Key Internet Players Launch Internet Direct MarketingBureau to Address Online Direct Marketing Issues.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 7, 1998--

Founding Members Include Word of Net Promotions, InterActive Agency,

Webstakes, WebPromote, marketreach and Dave's World

A coalition of interactive marketing services companies and their customers have formed the Internet Direct Marketing bureau (http://www.idmb.org) to ensure the maximum effectiveness and acceptance of direct marketing on the Internet, it was announced today at the Internet World conference.

The new association will address a wide range of Internet marketing disciplines, including e-mail marketing, search engine optimization, affiliate partner programs, collaborative filtering, affinity linking, ROI measurement, site analysis, sweepstakes, online privacy issues and other forms of Internet publicity, promotion and direct marketing.

Founding members of the Internet Direct Marketing Bureau include Word of Net Promotions, InterActive Agency Inc., Webstakes, WebPromote, marketreach and Dave's World.

"The interactive marketing community has matured to a point where an organization of this kind has become a necessity," said Paul Grand, chief executive officer, Word of Net Promotions, and chairman of the IDMB's steering committee. "The IDMB will give us a common voice to address concerns of both providers and users of Internet marketing services, to build awareness of the benefits we provide, and to establish best practices and guidelines where none currently exist."

"Companies using electronic commerce must understand that they need Internet advertising and Internet direct marketing to drive their eBusiness goals," said Van Vandegrift, former senior executive, Digital Equipment Corp. "The IDMB is critical to this education."

The Internet Direct Marketing Bureau will focus on the issues related to products, services and marketing practices that make up the Internet marketing mix but are not directly advertising related.

Three committees have already been meeting to help organize the IDMB:

--   The Industry Committee, led by Steve Krein, president of
     Webstakes, is responsible for identifying interactive marketing
     companies, products and services, and for addressing standards
     and privacy issues, measurements of effectiveness and industry
     best practices.
--   The Awareness and Education