Two-thirds of people don’t know difference between Google paid and organic search results

Nearly two-thirds (60%) of consumers don’t know the difference between paid and organic search results on Google, according to a new study by Varn.

The UK marketing agency approached over 1,000 internet users with the simple question; “Do you know which links on the Google search results page are paid adverts?”

A whole 59.7% of people surveyed claimed to be unaware of the differences between the two types of Google listings, implying that the...

6 September 2018 | Best Practice

Complaints to the ICO have doubled since GDPR came into effect

Since the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into effect, data breach complaints to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) have “more than doubled”.

That’s according to findings by the law firm EMW, which found that 6,281 complaints were lodged between the GDPR’s May 25 implementation this year and July 3. That represented a 160% rise on the 2,417 complaints received in the same period the year prior.

For the digital...

5 September 2018 | Advertising

Google bought data on two-billion Mastercard users for offline retail tracking

Google has made no secret of efforts to bridge the world of online marketing and highstreet sales. It has the tech and dominance in droves, and bricks-and-mortar sales still account for over 80% of commerce - you can’t knock the logic.

In recent tweaks to its Shopping ads, the search giant even said it was making it possible for advertisers to optimise ads based on in-store visits, and while it was vague on the process behind this revelation, a new Bloomberg report may have shed...

4 September 2018 | Advertising Technology

WPP announces Mark Read as CEO following Sir Martin Sorrell’s departure

Advertising and PR giant WPP has announced the successor to Sir Martin Sorrell, with co-chief operating officer Mark Read set to take the CEO reins with immediate effect.

WPP’s chairman, Roberto Quarta, said the decision followed a rigorous selection process and assessment of internal and external candidates.

“That process, alongside Mark’s wise and effective stewardship of the business in the last few months, left us with no doubt that he is the right leader...

3 September 2018 | Advertising

Your PC is being hacked: Google cracks down on fraudulent tech support ads

Google has begun restricting ads that offer third-party tech support in a bid to “maintain a healthy advertising ecosystem”.

Those ads refer to the pop-ups that most of us disregard, telling us that our PCs have been hacked or infected and that we must seek immediate support to protect our systems.

Less tech-savvy users can be duped into calling the fake support numbers, often presented as companies such as Microsoft or Apple, where technicians will talk them into...

3 September 2018 | Advertising

Facebook launches Watch video-streaming platform globally

Facebook’s Watch video-streaming platform has been rolled out worldwide, nearly a year after its initial launch in the US.

Watch gives users of the social network a hub to discover content (including live streams), create watch feeds and archive saved videos from the news feed. Facebook also promises to bring ‘interactive’ experiences, including ‘Watch Parties’, premieres and interactive quiz-style shows, and unique-to-platform content....

30 August 2018 | Advertising Technology

Singtel-owned Amobee completes $100m bid for video ad specialist Videology

The Singtel-owned digital marketing tech outfit Amobee has completed a $100m (£77.6m) purchase of TV and video advertising specialist Videology.

According to an official release, the deal equips Amobee with connected TV and digital video solutions, linear data-driven TV planning tools, premium inventory partnerships and activation opportunities for worldwide clients. It also clicks with an ongoing narrative of ad tech acquisitions this summer, particularly that of...

29 August 2018 | Advertising Technology

Spend on video advertising set to reach $30bn in 2018, driven by mobile

Advertisers worldwide are expected to spend $29.8bn (£23.2bn) on online video in 2018, according to WARC’s latest global ad trends report.

The figure represents a year-on-year hike of 27.5%, while the majority of ad dollars will be directed at the rise of mobile video bought via social media platforms, but the readiness to spend on the channel comes despite video placements posing an everyday risk for brand safety.

WARC reports that one in 10 placements pose a...

24 August 2018 | Advertising Technology

Facebook rolls out tools for creating video ads on mobile

Facebook has launched a new set of tools to help marketers create mobile-ready video ads on its platform and Instagram, which include the ability to add motion to images and brand logos for simple animations.

Announcing the update on a blog post yesterday, the social media platform cited its findings that mobile-first creative has a 27% higher likelihood of driving brand lift, while message association went up 23% compared to video ads not tailored for smaller screens.

A Video...

23 August 2018 | Advertising Technology

UK CEOs facing unrealistic expectations from digital transformation ROI

Chief executives in the UK face “unrealistic expectations” in demonstrating tangible return from digital transformation projects, according to research by professional services firm KPMG.

A survey of 150 CEOs from leading British businesses found that the majority (72%) are frustrated by pressure at board-level to prove return on investment (ROI) from multi-year digital transformation projects, which can include the integration of technologies such as cloud services,...

22 August 2018 | Advertising Technology