Google is attributing a 22 percent rise in advertising revenue to brands taking up new formats, particularly video. In the three months to the end of June, revenue rose to $16bn and profits were up 6 percent at $3.4bn. The company singled out the success of its preferred video service, which opens up top YouTube content to advertisers. It has been supported by Coca-Cola, GM, Universal Pictures and Adidas. It reported that video is the "linchpin" of its strategy for growth.

Both Facebook and Twitter are working on making it easier to buy goods and services. Facebook is testing a "buy" button, while Twitter has acquired startup CardSpring for "in-the-moment" ecommerce. Facebook's "buy" button is being trialled in the U.S. and allow purchases to be made without leaving the site. CardSpring allows internet offers to be synced with a credit or debit card so they can be redeemed without a voucher code either offline or online.

EBay is vowing to redouble its marketing effort to regain consumer confidence which it admits has been an issue since the hacker attack that compromised the data of 145m customers. The company said May's scandal had an 'immediate and dramatic' impact on sales with gross revenues falling 7 per cent in June. The company revealed this could be due to only four in five people resetting their passwords and, of those that did, spend levels were not as high as previously.

Facebook is planning to add a "buy now" button to better help advertisers monetise their presence on the social media channel. While the site was initially considered a place where brands could build relationships, the new departure would appear to signal that it is becoming a sales platform. Figures from eMarketer estimate that Facebook now accounts for just under 8 percent of all global ad spend -- up from just under 6 percent a year ago.

The Independent is going native with the launch of a Buzzfeed-style i100 site which also allows logged-in users to 'upvote' stories to decide their prominence on the home page. Setting up a profile offers the paper new data capture opportunities and native will be a regular part of the home page. The launch advertiser, from now until the end of the year, is First Direct. The site, like Buzzfeed offers articles based around lists of interesting facts on a topic of the day.

Aer Lingus is inviting London agencies to pitch for its European businesses. The Irish airline currently works with Dublin-based Irish International and will be speaking to additional agencies in the run up to formal pitches which are expected in September or October. The process is being handled by Agency Assessment International's Dublin office.

We Buy Any Car is putting its GBP10m advertising account up for review. The incumbent, Manchester-based Driven, beat Ruby and WDMP to win the brief in 2010. Before then, the brand handled all its communications in-house. Driven introduced tv spots including one featuring comedian James Corden. We Buy Any Car is coming under increasing competition from brands such as We Want Your Car and We Will Buy Your Car.

John Malone's Liberty Group has bought Sky's 6.4 per cent stake in ITV for a reported GBP481m, fueling fresh takeover speculation. Liberty Group bought Virgin Media last year and the rumour mill suggests the company is still on the hunt for British media assets. The company has played down takeover talk and must now wait six months if it plans a formal bid. The payment to Sky for the shares could well prove useful as the satellite broadcaster seeks full control of Sky Italia and Deutschland.

Twitter is launching a tool in the UK next week that will allow marketers to better tap in to real-time 'everyday moments'. The site believes that by understanding predictable moment in peoples' daily lives, marketers can understand conversations and join in more effectively. It predicts that by using real-time techniques to tap in to everyday moments, such as waiting for a train or going down the pub, brands can expect to more than double mentions and their share of voice.

The Labour Party is expected to publish a white paper on proposed changes to advertising rules aimed at better protecting children. One option, believed to be under serious consideration, is a 9pm watershed for ads promoting food high in salt, sugar or fat. Such adverts are banned from children's shows but can be viewed at any time during other programmes. Banning ads for e-cigarettes is a possibility but, it is believed, proposals to ban alcohol sports sponsorships will be dropped.