July 2010

Facebook Killing Online Advertising?

Facebook Advertising Screenshot

OK, so the title might be over-stating the case just a fraction, but the value of the good old-fashioned display advert is certainly suffering.

A recent comScore study claims that while Facebook and MySpace represent 20% of total US display advertising volume, they only represent 5% of total value. In total, the social networks are depressing average CPMs (cost per thousand impressions).

Social networks are averaging just $0.56 CPM compared to $2.43 average. Take Facebook and friends out of the equation and the CPM rises to $2.99.

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16 July 2010 by Sam Michel

Mark Prisk Talks Export, Trade and the Digital Economy

Mark Prisk by BIS

The new government certainly has its work cut out for it. Save heaps of money whilst trying not to damage the economy is quite a tightrope. Increasing exports is a crucial way to help pay down the debt and the digital sector is a critical part of this.

Whilst the new administration finds its feet, any insight for business is always useful.

Mark Prisk, the newly-appointed Minister of State for Business and Enterprise joined alumni from Webmission 08, one of the first trade missions to focus on the digital sector, earlier this week.

Fortunately, Manoj Ranaweera from Techcelerate was there with his trusty camera...

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15 July 2010 by Sam Michel

Tales from the Frontline of UX Careers Speed-Networking

UK UPA by UKUPA

When the UK UPA (UK Usability Professionals' Association) listed their careers event on Chinwag's events listings, we asked UK UPA Head of Professional Development, Leslie Fountain, to share her insight.

Our annual June Careers event this year was more than just about which employer had the flashiest displays or cupcakes. Our attendees weren't concerned with how many goody bags they could get, this year we got really serious, enter Speed Dating...

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14 July 2010 by Chinwag Team

Facebook for Brands: A Handy Summary

Lykketoft viser Facebook by Jacob Bøtter

Saw this handy summary of Facebook's profiles, groups, community pages and official pages and the potential opportunity for brands to take advantage.

I'd have poked, but I'm never really sure of the etiquette. Are you? Instead, here's something more useful, the presentation (re-blogged with permission) from the guys at Carve Consulting.

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13 July 2010 by Sam Michel

GameHorizon 2010 Review

GameHorizon by Sarbjit Bakhshi

Phew! What an event! I had intended to live blog through the show, but with all the interesting panel sessions, excellent networking opportunities and after conference activities there was simply no time to put anything up during the conference.

The two days’ conference was an amazing opportunity for networking with senior executives from the Games industry. I have been to other major industry events all around the world, but none other has had industry stars attending and networking in such an open way (perhaps this is due to being held in the Newcastle - the friendliest place in the world?).

This is certainly an event to attend next year and with GameHorizon recently announcing that they are open up their services to all UK companies (not just those based in the North East) other companies should make a beeline for advanced registration.

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12 July 2010 by Sarbjit Bakhshi

Activate 2010 Review

Clay Shirky by Aleks Krotoski

I think it’s easy as an agency in a B2B market to forget about the greater good and the impact digital can have in truly bringing about positive change.

Having won a ticket through Chinwag to The Guardian’s Activate Summit 2010, I experienced a day I would most likely not have otherwise enjoyed, but will certainly not miss in years to come.

I sat through each session being reminded of just what an exceptional ‘ecosystem’ (to nick Julie Meyer’s term) we are all plugged in to with the wonderful world that is the internet, and saw glimpses of what social media looks like when used to influence government decisions (Beth Noveck, White House Open Government Initiative), how aid is administered in Third World outreaches (Ethan Zuckerman, Global Voices), and even in your local neighbourhood (Steven Clift, E-Democracy.org).

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12 July 2010 by Sherrod Dine