Sarah Townsend, Third Sector Online
An online social network that connects thousands of charities and social entrepreneurs worldwide is seeking investment from overseas markets.
UnLtdWorld is one of 21 UK companies selected for a place on the Digital Mission 2008 to New York's Web 2.0 Expo.
The Digital Mission, organised by Chinwag, will attend the five-day gathering for web industry experts in September and aims to help digital companies attract investment outside the UK.
Alberto Nardelli, chief strategist for UnLtdWorld, said:
"It is my hope that through the Digital Mission we establish a range of strategic partnerships and relations with like-minded organisations in the US, one of the most vibrant and growing social entrepreneur sectors in the world."
Since it was launched in March this year, UnLtdWorld has been a finalist in the 2008 New Statesman New Media Awards, Innovation Category and a runner-up at Startup 2.0, an award recognising the most innovative start-ups in Europe
28 August, 2008
27 August, 2008
Paid Search costs soar following Google policy change
Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh Revolution
The cost of running paid search campaigns has rocketed by nearly 20 per cent since Google changed its trademark rules earlier this year.
Google scrapped rules preventing advertisers from bidding on branded keywords on 5 May. The change means consumers searching for specific brands, such as Nissan, may now receive sponsored listings for their closest rivals.
Latitude chief sales and -marketing officer Neil McCarthy claims that costs have soared by as much as 40 percent since Google's ruling, but have now settled to a 17 per cent increase. The search agency tracked a range of keywords across its client list before and after the changes.
The cost increase is being driven by competition for mid-range branded keywords. It is uneconomical for competitors to bid for well-known brands, as consumers are specific about what they are looking for, according to Latitude.
New figures show that nine out of 10 internet searches are for brand names rather than generic terms.
According to Hitwise's report Managing Your Brand Online, 88 per cent of UK internet searches for the 2,000 most popular search terms in May 2008 were for branded terms - up from 65 per cent in 2005.
The 10 most popular searches were brand destinations, led by Facebook, Bebo, YouTube and MySpace. The report found that 8.7 per cent of searches for the top 100 online brands in the UK results in a visit to a website not operated by the brand owner.
The Search Works group retail account director Stewart Hunter said that while the top searches are for brand names, retailers will still gain large amounts of traffic from searches for generic terms.
For more details see the September issue of Revolution, which is out now.
The cost of running paid search campaigns has rocketed by nearly 20 per cent since Google changed its trademark rules earlier this year.
Google scrapped rules preventing advertisers from bidding on branded keywords on 5 May. The change means consumers searching for specific brands, such as Nissan, may now receive sponsored listings for their closest rivals.
Latitude chief sales and -marketing officer Neil McCarthy claims that costs have soared by as much as 40 percent since Google's ruling, but have now settled to a 17 per cent increase. The search agency tracked a range of keywords across its client list before and after the changes.
The cost increase is being driven by competition for mid-range branded keywords. It is uneconomical for competitors to bid for well-known brands, as consumers are specific about what they are looking for, according to Latitude.
New figures show that nine out of 10 internet searches are for brand names rather than generic terms.
According to Hitwise's report Managing Your Brand Online, 88 per cent of UK internet searches for the 2,000 most popular search terms in May 2008 were for branded terms - up from 65 per cent in 2005.
The 10 most popular searches were brand destinations, led by Facebook, Bebo, YouTube and MySpace. The report found that 8.7 per cent of searches for the top 100 online brands in the UK results in a visit to a website not operated by the brand owner.
The Search Works group retail account director Stewart Hunter said that while the top searches are for brand names, retailers will still gain large amounts of traffic from searches for generic terms.
For more details see the September issue of Revolution, which is out now.
Age Concern opens charity shop at local tip
Gareth Jones Professional Fundraising
A branch of Age Concern has opened a charity shop at a rubbish dump in order to divert items away from landfill and back into the community.
