Google Ideas has launched its first campaign with a social network aimed at former terrorists, extremists and survivors in an attempt to 'tackle violent extremism'.

The think tank, which began in October, was created by former political advisor Jared Cohen. Google Ideas aims to "explore the role that technology can play in tackling some of the toughest human challenges".

Against Violent Extremism was launched this week and is an online destination for former terrorists and victims to communicate their experiences. The network is also an opportunity for the media to connect with designated spokespeople surrounding the controversial issue.

AVE also includes a "professional skills swap" with advice on how to organise charitable organisations, set up marketing campaigns and build websites. Activists can also connect via YouTube.

Launched in New York, AVE aims to have 500 members by the end of 2012 and 1,000 members by the end of 2013. Former members of white power movements and former Islamic extremists are already though to have signed up to the social network.

Principal at Google Ideas, Yasmin Dolatabadi, commented: "This website brings to fruition a platform for 'formers' to speak out, a way to scale connections and project resourcing, and a path for non-governmental leadership.

"Not only does technology allow the conversation to continue, it also creates unlimited space for collaboration."

Facebook has reported a decline in revenue alongside news that is has recently hit 900 million members.

The social networking giant has announced its first quarterly decide in two years, citing 'seasonal advertising trends' for the loss. Advertising spending is typically strong during the fourth quarter of each year, leading the first quarter to attract less in comparison. Facebook claim rapid business growth may have "partially masked" previous first quarter revenue.

Revenue fell 6.5% quarter-on-quarter in the three months leading to March 31st, though Facebook is still up on 45% year-on-year. Overall profit dropped 12% year-on-year to £127m and was down 32% at the end of 2011.

The majority of Facebook's income is brought in by advertising (82%), and has increased 37% year-on-year. Payments and other fees are up 98% year-on-year. The recent purchase of Instagram is thought to have affected Facebook's profit decrease.

Facebook is currently valued at $77 billion according to Digital Spy. Marketing Week notes this figure could be closer to £100 billion after its initial public offering.

The social networking site has recently gained over 900 million users who collectively post around 3 billion comments each day.

Senior marketers who began their careers before the introduction of digital marketing must work harder in the industry or risk being bypassed by younger rivals, according to Christoph Michalski of SCA.

“One of the challenges companies have is that people have started to work there and have grown up in certain jobs. In all companies I have seen so far, you have the same ageing population in the overall demographics," he marketer told Marketing Week.

“The question is: how do you ensure that, despite your ageing population of marketers, you keep the freshness and also the drive of wanting to win.

“To be honest I had not heard of Instagram before Facebook bought it for $1bn, so I am thinking about how many things are out there that are significant enough to pay that much for, which I have never been exposed to.

“And I would not say I am a remotely buried marketer never looking [outside] my patch.”

Research has shown that marketers over the age of 50 are losing out on promotions to younger, 'digital-savvy' co-workers. 64% of those polled by EMR feel there is more age discrimination now than 5 years ago.

Tesco are set to invest in "better" marketing in the wake of another sales slump.

The retail giant will invest £1bn in improving stores, customer experience, promotion, pricing strategy. It will continue to develop its own-label ranges after relaunching its Tesco Value products as Everyday Value earlier this month.

Excluding the impact of stores open for 12+ months, like-for-like sales decresed by 0.9% in 12 months. In the second half of Tesco's financial year, sales fell by 1.2%. This led to a 1% fall in profit to £2.5bn.

Group CEO Philip Clarke has now announced that six areas will be focussed on in regards to improving the brand. These include: service and staff; stores and formats; price and value; range and quality; brand and marketing and clicks and bricks.

Clarke stated: “We fully recognise that we need to raise our game in the UK … As we improve the shopping trip for our customers, it will follow that our sales growth and financial performance will improve too.

“These are decisive steps and this cost investment - as we have already announced - will constrain our near-term profitability. … We are adapting our UK capital plans so that we have the right store base for the future, to underpin the returns that create long term value for our shareholders.

“Together these steps are the right things to do both to improve the shopping trip for customers and to secure a return to profitable growth in the UK.”

Click-and-collect services are also planned. 430 will be 'refreshed' over the coming 12 months.

An illustrator's dream job is now up for grabs -- courtesy of Google. The search engine giant is looking for a 'Google doodler' to create innovative and eye-catching variations of the brand's infamous logo.

The Google logo is tweaked throughout the year in celebration of various anniversaries and special occasions, and was even been turned into a game for Pac-Man's 30th birthday.

Now Google is looking for a designer/illustrator to take on the momentous task of creating new images. Applicants must show a "sense of humor, love of all things historical and imaginative artistry."

The role is based in Montana View, California -- Google's head office -- but we're guessing there's quite a few illustrators out there who'd be more than happy to relocate!

