New research by Shape The Future has revealed that almost six in ten UK businesses are looking to spend more on their websites in the next year.
About 58 per cent of those responding to the survey said they intended to make more room in their marketing budgets for their websites, while 42 per cent said the same for PR and 20 per cent for website optimisation.
Eight per cent indicated that they will spend more search engine marketing in the next 12 months, with just nine per cent stating that the downturn will cause them to reduce overall internet marketing expenditure, reports Netimperative.
"There is a clear message here that companies have really got to grips with the influencing power of the internet," remarked report author and Shape The Future managing director Peter Martin.
In 2007, British firms spent £2.8 billion on internet advertising, according to a report published by Ofcom earlier this year.... read full details »
Semantic search technology could play an important role in generating higher returns from pay-per-click (PPC) ads for businesses, an expert has claimed.
Speaking at the Global Internet Summit in California, Hakia president Melek Pulatkonak said that it is likely 50 per cent of search engine users would click on semantic search ads, compared with ten per cent of users of today's search services, Online Media Daily reports.
She explained that semantic search technology can produce more accurate query results than current services, meaning that PPC ads could become more relevant to users' particular needs.
Furthermore, increased integration between PCs and mobile phones enabled by semantic technology could also increase the accuracy of PPC ads, Ms Pulatkonak commented.
"You will be able to chat with your search engine in instant messenger and have a natural conversation with your computer," she remarked.
A growing number of companies are taking an interest in semantic search. Microsoft acquired natural language technology firm Powerset earlier this year, while search services such as Ask.com have recently added semantic capabilities to their own offerings.... read full details »
New research has suggested that business-to-business (B2B) websites are now a highly valuable source of information for corporate decision makers.
Undertaken by the Association of Online Publishers (AOP) and Ipsos Mori, the poll found that 97 per cent of decision makers said B2B sites were the most used media at work, while 60 per cent rated such sites as "essential" for their jobs.
A similar proportion stated that B2B websites offer information that cannot be obtained elsewhere and 43 per cent said they would be more likely to click on an ad on a B2B site compared with other types of online media.
"This research confirms that B2B websites are leading the way in digital innovation," said Duncan Tickell, chairman of the B2B Group.
"B2B digital brands are seen as the most important source of essential business information and more importantly are a trusted source for information, editorial and advertising alike."
The AOP is an industry body for the digital media industry and represents the interests of some 160 publishers.... read full details »
Microsoft has announced that its Live Search cashback service has attracted 4.5 million unique users every month since it was launched in May.
These users generated more than 68 million queries as a result of their participation, Microsoft said.
It also announced that partner retailers involved in the scheme - which rewards users for making Live Search queries for products and buying them from participating companies - now include 20 of the top US online retailers.
About 140 companies from the Internet Retailer Top 500 are also included, such as AT&T, Saks Fifth Avenue and Drugstore.com.
"We believe this early traction speaks to the differentiated and unique value proposition of Microsoft Live Search cashback for both consumers and advertisers, especially in these tough economic times," commented Brad Goldberg, general manager of Microsoft Live Search.
Microsoft also announced the launch of a new release of its Live Search application programming interface at the PubCon conference earlier this week.... read full details »
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