Facebook tests local deals service- Facebook is testing its new discount service, which will allow users to buy and share deals within their friends on Facebook. According to a statement published by Facebook, “We will test a new feature for our Deals product that allows people to buy deals on Facebook and share them with their friends. Local businesses will be able to sign up to use this feature soon and people will be able to find Deals in the coming weeks.” The service marks Facebook’s first assault on local deals champion Groupon.
Groupon talks $25 billion evaluation- Bloomberg reported this week that daily deals provider Groupon is in talks with investors and banks regarding an impending IPO that would value the company at roughly $25 billion. Groupon’s estimated worth has grown dramatically over the last eleven months. The company was initially valued at $1.3 billion back in April 2010. Six months later Google was in talks to acquire the two-year old startup for $6 billion, which Groupon quickly turned down.
Google takes a stand against counterfeit ads- Google announced Tuesday its plans to take new steps against AdWords accounts advertising counterfeit goods. As part of the plan, Google has promised to act on complaints of counterfeit goods and services within 24 hours, as well as improve its AdSense anti-counterfeit reviews and launch a new help center for reporting counterfeits. According to a blog post by Kent Walker, VP and general counsel for Google, “We have always prohibited our AdSense partners from placing Google ads on sites that include or link to sales of counterfeit goods. We will work more closely with brand owners to identify infringers and, when appropriate, expel them from the AdSense programme.”
Google makes it easier for nonprofits to use AdWords- Google has launched a new nonprofit website program, which offers nonprofit organizations free domains and hosting, and up to $10,000 Google AdWords credit a month. Google has also bundled its suite of products into a single application for non-profit organizations.
Recommended Blogs:
- “Sorry, Steve: iPhone 50 Percent Slower Than Android Web” is a wittily written article from Wired Magazine’s Ryan Singel that discusses recent data from Blaze Software, which reveals Google’s Android operating system to be 50 percent faster than Apple’s iPhone iOS.
- The Search Agency’s social media emissary, Josh Peters, authored an interesting post introducing Greplin’s social search this week. Josh’s post praises the new search engine’s ability to provide more socially relevant results.
- Nick Bilton authored a post this week on the NYTimes technology blog, discussing a recent study by Johan Bollon of the University of Indiana, which found that Twitter users congregate according to mood.
