Top Story

• Facebook is expected to buy Microsoft's Atlas ad business
  Facebook is reportedly poised to snap up Microsoft's Atlas ad-serving platform for less than $100 million. That would bring Facebook closer to end-to-end control of its ad business and would facilitate its progress toward running a third-party, whole-Web ad network. "Essentially, Facebook is looking to build a full array of digital-advertising technologies to rival Google," writes Jason Del Rey. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (2/7), CNET (2/7)     

Trendwatch

• Self-regulation is working, ad networks say
  Lawmakers are skeptical about ad networks' willingness to take responsibility for their own behavior -- but the Network Advertising Initiative hopes to change that. It has signed up about 100 industry players, including Google, AOL, Microsoft and Yahoo, for a rigorous regulatory program requiring continuous review of companies' data collection, disclosures and opt-out policies. "What policymakers call for is self-regulation with teeth, enforcement and accountability. This is real and very tangible," says Executive Director Marc Groman. Adweek (2/7)     

• Custom content trumps display ads, says Young Hollywood founder
  Young Hollywood founder R.J. Williams has built one of YouTube's most successful and lucrative media businesses -- and he's done it without the display ads upon which YouTube normally depends. Instead, Young Hollywood works with brands to develop custom campaigns and sponsorship deals that are integrated into its YouTube programming. "There are so many other elements that are more effective than doing a traditional media buy," Williams explains. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (2/7)     

Getting the Word Out

• How Oreo built an Instagram following in 15 seconds
  In the 15 seconds following the screening of Oreo's "Cookie or Creme" Super Bowl ad, the brand's Instagram following jumped from 2,200 to 22,000, says brand manager Susan Burris. The continuing campaign, which asks consumers to share photos so that they can be made into cookie or cream sculptures, has since boosted Oreo's following to more than 50,000. "We're not just launching an Instagram page, we're launching an engagement experience," Burris says. ClickZ (2/7)     

• Louis Vuitton handbags join Twitter, start flirting
  Louis Vuitton is seeking to humanize its handbags and men's accessories by having them post love poems to one another on Twitter. "Louis Vuitton is being inventive and creative by essentially giving their handbags a personality," Social Muse Communications CEO Christine Kirk said. Luxury Daily (2/7)     

Developer Update

• Does your website have a pixel problem?
  Digital marketers often use small blocks of code, known as pixels because they usually take the form of single-pixel images, to keep tabs on website visitors. Pixels are particularly useful when it comes to spotting and tracking specific user actions, but too many pixels can clog up a website and cause it to run slowly. "If not handled properly, pixels can be a major headache," writes Ben Plomion. SearchEngineWatch.com (2/7)     

Design Corner

• 7 ways to shrink your Web images
  Oversized images can slow down websites, so it's important to find ways to shrink them without drastically reducing their quality, writes Gisele Muller. Consider using tools such as TinyPNG, Smush.it or ImageOptim to compress and trim the images on your site, Muller writes. WebDesignLedger.com (2/7)     

Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs

• Glitches that can sink websites
  Business owners should regularly audit their websites for bugs, writes Melissa Fach. Broken links, unnoticed downtime and faulty contact tools can all send away potential customers. "If the site isn't running well, you could lose a sale and/or a potential long-term customer," Fach writes. Small Business Trends (2/7)     

On Leadership

Top five news stories from SmartBrief on Leadership this week. Want more leadership news?

• Why good leaders ask "power questions" (SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership)

• What bosses should do instead of micromanaging (CNNMoney/Fortune)

• 4 ways to be a more intense boss (ArtPetty.com)

• How to be a first-time CEO (The New York Times (tiered subscription model))

• Who is the In-N-Out hamburger heiress? (Bloomberg)

SmartQuote

If you want to make enemies, try to change something." --Woodrow Wilson, 28th U.S. president