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Archived News - February 2008

Infoserve Signs Reseller Deal With Google™

25th February 2008

Aim–listed Infoserve has announced a major new contract with Google™, making it the second company in Europe to be appointed an “Authorised Google AdWords Reseller”. The new contract is recognition of Infoserve’s experience and expertise in providing online marketing solutions to the SME market.

Under this new strategic agreement, the Leeds–based company will assist its SME customers in managing advertising accounts on the Google™ search engine and content network.

Infoserve will guide companies through the whole process of ‘cost per click’ marketing on Google, from advice on the selection and bidding on relevant keywords, through to ensuring consumers arrive at the right place within the advertiser’s website when they click on an ad. This will help customers achieve the optimum return from each advertisement.

Infoserve will not only provide comprehensive advice, but will also create, budget, organise and manage AdWords™ campaigns on behalf of its customers, saving them time and effort. In addition, Infoserve will provide a comprehensive monthly analysis of the results.

Infoserve plans for companies to be able to spend as little as £7.69 per week for a complete annual programme, making online promotion extremely cost effective and well within reach of all SMEs.

Commenting on the new deal Steve Barnes, CEO of Infoserve said, “We are proud that Google, one of the world’s most iconic and successful brands, has recognised that we can safeguard its reputation through fair pricing and excellent customer service, whilst assisting SME businesses to use its excellent advertising medium”.

“These are extremely exciting times for the sector with online advertising spend rising by an incredible £417m in the first half of 2007 to £1.3bn. We are therefore delighted to be an Authorised Google AdWords Reseller as local search becomes increasingly popular. It certainly takes Infoserve to another level and reinforces our position as a leader in the market.”

Infoserve Announces Reseller Deal with Google™ and Restoration of Trading of the Company's Ordinary Shares on AIM

February 2008

Infoserve announces a major new contract with Google™, making it the second company in Europe to be appointed an “Authorised Google AdWords Reseller”.

Under this new strategic agreement, the Company will assist its SME customers in managing advertisements on the Google™ search engine.

Infoserve will guide companies through the whole process of ‘cost per click' marketing on Google™, from advice on the selection and purchase of relevant keywords, through to ensuring consumers arrive at the right place within the advertiser's website when they click on an ad. This will help customers achieve the optimum return from each advertisement.

Infoserve will provide comprehensive advice, create, budget, organise and manage AdWords™ campaigns on behalf of its customers and provide a comprehensive monthly analysis of the results.

Commenting on the new deal Steve Barnes, CEO of Infoserve said, “We are proud that Google, one of the world's most iconic and successful brands, has recognised that we can safeguard its reputation through fair pricing and excellent customer service, whilst assisting SME businesses to use its excellent advertising medium”.

The temporary suspension of trading of the Company's ordinary shares on AIM has now been lifted.

Infoserve Rewards Star Performers

15th February 2008

Rebecca Howard from Darlington and Jamie Neilson from Bishop Auckland have both been given a special award by leading on–line local search company Infoserve, after smashing through their sales targets for the month.

Rebecca, who has a degree in art and design, has only been with the company three months but has already proved herself to be a rising star.

Having moved back to Darlington from Leeds, where she had lived for five years, she applied for a job at Infoserve. Following two weeks induction training, she joined the development team where she received intensive ‘on–the–job’ training.

Ironically, Rebecca was the last person in her group to make the first sale but once she achieved it she has not looked back. Last month she reached £5200 in five sales creating a new monthly record for someone who has only been with the company for three months.

Rebecca has now graduated to the Core sales team as media sales executive.

Her colleague, Jamie Nielson of Bishop Auckland, has been with Infoserve for almost a year and is celebrating smashing through the £10k sales barrier for the month.

Having joined the company in March 2007 he has established himself as a top performer, having previously worked as a machine operator in a packaging company.

He received the same in–depth training as Rebecca and, having progressed to the Core sales team, has beaten every sales target set.

Commenting on her achievement, Rebecca, who prefers to call it an advertising company not a call centre, said,

“I was delighted to break through the £5k milestone but I know I could not have achieved it without Infoserve’s investment in training and the help and guidance from my manager Garry Heseltine. The team is great too and I love the way we all ‘bounce’ off each other.”

Jamie is equally enthusiastic.

“You hear so many negative comments about telesales but the working environment and career opportunities are fantastic here. There is no way I could have broken through the £10k barrier without help from my manager Paul Matthewson and my team mates.”

Infoserve’s Finance and Commercial Director, David Balbi concludes:

“Everyone is genuinely delighted with Rebecca and Jamie’s achievements. The awards are well deserved and demonstrate that anyone, with our training, can be extremely successful no matter what they did previously.”

Infoserve currently employs 96 people at its call centre at Morton Palms Business Park in Darlington and is aiming to recruit an additional 100 people by the end of the year.

The team sells advertising on a range of business finder web sites and last year won the contract to exclusively sell featured listings on Yahoo! Local.

Other sites include football club websites via Football League Interactive, Sky Digital and its own exclusive business finder site, cityvisitor.co.uk.

Infoserve Ltd. Registered in England & Wales, Number 5750143. Registered Office: South Side Aviation, Leeds Bradford Int'l Airport, Leeds, LS19 7UG
City-visitor is an online product of Infoserve Group plc