1. 6 updates

Facebook profits up by 40%

Facebook's revenue in the final three months of 2012 has gone up 40% compared to 2011 - to $1.585 billion. The firm's latest financial report shows daily active users at 618 million on average in December, with monthly active users at 1.06 billion.

Live updates

Marketing agency: Facebook must 'constantly evolve'

Online marketing agency Pinpoint Designs says Facebook must continue to evolve, and expand what it offers to users, to stay successful.

It says the social network is going in the right direction by developing its empire, and "could easily morph into a search engine, music or dating service too."

By beating Wall Street’s expectations, Facebook has gone some way to silence its doubters and confirm its place at the front of the social media crowd.

Itsconsolidation of its own territory, coupled with a creeping encroachment intoothers’ domain, will prevent it being pigeon-holed and guarantee its role as aprime shaper of the future internet.

Ultimately Facebook's continued success lies in its ability to constantly evolve. What began as a social network could easily morph into a search engine, music or dating service too.

– Lewis Sellers, director of Pinpoint Designs

Analyst: Facebook 'on the right track'

Business and technology analyst Ovum says Facebook reporting a 40% rise in revenue for the final three months of the year, compared to a year earlier, gives "cause for optimism" and shows "the company is on the right track" after a largely difficult 2012.

Facebook Q4 2012 results give cause for optimism and suggest the company is on the right track following its disappointing IPO (initial public offering - in May 2012) and the lacklustre two quarters that immediately followed.

What stands out from Facebook’s Q4 results is the centrality of mobile for its service strategy and growth.

This solid progress on the mobile advertising front should be applauded, as a key challenge for Facebook has been how to monetize its growing mobile user base, particularly as an increasing number interact with the platform by only via mobile devices.

– Eden Zoller, principal analyst at Ovum

Advertisement

Facebook headcount set to grow in 2013

Facebook Inc CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said the company expects to grow its headcount in 2013, as it invests in new products.

Zuckerberg said the world's number one social network will be focused on building the business for the long-term and will not be operating to maximise profit in 2013.

Founder of Facebook Mark Zuckerberg. Credit: Chris Ratcliffe/PA Archive/Press Association Images

The announcement comes as it is was revealed that Facebook's revenue in the final three months of 2012 has gone up 40% compared to 2011 - to $1.585 billion.

Mobile ad revenue 'great opportunity for Facebook'

The mobile trend clearly seems be that users are adopting mobile and that Facebook and advertisers like the results they are getting. Facebook has a relatively easy time generating inventory and finding advertisers to fill that inventory.

They were up 10 percent overall on mobile (ad revenue). That's got to be relatively good news for those that are watching Facebook and seeing how they are dealing with their user adjustment over to that platform.

– BRIAN BLAU, RESEARCH DIRECTOR IN CONSUMER TECHNOLOGY, GARTNER

Mobile devices 'Facebook's greatest opportunity'

Facebook's biggest challenge and its greatest opportunity now lies in mobile devices. Most Facebook users access it using a mobile phone or tablet computer, but the company only started showing mobile ads about 9 months ago.

Facebook unveiled revenues for the final quarter of 2012 today Credit: Press Association

Facebook said it generated 23%, or $306 million, of advertising revenue from mobile, up from 14% in the third quarter.

Facebook's revenue soars 40% in a year

Facebook's revenue in the final three months of 2012 grew 40% compared to a year earlier - to $1.585 billion. The latest financial report shows daily active users hit 618 million on average in December 2012, with monthly active users at 1.06 billion.

Facebook's revenue Credit: Facebook

More of us are also going mobile. There are 680 million monthly active mobile users compared to 618 million active non-mobile users.

In a statement, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said: "In 2012, we connected over a billion people and became a mobile company. We enter 2013 with good momentum and will continue to invest to achieve our mission and become a stronger, more valuable company."

Advertisement

Back to top