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Facebook has launched a new site called Facebook for Businesses, which is aimed at helping small businesses use social media effectively. It offers tips on how to create pages, ads and use the Facebook platform for social plug-ins or apps specifically designed around small businesses rather than big business.

Facebook for Businesses is Facebook’s latest site in a series of pages and websites launched by them to help companies understand how using Facebook can benefit them. A Facebook spokeswoman says: “Facebook allows small businesses to create rich social experiences, build lasting relationships and amplify the most powerful type of marketing – word of mouth. We created Facebook.com/business to make it even easier for people to reach these objectives and grow.”

The social network launched Facebook studio in March this year, which is an online resource to showcase creative campaigns that have used the social network for brand activity. They also have their own pages across categories such as music, media and marketing.

Facebook have launched their business site after recent success of Google+ who are also now trialling business accounts on their too. Brands have been asked by the search giant to apply to take part in their tests before a full Google+ business which will be launched later in the year.

The famous beauty store, Superdrug, has announced that it is to launch an exclusive ‘The Only Way Is Essex’ ‘cosmetics and perfume range, ‘so that customers can replicate the look of the characters from the popular ITV2 programme.

The launch of this particular range is part of the new “take another look” campaign that aims to boost the brand by putting emphasis on ranges that are ‘in’ with the current fashion trends.

The range is said to include: a home vajazzle kit, lip gloss, mascara, perfume for men (“Be Reem”), perfume for women (“Dazzle”) and a bronzer; so that customers can produce the famous ‘Only Way Is Essex’ fake tan look.

The range is said to be launched just in time for Christmas.

Superdrug is also said to be expanding its men’s Christmas gift section by as much as 20% as the company are set to compete against rival beauty brand ‘Boots’.

McDonald’s have decided to launch a global initiative in order to encourage kids and teens to stay active and physically fit. The restaurant company also announced it was part of its plans to back the sponsorship of the major 2012 Olympic events.

The company has also announced that the companies own ‘Happy Meals’ will be available for the Olympic restaurants at the London 2012 Games. The children’s meal will be available in the Olympic restaurants as part of the company’s menu at the Games.

The reason behind the release of the Happy Meals in the restaurants is to “satisfy the demands” It is expected that over two thirds of the guests to the stadium will have children with them.

However, McDonald’s has been criticised for promoting its Happy Meals, which have been accused of being high in both fat and salt.

Kevin Newell, global chief brand officer, also announced that milk, fruit and vegetables will also be available to purchase in the Olympic restaurants.

McDonalds is opening four Olympic restaurants. will open in the Olympic Park, one in the athletes village and one in the press area. The Olympic Park is going to have a contemporary design with graffiti art and urban furniture.

Carlsberg, the Danish brewing company, has extended its deal with the Football Association (FA) ad is set to increase the use of England players in its marketing.

Faces such as Wayne Rooney, John Terry and Jack Wilshere are now allowed to be advertised in campaigns both in the UK and globally,  after the beer brand, already the “official beer” of the England football team, has agreed to this in a contract.

The value of the new deal was not disclosed but it is thought that the beer brand paid more for the additional rights.

Hoping that the advertising will boost sales, Parent company Carlsberg UK claims that sales of Carlsberg in pubs increased by 26% during the first week of last year’s World Cup.

Chief executive at Carlsberg UK, Dr Isaac Sheps, states: “We know that when we activate around our England sponsorship we see a great boost to sales and brand awareness. It is a great partnership and one that we hope will extend beyond the 2014 World Cup.”

Separately, the FA has announced Budweiser as title sponsor of the FA Cup. The new beer brand will replace E.on.

Pandora, the famous jewellery manufacturer, is ready to produce a new digital magazine that aims to achieve an audience of over 1 million people. The interactive magazine will be available to Pandora’s Customer Club with a whopping 1.6 million members.

The mag enables readers to share their favourite articles with friends and family on social networking sites and comment on them. Pandora’s popular Facebook page is evidence that online publicity is key to moving the company forward.

The magazine is going to be available in 4 different languages and published 6 times a year. The magazine will eventually be adapted to different shops with local content. John Lewis and P&G are among some of the well-known brands to launch digital magazines in recent months.

Key elements that will feature in the fab mag will include: behind the scenes insights into the brand, fashion shoots, style tips and Pandora customer stories.

Executive marketing director, Mikkel Berg, quotes: “This magazine rewards our customers’ loyalty and gives new opportunities for them to share their thoughts with each other and the company. The dialogue gives us a better understanding of what Pandora customers want, which we can learn from and incorporate into our future plans.”

Waitrose, the high-class food-store, has announced that it intends to expand into the convenience industry and has guaranteed to open at least a total of 20 new Little Waitrose shops. The expansion follows the testing of the sub-brand Little Waitrose in the Waitrose store on in South Kensington, which started out in January.

The development into the convenience market puts Waitrose face to face with competitors such as Marks & Spencer and its Simply Food smaller stores which hopefully will be a success.

So far this year, Waitrose has opened one full-size supermarket and five convenience stores in London. The next Little Waitrose will open on Tottenham Court Road in central London this week.

The launch marks the largest number of branches that Waitrose has opened in London in a year, and will create up to 1,000 jobs, according to a company spokesperson. The first Waitrose opened in Acton, west London in 1904. Waitrose has also promised Wimbledon and Stratford two new full-size supermarkets, and five convenience shops, which is said to create a further 600 jobs by Christmas time.

Managing Director, Mark Price, exclaims: “London is an important part of our heritage, so this is another exciting milestone for our business. It demonstrates our ambition to continue increasing our presence and improving our accessibility to those who wish to shop with us.”

Throughout the last six years, Waitrose has taken major steps to increase the number of its sites within the UK, however, more than a quarter of its 257 stores are located within the M25.