Age Concern Warwickshire won the tender to run the shop, situated at Hunters Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Rugby, after Warwickshire County Council refurbished the complex to increase its recycling capacity.
The contract, which runs for three years, ensures that the charity receives all proceeds from the shop for use on its activities in the Rugby area.
The council’s recycling policy has already seen another charity, the Shakespeare Hospice Trust, and a social enterprise, Action 21, open reuse shops in the region.
Aladdin’s CaveSteve Thomson, director of business development at Age Concern Warwickshire, said it is a departure from the traditional charity shop.
“It’s a change of stock in that it tends to be larger pieces of furniture and electrical items, and it’s a little bit more like a warehouse, with racking and a lot of free standing furniture.
“You could probably say its more like a builder’s yard, but you can find some really interesting items as it’s like an Aladdin’s cave in there.”
A branch of Age Concern has opened a charity shop at a rubbish dump in order to divert items away from landfill and back into the community.
Age Concern Warwickshire won the tender to run the shop, situated at Hunters Lane Household Waste Recycling Centre (HWRC) in Rugby, after Warwickshire County Council refurbished the complex to increase its recycling capacity.
The contract, which runs for three years, ensures that the charity receives all proceeds from the shop for use on its activities in the Rugby area.
The council’s recycling policy has already seen another charity, the Shakespeare Hospice Trust, and a social enterprise, Action 21, open reuse shops in the region.
Aladdin’s CaveSteve Thomson, director of business development at Age Concern Warwickshire, said it is a departure from the traditional charity shop.
“It’s a change of stock in that it tends to be larger pieces of furniture and electrical items, and it’s a little bit more like a warehouse, with racking and a lot of free standing furniture.
“You could probably say its more like a builder’s yard, but you can find some really interesting items as it’s like an Aladdin’s cave in there.”
22 August, 2008
NSPCC to use digital in year-round promo
The NSPCC is using digital media to maintain year-round communications between the ChildLine brand and its child target audience.
The strategy, which will roll out from this autumn, is part of a move by the charity to use social media to engage its audience throughout the year, rather than with one annual marketing campaign.
Emily Knee, senior digital account manager at the NSPCC, said, "We're looking to implement more sustained communications with smaller campaigns over the year. From this autumn we'll begin to build up a new digital strategy."
She said the strategy would look to build on its existing work in social media. The charity already has a presence on Bebo, Habbo and Piczo.
The NSPCC's spring campaign, 'Whatever your worry, it's better out than in', drove 182,780 users to the website. It was created by Avenue A/Razorfish and Zed Media.
The strategy, which will roll out from this autumn, is part of a move by the charity to use social media to engage its audience throughout the year, rather than with one annual marketing campaign.
Emily Knee, senior digital account manager at the NSPCC, said, "We're looking to implement more sustained communications with smaller campaigns over the year. From this autumn we'll begin to build up a new digital strategy."
She said the strategy would look to build on its existing work in social media. The charity already has a presence on Bebo, Habbo and Piczo.
The NSPCC's spring campaign, 'Whatever your worry, it's better out than in', drove 182,780 users to the website. It was created by Avenue A/Razorfish and Zed Media.
20 August, 2008
RSPCA launches Tamagotchi-style game for mobile phones
Marketing
The RSPCA is adopting a mobile strategy in a bid to encourage responsible pet ownership.
The animal-welfare charity has launched a mobile phone-based game called MobiDog, inspired by the Tamagotchi games, which it hopes will help spread the message of responsible pet ownership.
RSCPA campaigner Helen Ball said the game was intended to educate users about the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which places a 'duty of care' on owners to ensure they look after their pets.
The MobiDog, which was created and developed by Lateral, requires its owner to feed it and provide water, shelter and companionship.
The charity has previously launched a cyber pet, which supporters can download to their computer desktop and 'look after'.
The RSPCA relies entirely on voluntary donations and supporters' legacies.
Earlier this year, it hired Web Liquid to create a viral-based competition around the Formula One British Grand Prix, offering tickets to the race at Silverstone.
