Do You Social Network?

Posted: July 20th, 2010 | Author: admin | Filed under: Social Networking | No Comments »

The number of ads on Facebook has rocketed by a third in the last year as marketers increasingly look to harness the world’s largest social networking site.

 

According to ComScore data, Facebook served 19.7bn ads in the UK during May 2010, up from 11.8bn a year before. Traditional brand advertising is driving growth, led by the likes of Virgin Group, Telefonica Europe and Quick Credit Score.

 

The figures cement Facebook’s position as the biggest online advertising platform in the country, serving almost four times more ads than second-placed Microsoft Sites (4.7bn). Google Sites, eBay and Yahoo Sites complete the top five, with 2.68bn, 2.71bn and 2.4bn ads in the month respectively.

 

The findings come as the world’s largest advertisers, including Procter & Gamble and Unilever, commit to increasing digital spend in general and on social media in particular. Facebook is preparing to launch a location-based app that will enable users to receive personalised information and advertising based on their current surroundings.

Speaking at the Cannes Ad Festival last month, Mark Zuckerberg, founder and chief executive of Facebook, said: “It’s a really important area, but it’s also a very sensitive one, so we want to make sure we get it right. We’re working on it. We’re pretty close, we’re happy with what we’re getting to.”