Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Burst Media launches ad network for eco friendly sites

Burlington-based online advertising network developer Burst Media LLC has launched a new green business ad network catering to advertisers aiming their message at an environmentally conscious audience.

The network, dubbed the Burst Green Network, includes sites committed to living a "green" lifestyle and buying related eco friendly products. The launch of the network comes on the heels of Burst Media's move last week to launch a family vacation-centric network called the Burst Family Travelers Network.

The new Green Network was inspired by a recent online survey by Burst Media indicating that almost 80 percent of 6,000 respondents claimed they use web sites to conduct personal research on green initiatives and products.

Burst Media (LON: BRST), one of the largest online advertising networks in the country, is part of a growing movement to make the most of advertising in digital environments, in digital environments, including cell phones, blogs and podcasts.

According to some analysts, traditional online advertising revenues have slipped slightly of late (industry consulting firm comScore Inc., for example, showed a 7 percent decrease in advertising click-throughs on the major search engines between December 2007 and January 2008), yet the slack is being picked through new programs like targeted networks and through new media environments, such as mobile networks, blogs and podcasts.

According to eMarketer Inc, a New York online research firm, advertising revenue from blogs, podcasts and real simple syndication (RSS) feeds reached $196 million in 2007 compared with $78 million in 2006, and during the next three years, that figure is projected to reach $1.1 billion.

For Burst Media, the new networks represent a trend in the company's offerings. Aside from the Green and Family Travel networks, the firm also boasts the Burst Life Stages Network, the Burst Early Adopters Network, the Burst Moms Network and the CDKitchen Cooking Network.