The RSPCA is adopting a mobile strategy in a bid to encourage responsible pet ownership.
The animal-welfare charity has launched a mobile phone-based game called MobiDog, inspired by the Tamagotchi games, which it hopes will help spread the message of responsible pet ownership.
RSCPA campaigner Helen Ball said the game was intended to educate users about the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which places a 'duty of care' on owners to ensure they look after their pets.
The MobiDog, which was created and developed by Lateral, requires its owner to feed it and provide water, shelter and companionship.
The charity has previously launched a cyber pet, which supporters can download to their computer desktop and 'look after'.
The RSPCA relies entirely on voluntary donations and supporters' legacies.
Earlier this year, it hired Web Liquid to create a viral-based competition around the Formula One British Grand Prix, offering tickets to the race at Silverstone.
Online fundraising guide, part 2: how to raise income
The first and most crucial step in raising money online has to be getting donors to visit your website. Most people, even those who have given in the past, are unlikely to give without being asked.
Search engine listing is important. Make sure your site is registered under every variant or acronym you have. Work on your 'meta tags' - the codes that sit on your site and which search engines use to get your title, description and keyword tags.
Most donors will need pushing to your site. You have to get your name and message in front of them in the same way as you would with traditional offline marketing.
The Response One Group did some research into the relative effectiveness of different advertising media for encouraging potential benefactors to visit websites and seriously consider making contributions. They found that email topped the list, because it was 52 per cent more likely than average to inspire a web visit and serious consideration of a donation. TV and newspaper advertising (34 per cent) and direct mail (16 per cent) also scored above average.
The report showed that, for most people, social network advertising was only as popular as unsolicited email. Only the 18 to 24-year-olds were responsive to text messages and social network advertising. So the message is the same for online marketing as it is for offline - targeted mailing is best for driving donors to your site, and HTML emails work best.
Sending emails is not enough, however; the message is crucial. Anecdotal evidence from charity email campaigns shows that story-driven asks work best for appeals.
One of the benefits of email and online donations is that you can see whether people have responded; so make the most of that information to send follow-up asks and reminders.
Search engine listing is important. Make sure your site is registered under every variant or acronym you have. Work on your 'meta tags' - the codes that sit on your site and which search engines use to get your title, description and keyword tags.
Most donors will need pushing to your site. You have to get your name and message in front of them in the same way as you would with traditional offline marketing.
The Response One Group did some research into the relative effectiveness of different advertising media for encouraging potential benefactors to visit websites and seriously consider making contributions. They found that email topped the list, because it was 52 per cent more likely than average to inspire a web visit and serious consideration of a donation. TV and newspaper advertising (34 per cent) and direct mail (16 per cent) also scored above average.
The report showed that, for most people, social network advertising was only as popular as unsolicited email. Only the 18 to 24-year-olds were responsive to text messages and social network advertising. So the message is the same for online marketing as it is for offline - targeted mailing is best for driving donors to your site, and HTML emails work best.
Sending emails is not enough, however; the message is crucial. Anecdotal evidence from charity email campaigns shows that story-driven asks work best for appeals.
One of the benefits of email and online donations is that you can see whether people have responded; so make the most of that information to send follow-up asks and reminders.
15 August, 2008
Majority of searches are for brand names
Luan Goldie, nma.co.uK
Brands account for nine out of ten UK internet searches, according to research by Experian Hitwise.
It found consumers are more likely to search by brand name than generic terms like ‘cheap flights’ or ‘broadband’.
Of the 2,000 search terms studied for the Experian report, 88% were branded terms, up 65% on 2005 figures.
Social networks were the most sought brands, with Facebook and Bebo taking first and second place. YouTube and MySpace also occupied places in the top ten search terms.
Shopping brands including Ebay, Argos and Amazon also won major shares of internet search terms.
Brands account for nine out of ten UK internet searches, according to research by Experian Hitwise.
