In the world of online advertising, it seems as if text ads just might have the edge over the competition. In a survey conducted by research company iPerceptions, only 11% of those polled said that they click on video-based advertising. Nearly one-third of those clicks were provided by people who identified themselves as “under 25.” By comparison, 25% stated that they click on text-based ads. “Our research shows that inexpensive banner and text ads are still preferred among web consumers,” said iPerceptions vice president Jonathan Levitt. “By having a direct dialog with consumers, we are able to know - with certainty - what consumers want and expect from their online experience.”

Speaking of advertising, those familiar picture-free ads are coming to a Google Map near you. The ads appear at the bottom of the screen and feature content relevant to the location in question. While a number of bugs and dead links have already shown their ugly faces, Google is confidant that the new ads will work properly in the near future.

Yahoo is entering the data analysis business. The embattled search giant recently released Yahoo Web Analytics, an Internet marketing tool similar to Google Analytics. Based upon IndexTools, Yahoo Web Analytics provides users with everything one could want in a data collection service, including real time updates and routine performance assessments. Users will also have the ability to add their own custom widgets to the service, thanks to Yahoo’s extensive development network. At press time, the Yahoo Web Analytics beta is being limited to only 13,000 users.

Next up, we have Fring. Fring allows you to use Skype, Twitter, and a host of other tools on a variety of mobile platforms, including the iPhone. Developers see their program as more of a “web 2.0 suite” than an as a run of the mill social service. Easy to set up and and even easier to use, Fring is the perfect tool for anyone who wishes to keep in touch on the go.

And to finish off the week, the Internet Marketing Blog has a new article up about using scarcity to bring in users. Scarcity is a marketing ploy used to make people act impulsively and buy right away. Author PV Raymond warns against what is known as “fake scarcity,” a tactic where people claim that something is hard to find when really it isn’t. Using fake scarcity can potentially get you into a lot of trouble. A great tip, both in marketing and in life.