Can Facebook Challenge Google in Online Advertising?

Citing recent research from Hitwise that showed a 185% increase in visits to Facebook from a year ago, Tony Bradley at CNET discusses the possibility of Facebook becoming a viable challenger to Google in the world of Internet advertising. Given the extensive range of personal info that users share in their Facebook profiles, the number of companies using Facebook more and more frequently to target hyper-specific audiences is only going to grow.

Nestle Criticized Over PR Response on Facebook

After being criticized in a Greenpeace report for sourcing palm oil from a distributor that allegedly destroyed rain forests, Nestle exacerbated its problems when a company representative was less than courteous to some of the unhappy eco-activists who flooded the company’s Facebook page.

In this new world of social media, companies that engage with their customers and are proactive in managing their online presence are lauded for being innovative and transparent. Simultaneously, if a company spokesperson acts too independently online, they run the risk of embarrassing their brand. This is particularly dangerous if the company is already experiencing a PR crisis.

If you are using social media to communicate with your customers, it is important that the individual responsible for managing your social media communications is well-trained and understands how to address any given issue.

Social Networking Use Can Raise Your Insurance Premiums

Last month, we discussed how using social networking websites like Foursquare, Twitter, and Facebook to talk about where you’re going and when could raise your insurance premiums. Now a new report is echoing that same concern. In a recent news report with the Daily Star, an anonymous insurance representative is quoted as saying, “Under the terms of most insurance policies, people have a duty to make their home secure. If they have told the world they are out and not coming back for a while, they might as well put a sign outside saying: ‘Burgle Me.’ You can’t blame the insurance industry for refusing to pay the bill for such irresponsibility.”

New Phishing Attack Hits Twitter

Twitter was hit over the weekend with another phishing attack using the popular “You’re on here?” direct message to trick users into clicking a link and then signing into a phony Twitter portal. If you get a direct message using this language or other similar phrasing, such as “Is this you?”, disregard the message and do not click on the link.

Google Street View Snaps Shots of British Security Bases

Google was forced to remove images of secret British security bases taken by its popular, but highly-criticized Street View cameras. In the UK, where Google Street View is already viewed warily by the government and the public, this kind of bad publicity is especially distressing. According to Google spokespeople, Google drivers are trained not to take photographs of certain areas and if there was a mistake they would remove the images quickly.