It found consumers are more likely to search by brand name than generic terms like ‘cheap flights’ or ‘broadband’.
Of the 2,000 search terms studied for the Experian report, 88% were branded terms, up 65% on 2005 figures.
Social networks were the most sought brands, with Facebook and Bebo taking first and second place. YouTube and MySpace also occupied places in the top ten search terms.
Shopping brands including Ebay, Argos and Amazon also won major shares of internet search terms.
14 August, 2008
UK Twitter Users Go Cold Turkey
Daniel Ionescu PCWorld
U.K. Twitter users woke up this morning to an e-mail message from Biz Stone, Twitter co-founder, saying that they will no longer be able to receive outbound SMS over a U.K. phone number. The latest changes do not affect users in the United States, Canada, or India, where Twitter says it can still "provide full incoming and outgoing SMS service without passing along operator fees."
Twitter's cost of passing along messages had simply gotten too high, Stone's message says. Even if Twitter capped outgoing SMS messages to 250 per week for every Twitter user tied to the U.K. number, cost would still average $1000 yearly.
Some view Twitter's future now in a grim light, as Twitter is (proportionally) the most popular in the U.K. Angry users have set up a Facebook group asking U.K. mobile phone operators for decent deal on Twitter SMS costs.
Biz Stone explains that "mobile operators in most of the world charge users to send updates. When you send one message to Twitter and we send it to ten followers, you aren't charged ten times--that's because we've been footing the bill." But with Twitter's growth in popularity, the price of maintaining this service became too high for the company to keep subsidizing it. With the U.K. SMS service gone, users in other European countries using the U.K. number are cut off as well. Ongoing reactions to the European-wide cut can be found here.
Twitter is now urging its SMS service users to start receiving updates via e-mail, and also recommends various mobile alternatives. Also starting to emerge: Speculation about a premium rate SMS service from Twitter, as in Europe there is a mainstream adoption of extra SMS charges."
It makes more sense for us to establish fair billing arrangements with mobile operators than it does to pass these high fees on to our users," Twitter's Stone tells the company's U.K. users. Twitter's business is already expanding and the company plans to soon enter more countries across Europe and Asia.
Most mobile carriers in the world charge ridiculous amounts of money for basic text messages so it's no surprise that Twitter had to pull the plug. Twitter tried to establish relationships with mobile operators around the world so its SMS services could become sustainable. Apparently the company did not manage to achieve this in the U.K., but it's not through trying. Some international deals actually bring in some revenue, according to Venture Beat, which could subsidize other regions.
Twitter says it will roll out local numbers for some European users in the coming months, so those who were using the U.K. number may see their service restored. Twitter also says it wants to negotiate with mobile carriers around the world so that users in every country will be able to use the outgoing service. Until then, U.K. and many European users will have to settle for the Web-based service, m.twitter.com, and most smart phone users can install an application for their device.
Ian Paul contributed to this report.
Online TV viewing doubles in past year
Danielle Long, nma.co.uk
The number of Britons viewing TV online has more than doubled in the last 12 months, according to Ofcom.
The regulator’s annual UK Communications Market Report found the number of people watching TV programmes online grew from 8% to 17%, and nearly a third of internet users (32%) watched video clips and webcasts online, compared to 21% in 2006.
The number of UK internet users who watched YouTube hit 9m in April, nearly 50% more than a year ago, while the BBC iPlayer delivered more than 700,000 daily video streams in May 2008.
The number of households with digital video recorders grew 53% in 2007 to nearly 6m (23%) and the majority (88%) use them to fast-forward through ads.
The findings were in line with increased online ad spend, which, according to Ofcom, grew to £2.8bn in 2007, attracting more money than the combined ad spend on ITV1, Channel 4, Five and S4C.
Take-up of broadband through a landline grew from 52% of households to 58% in 12 months. This was mainly driven by consumers upgrading from dial-up to broadband.
