Digital

Shanghai - Taiwanese bath products brand HCG has hired EmporioAsia Leo Burnett as its digital agency in Greater China amid plans to reinvigorate itself as a global brand.

Shanghai - Former Google China executive Sara Ye has been hired by GroupM China to lead its Search Marketing efforts with immediate effect.

China – As retail sales struggle under the economic slump, newer interactive tools are pushing China's online retail sector up 117% every year.

Video Blog - Corporate blogging is not a question of budgets but more about whether your company is open and transparent enough to engage with customers, said Carine Senft, interactive director Asia for Ruder Finn.

Hong Kong - Openrice.com is Hong Kong's most visited food and beverage website owning a market share of more than 65% compared to its nearest rivals Leisure Cat and Eat & Travel Weekly at just 2%, according to figures from Hitwise Hong Kong.

Hong Kong - Despite the hype surrounding mobile and social media, marketers in Asia will focus on corporate websites, email campaigns, search marketing and behavioural targeting as the key digital strategies for the coming year.

CTF2, Chow Tai Fook jewellery's subsidiary brand, has partnered with TVB.com in its first attempt to launch a marketing campaign online.

Hong Kong - If the world of digital marketing has not changed your life, it soon will. The choice for marketing professionals is simple: get informed or watch the world pass you by.

Shanghai - SinoTech has formed a social media marketing unit to provide companies with a range of services from branded community development to viral seeding and reputation management.

Hong Kong - eBay has kicked off a contest to entice SMEs and young job seekers affected by the downturn to leverage its platform and carve a career in cross-border trade.

Hong Kong - Yahoo Personals has topped the dating website category as the most popular matchmaking platform locally with a 13% market share ahead of other dating sites, according to Hitwise Hong Kong.

India - Legrand, the France-based residential and commercial electrical equipment manufacturing company, has launched a website on smart living, named IdeasThatClick.in. This is part of its first-ever online marketing campaign in India.

Hong Kong - As ad budgets come under pressure, companies are increasingly more receptive to giving social media a go, and IP Global, a property investment company, has launched a real estate investment video podcast series aimed at prospective investors.

Hong Kong - New data shows celebrity web portals like Show and Alivenotdead.com are emerging as niche platforms for marketers to reach out to young consumers.

Hong Kong - Online trading platform ETrade has rolled out campaign using the Tetris-SPH online video platform.

Shanghai - Jean Lin, the founder and CEO for wwwins Consulting, has been promoted to global chief strategy officer for Isobar and will continue to be based in Shanghai.

Hong Kong - A tweet post from cynthiamania was an apt way to announce that Thomas Crampton will be joining OgilvyPR as Asia regional director of Digital Influence.

Shanghai - Pixel Media has appointed Danny Tsang as its first general manager for the Shanghai office and outlined aggressive plans to build its share of the Greater China market.

Singapore - The inaugural Asian Youth Games Singapore 2009 has appointed World Sport Group as its official web broadcaster and website developer.

Hong Kong - Carat and wwwins Consulting Hong Kong, both under the Aegis Group, have partnered to launch a specialist digital offering.

Shanghai - Fast food giant McDonald's has partnered with Alibaba's hugely popular trading site Taobao.com to promote the reduced prices of its value meal deals.

Hong Kong – Next Media's Apple Daily is expected to launch its first multi-channel video platform via its Apple Action News in coming months.

Hong Kong - Niche travel title Business Traveller Asia Pacific has expanded its format into a weekly e-newsletter, following the relaunch of its website last September.

The recession has seen a sharp rise in B2B companies using email marketing. Radica Systems CEO Francis Kwok says email marketing is the best way to manage client relationships, but he warns it must be done right.

It's been said that online TV is merely a complimentary offering to the conventional TV business. But after one year the Oriental Press Group's On.cc network is putting this theory to test.

Hong Kong - Total online ad spend in Hong Kong for 2008 hit HK$702 million, buoyed by a fourth quarter rise of 33%, according to Nielsen Online.

Hong Kong - Sports brands are increasingly tapping the female market with adidas stepping into the fray to launch its 'Me, Myself' campaign in Hong Kong, featuring celebrity Stephanie Sun as ambassador.

Hong Kong - Online brands catering to the female segment are flourishing, but in Hong Kong MingPao dominates the market with a 24.81% share ahead of She.com.

Hong Kong - Cathay Holidays has partnered with MSN's Windows Live Alert and MSN travel channel as a tactical way to extend promotions and provide Cathay-specific content to Microsoft's travel portal.

Regional - Tourism Australia has rolled out a regional online campaign themed "A journey to find your true self" aimed at extending its core brand message of "Australia. Come WalkAbout".