings, therefore resizing text to their requirements. For advice, visit the RNIB (www.rnib.org.uk/webaccesscentre) and AbilityNet (www.abilitynet.org.uk/web).
You should now have everything you need to tell web developers what you want. Add in your email and a deadline for submissions, and you have a tender document.
There are lots of web developers out there, and many of them have worked with charities. Organisations such as the NCVO, CharityComms and Internet4Charities provide listings. If in doubt, ask your peers or join the charity webmasters' forum - a Yahoo group - to get advice.
Issue your tender with a two to three-week reply deadline. Select at least two of the respondents to interview. Ask for a demo of the CMS and discuss their charity experience, design process and project management. Once you have selected a supplier, always check references. It is also worth asking for a list of client sites. If you want something different and all their designs are the same, you may have a problem.
At the end of all this they should give you a fixed-price quote, a timeline and delivery date, help you arrange hosting and give you a price for ongoing support and upgrades.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant.
Sue Fidler explains how to write a specification of requirements for your site.
Once you have worked through the content management system decisions (Third Sector, 23 April) - your objectives, audiences, content, navigation and functionality - you are almost ready to write your specification of requirements. The only thing left to add to it is your accessibility standards.
You should definitely include a text-only version of the site for people with screen readers and intelligent 'alt tags' to images and links. The use of cascading style sheets should mean that your site will adjust to fit the viewer's browser settings, therefore resizing text to their requirements. For advice, visit the RNIB (www.rnib.org.uk/webaccesscentre) and AbilityNet (www.abilitynet.org.uk/web).
You should now have everything you need to tell web developers what you want. Add in your email and a deadline for submissions, and you have a tender document.
There are lots of web developers out there, and many of them have worked with charities. Organisations such as the NCVO, CharityComms and Internet4Charities provide listings. If in doubt, ask your peers or join the charity webmasters' forum - a Yahoo group - to get advice.
Issue your tender with a two to three-week reply deadline. Select at least two of the respondents to interview. Ask for a demo of the CMS and discuss their charity experience, design process and project management. Once you have selected a supplier, always check references. It is also worth asking for a list of client sites. If you want something different and all their designs are the same, you may have a problem.
At the end of all this they should give you a fixed-price quote, a timeline and delivery date, help you arrange hosting and give you a price for ongoing support and upgrades.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant.
Age Concern and Head launch interactive campaign
Digital Arts Online
Leading charity Age Concern are working with digital agency Head to develop and launch a new online campaign which aims to encourage people to become more organised by collating information about their life in one place.
The Age Concern LifeBook is a free practical service designed to allow people to manage their affairs and pull together practical personal and financial information. Age Concern’s LifeBook is available online via the interactive site www.ageconcern.org.uk/lifebook as well as a booklet.
The launch of the Age Concern LifeBook interactive Web site coincides with a new study which revealed that the majority of Brits have no idea where they keep important documents - 62 per cent of Brits do not organise their important documents and 42 per cent have no idea where they keep their birth certificates.
Visitors to the site can complete the Age Concern LifeBook online in stages, where they are guided through an easy-to-use method of recording the practical details of their life and managing different practical affairs, for example, friends birthdays and renewal dates on different insurances, as well as keeping a record of utility suppliers and store cards. There is also a section to record final wishes. The Age Concern LifeBook will also enable loved ones to help look after their affairs should the need arise.
Sharon Dobson from Age Concern said: “Our experience of working with older people shows that as we age we appreciate the importance of planning and getting our affairs in order. The Age Concern LifeBook will keep a record of all important information for families or a trusted person to look after their affairs should the need arise. It allows for planning, peace of mind and assures people that everything will be settled if necessary. The LifeBook could also be invaluable to a family member or a friend if they need to locate important information in an emergency. It will be particularly useful at a time when people want to plan what would happen should they become unable to manage their own affairs.”
Leading charity Age Concern are working with digital agency Head to develop and launch a new online campaign which aims to encourage people to become more organised by collating information about their life in one place.
The Age Concern LifeBook is a free practical service designed to allow people to manage their affairs and pull together practical personal and financial information. Age Concern’s LifeBook is available online via the interactive site www.ageconcern.org.uk/lifebook as well as a booklet.
The launch of the Age Concern LifeBook interactive Web site coincides with a new study which revealed that the majority of Brits have no idea where they keep important documents - 62 per cent of Brits do not organise their important documents and 42 per cent have no idea where they keep their birth certificates.