More than one in ten mobile phone users have accessed the internet on their phone and 3G mobile connections increased by 4.7m (60%) in 2007 to reach 12.5m subscribers.
According to the Ofcom report, the average UK adult spent seven hours nine minutes a day using various communications services, six minutes more than in 2002. This includes radio listening, TV viewing, time spent online, texting or talking on the telephone.
The number of Britons viewing TV online has more than doubled in the last 12 months, according to Ofcom.
The regulator’s annual UK Communications Market Report found the number of people watching TV programmes online grew from 8% to 17%, and nearly a third of internet users (32%) watched video clips and webcasts online, compared to 21% in 2006.
The number of UK internet users who watched YouTube hit 9m in April, nearly 50% more than a year ago, while the BBC iPlayer delivered more than 700,000 daily video streams in May 2008.
The number of households with digital video recorders grew 53% in 2007 to nearly 6m (23%) and the majority (88%) use them to fast-forward through ads.
The findings were in line with increased online ad spend, which, according to Ofcom, grew to £2.8bn in 2007, attracting more money than the combined ad spend on ITV1, Channel 4, Five and S4C.
Take-up of broadband through a landline grew from 52% of households to 58% in 12 months. This was mainly driven by consumers upgrading from dial-up to broadband.
More than one in ten mobile phone users have accessed the internet on their phone and 3G mobile connections increased by 4.7m (60%) in 2007 to reach 12.5m subscribers.
According to the Ofcom report, the average UK adult spent seven hours nine minutes a day using various communications services, six minutes more than in 2002. This includes radio listening, TV viewing, time spent online, texting or talking on the telephone.
13 August, 2008
Tate gallery to roll out iPhone exhibition tours
The Tate has created a multimedia tour for the Apple iPhone that may soon banish the humble exhibition audio tour to the dustbin of history.
Tate Media, the gallery’s London-based content and creative arm, recently began work on a free gallery download for Tate Britain’s forthcoming Turner Prize exhibition, after demand for its Gustav Klimt pilot exceeded all expectations.
Visitors to the Klimt show can download the interactive content to their iPhones via the gallery’s wi-fi network, or hire a device at the gallery for £3.
Will Gompertz, director of Tate Media, says the experience far surpasses conventional audio tours because users can surf their own way through a show.
The content has the added advantage of being usable for the gallery’s website and installations, and can be linked to other sites and blogs. It also enables superfluous exhibition graphics to be reduced, he says.
‘The iPhone tours are not only fully audio-visual but they are completely relational to the user.
Rather than being a oneway experience, you can navigate your own story and jump from one thing to another as you choose,’ he says. ‘There are queues every day for the 50 devices at Tate Liverpool, and visits have soared from 45 minutes to three hours since we introduced them,’ he adds.
The research and content for future gallery tours is being handled by Tate Media’s inhouse design team led by Jane Burton, from headquarters at Tate Britain, in south-west London.
Separately, Tate Media has announced plans for a collaboration with ITV’s The Southbank Show, a series of programmes with Channel 4 and a joint production with Aardman Animations.
Tate Media, the gallery’s London-based content and creative arm, recently began work on a free gallery download for Tate Britain’s forthcoming Turner Prize exhibition, after demand for its Gustav Klimt pilot exceeded all expectations.
Visitors to the Klimt show can download the interactive content to their iPhones via the gallery’s wi-fi network, or hire a device at the gallery for £3.
Will Gompertz, director of Tate Media, says the experience far surpasses conventional audio tours because users can surf their own way through a show.
The content has the added advantage of being usable for the gallery’s website and installations, and can be linked to other sites and blogs. It also enables superfluous exhibition graphics to be reduced, he says.
‘The iPhone tours are not only fully audio-visual but they are completely relational to the user.
Rather than being a oneway experience, you can navigate your own story and jump from one thing to another as you choose,’ he says. ‘There are queues every day for the 50 devices at Tate Liverpool, and visits have soared from 45 minutes to three hours since we introduced them,’ he adds.
