Jacquie Bowser Brand Republic
Animal charity The Blue Cross has launched a viral campaign featuring talking pets that can read news headlines or say whatever their owner commands.
The "virtual pets", which have been created using text-to-speech technology, aim to raise awareness of the charity's new social network for pet lovers, Allaboutpets.org.uk.
Users can create their own talking pet by choosing from a selection of virtual dogs and cats, or by uploading a picture of their own pet.
Technology from avatar specialists Oddcast allows the virtual pets to be customised with accessories and animated backgrounds, while uploaded images can be fitted with an appropriate mouth.
Users can then type a message for their talking pet to say, or choose a pre-recorded message with a range of different voice options.
The final talking pet can be sent to friends or uploaded into a Facebook profile.
It is hoped that the viral will help drive traffic to All About Pets and boost sign-ups prior to its official launch in August.
Debbie Curtis, head of communications at The Blue Cross, said: "This viral campaign is fun, entertaining and a perfect way to reach pet owners who will enjoy being part of our new online community.
"It has been exciting to work on something so innovative, creative and unique, and we are confident that it will help us to attract even more members to the site in the run up to its official launch."
Online ads will run on AOL and MySpace over four weeks to promote the viral.
The ads will feature an interactive talking dog and users will be encouraged to type in messages for the dog to say. Users will then be directed to click through to the talking pets microsite.
One of the ads appearing on AOL will combine text-to-speech functionality with page-scraping technology to create a "virtual newshound" that can read the headlines of the host's webpage in real time.
The concept of the viral campaign and its promotional MPU's were devised and created by WWAV Rapp Collins London.
Digital PR agency Hot Cherry will promote the online viral campaign and the new social network across a network of bloggers, online communities and other websites.
30 July, 2008
Online Fundraising: does it pay off?
By Sue Fidler, Third Sector, 30 July 2008
A decade ago, when we all started getting involved with the web, the concept of online fundraising was new and exciting, and we dreamt of cheap and easy income from our globally available websites.
Reality has proved that, although we can raise money online, we have to work hard to get it. Virtual Promise, a report from consultancy nfpSynergy, shows charities average 2 per cent of their income from online sources, although some reported more than 10 per cent (21 May, page 7). The good news is that, as an income stream, online income brings the second best average return on investment, behind only giving from major donors.
Most charities have not started to implement best practice and maximise their income. Most are missing the opportunities from both web and email communications and from the various ways of collecting online income.
The reasons are often simple: they do not have the time, the resources or the knowledge to get the various tools and mechanisms in place, or the management buy-in to get more resources. But for many there is a more frustrating reason: they have the tools but are not using them to sell the charity's proposition. If the route to donate and the ask are wrong, the tools won't help.
We have learnt that having a donate button isn't enough. The concept of 'build it and they will come' hasn't worked. Now we need to look at the how, what and why of online income. We have to learn from the past 10 years and improve what we have done.
Until we learn to sell ourselves online, using our stories to engage our supporters while offering them every opportunity to help, we will not see an increase in online income.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT, database and internet consultant.
A decade ago, when we all started getting involved with the web, the concept of online fundraising was new and exciting, and we dreamt of cheap and easy income from our globally available websites.
Reality has proved that, although we can raise money online, we have to work hard to get it. Virtual Promise, a report from consultancy nfpSynergy, shows charities average 2 per cent of their income from online sources, although some reported more than 10 per cent (21 May, page 7). The good news is that, as an income stream, online income brings the second best average return on investment, behind only giving from major donors.
Most charities have not started to implement best practice and maximise their income. Most are missing the opportunities from both web and email communications and from the various ways of collecting online income.
The reasons are often simple: they do not have the time, the resources or the knowledge to get the various tools and mechanisms in place, or the management buy-in to get more resources. But for many there is a more frustrating reason: they have the tools but are not using them to sell the charity's proposition. If the route to donate and the ask are wrong, the tools won't help.
We have learnt that having a donate button isn't enough. The concept of 'build it and they will come' hasn't worked. Now we need to look at the how, what and why of online income. We have to learn from the past 10 years and improve what we have done.
Until we learn to sell ourselves online, using our stories to engage our supporters while offering them every opportunity to help, we will not see an increase in online income.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT, database and internet consultant.
28 July, 2008
Google launches Knol - a wiki with bylines
By Eric Auchard tiscali technology
Google opened its website Knol to the public on Wednesday, allowing people to write about their areas of expertise under their bylines in a twist on encyclopaedia Wikipedia, which allows anonymity.
"We are deeply convinced that authorship -- knowing who wrote what -- helps readers trust the content," said Cedric DuPont, product manager for Knol.
The name of the service is a play on an individual unit of knowledge, DuPont said, and entries on the public website, http://knol.google.com, are called "knols". Google conducted a limited test of the site beginning in December.
Knol has publishing tools similar to single blog pages. But unlike blogs, Knol encourages writers to reduce what they know about a topic to a single page that is not chronologically updated.
"What we want to get away from is ’this last voice wins’ model which is very difficult if you are a busy professional," DuPont said.
Google wants to rank entries by popularity to encourage competition. For example, the first knol on "Type 1 Diabetes" is by Anne Peters, director of the University of Southern California’s Clinical Diabetes Programs.
As other writers publish on diabetes, Google plans to rank related pages according to user ratings, reviews and how often people refer to specific pages, DuPont said.
Knol focuses on individual authors or groups of authors in contrast to Wikipedia’s subject entries, which are updated by users and edited behind the scenes.
Knol does not edit or endorse the information and visitors will not be able to edit or contribute to a knol unless they have the author’s permission. Readers will be able to notify Google if they find any content objectionable.
Knol is a hybrid of the individual, often opinionated entries found in blogs and the collective editing relied on by Wikipedia and other wiki sites.
The service uses what it calls "moderated collaboration" in which any reader of a specific topic page can make suggested edits to the author or authors, who retain control over whether to accept, reject or modify changes before they are published.
In its early stages, Knol remains a far cry from Wikipedia, http://www.wikipedia.org, which boasts 7 million collectively edited articles in 200 languages.
Google signed a deal with Conde Nast’s New Yorker, giving Knol authors the rights to use one of the magazine’s famous cartoons in each Knol posting. Google will allow Knol writers to run ads on their entries and will share income with them.
DuPont said that rather than competing with Wikipedia, Knol may end up serving as a primary source of authoritative information for use with Wikipedia articles.
"Knols will fill gaps on what we have on the Web today. That is what we hope," DuPont said.
(Additional reporting by Michele Gershberg in New York; Editing by Toni Reinhold)
Google opened its website Knol to the public on Wednesday, allowing people to write about their areas of expertise under their bylines in a twist on encyclopaedia Wikipedia, which allows anonymity.
"We are deeply convinced that authorship -- knowing who wrote what -- helps readers trust the content," said Cedric DuPont, product manager for Knol.
The name of the service is a play on an individual unit of knowledge, DuPont said, and entries on the public website, http://knol.google.com, are called "knols". Google conducted a limited test of the site beginning in December.
Knol has publishing tools similar to single blog pages. But unlike blogs, Knol encourages writers to reduce what they know about a topic to a single page that is not chronologically updated.
"What we want to get away from is ’this last voice wins’ model which is very difficult if you are a busy professional," DuPont said.
Google wants to rank entries by popularity to encourage competition. For example, the first knol on "Type 1 Diabetes" is by Anne Peters, director of the University of Southern California’s Clinical Diabetes Programs.
As other writers publish on diabetes, Google plans to rank related pages according to user ratings, reviews and how often people refer to specific pages, DuPont said.
Knol focuses on individual authors or groups of authors in contrast to Wikipedia’s subject entries, which are updated by users and edited behind the scenes.
Knol does not edit or endorse the information and visitors will not be able to edit or contribute to a knol unless they have the author’s permission. Readers will be able to notify Google if they find any content objectionable.
Knol is a hybrid of the individual, often opinionated entries found in blogs and the collective editing relied on by Wikipedia and other wiki sites.