Visitors to the site can complete the Age Concern LifeBook online in stages, where they are guided through an easy-to-use method of recording the practical details of their life and managing different practical affairs, for example, friends birthdays and renewal dates on different insurances, as well as keeping a record of utility suppliers and store cards. There is also a section to record final wishes. The Age Concern LifeBook will also enable loved ones to help look after their affairs should the need arise.
Sharon Dobson from Age Concern said: “Our experience of working with older people shows that as we age we appreciate the importance of planning and getting our affairs in order. The Age Concern LifeBook will keep a record of all important information for families or a trusted person to look after their affairs should the need arise. It allows for planning, peace of mind and assures people that everything will be settled if necessary. The LifeBook could also be invaluable to a family member or a friend if they need to locate important information in an emergency. It will be particularly useful at a time when people want to plan what would happen should they become unable to manage their own affairs.”
Building a website: Writing a Spec
By Sue Fidler, Third Sector, 7 May 2008
Sue Fidler explains how to write a specification of requirements for your site.
Once you have worked through the content management system decisions (Third Sector, 23 April) - your objectives, audiences, content, navigation and functionality - you are almost ready to write your specification of requirements. The only thing left to add to it is your accessibility standards.
You should definitely include a text-only version of the site for people with screen readers and intelligent 'alt tags' to images and links. The use of cascading style sheets should mean that your site will adjust to fit the viewer's browser settings, therefore resizing text to their requirements. For advice, visit the RNIB (www.rnib.org.uk/webaccesscentre) and AbilityNet (www.abilitynet.org.uk/web).
You should now have everything you need to tell web developers what you want. Add in your email and a deadline for submissions, and you have a tender document.
There are lots of web developers out there, and many of them have worked with charities. Organisations such as the NCVO, CharityComms and Internet4Charities provide listings. If in doubt, ask your peers or join the charity webmasters' forum - a Yahoo group - to get advice.
Issue your tender with a two to three-week reply deadline. Select at least two of the respondents to interview. Ask for a demo of the CMS and discuss their charity experience, design process and project management. Once you have selected a supplier, always check references. It is also worth asking for a list of client sites. If you want something different and all their designs are the same, you may have a problem.
At the end of all this they should give you a fixed-price quote, a timeline and delivery date, help you arrange hosting and give you a price for ongoing support and upgrades.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant.
Sue Fidler explains how to write a specification of requirements for your site.
Once you have worked through the content management system decisions (Third Sector, 23 April) - your objectives, audiences, content, navigation and functionality - you are almost ready to write your specification of requirements. The only thing left to add to it is your accessibility standards.
You should definitely include a text-only version of the site for people with screen readers and intelligent 'alt tags' to images and links. The use of cascading style sheets should mean that your site will adjust to fit the viewer's browser settings, therefore resizing text to their requirements. For advice, visit the RNIB (www.rnib.org.uk/webaccesscentre) and AbilityNet (www.abilitynet.org.uk/web).
You should now have everything you need to tell web developers what you want. Add in your email and a deadline for submissions, and you have a tender document.
There are lots of web developers out there, and many of them have worked with charities. Organisations such as the NCVO, CharityComms and Internet4Charities provide listings. If in doubt, ask your peers or join the charity webmasters' forum - a Yahoo group - to get advice.
Issue your tender with a two to three-week reply deadline. Select at least two of the respondents to interview. Ask for a demo of the CMS and discuss their charity experience, design process and project management. Once you have selected a supplier, always check references. It is also worth asking for a list of client sites. If you want something different and all their designs are the same, you may have a problem.
At the end of all this they should give you a fixed-price quote, a timeline and delivery date, help you arrange hosting and give you a price for ongoing support and upgrades.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant.
06 May, 2008
Social networking use set to triple in four years
Nikki Sandison
The UK has the highest social networking membership in Europe and it is forecast to almost triple by 2012 to 27m members, according to a report by independent market analyst Datamonitor.
If the forecast is correct, within four years almost half of Britons will belong to a social networking site such as MySpace and Facebook.
Datamonitor said that interaction is the key factor in a network's success and that while the trend is driven by the younger age groups, many older generations are also being drawn to social media.