The research and content for future gallery tours is being handled by Tate Media’s inhouse design team led by Jane Burton, from headquarters at Tate Britain, in south-west London.
Separately, Tate Media has announced plans for a collaboration with ITV’s The Southbank Show, a series of programmes with Channel 4 and a joint production with Aardman Animations.
12 August, 2008
Web users still giving away personal details
Stuart Aitken Precision Marketing
Despite growing awareness of the dangers of identity theft, a large percentage of people still willingly give away crucial personal details online, new research from AOL reveals.
The study, which involved a nationwide survey of 1,000 online consumers, found that while 84 per cent of Internet users said they would not give away their income details online, 89 per cent did so without any pressure or persuasion.
The report also showed that the expectation of privacy problems involving fraud is greater than the incidence of actual problems. Some 34 per cent of respondents expected to be the victim of credit card fraud, while only 11 per cent had actually experienced it.
The findings coincide with the UK launch of AOL’s privacy education campaign which aims to explain behaviourally targeted advertising to Web users.
AOL’s chief privacy officer Jules Polonetsky says: “Our research identified a significant gap between what people say and what they do when it comes to protecting sensitive information online.”
Polonetsky continues: “Personalising content and delivering relevant advertising online will only succeed for consumers and for advertisers if it is done in a trustworthy and transparent manner. In addition, business and government will need to offer approaches that recognise that at certain times personalisation and data use will be welcomed, and in other cases, users will demand limits on the use of their data.”
Information Commissioner Richard Thomas comments: “If organisations fail to meet their data protection obligations they not only risk enforcement action by the ICO, they also risk losing the trust of their customers. However, it is equally important for individuals to be aware of their information rights and to take steps to protect their own privacy.”
Despite growing awareness of the dangers of identity theft, a large percentage of people still willingly give away crucial personal details online, new research from AOL reveals.
The study, which involved a nationwide survey of 1,000 online consumers, found that while 84 per cent of Internet users said they would not give away their income details online, 89 per cent did so without any pressure or persuasion.
The report also showed that the expectation of privacy problems involving fraud is greater than the incidence of actual problems. Some 34 per cent of respondents expected to be the victim of credit card fraud, while only 11 per cent had actually experienced it.
The findings coincide with the UK launch of AOL’s privacy education campaign which aims to explain behaviourally targeted advertising to Web users.
AOL’s chief privacy officer Jules Polonetsky says: “Our research identified a significant gap between what people say and what they do when it comes to protecting sensitive information online.”
Polonetsky continues: “Personalising content and delivering relevant advertising online will only succeed for consumers and for advertisers if it is done in a trustworthy and transparent manner. In addition, business and government will need to offer approaches that recognise that at certain times personalisation and data use will be welcomed, and in other cases, users will demand limits on the use of their data.”
Information Commissioner Richard Thomas comments: “If organisations fail to meet their data protection obligations they not only risk enforcement action by the ICO, they also risk losing the trust of their customers. However, it is equally important for individuals to be aware of their information rights and to take steps to protect their own privacy.”
08 August, 2008
Web guides launched for planners and buyers
Brand Republic
The Overseas Press & Media Association has launched two new websites listing more than 6,000 media properties for media planners and buyers in the UK.
The new guides, both of which are free to search, come in addition to the OPMA's existing guide, which is in its 42nd year, and the OPMA portal www.opma.co.uk, where details of information about the association and its membership can be found.
The first new site, the opmaguide.co.uk contains details on print titles, TV channels and radio stations, outdoor advertising and online media represented by OPMA members.
A search by media profile on opmaguide.co.uk allows international planners and buyers to find, for example, all the business/finance magazines in Poland; TV channels in Africa or engineering publications in Japan.
If the title is known then users just need to email the OPMA UK representative. There are also options to search by language or OPMA representative.
The second new site is for digital properties, which are now available online at internationalonline.co.uk and will no longer be in the OPMA Guide.
