In Q3 2011, the best-liked TV creatives for men and women were all about the chase, as Nielsen research showed both genders enjoyed ads that represented the often elusive pursuit of love.

Audiences and advertisers alike are flocking to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT)-inclusive programs.

New research shows that advertisers looking to build their brands online will need to look beyond traditional web metrics to determine if their investments are paying off.

A new Nielsen advertising fact sheet details ad spend and effectiveness trends, as well as the latest insights on branded entertainment.

Volkswagen’s Little Darth Vader ad, where a small boy is stunned by his powers, was not only a standout commercial in this year’s Super Bowl, but it also took the top spot among Most Liked new ads of the entire first quarter 2011.

Although neither the the USA or England teams remain contenders for the World Cup, TV advertisers in the U.S. and U.K. appear to have scored with viewers…

An ad from Target that tied into the finale of LOST and a summer-themed Walmart ad were the most liked and most recalled ads of the most recent period tracked by Nielsen.

While advertising as a whole took a hit in 2009, the nation’s Quick Service Restaurants ramped up spending during the year by 2% over 2008, according to The Nielsen Company.

While global ad spend has softened in many sectors, one format, the direct response ad, or infomercial, has seen a remarkable 18% growth in total units in the U.S. since 2007 according to Nielsen.

Advertising spend was hard hit in 2009 – down 1.6 percent compared to 2008, according to Nielsen’s Global AdView Pulse, which reports advertising across 27 markets in Asia, North America, Europe and Africa.