The service uses what it calls "moderated collaboration" in which any reader of a specific topic page can make suggested edits to the author or authors, who retain control over whether to accept, reject or modify changes before they are published.
In its early stages, Knol remains a far cry from Wikipedia, http://www.wikipedia.org, which boasts 7 million collectively edited articles in 200 languages.
Google signed a deal with Conde Nast’s New Yorker, giving Knol authors the rights to use one of the magazine’s famous cartoons in each Knol posting. Google will allow Knol writers to run ads on their entries and will share income with them.
DuPont said that rather than competing with Wikipedia, Knol may end up serving as a primary source of authoritative information for use with Wikipedia articles.
"Knols will fill gaps on what we have on the Web today. That is what we hope," DuPont said.
(Additional reporting by Michele Gershberg in New York; Editing by Toni Reinhold)
A walk in cyberspace raises $200,000
Celina Ribeiro Professional Fundraising
A virtual walk-a-thon has raised over $200,000 in real money for the American Cancer Society.
Over July 19 and 20, the popular virtual community Second Life played host to a Relay for Life event. Much like the traditional Relay for Life format, the event was a social affair, incorporating camping, dancing and donating in the Second Life currency ‘Linden dollars’.
However, rather than human bodies completing the race in support of the American Cancer Society, in Second Life, the work was done by their avatars around a virtual 96 acre park.
This year’s event represents a significant growth on the $118,000 raised by 1,700 avatars last year and the $5,000 it attracted when first tested in the virtual world in 2005.
Second Life is a virtual world, created in part by users who develop online aliases (avatars), for themselves. The avatars operate as citizens of the Second Life community, engaging in activities ranging from extreme sports to setting up a business. Actual money can be made by businesses or fundraisers by swapping services for Linden dollars which are then exchanged into US dollars at Linden dollar exchanges.
The American Cancer Society has maintained a strong presence in Second Life following the launch of the Relay for Life in Second Life campaign three years ago. The organisation has set up the American Cancer Society Island in the virtual world, providing information on cancer and peer group support for those touched by the disease.
This year’s online event, the final tally from which is not yet known, was accompanied by a telethon on the Second Life cable channel, SLCN.
A virtual walk-a-thon has raised over $200,000 in real money for the American Cancer Society.
Over July 19 and 20, the popular virtual community Second Life played host to a Relay for Life event. Much like the traditional Relay for Life format, the event was a social affair, incorporating camping, dancing and donating in the Second Life currency ‘Linden dollars’.
However, rather than human bodies completing the race in support of the American Cancer Society, in Second Life, the work was done by their avatars around a virtual 96 acre park.
This year’s event represents a significant growth on the $118,000 raised by 1,700 avatars last year and the $5,000 it attracted when first tested in the virtual world in 2005.
Second Life is a virtual world, created in part by users who develop online aliases (avatars), for themselves. The avatars operate as citizens of the Second Life community, engaging in activities ranging from extreme sports to setting up a business. Actual money can be made by businesses or fundraisers by swapping services for Linden dollars which are then exchanged into US dollars at Linden dollar exchanges.
The American Cancer Society has maintained a strong presence in Second Life following the launch of the Relay for Life in Second Life campaign three years ago. The organisation has set up the American Cancer Society Island in the virtual world, providing information on cancer and peer group support for those touched by the disease.
This year’s online event, the final tally from which is not yet known, was accompanied by a telethon on the Second Life cable channel, SLCN.
24 July, 2008
Facebook dominates UK social networking as Twitter leaps
Brand Republic
Facebook dominates UK social networking with 45.29% of the market, almost double the share of second-placed Bebo and three times more than MySpace, as micro blogging site Twitter shows major growth.
According to the latest figure from Hitwise this is an 188% increase compared with a year ago for Facebook.
Bebo.com is ranked second by Hitwise with a market share of 25.04%. In the US it is ranked 5th with just over 1% of market share down 41% on last year.
MySpace.com is ranked third with a market share of 14.75%.
Together, the big three social networking sites account for just over 85% of the UK social networking market leaving only scraps for smaller rivals.
ITV's Friends Reunited features at five, just below Microsoft's Windows Live Spaces, but both have just 3% of the market between then with 1.5% apiece.
Top 10 social networking sites in the UK, June 2008:
1. Facebook 45.29%
2. Bebo 25.04%
3. Myspace 14.75%
4. Windows Live Spaces 1.59%
5. Friends Reunited 1.55%
6. Club Penguin 0.83%
7. Yahoo! Groups 0.81%
8. Nasza Klasa 0.75%
9. Faceparty 0.74%
10. Tagged 0.72%
Bubbling under there is major growth for micro blogging site Twitter, which has seen its UK traffic soar by 485% this year, 70% higher than the US.
Hitwise found that weekly UK internet visits to Twitter.com increased by 631% during the 12 months ending July 12, with 485% of that growth coming this year.
Twitter is currently more popular with British users than Americans. The site's share of UK internet visits was 70% higher than its share of visits in America.
Robin Goad, research director at Hitwise, said: "Although it is still most popular with classic early adopter segments of the population, the breadth of Twitter's appeal may surprise some people.
"During the four weeks ending 12 July 2008, visitors were split 50/50 male/female, while only 15% were from London. 25-34 year olds are still the most over represented age group visiting the site, but 37% of visitors to the site are now aged 45 and over."
Another sign of maturity is that mainstream media organisations are starting to pick up traffic from Twitter. For example, BBC News now receives more internet traffic from Twitter than it sends there. The BBC Sport feed is also very popular, and during the four weeks ending July 12 2008, BBC Sport was the second most-popular search term sending traffic to Twitter.
In the US, MySpace's dominance is even more pronounced than Facebook's in the UK. It has 71.92% of the market, with Facebook in second place with 16.91%.
This stark jump demonstrates that the site has not managed to achieve the widespread acceptance beyond university students that it has in the UK. However, its growth does represent 40% growth over the previous year.
Top five social networking websites ranked by market share YoY change:
1. MySpace 71.92% (-6%)
2. Facebook 16.91% (40%)
3. myYearbook 1.54% (318%)
4. Tagged 1.08% (45%)
5. Bebo 1.05% (-41%)
Facebook dominates UK social networking with 45.29% of the market, almost double the share of second-placed Bebo and three times more than MySpace, as micro blogging site Twitter shows major growth.
According to the latest figure from Hitwise this is an 188% increase compared with a year ago for Facebook.
Bebo.com is ranked second by Hitwise with a market share of 25.04%. In the US it is ranked 5th with just over 1% of market share down 41% on last year.
MySpace.com is ranked third with a market share of 14.75%.
Together, the big three social networking sites account for just over 85% of the UK social networking market leaving only scraps for smaller rivals.
ITV's Friends Reunited features at five, just below Microsoft's Windows Live Spaces, but both have just 3% of the market between then with 1.5% apiece.
Top 10 social networking sites in the UK, June 2008:
1. Facebook 45.29%
2. Bebo 25.04%
3. Myspace 14.75%
4. Windows Live Spaces 1.59%
5. Friends Reunited 1.55%
6. Club Penguin 0.83%
7. Yahoo! Groups 0.81%
8. Nasza Klasa 0.75%
9. Faceparty 0.74%
10. Tagged 0.72%
Bubbling under there is major growth for micro blogging site Twitter, which has seen its UK traffic soar by 485% this year, 70% higher than the US.
Hitwise found that weekly UK internet visits to Twitter.com increased by 631% during the 12 months ending July 12, with 485% of that growth coming this year.
Twitter is currently more popular with British users than Americans. The site's share of UK internet visits was 70% higher than its share of visits in America.
Robin Goad, research director at Hitwise, said: "Although it is still most popular with classic early adopter segments of the population, the breadth of Twitter's appeal may surprise some people.
"During the four weeks ending 12 July 2008, visitors were split 50/50 male/female, while only 15% were from London. 25-34 year olds are still the most over represented age group visiting the site, but 37% of visitors to the site are now aged 45 and over."
