CNBC and others are reporting this morning that Google is very close to a deal to buy Twitter. According to Tech Crunch, the logic behind this deal is that Twitter threatens to be the first company to “out Google, Google” with the searching of the real time threads being a powerful new type of search…. one that is not search relatively static information of the web, but instead searching on peoples real time, or recent discussions… truly taking the “pulse” of the worlds conversations on any topic at any time. Twitter most recent valuation based on raising capital is estimated at $250 Million. They recently turned down a mostly stock offer from Facebook for $500 Million (but as a private company the true value of FB stock is a question). What will the big G pay?

The real question is when you went to research this rumor, or other pending breaking news, did you turn to Google or Twitter first?

Hats off to the board and investors at MTS on landing one of the industry greats. After WebMD pulled out of a take over, Rob Rebak is a great choice of a leader to take MTS/Quality Health to the next level. I look forward to seeing what’s next for MTS.

According to the IAB, Online advertising’s pace of growth has begun to slow. This doesn’t sit right with me… it’s far too early in the game for a slow down to take hold. The question is: Is this a lifecycle change or simply a macroeconomic (recession caused) slowdown. I’m betting on the latter.

The FDA talking on audio (podcast) giving their views on pharma involvement with social media. “It’s not the medium, it’s the message…Pharma is responsible for putting together the message (fair balance, risk information, etc..) but they are NOT responsible for what someone else [independently] does with it”

Ask yourself two questions to be safe in social media:
1.) Did the company (or anyone working on behalf of the company – either an agency or a consumer) create the promotional communications?
2.) Is the company, or anyone acting on behalf of the company, actually controlling any part of the [web 2.0] activity including prompting others to communicate about the drug?

If the answer is yes above – Pharma IS clearly responsible for the message (but not the medium itself).

Listen to the 15 minute podcast – a MUST listen

Read the orginal blog
Read the Media Post recap

According to this study, yes…. What do you think?

I just love P&G. They are great marketers and truly innovative. This simple, yet beautiful “Apprentice meets web 2.0” type exercise (or one’s like it – be original) should be exercised at large companies all over the world right now. The way to know and understand web 2.0 is to immerse yourself in it. I’m sure this was not only a great team builder, but was also a big eye-opener for all involved, and they supported a charity to boot. Way to go P&G. Keep fighting the good fight!

Uh oh… Behavioral targeting has been making a significant come back since the days of Doubleclick’s attempted purchase of Abacus with the grand vision of melding online and off-line data on customers. That deal set off one of the greatest “privacy” debates in the history of the Internet (almost crushing online advertising).

Now Google (aka Doubleclick) are getting back in the behaviorial targeting game. Watch out for the privacy advocate storm over this one… like Congress doesn’t have enough to do right now (although, perhaps that’s just the thought on the timing of this announcement).

Publishers, if you are struggling with keeping up with your 3rd party advertiser data, and still manually logging into dozens of disparate ad servers – you need to check out this automated discrepancy sourcing (and soon to be reconciling) tool (your new best friend). Great for trafficker’s, sales people, campaign managers, finance/billing, and anyone interested in saving time. Tell them I sent ya!

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Article by Adotos citing a study showing there’s a good chance of anOnline Advertising Industry Sales Decline in first half of 2009. But don’t paint all industries within online advertising with the same brush. Similar thoughts from TechCrunch