You can apply for the position of Google Doodler right here.

Former ITV chairman Michael Grade has made a firm suggestion to broadcasters to begin charging for the use of online viewing services. Online content is currently provided for free by the majority of broadcasters alongside paid advertisements.

Speaking to magazine The Wire, Grade has urged broadcasters to take a different approach:

"What content owners are struggling with, and this is true of the music business too, is monetising the digital highways."

"If you download an app for 99p, you don't even think about it," he said. "Take the example of missing an episode of Downton Abbey. You say to yourself, 'Here's a chance to watch it on the train for £1.25.' You wouldn't even think about it. Or you're sitting at home and there is nothing on TV tonight. 'I know, let's watch that episode of Spooks we missed for 25p'."

Grade was criticised during his time at ITV between 2007 and 2009 for not investing in online content. Back in 2008, the chairman claimed sites such as YouTube and Google were "parasites".

"They're all parasites, they just live off our content is what they do. As long as we can create the content, the content is the keys to the castle for us going forward."

Grade is now the chairman for online grocer Ocado.

Google+ has launched a redesign of the social networking site in order “to create a simpler, more beautiful Google”.

The navigation buttons previously found at the top of the screen have been replaced with a more flexible, customisable 'navigation ribbon' allowing users to add and remove items with ease. The site layout has been tweaked, allowing for full size photographs and video posts. The sharing of such content also now provides 'conversation cards', allowing users to easier engage with each other. Also, the popular feature 'Hangouts' now has its own dedicated page.

Individual profiles have also undergone a redesign, with each page featuring a large image similar to the cover photo found on Facebook Timeline profiles. Trends have also been added, a clear influence from rival site Twitter.

The revamp comes alongside news that 170m people have signed up to Google+, with 100m of these logging into the site in the last 30 days. However, it was revealed in February that on average users spend just 3 minutes per month on the site.

Vic Gundotra, Google’s vice president, announced: “We think you'll find it easier to use and nicer to look at, but most importantly, it accelerates our efforts to create a simpler, more beautiful Google.

"Simply put, we're hoping to make sharing more awesome by making it more evocative. You know that feeling you get when a piece of art takes your breath away, or when a friend stops by with unexpected gifts? We want sharing to feel like that, every single time.”

Watch the video below for an overview of the changes to Google+

I started looking for a new position in Web Development back in January 2012. I came across the Chrysalis website as it seemed to be the most prolific agency focusing on the area of work I was searching for. I sent my CV and information to them through their website, and within no time had a call from Chrysalis. They seemed genuinley interested in finding me a job suited to my experience.
Harriet, Alison and Rachael are the people I've dealt with at Chrysalis and over the last few months we've have built up quite a rapport, which has really helped as job hunting can be quite stressful.
I am with how Chrysalis has helped me find new employment, and I am incredibly thankful.

Web Developer now employed by a leading Manchester-based Digital Agency

In a brief follow-up to yesterday's piece on the rising costs of online advertisements, we can now reveal that online adspend is set to rise to over £100 per Internet user in 2012.

GroupM has made the claim that £104 will now be spent on advertising per user, up from £98 in 2011 and £70 five years ago. 46.8 million Internet users access the web regularly, resulting in the £4.8bn adspend noted yesterday evening.

The online spend for UK users is the fourth highest in the world, behind the US and Australia. Norway has claimed the top spot, spending an average of £134 per user.

Paid search will continue to dominate in brand's marketing to consumers, with online video advertising also playing a significant role.

The Internet Advertising Bureau has released a report detailing a rise in online advertising.

Online and mobile advertising has grown by 14.4% since 2010, totalling £4.8bn. Video advertising in particular has seen a significant boost, doubling from £54m to £109m in a single year. Video advertisements account for 10% of all online display advertising due to an increase in viewers of streamed video content. Almost three quarters of all Internet users viewed streamed content in February 2012.

Social networking has also had a large impact on online advertising, with a 75% increase in banner advertisements on websites such as Facebook and YouTube, reaching a total of £240m. In 2011, social networks accounted for 27% of all time spent browsing the web.

You can read the full findings from the IAB below (via digitalstrategyconsulting.com):

FMCG vying for top spending category as Retail makes largest gain

UK ecommerce shoppers helped Retail surface as the biggest winner in terms of overall growth in the second half** of 2011, as it became the third biggest display advertiser. Consumer Goods (FMCG) moved to second place, while Finance just held on to top spot.

The top five categories, by share of display spend, in 2011 were:
Finance 15%
Consumer (FMCG) 15%
Retail 12%
Entertainment & the Media 12%
Technology 9%

Display grows 13.4% to top £1bn for first time as video passes £100m

The powerhouse of display is banners and other embedded formats, which continue to drive display forward (73% share). Growth of this format was fuelled by bigger, richer and more dynamic ads that spiked display spend by 13.4% to a high of £1,128 million (£945 million in 2010) and a 24% share of online ad spend (23% in 2010).