Another sign of maturity is that mainstream media organisations are starting to pick up traffic from Twitter. For example, BBC News now receives more internet traffic from Twitter than it sends there. The BBC Sport feed is also very popular, and during the four weeks ending July 12 2008, BBC Sport was the second most-popular search term sending traffic to Twitter.
In the US, MySpace's dominance is even more pronounced than Facebook's in the UK. It has 71.92% of the market, with Facebook in second place with 16.91%.
This stark jump demonstrates that the site has not managed to achieve the widespread acceptance beyond university students that it has in the UK. However, its growth does represent 40% growth over the previous year.
Top five social networking websites ranked by market share YoY change:
1. MySpace 71.92% (-6%)
2. Facebook 16.91% (40%)
3. myYearbook 1.54% (318%)
4. Tagged 1.08% (45%)
5. Bebo 1.05% (-41%)
22 July, 2008
MTV joins social networking fray with MTV House
Ben Bold Brand Republic
MTV UK is launching a social networking site called MTV House, which will allow members to interact with each other using avatars and take part in competitions and promotions.
MTV has also launched a support portal for young people, offering advice on topics such as drugs, violence and mental and sexual health.
The MTV House site has been designed to resemble a prefab building and will contain a number of rooms where users can interact with channel-based characters and one another. Members will be encouraged to create their own MTV avatar.
The "house" will also offer advertisers the chance to reach MTV's young online audience via bespoke and generic advertising, branding opportunities, themed "rooms" and sponsorship.
MTV's support portal will be advertising-free and the broadcaster is working in partnership with support and advice organisations Big White Wall, Frank, Urban Concepts Don't Trigger and The Terrence Higgins Trust.
Following its UK launch, it will be rolled out globally later this year.
Philip O'Ferrall, MTV's vice-president of digital media, said: "MTV.co.uk is about building a community for online audiences that are passionate about entertainment and music, as well as being socially conscious.
"Therefore our digital activity is evolving and adapting to allow the audience to express themselves more.
"By carrying out continuous research to find out what our audiences really want and by introducing an enhanced user experience where the audience can interact with each other and the brand -- whether that be advise on sensitive issues or sharing great MTV content -- we are in turn responding to their needs."
MTV UK is launching a social networking site called MTV House, which will allow members to interact with each other using avatars and take part in competitions and promotions.
MTV has also launched a support portal for young people, offering advice on topics such as drugs, violence and mental and sexual health.
The MTV House site has been designed to resemble a prefab building and will contain a number of rooms where users can interact with channel-based characters and one another. Members will be encouraged to create their own MTV avatar.
The "house" will also offer advertisers the chance to reach MTV's young online audience via bespoke and generic advertising, branding opportunities, themed "rooms" and sponsorship.
MTV's support portal will be advertising-free and the broadcaster is working in partnership with support and advice organisations Big White Wall, Frank, Urban Concepts Don't Trigger and The Terrence Higgins Trust.
Following its UK launch, it will be rolled out globally later this year.
Philip O'Ferrall, MTV's vice-president of digital media, said: "MTV.co.uk is about building a community for online audiences that are passionate about entertainment and music, as well as being socially conscious.
"Therefore our digital activity is evolving and adapting to allow the audience to express themselves more.
"By carrying out continuous research to find out what our audiences really want and by introducing an enhanced user experience where the audience can interact with each other and the brand -- whether that be advise on sensitive issues or sharing great MTV content -- we are in turn responding to their needs."
Google beats Microsoft to become UK's top consumer brand
Nikki Sandison Brand Republic
Google has knocked Microsoft off the top spot to take the crown of the UK's most popular brand for the first time, according to the latest Superbrands survey.
The search engine moves up two places from the number three spot last year, knocking Microsoft into second place and Mercedes Benz into third.
The survey was compiled by the Centre for Brand Anaylsis and reflects the opinions of 2,200 members of the British public.
Google was also named as the UK's strongest brand in a Superbrands survey of 1,500 professionals earlier this year.
Despite Microsoft's drop to second place it still comfortably beat rival Apple which just missed a place in the top 10, coming in at number 11.
The BBC was the highest placed British company at number four, followed by British Airways and Royal Doulton in fifth and sixth place respectively.
The remaining places in the top 10 were taken by BMW in seventh, followed by Bosch, Nike and Sony.
None of the top four UK supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons - made it into the top 100 superbrands.
Tesco dropped 230 places to number 301, Sainsbury's fell 194 places to 232nd and Asda dropped 253 places.
Premium food brands fared better with Marks & Spencer making it into the top 20 at number 17 and Waitrose taking 179th place.
Stephen Cheliotis, chairman of the Superbrands Council, said: "Lifestyle brands, particularly those in the technology sector, have considerably more sway with the public than everyday staples such as the supermarkets, which now seem further than ever from the affections of the British people.
"As the spectre of rising food costs continues, they are likely to come under further scrutiny. The results are also a further sign that Google is continuing its dominance in the UK. It is clear that Google is the brand that people value at work and in their personal lives."
Google has knocked Microsoft off the top spot to take the crown of the UK's most popular brand for the first time, according to the latest Superbrands survey.
The search engine moves up two places from the number three spot last year, knocking Microsoft into second place and Mercedes Benz into third.
The survey was compiled by the Centre for Brand Anaylsis and reflects the opinions of 2,200 members of the British public.
Google was also named as the UK's strongest brand in a Superbrands survey of 1,500 professionals earlier this year.
Despite Microsoft's drop to second place it still comfortably beat rival Apple which just missed a place in the top 10, coming in at number 11.
The BBC was the highest placed British company at number four, followed by British Airways and Royal Doulton in fifth and sixth place respectively.
The remaining places in the top 10 were taken by BMW in seventh, followed by Bosch, Nike and Sony.
None of the top four UK supermarkets - Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons - made it into the top 100 superbrands.
Tesco dropped 230 places to number 301, Sainsbury's fell 194 places to 232nd and Asda dropped 253 places.
Premium food brands fared better with Marks & Spencer making it into the top 20 at number 17 and Waitrose taking 179th place.
Stephen Cheliotis, chairman of the Superbrands Council, said: "Lifestyle brands, particularly those in the technology sector, have considerably more sway with the public than everyday staples such as the supermarkets, which now seem further than ever from the affections of the British people.
"As the spectre of rising food costs continues, they are likely to come under further scrutiny. The results are also a further sign that Google is continuing its dominance in the UK. It is clear that Google is the brand that people value at work and in their personal lives."
21 July, 2008
Redesigned Facebook offers new features
Tristan O'Carroll Media Week
Facebook has undergone a redesign and is offering new features, as it looks to stand out in the competitive social media space.
The revamp features a simpler design, along with the opportunity for users to preview and test new site features. The company is inviting people to use the new design and try out the improved features by navigating back and forth between the new and current versions of the social networking site.
Access to the new design will be limited at first, but will gradually become available to all of Facebook's roughly 80 million worldwide users.Among several new features, a "publisher" feature enables users to create content in a centralised area. Using the feature, a user can add photos, upload video, or write notes, rather than navigating to each individual application.
In addition, third-party applications are more tightly integrated into Facebook, to make using applications simpler. Users will have the option to interact with an application before adding it, grant it access to their information, and decide where they want it placed, if at all, on their profiles.
The new Facebook design will be made available to users at http://www.new.facebook.com/.
In the coming weeks, all Facebook users will automatically default to the new site design when logging in at http://www.facebook.com/.
Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said: "We've made the changes rolling out today in order to highlight the most recent and relevant information that users value, give users even more control and ownership over their profiles and simplify the user experience."
He added: "Facebook's new design makes it a lot easier for users to share information, and we encourage them to check it out."
Facebook has undergone a redesign and is offering new features, as it looks to stand out in the competitive social media space.
The revamp features a simpler design, along with the opportunity for users to preview and test new site features. The company is inviting people to use the new design and try out the improved features by navigating back and forth between the new and current versions of the social networking site.
Access to the new design will be limited at first, but will gradually become available to all of Facebook's roughly 80 million worldwide users.Among several new features, a "publisher" feature enables users to create content in a centralised area. Using the feature, a user can add photos, upload video, or write notes, rather than navigating to each individual application.
