REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 16, 1998 —
— Microsoft Corp. today announced two online advertising packages that provide extensive promotional opportunities throughout specially developed content areas within the MSN
™
network of Internet products and services. The packages are designed to facilitate marketers’ access to targeted audiences while providing a compelling experience for customers of MSN. Advertisers will be able to effectively reach a desirable targeted audience and benefit from the association with a broad array of award-winning content. These packages were developed by MSN in a continuing effort to offer promotional benefits to advertisers and consumers.
“Based on the success of our Back-to-School package, we know that advertisers find promotional opportunities helpful in targeting specific kinds of customers,”
said Charlotte Guyman, director of the online sales and marketing team at Microsoft.
“Our goal is to continue to provide advertising options that help our vendors find effective ways to achieve their sales and marketing goals online.”
Two microsites, Technology Test Drive and Stress-Less Holidays, are dedicated content areas that pool relevant content from MSN. They will be promoted on every level of the network including MSN.com, each participating site and run-of-network banners.
Technology Test Drive
Technology Test Drive is a broad technology-oriented microsite that gives consumers a look at present and future technology from a cross section of industries. The site will appeal to technology enthusiasts as well as casual observers, enabling them to learn, test and take advantage of the latest technologies. Technology Test Drive capitalizes on the Web’s psychographic interest in technology-related products and services.
Stress-Less Holidays
The Stress-Less Holidays microsite provides easier, faster and better answers to some of the gift-buying conundrums and high-anxiety situations that arise during the holiday season. Pooling the vast resources of the Microsoft® Plaza – the Expedia
™
travel service, MSNBC, Microsoft Investor, Internet Gaming Zone, the Computing Central
™
computer user’s information service, the Sidewalk
™
city guide and others – customers can access a multitude of holiday suggestions ranging from gift ideas to planning a day off. The microsite appeals to the growing number of people who turn to the Internet to facilitate their holiday shopping.
MSN offers online advertising and sponsorship opportunities. The integration of the Microsoft portal site and best-of-breed Internet services into a cohesive network establishes MSN.com as one of the most visited sites on the Internet. In addition to this broad consumer reach, properties on MSN deliver a highly qualified audience to businesses, helping them achieve their sales and marketing goals. MSN offerings include sponsorships of content and service segments, banner ads, promotions, cross-network packages and rich media online commercials using Windows® Media Technologies.
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.
Microsoft, MSN, Expedia, Sidewalk and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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