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May 28th, 2010 by nicole.hudspith

Online presence is key

Search Engine Submission Service for small bus...
Image by karlmfoxley via Flickr

New research from Pew Research Centre has found that more than half of adult internet users have used a search engine, like Google or Bing, to search for themselves! Don’t gasp and pretend you’re not one of the 57% looking for the results when you type in your name.

47% of internet users concentrated on viewing themselves on search engines in 2006 compared to a 57% in 2009; the ten per-cent increase in people searching for their own names since 2006 is a big jump. Online reputation has become increasingly important – in business and socially – to the extent that magazines, such as New Media Age; have a section dedicated to showing readers how to increase their online presence.

As social networking booms, it is no surprise that online searches for people and searching for ourselves are also escalating. More and more folk online are concerned about the effects of social media and what it can do for them. But is this newfound hobby a sign of the times that has provided us with a new tool for easily promoting brand/profile awareness or that we have become much more pretentious and self-aware of ourselves?

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January 28th, 2010 by Abbie Waller

Could targeted advertising save the media?

The Guardian’s editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger delivered his Cudlipp lecture this week in which he argued that putting editorial content behind paywalls would not deliver the golden bullet solution the media longs for. In fact, he argued that by setting up the firewalls, newspapers could risk losing up to 90% of their audience – an audience it seems he already has his eye on.

A bit of digging around on the internet and I came across an interesting article by NMA’s editor-in-chief Mike Nutley that got me thinking about how The Guardian could actually survive without a paywall. Could their saviour come in the form of sophisticated online advertising? Nutley has spent much time speaking with online publishers who argue that with even a slight increase in response rates, the value of online advertising would increase considerably and provide the revenue needed to keep newspapers afloat.

In theory it all sounds like a good idea. However, as Nutley rightly points out, consumer reaction to targeted advertising has in the past been somewhat sceptical to say the least. As a result, now more than ever, is the time for the targeting industry to step up and prove their critics wrong? If they can get the public on their side, maybe, just maybe, they could be the ones to save the online publishing industry.

June 26th, 2009 by Claire Jones

Speed date with… with Alex Farber, senior reporter, New Media Age

Did you always want to write about new media?
I worked for a music website called breakbeat.co.uk for several years before joining New Media Age (NMA). We were heavily into trying innovative new services and online communities and content so it’s always been an area that’s interested me.Alex

How competitive was it to get your role?
Having worked for a year at Informa on its Mobile Media newsletter I was very lucky to be asked to work at NMA by the editor Justin Pearse. Randomly it took place on a yacht in Brighton – with several page 3 girls. But that’s another story.

What’s the biggest issue in New Media for 2009?
Coming up with sustainable business models which rely on actual revenue generation rather than simply advertising.

Do you think that new media is growing? If so, what sector?
New media continues to grow while other industries struggle – albeit from a relatively small base. As new services such as video or behavioural targeting become increasingly popular online there is a good opportunity to get involved in these areas.
What kind of jobs will become available?
I think anyone with good technical skills is still in a really strong place when it comes to securing jobs in new media. There is still demand for these roles as employers increasingly require these skills.

What do you think the graduate opportunities like?
I think it depends what course you’re studying – but as I’ve said the entire industry continues to grow. Almost all business sectors touch online in some way so if you’re interested in working in digital there is a broad opportunity to get involved.