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UK agencies declare Specific Media the leader in customer service

Online advertising network tops IPA Digital Media Owners Image Survey for the first time

London, UK – 29th October 2008 – Specific Media, the leading independent online advertising network, has been voted as having the best overall customer service in the 4tt annual IPA Digital Media Owners Image Survey. Specific Media placed first in the statement 'my overall experience of dealing with this supplier is a good one', the first time an online advertising network has ever topped the poll.

In the survey of digital planners, strategists and buyers in media agencies, Specific Media also led the rankings in a number of other categories, appearing in the top five places more than any other company alongside MSN. Across 13 of the 14 attributes that were put to agencies, Specific Media and MSN both appeared in the top five places 11 times, three more than the next nearest company.

"To be recognised for providing superior service not just to our direct competitors in the online ad network space, but also social networks, newspapers and other digital media is testament to the emphasis we put on delivering quality service," said Colin Petrie-Norris, MD -International, Specific Media. "Our premium network and proprietary targeting technology mean that we have a top-class product that agencies can reply on, but to be singled out as providing superior customer service to go with that is hugely gratifying."

The survey has been designed to highlight the levels of service media owners provide and outline where improvements can be made, with the aim of helping the growth of digital advertising, providing a collective voice for the industry and raising the digital standard in general.

Specific Media faired best in service-related categories, topping the rankings in respect of a number of service-related variables including: having an excellent understanding of their own products; having a sales team that is easy to contact; providing adequate after sales support in terms of service; communication and optimisation and providing adequate after sales support in terms of on-time trafficking.

"Service is the cornerstone of what we do and to be the first online ad network to top the IPA survey makes us incredibly proud," continued Petrie-Norris. "Our international expansion has been wide and successful in 2008 and recognition like this will help us expand further into 2009, as more and more people become aware of our expertise in behavioural targeting."

Matt Simpson, Chairman of IPA Digital Media Group and Group Head of Digital at OMD commented, "It's great to see more media owners striving to improve their customer service levels as a result of this survey. Rather worryingly, some of the established players in the portal, newspaper and network disciplines do not seem to be meeting the demands of agencies and also do not seem to be showing any real improvements from previous surveys."

About Specific Media

Specific Media, the advertising industry's largest independent online advertising network, enables advertisers to target consumers throughout North America and Western Europe based on demographics, behaviours, geographic locations and/or the contextual relevance of websites visited. Specific Media works with many of the Fortune 500 brands including seven of the top 10 companies. The company"s Premium Network reaches more than 225 million consumers globally and 26 million UK consumers each month. Since 1999, Specific Media has connected advertisers with target audiences across consumer branded publishers. Visit www.specificmedia.com

About IPA Digital Media Owner's Image Survey

Fieldwork was undertaken during September 2008 when digital planners, strategists and buyers in media agencies and digital specialists invited to take part in the online survey by e-mail. Respondents selected by intermediary within selected agencies according to their perceived knowledge of the sector - 178 survey responses were received. Full details of the survey can be found here

Contact:
Will Campbell
Band & Brown
T 020 7419 6975
will.campbell@bbpr.com

Christine Schoultz
Specific Media
949.861.8898
cschoultz@specificmedia.com