In addition, third-party applications are more tightly integrated into Facebook, to make using applications simpler. Users will have the option to interact with an application before adding it, grant it access to their information, and decide where they want it placed, if at all, on their profiles.
The new Facebook design will be made available to users at http://www.new.facebook.com/.
In the coming weeks, all Facebook users will automatically default to the new site design when logging in at http://www.facebook.com/.
Facebook founder and chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said: "We've made the changes rolling out today in order to highlight the most recent and relevant information that users value, give users even more control and ownership over their profiles and simplify the user experience."
He added: "Facebook's new design makes it a lot easier for users to share information, and we encourage them to check it out."
18 July, 2008
Google dominating UK search
Ian Williams vnunet.com,
Market share edges towards 90 per cent
Nearly nine out of 10 internet searches in the UK in June were powered by Google, compared to four per cent for Yahoo and just over three per cent for MSN.
The latest figures from monitoring company Hitwise suggest that the divvying up of market share moved only fractions of a per cent across the four main players during the month.
Google's domination is slightly less pronounced in the US, where it accounted for just over 69 per cent of all searches in June.
Yahoo, MSN and Ask.com received 19.6, 5.4 and 4.1 per cent respectively, further highlighting Microsoft's continued desire to acquire Yahoo to jointly tackle Google's domination.
Hitwise found that, although the figures are down slightly year on year, search engines continue to be the primary way for internet users to navigate key industry categories in the UK.
The figures also show that Google is becoming an increasing source of traffic to key industries.
Most notably, the online video and social networking categories continue to show double digit increases in their share of traffic coming directly from Google, at 17 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.
Market share edges towards 90 per cent
Nearly nine out of 10 internet searches in the UK in June were powered by Google, compared to four per cent for Yahoo and just over three per cent for MSN.
The latest figures from monitoring company Hitwise suggest that the divvying up of market share moved only fractions of a per cent across the four main players during the month.
Google's domination is slightly less pronounced in the US, where it accounted for just over 69 per cent of all searches in June.
Yahoo, MSN and Ask.com received 19.6, 5.4 and 4.1 per cent respectively, further highlighting Microsoft's continued desire to acquire Yahoo to jointly tackle Google's domination.
Hitwise found that, although the figures are down slightly year on year, search engines continue to be the primary way for internet users to navigate key industry categories in the UK.
The figures also show that Google is becoming an increasing source of traffic to key industries.
Most notably, the online video and social networking categories continue to show double digit increases in their share of traffic coming directly from Google, at 17 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.
Maximsing email marketing
By Sue Fidler, Third Sector, 18 June 2008
Sue Fidler says charities need to get the maximum value from email marketing.
Email is the cheapest and fastest form of marketing most of us can afford. It arrives almost immediately, gets read within 24 hours, costs 1p per message and doesn't take expensive design and print agencies to produce. On top of that, we get instant reporting: we know who has opened, clicked and responded to our messages.
So it is disturbing to see the number of charities that still don't ask for email as a standard part of every data-capture contact with donors, campaigners, supporters and clients.
Whereas many have now added email to their donation forms, many still don't have email sign-up forms on their websites. Some have it on the web donation forms but not the paper ones. Many don't have it on petitions and sponsorship forms or include it in their telephone scripts.
Given the increasing pressure to raise the return on investment and maintain our income streams with less expenditure, and the pressure to become more environmentally friendly, email must be high on the list of cost-effective ways we can communicate.
Staff who say "it won't suit our donors; they aren't the right age" are ignoring the growth of the Saga social network and the fact that anyone who has retired from an office in the past 10 years will have used a PC - and the fact that these people are affluent professionals with disposable income.
Without in any way ignoring the potential importance of Facebook and Bebo for mass communication, or the trend among 15 to 21-year-olds for finding it "too slow", email is the most modern and up-to-date communication method available. Email addresses are valuable assets.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant.
Sue Fidler says charities need to get the maximum value from email marketing.
Email is the cheapest and fastest form of marketing most of us can afford. It arrives almost immediately, gets read within 24 hours, costs 1p per message and doesn't take expensive design and print agencies to produce. On top of that, we get instant reporting: we know who has opened, clicked and responded to our messages.
So it is disturbing to see the number of charities that still don't ask for email as a standard part of every data-capture contact with donors, campaigners, supporters and clients.
Whereas many have now added email to their donation forms, many still don't have email sign-up forms on their websites. Some have it on the web donation forms but not the paper ones. Many don't have it on petitions and sponsorship forms or include it in their telephone scripts.
Given the increasing pressure to raise the return on investment and maintain our income streams with less expenditure, and the pressure to become more environmentally friendly, email must be high on the list of cost-effective ways we can communicate.
Staff who say "it won't suit our donors; they aren't the right age" are ignoring the growth of the Saga social network and the fact that anyone who has retired from an office in the past 10 years will have used a PC - and the fact that these people are affluent professionals with disposable income.
Without in any way ignoring the potential importance of Facebook and Bebo for mass communication, or the trend among 15 to 21-year-olds for finding it "too slow", email is the most modern and up-to-date communication method available. Email addresses are valuable assets.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant.
17 July, 2008
MMA publishes new mobile guidelines
Jenny Hoffbrand, Precision Marketing
Brands wanting to leverage the mobile channel for marketing purposes can now benefit from new guidelines produced by the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA).
The new Global Code of Conduct provides guidelines for mobile marketers to consider when building their mobile marketing campaigns. The code is intended to help brands to use the channel effectively and responsibly, while protecting the customer experience.
The new guidelines were devised by the MMA’s Privacy Committee with input from the regional boards of directors in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and EMEA. The advice has been split into five categories: notice; choice and consent; customization and constraint; security; and enforcement and accountability.
The fundamental principles laid out in the code ensure that marketers inform customers of their identity when engaging in mobile marketing, and use opt-in systems and simple opt-out processes.
MMA global board chairman and managing director of AdMob Russell Buckley says: “The MMA believes that strong consumer privacy standards are essential to the success of mobile marketing by protecting mobile users from unwanted communications on their mobile devices. It is only through industry support of strong privacy guidelines that the power of mobile marketing can reach its full potential.”
Brands wanting to leverage the mobile channel for marketing purposes can now benefit from new guidelines produced by the Mobile Marketing Association (MMA).
The new Global Code of Conduct provides guidelines for mobile marketers to consider when building their mobile marketing campaigns. The code is intended to help brands to use the channel effectively and responsibly, while protecting the customer experience.
The new guidelines were devised by the MMA’s Privacy Committee with input from the regional boards of directors in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and EMEA. The advice has been split into five categories: notice; choice and consent; customization and constraint; security; and enforcement and accountability.
The fundamental principles laid out in the code ensure that marketers inform customers of their identity when engaging in mobile marketing, and use opt-in systems and simple opt-out processes.
MMA global board chairman and managing director of AdMob Russell Buckley says: “The MMA believes that strong consumer privacy standards are essential to the success of mobile marketing by protecting mobile users from unwanted communications on their mobile devices. It is only through industry support of strong privacy guidelines that the power of mobile marketing can reach its full potential.”
16 July, 2008
Keep your web developers on your side
By Sue Fidler, Third Sector, 16 July 2008
It is important to ensure that you have a good relationship with your web developers. If your agency has supplied you with a good content management system, there is no reason why you shouldn't use it for many years, making it a sound long-term investment. Some charities have already had the same agency and CMS for seven years or more, making the original spend very worthwhile.
But even an organisation that has used the same CMS for years is going to want to add to the site and develop new functionality to meet the changes in the organisation and the way the web is used. You should ask your developers to refresh your design every three years or so.
Once an agency has set up a site for you, you should be able to gauge that agency's strengths and weaknesses. It might have great designers but less strong coders; it might be great at customer service but slow on delivery.
Whatever the case, you need to work with the agency to make life easier. If you require something that is beyond its abilities, ask if there is someone else who could help. If it is slow at turning things round, make sure you set fixed deadlines and ample lead time.
