REDMOND, Wash., and NEW YORK — July 7, 2008 — Microsoft Corp. and Rodale Inc. today announced an agreement in which the two companies will collaborate to deliver relevant advertising to Rodale’s portfolio of branded health, wellness and fitness Web properties. Under the agreement, Microsoft becomes the exclusive third-party provider of contextual and paid search advertising for Rodale’s online network, including its key brands MensHealth.com, WomensHealthmag.com, Prevention.com, RunnersWorld.com and Bicycling.com.
“Rodale is the authoritative source for trusted content in health, fitness and wellness around the world and on the Web, and we are pleased to provide our advertisers greater access to this valuable audience segment,” said Scott Howe, vice president of the Advertiser and Publisher Solutions Group at Microsoft. “The inclusion of Rodale in our lineup of syndicated advertising partners is a strong indicator that we’re continuing to gain significant traction with our advertising platform and further complements our vertical expertise in health, finance, travel, autos and entertainment.”
Microsoft implements innovative ad-serving technologies, contextual advertising and paid search advertising capabilities through its adCenter platform, an offering available via the Microsoft Advertising portfolio. The contextual advertising offering helps advertisers connect with health-conscious consumers in more effective ways by matching placements of text-based ads with Rodale’s editorial content. If a consumer visits RunnersWorld.com or is reading an online article about running shoes or equipment, he or she might be more likely to see an ad for running shoes than an ad for a microwave oven, because of the content on the Web page. This targeting functionality provides advertisers with an enhanced level of audience segmentation, and gives consumers an improved and more relevant online experience.
“Combining Microsoft’s contextual advertising and paid search advertising capabilities with our compelling content will provide additional value to our visitors by ensuring the advertising they see is aligned with their interests,” said Daniele Campbell, associate vice president, Interactive Marketing, Rodale.
Rodale’s extensive range of health and wellness Web sites includes MensHealth.com, Prevention.com, RunnersWorld.com,WomensHealthmag.com, Bicycling.com, OrganicGardening.com, BestLifeOnline.com, RunningTimes.com, iYogalife.com and MountainBike.com. All are expected to begin providing Microsoft contextual advertising by the end of July, with paid search advertising to follow at a later date.
About Rodale
Rodale is a global multi-platform media company with a mission dedicated to the health and wellness of the individual, community and planet. The company, which reaches more than 70 million people worldwide, publishes some of the best-known health and wellness lifestyle magazines, including Men’s Health, Prevention, Women’s Health, Runner’s World, Best Life, Bicycling, Running Times, and Organic Gardening, and is also the largest independent book publisher in America with a collection of international titles, including The South Beach Diet, An Inconvenient Truth and Eat This, Not That. Rodale’s broad range of media platforms includes magazines, books, video, and extensive Web sites. The company is also a leader in direct-response marketing and has more than 25 million active customers in its database. Visit the web site at www.Rodale.com.
About Microsoft Advertising
Microsoft Advertising provides world-class advertising tools and solutions for digital advertisers and publishers to drive brand and consumer engagement. The portfolio includes all of Microsoft’s digital advertising businesses: its global media network that includes MSN, Windows Live, Office Live, Xbox LIVE, Live Search, Facebook and more, and its global technology platforms and tools that include Atlas, AdECN, adCenter, DRIVEpm, Massive and ScreenTonic, which together create engaging digital advertising experiences for their consumers. Microsoft Advertising helps make buying and selling media simple, smart and cost-effective across media and devices in the Microsoft network of properties and beyond, which spans 42 markets globally and 21 languages. Visit http://advertising.microsoft.com for more information.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
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