Marchex and Ingenio Announce Agreement to Integrate Pay Per Call Ads on Marchex Network of Web Sites
SEATTLE, WA and SAN FRANCISCO, CA - November 28, 2005 - Marchex, Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHX, MCHXP) and Ingenio, the leading provider of Pay Per Call® advertising services, today announced an agreement to place Ingenio's Pay Per Call advertiser listings across selected areas of Marchex's network of vertical and local Web sites. Marchex's network of sites attracted more than 24 million unique visitorsA for the month of September 2005, according to internal traffic logs.
Today's agreement furthers Marchex's efforts to build out a flexible publishing platform for its network that allows the company to efficiently add new advertising partners, such as Ingenio, and content relationships, as applicable by category or Web site. For Ingenio, the addition of Marchex to the company's growing Pay Per Call Advertising Network will deliver Ingenio advertisers more of what they are looking for - targeted phone call leads from ready-to-buy customers.
"Though Pay Per Call is an emerging opportunity, we believe that it will become an increasingly important tool for advertisers to reach Internet consumers," said Gary Roshak, Marchex VP of Strategic Alliances. "This agreement is one of the steps Marchex is taking to evaluate a broader plan in this space for 2006."
Marchex is focused on evolving its network of Web sites into Internet destinations offering a high degree of user utility, while providing merchants with targeted advertising inventory in local markets and in specific vertical categories. Both local and vertical consumer search are on the rise, and Pay Per Call advertising is positioned to be among the key methods that local and service-based businesses utilize to interact with potential consumers.
Ingenio's Pay Per Call product empowers any business - including those without Web sites - to generate targeted phone calls, and pay only for calls received.
"Today's news further demonstrates our commitment to rapidly grow the Ingenio Advertising Network with top-tier partners delivering high quality traffic," said Marc Barach, Chief Marketing Officer, Ingenio. "We are excited to work with Marchex to provide online consumers with more useful and relevant business information, and continue to offer Pay Per Call advertisers comprehensive exposure."
The initial integration of the Ingenio listings is scheduled to take effect during the first quarter of 2006.