Facebook is to begin rolling out ads known as Sponsored Stories in users’ news feed from January.

The ads will allow brands to reach consumers whose friends have interacted with it in some way, such as by “liking” or commenting on its page.

Currently appearing alongside other ads on the right-hand side of the social network’s homepage, the incorporation of Sponsored Stories into news feeds will ensure they are given much greater prominence.

A rate limit will mean users will be exposed to ...

Lynx has used a major outdoor publicity stunt in the heart of London to launch its latest social media marketing campaign.

Women known as “Lynx Mynxs” are taking to the streets of the capital with sandwich boards to direct men to its Lynx Last Request generator, a Facebook app that allows users to propose their last wishes.

Also featuring the Twitter hashtag #endoftheworld, the sandwich board stunt is part of Lynx’s marketing push for 2012 which focuses on the theme of the ...

Phones 4U has been cleared by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after its horror-themed ad campaign sparked a record number of viewer complaints.

The advertising regulator received over 600 complaints about the mobile phone retailer’s TV and video-on-demand ads, which featured a scary-looking young girl spook a woman in a multi-storey car park, with the strapline “missing our deals will haunt you”.

Despite picking up more complaints than any other ad this year, the ASA said they were unlikely to cause serious ...

Weight Watchers is kicking off 2012 with a major new campaign that will launch on New Year’s Day with one of the longest ads ever to be seen on British television.

The three-minute pop video-style ad will target the New Year’s resolution market of potential slimmers who have over-indulged during the festive period.

Strictly Come Dancing judge Alesha Dixon stars in the ads along with 180 Weight Watchers members who take turns singing to lyrics based on their own stories.

It marks the ...

Fisherman’s Friend is targeting cold and flu sufferers this winter with two new TV ads, which will form the backbone of a major cross-platform campaign.

The two 20-second ads will air in the New Year and focus on highlighting the powerful menthol and eucalyptus in each lozenge with the strapline “Talk about strong”.

“These new creatives really drive home the message that Fisherman’s Friend lozenges are the strongest around,” explains Martin Stimson, area business manager for the UK.

The intention of the campaign, ...

Nationwide is offering the opportunity to download the music featured in its TV ads for free in a bid to encourage customer participation.

The “special festive gift”, which can be downloaded to a mobile phone or computer, is part of the building society’s efforts to create deeper engagement among members.

Nationwide says: “The music, Snow Prelude No. 3 in C Major composed by Ludovico Einaudi, is not currently commercially available so we’re delighted to offer it to Nationwide customers for a limited ...

A combination of innovative marketing strategies and new programmes has helped Channel 5 to significantly increase its revenues from TV advertising this year.

TV ad revenues for the channel, which is owned by newspaper magnate Richard Desmond, rose 28 per cent to top £350 million in 2011, the highest in its 14-year history.

Channel 5 took in £280 million in 2010 and the increase can be attributed to a combination of new scheduling and cross-over marketing campaigns with titles owned by Mr ...

Budweiser is incorporating its corporate social responsibility work with its latest advertising campaign, which will push the beer brand and a message to drink responsibly.

Brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev UK is teaming up with Drinkaware.co.uk for its “designate a driver” multi-platform push in the run-up to Christmas, a time when there is traditionally a rise in drink driving.

TV ads will feature a group of friends heading off to events such as gigs and football matches, with one member nominating themselves as the ...

Virgin Media will sponsor the next series of ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent as the brand turns to primetime television to target a wider audience.

The multi-million pound deal, which will also include sponsorship of the US version America’s Got Talent on ITV2, is the cable operator’s biggest deal since 2007 when it linked up with Channel 4′s Big Brother.

Key to the growing importance of primetime TV advertising and the decision by Virgin Media is the huge audiences attracted by programmes such ...

Brands including P&O and Electronic Arts will perform advertisements live during a special one-off edition of Danny Wallace’s breakfast show on XFM tomorrow (December 20th).

The show is being broadcast live from the O2 Shepherds Bush Empire as a publicity stunt to raise money for the charity War Child, which helps children affected by conflicts around the world.

It marks the end of the radio station’s two-week fundraising campaign for the charity.

Ads will be performed during the “naked” show by “recognisable voices”, ...