Twitter rolls out self-service ads

Self-serve ads accounted for about 60 percent of Facebook's estimated global advertising revenue of $3.8 billion this year, according to Internet research firm eMarketer. A self-service program should help Twitter entice more small and medium-size businesses "since companies will be able to buy ads with a credit card with no human involvement," said eMarketer senior analyst Debra Aho Williamson. Bain also said the rate of consumer engagement with Twitter's advertising platform of "promoted" tweets, trends and accounts is about 100 times higher than standard online display ads, which have been around for 18 years. The campaign, which told fans where they could find special early screenings, helped the movie generate $15 million to $18 million more than expected at the box office for its opening weekend.