The digital data can be searched in a similar way to the other OPMA site allowing planners to easily find all the news websites in Germany or the technology websites in France or the US. It includes short website profiles, hyperlinks and automatic email requests to the UK representatives.
The Overseas Press & Media Association has launched two new websites listing more than 6,000 media properties for media planners and buyers in the UK.
The new guides, both of which are free to search, come in addition to the OPMA's existing guide, which is in its 42nd year, and the OPMA portal www.opma.co.uk, where details of information about the association and its membership can be found.
The first new site, the opmaguide.co.uk contains details on print titles, TV channels and radio stations, outdoor advertising and online media represented by OPMA members.
A search by media profile on opmaguide.co.uk allows international planners and buyers to find, for example, all the business/finance magazines in Poland; TV channels in Africa or engineering publications in Japan.
If the title is known then users just need to email the OPMA UK representative. There are also options to search by language or OPMA representative.
The second new site is for digital properties, which are now available online at internationalonline.co.uk and will no longer be in the OPMA Guide.
The digital data can be searched in a similar way to the other OPMA site allowing planners to easily find all the news websites in Germany or the technology websites in France or the US. It includes short website profiles, hyperlinks and automatic email requests to the UK representatives.
07 August, 2008
Parents spying on their children's social networking
Jacquie Bowser Brand Republic
Over 750,000 British children aged 12 or under use social networking sites, which is forcing three quarters of all parents to spy on their kids' online activities, according to new research.
The study, commissioned by online information firm Garlik, found that 23% of children aged between eight and 12 claim to use the three most popular social networking sites - Facebook, Bebo and MySpace - despite the minimum age registration being 13 (or 14 for MySpace).
Additionally, over a quarter (26%) of children aged between eight and 15 years old admit they have strangers as friends on their social networking page, and a fifth (20%) have met up with strangers they have only ever encountered online, according to the report.
The research revealed that this has led to parents taking matters into their own hands to protect their children, with 72% admitting that they snoop on their kids' online activities.
One in four (25%) parents secretly log into their child's social networking page, while a quarter (26%) have set up their own social networking page to spy on their children.
However, nearly all of the parents (89%) have spoken to their children about the dangers posed by social networking sites.
Tom Ilube, Garlik chief executive, said: "That parents feel compelled to monitor their children on this scale should send a powerful message to the big social networking sites.
"With three quarters of a million underage users in the UK, Facebook, MySpace and Bebo need to take their own age restriction policies far more seriously to help allay parents' real fears."
Garlik commissioned online teenage community Dubit to conduct the research among 1000 children aged 8-15 years in June 2008. Market research firm PCP conducted research among a sample of 1030 UK parents.
Over 750,000 British children aged 12 or under use social networking sites, which is forcing three quarters of all parents to spy on their kids' online activities, according to new research.
The study, commissioned by online information firm Garlik, found that 23% of children aged between eight and 12 claim to use the three most popular social networking sites - Facebook, Bebo and MySpace - despite the minimum age registration being 13 (or 14 for MySpace).
Additionally, over a quarter (26%) of children aged between eight and 15 years old admit they have strangers as friends on their social networking page, and a fifth (20%) have met up with strangers they have only ever encountered online, according to the report.
The research revealed that this has led to parents taking matters into their own hands to protect their children, with 72% admitting that they snoop on their kids' online activities.
One in four (25%) parents secretly log into their child's social networking page, while a quarter (26%) have set up their own social networking page to spy on their children.
However, nearly all of the parents (89%) have spoken to their children about the dangers posed by social networking sites.
Tom Ilube, Garlik chief executive, said: "That parents feel compelled to monitor their children on this scale should send a powerful message to the big social networking sites.
"With three quarters of a million underage users in the UK, Facebook, MySpace and Bebo need to take their own age restriction policies far more seriously to help allay parents' real fears."
