Facebook warned to improve online advertising

Posted on: 18/05/2009

Social networking site Facebook has been warned by businesses to improve its advertising.

Advertising agencies have pointed out that marketing material is appearing in inappropriate places on the website.

The claim follows a news report from New Media Age that Tesco has stopped advertising on Facebook after its marketing material was found alongside groups which supported holocaust denial.

Commenting on the misplaced marketing, a Tesco spokesperson told the news provider: "Its an extremely offensive group and we wouldnt want to be associated with it."

Guy Phillipson, chief executive officer of the Internet Advertising Bureau, said: "Facebook should take the lead from MySpace. It should have people or technology to ensure advertisers can exclude ads from offensive groups."

Facebook said that it gives advertisers the tools to control where their marketing material appears and this includes the ability to exclude them from particular groups.

Meanwhile, according to Reuters, hackers recently launched an offensive to try and steal passwords from some of the 200 million users registered with Facebook.

A spokesperson for the company, Barry Schnitt, told the news provider Facebook was in the process of cleaning up from the attack.
© Adfero Ltd