It expects the UK to see the strongest growth in numbers in Europe over the next five years because its consumers have been quick to embrace the new technology and many social networks are only available in the English language when starting up.
Datamonitor points to several factors behind the strong growth in social networking sites including the convenience of being able to socialise without leaving the house and the popularity of user-generated content.
France recorded the second highest number of networking site users with 8.9m, a figure that is forecast to rise to 21.3m by 2012.
Germany came in third with 8.6m and is expected to rise to 21.7m by 2012. Overall Europe is predicted to more than double from 41.7m to 107.4m.
Matthew Taylor, consumer markets analyst at Datamonitor, said: "Consumers are creating and joining existing social communities which, if harnessed correctly, can be an important marketing tool.
"The wealth of information stored on online social networks provides many potential benefits for marketers."
The UK has the highest social networking membership in Europe and it is forecast to almost triple by 2012 to 27m members, according to a report by independent market analyst Datamonitor.
If the forecast is correct, within four years almost half of Britons will belong to a social networking site such as MySpace and Facebook.
Datamonitor said that interaction is the key factor in a network's success and that while the trend is driven by the younger age groups, many older generations are also being drawn to social media.
It expects the UK to see the strongest growth in numbers in Europe over the next five years because its consumers have been quick to embrace the new technology and many social networks are only available in the English language when starting up.
Datamonitor points to several factors behind the strong growth in social networking sites including the convenience of being able to socialise without leaving the house and the popularity of user-generated content.
France recorded the second highest number of networking site users with 8.9m, a figure that is forecast to rise to 21.3m by 2012.
Germany came in third with 8.6m and is expected to rise to 21.7m by 2012. Overall Europe is predicted to more than double from 41.7m to 107.4m.
Matthew Taylor, consumer markets analyst at Datamonitor, said: "Consumers are creating and joining existing social communities which, if harnessed correctly, can be an important marketing tool.
"The wealth of information stored on online social networks provides many potential benefits for marketers."
Microsoft scraps proposal to buy Yahoo!
Microsoft has withdrawn its $44.6bn (£22.6bn) bid to acquire Yahoo! after the two failed to agree an acceptable price.
Steve Ballmer, the Microsoft chief executive officer, revealed the software giant's surprise decision in a letter to Yahoo! chief executive Jerry Yang.
In the letter he said that Microsoft continued to believe that its proposed acquisition made sense for Microsoft, Yahoo! and the market as a whole. He said Microsoft's goal in pursuing a combination with Yahoo! was to provide greater choice and innovation in the marketplace and create real value for respective stockholders and staff.
Ballmer indicated that Microsoft's decision to walk had not been an easy one. Last week it had looked as if it might raise its offer again, but he said as Yahoo! had not moved toward accepting its offer it was in the best interests of Microsoft stockholders, employees and other stakeholders to withdraw its proposal.
"We have a talented team in place and a compelling plan to grow our business through innovative new services and strategic transactions with other business partners. While Yahoo! would have accelerated our strategy, I am confident that we can continue to move forward toward our goals," Ballmer said.
Kevin Johnson, Microsoft president for platforms and services, said: "We are investing heavily in new tools and Web experiences, we have dramatically improved our search performance and advertiser satisfaction, and we will continue to build our scale through organic growth and partnerships."
Steve Ballmer, the Microsoft chief executive officer, revealed the software giant's surprise decision in a letter to Yahoo! chief executive Jerry Yang.
In the letter he said that Microsoft continued to believe that its proposed acquisition made sense for Microsoft, Yahoo! and the market as a whole. He said Microsoft's goal in pursuing a combination with Yahoo! was to provide greater choice and innovation in the marketplace and create real value for respective stockholders and staff.
Ballmer indicated that Microsoft's decision to walk had not been an easy one. Last week it had looked as if it might raise its offer again, but he said as Yahoo! had not moved toward accepting its offer it was in the best interests of Microsoft stockholders, employees and other stakeholders to withdraw its proposal.
"We have a talented team in place and a compelling plan to grow our business through innovative new services and strategic transactions with other business partners. While Yahoo! would have accelerated our strategy, I am confident that we can continue to move forward toward our goals," Ballmer said.
Kevin Johnson, Microsoft president for platforms and services, said: "We are investing heavily in new tools and Web experiences, we have dramatically improved our search performance and advertiser satisfaction, and we will continue to build our scale through organic growth and partnerships."
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