Garlik commissioned online teenage community Dubit to conduct the research among 1000 children aged 8-15 years in June 2008. Market research firm PCP conducted research among a sample of 1030 UK parents.
04 August, 2008
British Heart Foundation launches integrated campaign
Luan Goldien, nma.co.uk
The British Heart Foundation is to launch an integrated campaign to raise awareness of heart attack symptoms and encourage the public to call 999 quickly.
The health charity will run a two-minute ad showing a heart attack on both ITV and its red button service, as well as launch a supporting campaign site.
The Watch Your Own Heart Attack ad will screen just once on ITV1 next week during the break of Midsomer Murders. Red button users will then be able to watch the ad for a week following its TV airing.
Created by Grey London, it will also feature outdoor, press and online ads calling on people to 'Watch Your Own Heart Attack'.
Users will also be able to register for SMS alerts in the run up to the ad showing through 2minutes.org.uk.
Julian Smith, planning account director at ITV, said, "This is a fantastic example of how ITV works closely with its advertisers as well as their agencies to develop exciting and innovative initiatives which really create standout."
The British Heart Foundation is to launch an integrated campaign to raise awareness of heart attack symptoms and encourage the public to call 999 quickly.
The health charity will run a two-minute ad showing a heart attack on both ITV and its red button service, as well as launch a supporting campaign site.
The Watch Your Own Heart Attack ad will screen just once on ITV1 next week during the break of Midsomer Murders. Red button users will then be able to watch the ad for a week following its TV airing.
Created by Grey London, it will also feature outdoor, press and online ads calling on people to 'Watch Your Own Heart Attack'.
Users will also be able to register for SMS alerts in the run up to the ad showing through 2minutes.org.uk.
Julian Smith, planning account director at ITV, said, "This is a fantastic example of how ITV works closely with its advertisers as well as their agencies to develop exciting and innovative initiatives which really create standout."
01 August, 2008
WWF to overhaul UK website
Will Cooper nma.co.uk
WWF is to overhaul WWF.org.uk as part of an ongoing strategic move to make digital the backbone to its campaigning and lobbying activities.
The conservation charity is to change WWF.org.uk from its current news and features-led focus to push its current campaigns and encourage supporters to get involved.
WWF is working with digital agency Reading Room to relaunch the site in September, which also aims to highlight the work undertaken by the organisation's regional offices.
Adrian Cockle, WWF interactive production manager, said the organisation had increased its digital focus, with all the content on the new web site falling in to two distinct categories: "What We Do" and "How You Can Help."
"It's a very strong message and gets across that idea of what we're doing and what we need you to do to help us as well," he said. "It's all about driving action. There's no point getting people to the site only for them to move about it forgetting what they've just previously seen."
Cockle said WWF wants the site to highlight projects led by its regional offices in Scotland, NI and Wales.
"The new site is intended to bring the work they do to life and make it more accessible."
Last month it was revealed that WWF had launched its first online video channel (NMA 24.07.08).
WWF is to overhaul WWF.org.uk as part of an ongoing strategic move to make digital the backbone to its campaigning and lobbying activities.
The conservation charity is to change WWF.org.uk from its current news and features-led focus to push its current campaigns and encourage supporters to get involved.
WWF is working with digital agency Reading Room to relaunch the site in September, which also aims to highlight the work undertaken by the organisation's regional offices.
Adrian Cockle, WWF interactive production manager, said the organisation had increased its digital focus, with all the content on the new web site falling in to two distinct categories: "What We Do" and "How You Can Help."
"It's a very strong message and gets across that idea of what we're doing and what we need you to do to help us as well," he said. "It's all about driving action. There's no point getting people to the site only for them to move about it forgetting what they've just previously seen."
Cockle said WWF wants the site to highlight projects led by its regional offices in Scotland, NI and Wales.
"The new site is intended to bring the work they do to life and make it more accessible."
Last month it was revealed that WWF had launched its first online video channel (NMA 24.07.08).
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