Video and social media grow eight-fold since 2008

Video advertising continued its incredible growth and now accounts for 10% of all online display advertising. Expenditure on online video doubled year on year to £109 million (£54 million in 2010). The format has grown more than eight-fold since 2008, when video spend was £12 million.

In 2011 banner ads on social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn, increased by 75% to £240 million – an eight-fold increase since records began in 2008.

Online is still the preferred direct response tool as search soars by 17.5%

Search marketing proved to be a recession-proof staple for direct response advertisers, recording impressive growth of 17.5% to £2,767 million (£2,346 million in 2010), and a 58% share of online advertising spend (57% in 2010).

Consumer and B2B Classifieds reach half billion for the first time

Despite a difficult market for recruitment, total Classified ads grew 5.2% to £785 million (£751 million in 2010) and a share of 16% (18% in 2010). However, consumer and B2B Classifieds (property, cars, holidays and B2B), reached the half billion milestone for the first time at £509 million (£485 million in 2010).

Mobile spend more than doubles

Advertising on mobile devices rose by 157%* in 2011, to a new high of £203million, as a result of increased smartphone ownership, the proliferation of touchscreen technology, 3G, and soaring tablet sales, which sparked a surge in interest from brands, especially in the Retail and Consumer Goods (FMCG) sectors.

Tim Elkington, director of research and strategy at the IAB, said: “Online and mobile advertising have experienced staggering growth since this study began in 1997. The 2011 results are full of breakthroughs for digital; with online display passing the £1billion barrier for the first time, proving that advertisers increasingly recognise the central role that online plays in their marketing campaigns.”

Anna Bartz, strategy manager at PwC, said: “This year’s results reflect the continued appeal of digital media – on desktop, mobile or tablet – to advertisers for both brand advertising and direct response. All formats grew, with strongest increases in video and social media, and in search. Internet adspend's 14.4% growth is exceptional when compared to an estimated advertising growth of less than 2% across all media in 2011.”

Drivers and Insights

Online audience grows – on average in 2011 there were 39.7 million people online each month – 375,000 more than the monthly average in 2010 (source: UKOM and Nielsen, Dec 2011).

The UK is addicted to social media – social networks account for 27% of all the time spent online in the UK in 2011 (source: UKOM, Jan – Dec, 2011).

Mobile and social behaviour - 38% (18.8 million) of the UK mobile audience accessed social media via a mobile device in the three months up to January 2012, an increase of 35.6% year on year (comScore Jan 2012).

We’re prolific internet users - Throughout 2011 UK internet users visited an average of 2,520 web pages across an average of 83 different web sites each month. (source: UKOM, Jan – Dec, 2011).

Bigger is better for display advertising – the Billboard display format offers nine times better ad awareness levels compared to traditional formats. The Wallpaper format provides seven times the level of message association, compared to traditional formats.(source: Size Matters, IAB, March 2012).

Online video increases brand awareness – 40% of marketer respondents plan to use online video to increase brand awareness in next 12 months (source: IAB B2B Snapshot Survey, Sept 2011).

We’re a nation of video devotees - 27.3 million, of the 38.5 million people who went online in the UK on their PC in Feb 2012, viewed streamed content. (Source: UKOM/Nielsen, Feb 2012)
Touchscreens have revolutionised advertising as 27% of respondents claim they are more likely to interact with ads because they have a touchscreen (Three Device Lives, IAB, Dec 2011).

 Samsung have announced their intention to take on 100 bloggers from around the globe to cover the 2012 Olympics.

People from 20 countries will be selected to blog and vlog about their Olympic experiences using Samsung products for the Samsung Global Blogger (SGB) programme. Run in conjunction with MSN, the competition asks aspiring bloggers to upload a video showing why they should be chosen to represent their country.

The second round will require candidates to complete a video report challenge which will be judged by a panel of celebrities from various nations.

Winners will blog and vlog daily using Samsung products, including phone-tablet Samsung Galaxy Note.

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been chosen as the ambassador for the project due to his fame, 'mentor reputation', and 'ability to motivate'.

Vice-president and head of global sports marketing at Samsung, Sunny Hwang, said:

"Utilising social media is the most effective and efficient way to deliver our marketing programmes. The Olympics is the centre of our brand marketing.

Through the Olympic sponsorship we have succeeded in increasing the brand awareness and preference, but we are still trying to increase the brand preferences more, and our brand mission is to make Samsung an aspirational brand."

Noting the rivalry with competing brand Apple, Hwang commented:

"We have better technology, better design and better products [than Apple] and we are the Olympic partner, not Apple - that’s a big difference."