Most of all, don't push the agency beyond its tolerance when trying to get free or low-cost work done. Most agencies are made up of nice people who will try to help charities, but they have to earn a living too.
The biggest failure rate comes from expecting too much for too little. You will get away with it for a while, but in the end it will sour the relationship and waste the investment. You will end up starting from scratch with a new agency and a new CMS rather than making the most of the one you have.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant
It is important to ensure that you have a good relationship with your web developers. If your agency has supplied you with a good content management system, there is no reason why you shouldn't use it for many years, making it a sound long-term investment. Some charities have already had the same agency and CMS for seven years or more, making the original spend very worthwhile.
But even an organisation that has used the same CMS for years is going to want to add to the site and develop new functionality to meet the changes in the organisation and the way the web is used. You should ask your developers to refresh your design every three years or so.
Once an agency has set up a site for you, you should be able to gauge that agency's strengths and weaknesses. It might have great designers but less strong coders; it might be great at customer service but slow on delivery.
Whatever the case, you need to work with the agency to make life easier. If you require something that is beyond its abilities, ask if there is someone else who could help. If it is slow at turning things round, make sure you set fixed deadlines and ample lead time.
Most of all, don't push the agency beyond its tolerance when trying to get free or low-cost work done. Most agencies are made up of nice people who will try to help charities, but they have to earn a living too.
The biggest failure rate comes from expecting too much for too little. You will get away with it for a while, but in the end it will sour the relationship and waste the investment. You will end up starting from scratch with a new agency and a new CMS rather than making the most of the one you have.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant
'Me' domain names available to all
Nikki Sandison Brand Republic
Registering for a ".me" domain name will be open to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis tomorrow from 4pm, with the company selling the rights hoping for a rush of bloggers to take up the address.
Originally, the domain was assigned to Montenegro after it gained its independence in June 2006. However, because of the potential worldwide appeal the name has, the government of Montenegro decided ".me" would be operated as a generic name space.
UK domain registration company LCN has managed the process, which begin in May when the "sunrise" period for trademark holders began. In June, "landrush" -- the period in which the general public register before a domain goes live -- began.
In total, more than 30,000 domains have already been registered and auctions for competing applications are now taking place.
When open registrations start tomorrow, new domains registered will go live within minutes, enabling anyone in the world to launch a site that is all about them immediately.
Predrag Lesic, the .ME Registry's executive director, said: "We were excited to see the innovative and catchy new domain names that were registered during landrush and now this brand new top level domain is open to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis."
Mark Boost, managing director of LCN, said: "The possibilities for .me as a domain name are endless. Individuals who are looking to register .me domain names to secure their own personal email address, such as john@smith.me will now be able to do so.
"Businesses will be quick to snap up those of real commercial value, but we're also anticipating a huge interest from bloggers who want to personalise their websites and make a real statement."
Registering for a ".me" domain name will be open to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis tomorrow from 4pm, with the company selling the rights hoping for a rush of bloggers to take up the address.
Originally, the domain was assigned to Montenegro after it gained its independence in June 2006. However, because of the potential worldwide appeal the name has, the government of Montenegro decided ".me" would be operated as a generic name space.
UK domain registration company LCN has managed the process, which begin in May when the "sunrise" period for trademark holders began. In June, "landrush" -- the period in which the general public register before a domain goes live -- began.
In total, more than 30,000 domains have already been registered and auctions for competing applications are now taking place.
When open registrations start tomorrow, new domains registered will go live within minutes, enabling anyone in the world to launch a site that is all about them immediately.
Predrag Lesic, the .ME Registry's executive director, said: "We were excited to see the innovative and catchy new domain names that were registered during landrush and now this brand new top level domain is open to anyone on a first-come, first-served basis."
Mark Boost, managing director of LCN, said: "The possibilities for .me as a domain name are endless. Individuals who are looking to register .me domain names to secure their own personal email address, such as john@smith.me will now be able to do so.
"Businesses will be quick to snap up those of real commercial value, but we're also anticipating a huge interest from bloggers who want to personalise their websites and make a real statement."
Facebook blunder exposes personal details
Robert Jaques vnunet.com,
Beta test site shows dates of birth
Facebook has accidentally revealed personal information about its members.
The social networking site divulged the dates of birth of many of its 80 million active users, even those who had requested that the information remained confidential.
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, explained that the information was exposed during a public beta test of Facebook's new design.
"I was shocked to see people's full date of birth revealed, even though I knew they had their privacy set up correctly to supposedly hide the information, " he said.
"It is essential that users of social networks should have confidence that their privacy will be protected, and it is especially important with information like your date of birth which can be a golden nugget for a committed identity thief."
Cluley added that he informed Facebook as soon as he discovered the flaw, which now appears to have been fixed.
Sophos has published a video on its YouTube channel demonstrating the security hole.
Beta test site shows dates of birth
Facebook has accidentally revealed personal information about its members.
The social networking site divulged the dates of birth of many of its 80 million active users, even those who had requested that the information remained confidential.
Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos, explained that the information was exposed during a public beta test of Facebook's new design.
"I was shocked to see people's full date of birth revealed, even though I knew they had their privacy set up correctly to supposedly hide the information, " he said.
"It is essential that users of social networks should have confidence that their privacy will be protected, and it is especially important with information like your date of birth which can be a golden nugget for a committed identity thief."
Cluley added that he informed Facebook as soon as he discovered the flaw, which now appears to have been fixed.
Sophos has published a video on its YouTube channel demonstrating the security hole.
Keep your web developers on your side
By Sue Fidler, Third Sector, 16 July 2008
It is important to ensure that you have a good relationship with your web developers. If your agency has supplied you with a good content management system, there is no reason why you shouldn't use it for many years, making it a sound long-term investment. Some charities have already had the same agency and CMS for seven years or more, making the original spend very worthwhile.
But even an organisation that has used the same CMS for years is going to want to add to the site and develop new functionality to meet the changes in the organisation and the way the web is used. You should ask your developers to refresh your design every three years or so.
Once an agency has set up a site for you, you should be able to gauge that agency's strengths and weaknesses. It might have great designers but less strong coders; it might be great at customer service but slow on delivery.
Whatever the case, you need to work with the agency to make life easier. If you require something that is beyond its abilities, ask if there is someone else who could help. If it is slow at turning things round, make sure you set fixed deadlines and ample lead time.
Most of all, don't push the agency beyond its tolerance when trying to get free or low-cost work done. Most agencies are made up of nice people who will try to help charities, but they have to earn a living too.
The biggest failure rate comes from expecting too much for too little. You will get away with it for a while, but in the end it will sour the relationship and waste the investment. You will end up starting from scratch with a new agency and a new CMS rather than making the most of the one you have.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant
It is important to ensure that you have a good relationship with your web developers. If your agency has supplied you with a good content management system, there is no reason why you shouldn't use it for many years, making it a sound long-term investment. Some charities have already had the same agency and CMS for seven years or more, making the original spend very worthwhile.
But even an organisation that has used the same CMS for years is going to want to add to the site and develop new functionality to meet the changes in the organisation and the way the web is used. You should ask your developers to refresh your design every three years or so.
Once an agency has set up a site for you, you should be able to gauge that agency's strengths and weaknesses. It might have great designers but less strong coders; it might be great at customer service but slow on delivery.
Whatever the case, you need to work with the agency to make life easier. If you require something that is beyond its abilities, ask if there is someone else who could help. If it is slow at turning things round, make sure you set fixed deadlines and ample lead time.
Most of all, don't push the agency beyond its tolerance when trying to get free or low-cost work done. Most agencies are made up of nice people who will try to help charities, but they have to earn a living too.
The biggest failure rate comes from expecting too much for too little. You will get away with it for a while, but in the end it will sour the relationship and waste the investment. You will end up starting from scratch with a new agency and a new CMS rather than making the most of the one you have.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant
11 July, 2008
Google launches virtual world
Rufus Jay Marketing Week
Google has launched an online virtual world in the US called Lively. It will allows consumers to create a virtual room that can be embedded into a blog or website.
