Online social networking continues to grow in the UK and more consumers are spending time at sites like Bebo and Facebook. Social networking is an activity that an estimated 11 million people, about 30% of UK Internet users, participated in last year.

This year, advertising spending on social network sites is expected to rise 77% to £115 million. In 2012, marketers are projected to spend £285 million, a 148% increase over 2008. This increase is reflected across the board as many companies switch traditional telemarketing and mail shots to PPC and SEO activities.

"eMarketer expects that the UK market will enjoy slightly greater gains in social network ad spending, percentage-wise, than the US. But social sites represent a tiny portion of UK online ad spending-just 3.4% in 2008."

Source: eMarketer