360i Expands Emerging Media Group.

Promotes Sarah Hofstetter and David Berkowitz to Lead Integration of Search and Social Media and Ensure Brand Engagement and Advocacy

NEW YORK -- 360i, a search-centric digital agency, today announced that it has promoted two members of its management team to run its fast-growing emerging media business. Sarah Hofstetter has been named VP of Emerging Media and Client Strategy, and David Berkowitz has been promoted to Director of Emerging Media & Client Strategy.

In their roles, Ms. Hofstetter and Mr. Berkowitz will work directly with 360i's clients to develop and implement strategies that integrate word of mouth online marketing with media campaigns and search optimization into one cohesive marketing plan. 360i has executed engaging and measurable emerging media campaigns for NBC Universal, MTV Networks, Scripps Networks, Saks Fifth Avenue, among others.

As search-centric digital advisors to its clients, 360i approaches social media marketing using a combination of strategic public relations and search engine optimization. With a large percentage of SEO value coming from inbound links, off-site SEO is a key component to holistic search engine optimization. 360i's team of PR experts and former journalists engages with bloggers and content site editors to ensure optimal brand advocacy across user generated media. The team provides search-optimized digital assets such as videos, embeddable widgets and more to these blogs and community for them to share rich content to their viewers across social media. 360i is a member of the Word of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) and applies PR best practices as well as its own ethical guidelines to engaging with consumers online.

"The lines between viral marketing, public relations, brand promotion and social media are blurring, and we aim to serve as our clients' strategic advisors to help make sense of this evolving landscape," said Ms. Hofstetter. "While many marketers see the value in viral marketing, very few execute campaigns that cover all the bases - making sure your program is optimized across search and social media as well as ensuring positive brand engagement."

As an agency founded in providing measurable results, 360i provides deep analysis and reporting on emerging media programs, including improvements in search engine optimization, ROI metrics and buzz monitoring.

"Consumers are already talking about the brands we work with, so we're able to amplify the conversations and bring our clients from the sidelines into the center of these communities," said Mr. Berkowitz. "We're helping our clients contribute to the conversations, build relationships with their most vocal constituents, and communicate in a very personal way with the people who are most eager to listen."

Prior to joining 360i, Ms. Hofstetter ran her own communications agency, developing and implementing corporate communications strategies for new media brands like Adobe Systems, Vibrant Media, Covad, Bolt Media and 360i. Ms. Hofstetter will also continue to oversee corporate marketing initiatives for 360i, including strategic communications counsel, public and analyst relations and client education programming.

Before starting her own agency, Ms. Hofstetter spent 10 years at IDT/Net2Phone in a variety of senior positions, most recently as Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications, aggregating the company's messaging across all target markets.

David Berkowitz will continue to run 360i's Emerging Media Lab, helping clients understand online marketing and emerging media trends. A weekly columnist for MediaPost and chairman of the Search Insider summits, Mr. Berkowitz is well known as an industry expert.

Prior to 360i, he served as director of marketing for Viewpoint's rich media advertising group Unicast and search engine marketing firm iCrossing. Previously, with research firm eMarketer, he interviewed 175 executives, authors, and analysts on the cutting edge of technology and business.

"We've applied the most real-time marketing research - studying how users search online - to create measurable buzz for our clients while simultaneously positively impacting their SEO," said John Ragals, COO of 360i. "Combining David's expertise in search and emerging media with Sarah's PR background and operational experience makes them a dynamic team best served to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients."

About 360i

Using Search Informed Marketing, 360i produces integrated digital marketing campaigns for large brand advertisers with a foundation in search marketing. Understanding and analyzing search behavior provides the insights to engage and attract 360i's clients' target audience. This allows 360i to implement the most effective campaigns online. 360i also gleans insights from consumer search behavior to deliver Search Informed MediaSM solutions, including display media on auction-based media networks and advanced off-site search engine optimization strategies across social and emerging media. 360i maintains a select group of premier clients such as NBC Universal, MTV Networks, Scripps Networks, Discovery Networks, Saks Fifth AVenue, Office Depot, and H&R Block, employing a combination of strategy, service and technology to ensure return on media investment. For more information, please visit www.360i.com.