Lively, which was unveiled on the Google blog, can also be accessed from Facebook and MySpace and users will be able to stream their own content from the their rooms.
Users can create the room's environment and design furniture and their own avatar, which can interact with other characters through text chat and animated actions.
Google says that advertisers could use Lively rooms as an extension of their websites to allow consumers to engage "more deeply with the brand".
The search engine company hopes to make it possible for advertisers to "create a full branded experience in Lively". It adds: "We are working hard so that anybody can create custom content, but are still testing the feature."
Lively began as Google engineering manager Niniane Wang's "20% project" and is being released as part of Google Labs, which is a new initiative that allows users and developers to test things and send feedback. Google offers its engineers 20% of their time to work on projects that they are interested in.
Google has launched an online virtual world in the US called Lively. It will allows consumers to create a virtual room that can be embedded into a blog or website.
Lively, which was unveiled on the Google blog, can also be accessed from Facebook and MySpace and users will be able to stream their own content from the their rooms.
Users can create the room's environment and design furniture and their own avatar, which can interact with other characters through text chat and animated actions.
Google says that advertisers could use Lively rooms as an extension of their websites to allow consumers to engage "more deeply with the brand".
The search engine company hopes to make it possible for advertisers to "create a full branded experience in Lively". It adds: "We are working hard so that anybody can create custom content, but are still testing the feature."
Lively began as Google engineering manager Niniane Wang's "20% project" and is being released as part of Google Labs, which is a new initiative that allows users and developers to test things and send feedback. Google offers its engineers 20% of their time to work on projects that they are interested in.
09 July, 2008
Orange to launch UK social network service
Fiona Ramsay Media Week
Mobile phone operator Orange plans to launch a new social networking service in the UK this summer, combining MySpace, Facebook, Pikeo, Bebo and other social networking sites onto its Orange World mobile portal.
The service, which has already launched in France, combines the sites' functions into one area.Members of MySpace, Facebook and Bebo will be able to view their profile updates and recently uploaded pictures on Orange mobile phones.
The Orange service works by displaying popular functions of multiple social networks together, so that they can be accessed with one click, rather than have users log into separate sites.
Paul-Francois Fournier, senior vice-president for portal strategy and online advertising at Orange, said: "This new service will give our mobile customers easy and optimised access to the most popular Internet online communities on their mobile, so they can take it with them wherever they go.
"It also supports our cross-platform advertising strategy, with a compelling offer for advertisers to reach all those different communities in one single place on Orange World portals."
Mobile phone operator Orange plans to launch a new social networking service in the UK this summer, combining MySpace, Facebook, Pikeo, Bebo and other social networking sites onto its Orange World mobile portal.
The service, which has already launched in France, combines the sites' functions into one area.Members of MySpace, Facebook and Bebo will be able to view their profile updates and recently uploaded pictures on Orange mobile phones.
The Orange service works by displaying popular functions of multiple social networks together, so that they can be accessed with one click, rather than have users log into separate sites.
Paul-Francois Fournier, senior vice-president for portal strategy and online advertising at Orange, said: "This new service will give our mobile customers easy and optimised access to the most popular Internet online communities on their mobile, so they can take it with them wherever they go.
"It also supports our cross-platform advertising strategy, with a compelling offer for advertisers to reach all those different communities in one single place on Orange World portals."
07 July, 2008
Google faces official complaint over UK launch of Street View
Jennifer Whitehead Brand Republic
A privacy watchdog has threatened to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office over the launch of Google's Street View technology in the UK.
Street View allows users to look up addresses and see photographs of locations rather than maps. It uses a fleet of cars fitted with cameras to capture images of cities -- often photographing unwary bystanders at the same time.
It is this element that has raised the heckles of privacy campaigners, because people appearing in the pictures have not usually given their permission for the image to be reproduced.
In the US, where the service is up and running, some people who have appeared in pictures have complained, and the images have been removed.
According to reports, Google is trialling technology that will identify and blur people's faces, but Privacy International, which campaigns for people's right to privacy, has questioned whether this will work.
It has written to Google asking for information on the technical aspects of the service, and that if it does not get a response within seven days, it will lodge a complaint with the ICO.
Founder Simon Davies said that the crux of the issue was trust, citing examples of technology that Google has promised, but that has not eventuated.
Davies told BBC News: "I recall the promise made by Google during the DoubleClick acquisition that 'crumbling cookies' would be developed. We have seen no evidence that this technology has been deployed."
He also accused Google of acting "like an irresponsible adolescent".
In response, a Google spokesperson said: "We will not launch in UK until we are comfortable Street View complies with local law, including law relating to the display of images of individuals.
"We will use technology, like face-blurring, and operational controls, such as image removal tools, so Street View remains useful and in keeping with local norms wherever it is available."
It is a bad week for Google and privacy issues, with the search giant being ordered to hand over records of every single video on YouTube and who it has been watched by, as part of a court case involving MTV.
Google is trying to ensure that any identifying information is removed from the YouTube log before it is handed over.
There have also been reports of teenagers using the Google Earth service to identify houses that have swimming pools and then organise "flash mob" pool parties through various social networking sites, a practice known as "dipping".
A privacy watchdog has threatened to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office over the launch of Google's Street View technology in the UK.
Street View allows users to look up addresses and see photographs of locations rather than maps. It uses a fleet of cars fitted with cameras to capture images of cities -- often photographing unwary bystanders at the same time.
It is this element that has raised the heckles of privacy campaigners, because people appearing in the pictures have not usually given their permission for the image to be reproduced.
In the US, where the service is up and running, some people who have appeared in pictures have complained, and the images have been removed.
According to reports, Google is trialling technology that will identify and blur people's faces, but Privacy International, which campaigns for people's right to privacy, has questioned whether this will work.
It has written to Google asking for information on the technical aspects of the service, and that if it does not get a response within seven days, it will lodge a complaint with the ICO.
Founder Simon Davies said that the crux of the issue was trust, citing examples of technology that Google has promised, but that has not eventuated.
Davies told BBC News: "I recall the promise made by Google during the DoubleClick acquisition that 'crumbling cookies' would be developed. We have seen no evidence that this technology has been deployed."
He also accused Google of acting "like an irresponsible adolescent".
In response, a Google spokesperson said: "We will not launch in UK until we are comfortable Street View complies with local law, including law relating to the display of images of individuals.
"We will use technology, like face-blurring, and operational controls, such as image removal tools, so Street View remains useful and in keeping with local norms wherever it is available."
It is a bad week for Google and privacy issues, with the search giant being ordered to hand over records of every single video on YouTube and who it has been watched by, as part of a court case involving MTV.
Google is trying to ensure that any identifying information is removed from the YouTube log before it is handed over.
There have also been reports of teenagers using the Google Earth service to identify houses that have swimming pools and then organise "flash mob" pool parties through various social networking sites, a practice known as "dipping".
04 July, 2008
Google ordered to reveal details of every YouTube user
Jennifer Whitehead Brand Republic
NEW YORK - Google has been ordered by a US court to hand over the personal details of everyone who has ever watched a video on YouTube, which it owns, as the result of a court case brought by MTV's parent company Viacom.
Viacom has taken Google to court over copyright infringements on YouTube. It is suing for $1bn.
A judge has ordered YouTube to hand over the computer logs, which include IP addresses, YouTube account details, email addresses, and a history of every video and who has watched it.
Civil rights advocates are disappointed by the decision, and have warned that it could be in breach of privacy laws.
Kurt Opsahl, a lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which campaigns for online freedom, said: "The court's erroneous ruling is a set-back to privacy rights, and will allow Viacom to see what you are watching on YouTube.
"We urge Viacom to back off this overbroad request and Google to take all steps necessary to challenge this order and protect the rights of its users."
No doubt wary of a backlash against it by YouTube's millions of fans worldwide, Viacom has said that it did not ask for the personal data and blamed Google for putting it in that situation.
It said: "Any information that we or our outside advisors obtain -- which will not include personally identifiable information -- will be used exclusively for the purpose of proving our case against You Tube and Google, will be handled subject to a court protective order and in a highly confidential manner."
