Facebook remains our dominant social network when it comes to user numbers and engagement, but it’s betting its future on an increasing array of options for users from what it’s brought into the stable and in-house development of standalone apps with mobile at their heart. And it touts itself as the logical partner as data-centric decisions become more central to personalised marketing off the desktop.

AJ Park patent specialists Anton Blijlevens and Jillian Lim touch on some of the interesting patents that might soon be on the shelves.

BNZ recently released its Online Retail Sales Index, which showed that online retailing grew at three times the rate of traditional bricks and mortar last quarter. And that’s both frightening and exciting, depending on which side of the fence you sit on, says Jenene Crossan.

When it comes to agencies, is bigger usually better? Or can smaller shops be just as sharp? Michael Goldthorpe reckons the answer to both questions is yes.

AJ Park patent specialists Anton Blijlevens and Jillian Lim touch on some of interesting patents to look out for, including an e-Ink screen on the back of your phone, a free ride from Google and making the connection for convertible heels.

Is branded entertainment just a fad, a trend, a nice-to-have? Or is it a crucial change necessary for advertising’s relevancy in the future? Nic Winslade argues that advertisers need to get permission from consumers in order to engage with them. Plus: come up with a idea to integrate your brand into StopPress and we’ll choose the best and/or most entertaining effort and make it happen.

Pure SEO founder Richard Conway has a formula for recovering if you’re hit with a Google Penalty, the tech giant’s punishment for link spam. He warns it’s a delicate and lengthy exercise.

AJ Park patent specialists Anton Blijlevens and Jillian Lim touch on some interesting patents to look out for on the shelves. This time it’s cuffs for runners who don’t do water stops, a device to pamper dog paws and the Sony Smartwig.

More detailed Census information is being released at the end of March. Critchlow’s Tim Ryan shows you how to harness its power.

We live in an era of social media-inspired showing off, says Theresa Clifford. So should brands be encouraging it, or fighting against it?

Gender stereotypes in advertising are often inaccurate and outdated. But the real issue is that they’re ineffective, writes Lucinda Sherborne.

There’s no reason New Zealand can’t be world class when it comes to online TV. If broadcast viewership was eclipsed by massive online engagement it’d be a win for viewers, networks and advertisers alike. So why is it so hard to make this digital product work online?

How can companies ensure that fans who inadvertently use the wrong nomenclature continue to feel good about buying, using and recommending their products? Jennifer Duval-Smith, a recent recipient of some unexpected legal communication, offers a few suggestions.

Eric Rowe’s not just being pedantic when he tells people they shouldn’t be careless with the term page impression. That’s because he’s seen marketers waste millions due to misunderstanding.

In the spirit of past heretics, ranters and agitators, our resident angry outsider Claxton tells you what’s getting his goat about this industry.

Twitter co-founder Biz Stone’s app jelly changes the way we get answers by letting us send pictures with questions to our social network. Simone McCallum notes brands are asking and answering on Jelly, but wonders what its purpose really is.

In an age where social media offers a platform where consumers can talk about anything they want, to virtually whoever they want, listening to (and acting on) the responses—the good, the bad and the ugly—is key to upping your customer retention rates, reducing churn and getting better bang for your marketing buck, says Mat Wylie.