Facebook shares are continuing to sink today and are currently almost $6 off of their IPO price of $38 having fallen as low as $31.03.

As they continue to perform in a lacklustre fashion people are starting to ask what went wrong with one of them most anticipated IPOs in years? Read More »

While doubts circle about advertising on Facebook WPP Group has pushed ahead with a deal with social software firm Buddy Media and chosen it as its preferred social ad management partner for handling Facebook advertising across its various media agencies.

The news comes on the heels of General Motors and others last week raising doubts about the value of advertising on Facebook. Read More »

With all the social media and influence measurement tools available today, the communications sector should be understanding more about what makes us happy and productive, and what motivates us to participate in social conversations.

Unfortunately, the reverse seems to be true.  Understanding about what makes an authentic engagement, and what constitutes a satisfied and committed social community is as unclear as ever[1]. And the reason for this comes down to a misunderstanding of the differences between insights and inference. Read More »

The topic of PR and SEO is one which continues to fascinate me. Why is it that so many PR agencies have been slow to exploit this field, estimated to be worth £500m per year?

For this reason I ran a rough Survey Monkey study of UK PRs during May 2012 and, although it garnered 100 entries, the responses were interesting, especially as a quarter (23 people) took the time to fill the optional comments box. Read More »

Jean Jacques Rousseau’s classic work of social and political philosophy – The Social Contract  (published in 1762),  starts famously with the words – Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Although it may not seem immediately apparent, there is a direct link between this philosophical work of the 18th Century and Facebook.

The central tenet of Rousseau’s work, is that all individuals must enter into a social contract with others in order to create a free and equal society. Rousseau believed that liberty was possible only where there was direct rule by the people as a whole, and where ‘popular sovereignty’ was indivisible and inalienable. Read More »