Figures from Nielsen Online show that during May 130.1m people from around the world visited YouTube, spending an average of 49 minutes on the site.
Viacom launched its lawsuit against YouTube in March 2007. It accused the video-sharing website of "massive intentional copyright infringement
NEW YORK - Google has been ordered by a US court to hand over the personal details of everyone who has ever watched a video on YouTube, which it owns, as the result of a court case brought by MTV's parent company Viacom.
Viacom has taken Google to court over copyright infringements on YouTube. It is suing for $1bn.
A judge has ordered YouTube to hand over the computer logs, which include IP addresses, YouTube account details, email addresses, and a history of every video and who has watched it.
Civil rights advocates are disappointed by the decision, and have warned that it could be in breach of privacy laws.
Kurt Opsahl, a lawyer for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which campaigns for online freedom, said: "The court's erroneous ruling is a set-back to privacy rights, and will allow Viacom to see what you are watching on YouTube.
"We urge Viacom to back off this overbroad request and Google to take all steps necessary to challenge this order and protect the rights of its users."
No doubt wary of a backlash against it by YouTube's millions of fans worldwide, Viacom has said that it did not ask for the personal data and blamed Google for putting it in that situation.
It said: "Any information that we or our outside advisors obtain -- which will not include personally identifiable information -- will be used exclusively for the purpose of proving our case against You Tube and Google, will be handled subject to a court protective order and in a highly confidential manner."
Figures from Nielsen Online show that during May 130.1m people from around the world visited YouTube, spending an average of 49 minutes on the site.
Viacom launched its lawsuit against YouTube in March 2007. It accused the video-sharing website of "massive intentional copyright infringement
03 July, 2008
Joe Saxton to forge coalition to reduce SMS charges
CharityComms
The Institute of Fundraising has invited its outgoing chair, Joe Saxton, to forge a coalition of all parties keen to reduce current prohibitive fees the telecoms industry charges charities who seek donations via SMS text messaging.
The coalition is likely to include fundraising charities and infrastructure bodies as well as fundraising agencies and other supplier stakeholders, not to mention media organisations, celebrities and any other relevant interested parties.
Participants will be expected to commit to bring something of use to the coalition’s table – be it time, money, expertise or other resources.
Paul Amadi, Group Director of Fundraising at RNIB and incoming [8 July] chair of the Institute of Fundraising, said:
“The Institute of Fundraising is delighted that Joe Saxton has accepted our challenge of working to reduce the cost of making a donation by SMS text message to the point at which it becomes cost-effective for this form of fundraising to flourish. This is a very real issue, not least as charities seek to engage with younger donors. We look forward to opening up a whole new way of giving to brand new audiences.”
The campaign will involve opening discussions with the mobile providers and other key industry stakeholders, including regulators. This process is likely to start in earnest toward the end of 2008 or early 2009 - once the coalition is formed and the research is complete.
nfpSynergy will undertake research into SMS fundraising, as a basis for a campaign which will involve detailed desk and original research to establish the current, relatively unknown, situation vis-à-vis text messaging, ascertaining the attitudes both of mobile phone users and of the fundraising community.
Joe Saxton, nfpSynergy’s Driver of Ideas and outgoing [8 July] chair of the Institute of Fundraising, said:
“Many charities find the current charges made by phone providers - simply for collecting donations via SMS - prohibitive. HMRC has thankfully been re-examining the broader VAT issue on charity phone bills.
We now invite the telecoms industry itself to address its charge structures, specifically in relation to text-donations. The fundraising potential could well be substantial, not least amongst the young. By striking the right balance, mobile phone operators, charities and donors can all benefit.”
Those seeking further information, or keen to explore the possibility of joining the coalition, should contact Joe Saxton on joe.saxton@nfpsynergy.net
The Institute of Fundraising has invited its outgoing chair, Joe Saxton, to forge a coalition of all parties keen to reduce current prohibitive fees the telecoms industry charges charities who seek donations via SMS text messaging.
The coalition is likely to include fundraising charities and infrastructure bodies as well as fundraising agencies and other supplier stakeholders, not to mention media organisations, celebrities and any other relevant interested parties.
Participants will be expected to commit to bring something of use to the coalition’s table – be it time, money, expertise or other resources.
Paul Amadi, Group Director of Fundraising at RNIB and incoming [8 July] chair of the Institute of Fundraising, said:
“The Institute of Fundraising is delighted that Joe Saxton has accepted our challenge of working to reduce the cost of making a donation by SMS text message to the point at which it becomes cost-effective for this form of fundraising to flourish. This is a very real issue, not least as charities seek to engage with younger donors. We look forward to opening up a whole new way of giving to brand new audiences.”
The campaign will involve opening discussions with the mobile providers and other key industry stakeholders, including regulators. This process is likely to start in earnest toward the end of 2008 or early 2009 - once the coalition is formed and the research is complete.
nfpSynergy will undertake research into SMS fundraising, as a basis for a campaign which will involve detailed desk and original research to establish the current, relatively unknown, situation vis-à-vis text messaging, ascertaining the attitudes both of mobile phone users and of the fundraising community.
Joe Saxton, nfpSynergy’s Driver of Ideas and outgoing [8 July] chair of the Institute of Fundraising, said:
“Many charities find the current charges made by phone providers - simply for collecting donations via SMS - prohibitive. HMRC has thankfully been re-examining the broader VAT issue on charity phone bills.
We now invite the telecoms industry itself to address its charge structures, specifically in relation to text-donations. The fundraising potential could well be substantial, not least amongst the young. By striking the right balance, mobile phone operators, charities and donors can all benefit.”
Those seeking further information, or keen to explore the possibility of joining the coalition, should contact Joe Saxton on joe.saxton@nfpsynergy.net
02 July, 2008
Analysie your website content
By Sue Fidler, Third Sector, 2 July 2008
Sue Fidler recommends an analysis of how people use the content on your website.
Marketers are used to hearing the refrain "content is king", and since the advent of the internet it has become more than just a truism.
Making your content work is important on two fronts. First, you need to attract your audiences, get them to the right information and then keep them interested enough to come back. So organising your content and making it attractive are crucial to both the usefulness and the stickiness of your website.
Add Google Analytics and make sure you track routes through the site and exit pages. If visitors click on a section and then exit before getting to the real content, you can tell that they were looking for something and didn't find it. This is particularly important for actions you want them to take. If they click the donate button but exit before donating, something is wrong; they have shown intent but something has put them off.
The second thing content needs to do is make the site relevant and 'new'. Having new stories or news on the home page makes the site look like it is being updated and refreshed on a regular basis. Committed supporters want to see new information about the cause and new things they can do. Replacing the top story once a week keeps the site fresh.
But be warned: one of the most off-putting aspects of a home page is a news section that doesn't get refreshed on a very regular basis. If you don't generate enough news to be able to change the stories weekly, don't have a news section. It is better to have a block of stories and add one when you can than to have a news column that never gets updated. It will make the site seem uncared for and will quickly stop people coming back.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant
Sue Fidler recommends an analysis of how people use the content on your website.
Marketers are used to hearing the refrain "content is king", and since the advent of the internet it has become more than just a truism.
Making your content work is important on two fronts. First, you need to attract your audiences, get them to the right information and then keep them interested enough to come back. So organising your content and making it attractive are crucial to both the usefulness and the stickiness of your website.
Add Google Analytics and make sure you track routes through the site and exit pages. If visitors click on a section and then exit before getting to the real content, you can tell that they were looking for something and didn't find it. This is particularly important for actions you want them to take. If they click the donate button but exit before donating, something is wrong; they have shown intent but something has put them off.
The second thing content needs to do is make the site relevant and 'new'. Having new stories or news on the home page makes the site look like it is being updated and refreshed on a regular basis. Committed supporters want to see new information about the cause and new things they can do. Replacing the top story once a week keeps the site fresh.
