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Traditional forms of internet advertising carry less risk

Dec 17 2007

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Traditional forms of online advertising carry less risk for SMEs than newer strategies, claims a marketing company.

Banner ads and online display adverts are 'normal and straightforward' and advertisers are 'quite entitled to use them', says UTalkMarketing.com.

However, Niall McKinney, managing director of UTalkMarketing.com, says: 'The problem is when they [advertisers] start to use information about people that they have collected. That's when the privacy problem becomes very substantial.'

He adds that using people's data to overtly target advertising at them without their specific permission is 'very dangerous'.

Widgets and online applications were recommended as a less aggressive way of advertising and connecting with users.

They are a 'fantastic way for advertisers to engage with users in a social networking environment' says Mr Mckinney.

His comments come after the founder of Facebook was forced to apologise to users after launching an advertising system that tracked the user's web shopping habits.

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