It’s a channel with a host of potential benefits, but SMS marketing has fallen out of fashion somewhat recently with marketers in the US and Europe, prompting the question: is SMS still relevant?

The vast majority of brands are familiar with how to use social media mainstays like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. But each of these social networks came from somewhere – and those brands who were prescient enough to get in on the ground floor were able to reap the “early adopter” rewards.

For years, brands have used microsites, in many cases to great effect. But not all microsites deliver results. So what separates the effective microsites from the ineffective ones? Here are eight components of a successful microsite, together with brands who are putting them into action.

The internet has thrived on the unrestricted and open access it provides for an international community to shop and share with just a few clicks. But with a small group of mega-companies increasingly dominating the online landscape, is it time for regulators to step in? What would this mean for the marketing industry?