But be warned: one of the most off-putting aspects of a home page is a news section that doesn't get refreshed on a very regular basis. If you don't generate enough news to be able to change the stories weekly, don't have a news section. It is better to have a block of stories and add one when you can than to have a news column that never gets updated. It will make the site seem uncared for and will quickly stop people coming back.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant
Email and telemarketing key to stewardship says report
Sara Kimberley Precision Marketing
More charities believe email and telephone marketing have more of a major role to play in fundraising stewardships than direct mail, according to a new report.
The interim analysis of the Relationship Marketing Stewardship Survey reveals 57 per cent of respondents believe telephone marketing has a major role to play in stewardship and is a medium that should be regularly used to communicate with a majority of donors.
Nearly 49 per cent of respondents believe that email has a major role to play, while only 44 per cent of respondents believe direct mail should be a key factor in fundraising stewardship.
The survey also reveals 56 per cent of respondents think there should be a common, accepted definition of fundraising stewardship and currently there is little consensus in the sector about what stewardship is.
Over 60 per cent of respondents think that thanking donors promptly and politely is an ‘essential’ part of stewardship, 13 per cent only see it as a ‘building block of stewardship’, while 16 per cent consider this to be a ‘self-contained definition’ of fundraising stewardship.
Relationship marketing director of development Gordon Michie says: “Once again I think what these topline figures indicate is the different concepts of stewardship that fundraisers hold and the different types of communication vehicle they think they’ll need to deliver their own idea of stewardship. It will be fascinating as we drill down into these responses to discover what correlations there are between how fundraisers scored definitions of stewardship and how they rated communications methods.”
More charities believe email and telephone marketing have more of a major role to play in fundraising stewardships than direct mail, according to a new report.
The interim analysis of the Relationship Marketing Stewardship Survey reveals 57 per cent of respondents believe telephone marketing has a major role to play in stewardship and is a medium that should be regularly used to communicate with a majority of donors.
Nearly 49 per cent of respondents believe that email has a major role to play, while only 44 per cent of respondents believe direct mail should be a key factor in fundraising stewardship.
The survey also reveals 56 per cent of respondents think there should be a common, accepted definition of fundraising stewardship and currently there is little consensus in the sector about what stewardship is.
Over 60 per cent of respondents think that thanking donors promptly and politely is an ‘essential’ part of stewardship, 13 per cent only see it as a ‘building block of stewardship’, while 16 per cent consider this to be a ‘self-contained definition’ of fundraising stewardship.
Relationship marketing director of development Gordon Michie says: “Once again I think what these topline figures indicate is the different concepts of stewardship that fundraisers hold and the different types of communication vehicle they think they’ll need to deliver their own idea of stewardship. It will be fascinating as we drill down into these responses to discover what correlations there are between how fundraisers scored definitions of stewardship and how they rated communications methods.”
Analysie your website content
By Sue Fidler, Third Sector, 2 July 2008
Sue Fidler recommends an analysis of how people use the content on your website.
Marketers are used to hearing the refrain "content is king", and since the advent of the internet it has become more than just a truism.
Making your content work is important on two fronts. First, you need to attract your audiences, get them to the right information and then keep them interested enough to come back. So organising your content and making it attractive are crucial to both the usefulness and the stickiness of your website.
Add Google Analytics and make sure you track routes through the site and exit pages. If visitors click on a section and then exit before getting to the real content, you can tell that they were looking for something and didn't find it. This is particularly important for actions you want them to take. If they click the donate button but exit before donating, something is wrong; they have shown intent but something has put them off.
The second thing content needs to do is make the site relevant and 'new'. Having new stories or news on the home page makes the site look like it is being updated and refreshed on a regular basis. Committed supporters want to see new information about the cause and new things they can do. Replacing the top story once a week keeps the site fresh.
But be warned: one of the most off-putting aspects of a home page is a news section that doesn't get refreshed on a very regular basis. If you don't generate enough news to be able to change the stories weekly, don't have a news section. It is better to have a block of stories and add one when you can than to have a news column that never gets updated. It will make the site seem uncared for and will quickly stop people coming back.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant
Sue Fidler recommends an analysis of how people use the content on your website.
Marketers are used to hearing the refrain "content is king", and since the advent of the internet it has become more than just a truism.
Making your content work is important on two fronts. First, you need to attract your audiences, get them to the right information and then keep them interested enough to come back. So organising your content and making it attractive are crucial to both the usefulness and the stickiness of your website.
Add Google Analytics and make sure you track routes through the site and exit pages. If visitors click on a section and then exit before getting to the real content, you can tell that they were looking for something and didn't find it. This is particularly important for actions you want them to take. If they click the donate button but exit before donating, something is wrong; they have shown intent but something has put them off.
The second thing content needs to do is make the site relevant and 'new'. Having new stories or news on the home page makes the site look like it is being updated and refreshed on a regular basis. Committed supporters want to see new information about the cause and new things they can do. Replacing the top story once a week keeps the site fresh.
But be warned: one of the most off-putting aspects of a home page is a news section that doesn't get refreshed on a very regular basis. If you don't generate enough news to be able to change the stories weekly, don't have a news section. It is better to have a block of stories and add one when you can than to have a news column that never gets updated. It will make the site seem uncared for and will quickly stop people coming back.
- Sue Fidler is an independent charity ICT and internet consultant
01 July, 2008
Cartoon Network opens Mini Match, a social gaming virtual world for kids
Staff (Social Media Portal)
Children’s entertainment pursues its migration from the TV to the computer screen with the launch of Mini Match, a new virtual world from Cartoon Network.
Mini Match is an online environment focused around multi-player games where children can meet and play online games with friends. The Cartoon Network claim that Mini Match is one of the few virtual worlds focused on multi-player gaming. The virtual world allows a younger audience to immerse themselves in a fully-fledged social gaming environment alongside classic chat and exploration features.
“Mini Match opens up a whole new world of gaming to our online audience”, said Paul Condolora, senior vice president, digital for Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media Group. “The action-adventure theme complements some of our most popular shows and provides kids with a safe virtual destination for social gaming.”
Once they have created a customizable avatar, players are ready to enter a variety of graphically sophisticated environments based on familiar Cartoon Network shows, where they can then engage in a selection of social activities on offer. These are either competitive or collaborative, ranging from spontaneous multiplayer “tag” battles to social puzzle-solving. Activities are practised against the back-drop of a mystery story that progressively unfolds the microscopic world in which Mini Match takes place.
By chatting to each other, using a custom dictionary that automatically edits out inappropriate word-content, kids can work together in order to discover the key to the plot. Playing games is rewarded with points that allow kids to further customize their avatars and acquire new in-game equipment and abilities.
By offering an interactive and family-friendly online gaming venue based on its own themes, Cartoon Network seeks to reinforce audience identification with its branded content such as Ben 10 or Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.
Children’s entertainment pursues its migration from the TV to the computer screen with the launch of Mini Match, a new virtual world from Cartoon Network.
Mini Match is an online environment focused around multi-player games where children can meet and play online games with friends. The Cartoon Network claim that Mini Match is one of the few virtual worlds focused on multi-player gaming. The virtual world allows a younger audience to immerse themselves in a fully-fledged social gaming environment alongside classic chat and exploration features.
“Mini Match opens up a whole new world of gaming to our online audience”, said Paul Condolora, senior vice president, digital for Turner Broadcasting System Inc.’s Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media Group. “The action-adventure theme complements some of our most popular shows and provides kids with a safe virtual destination for social gaming.”
Once they have created a customizable avatar, players are ready to enter a variety of graphically sophisticated environments based on familiar Cartoon Network shows, where they can then engage in a selection of social activities on offer. These are either competitive or collaborative, ranging from spontaneous multiplayer “tag” battles to social puzzle-solving. Activities are practised against the back-drop of a mystery story that progressively unfolds the microscopic world in which Mini Match takes place.
By chatting to each other, using a custom dictionary that automatically edits out inappropriate word-content, kids can work together in order to discover the key to the plot. Playing games is rewarded with points that allow kids to further customize their avatars and acquire new in-game equipment and abilities.
By offering an interactive and family-friendly online gaming venue based on its own themes, Cartoon Network seeks to reinforce audience identification with its branded content such as Ben 10 or Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends.
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