Weekly comms news round up 05/04/12

Easter bank holiday is around the corner, so here is an early comms news round up curated from @CisionUK. Happy easter!

A paywall alternative? Google launches revenue-generating surveys by @SarahMarshall3 via journalism.co.uk

“Google has launched a new microsurvey option, promising revenue-generating opportunities for online news organisations.

The internet giant claims the data collection service could be an alternative to paywalls and ads.”

Facebook ‘creating social search engine’ by Emmabarnett via The Telegraph

“The social network has deployed two dozen Facebook engineers onto the ambitious project, led by former Google engineer Lars Rasmussen, to radically improve the search engine currently available on the social network, reports Bloomberg Businessweek. “

UK web advertising spend to hit £5bn by @marksweney via Guardian

“UK internet advertising spend is likely to reach £5bn in 2012, with Facebook on track for an estimated 60% revenue surge to £288m.

Companies spent £4.78bn on all forms of internet advertising in the UK in 2011, with 14.4% year-on-year growth the biggest surge since 2007, according to an Internet Advertising Bureau report conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers.”

Google making more changes to AdWords: display network updates by @Koozai_Anna via Econsultancy

“This month Google has announced another change to Google Adwords – the addition of a Display Network tab which will consolidate all display reporting and targeting in one place.”

Key tips on the new Facebook Pages by @nmkforum New Media Knowledge

“From BA to Time Out London to O2, we’ve seen a significant percentage of businesses transition to the new Facebook Pages and successfully take advantage of the new features such as Cover Photo, Page timeline and Pinned Posts.”

Six tips for an effective online press room by @markRshapiro via Econsultancy

“Your online press room should be an important component of your PR, sales and marketing plans. Your press room is open and working for you 24/7. Editors and writers often work late at night, on the weekends and holidays when your PR and marketing teams are not available. Your website and its press room have to be able to provide all the info needed.”