SAN FRANCISCO, March 22, 1999 — MSN
™
LinkExchange today announced that nearly 400,000 small businesses have used the companys services over the past three months, making it the leading provider of online marketing services for small businesses. These Web-savvy businesses have used LinkExchange services to reach new customers, promote their businesses online and grow their online sales.
LinkExchange gives small businesses the marketing tools that big companies have used to successfully grow their online businesses, tools such as affiliate marketing, targeted banner advertising, customer-appropriate contact lists and search engine placement. Deborah Edlhuber, founder of prairiefrontier.com and a small business customer of MSN LinkExchange, noted,
“MSN LinkExchange helps small merchants like me grow their business and compete with the big guys on the Web. Thanks to MSN LinkExchange, I have been able to affordably promote my site to my target customers, draw traffic to my business and make a profit selling prairie grass and wildflowers from my home.”
According to a survey by the Yankee Group, an average of 30 percent of small businesses surveyed said the Internet was important to achieving business goals. *
LinkExchange services let growing businesses realize the potential of the Web to reach new customers, often customers they couldnt reach in any other way. For many smaller businesses, the move from selling to people around the block to having customers around the globe is a remarkable way to develop their business. Chris and Jain Goodall founded go2.co.uk to increase tourism to the picturesque counties of England. Since they launched their site and began using LinkExchange services, their companys traffic has doubled and nearly half of the new traffic is coming from overseas. Said the founders,
“The whole thing has just snowballed, and more traffic to our Web site has meant more customers for us.”
A wide variety of small businesses benefit from LinkExchange services. The companys customers include small businesses from gourmet food retailers to fly fishing trip planners, travel agents and fine art dealers.
About MSN LinkExchange
MSN LinkExchange is a leading provider of services for small businesses and Web site owners that want to expand their online traffic and sales. Over 1 million customers have used the companys innovative products to promote, improve and earn money from their Web sites over the past three months. MSN LinkExchange products benefit small businesses by helping them cost-effectively build exposure and awareness through low-cost advertising on some of the Webs top sites, easy listing on search engines, ability to keep in touch with customers via e-mail and potential to earn revenue online.
LinkExchange was founded in 1996. The company was acquired by Microsoft Corp. in November 1998 and is now part of the MSN network of Internet services.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products and services for business and
personal use, each designed with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
*
“Three Surveys Reveal Owners Optimism”
by Jane Applegate, Chicago Sun-Times, Dec. 1, 1998, p. 48.
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