MSN Expands Advertising in I.M., Spaces

MSN announced new opportunities for advertisers with the latest version of MSN® Messenger and MSN Spaces.

The new offerings are branded theme packs for MSN Messenger 7.0, which offer advanced ways to interact with a brand while also extending the life of the ad campaign. The new addition is aimed to provide advertisers the option to increase the return on investment.

Among the first U.S. advertising partner for MSN Spaces: Volvo Cars of North America LLC. Advertisers including Sprite and adidas have signed up to deliver theme packs with the MSN Messenger 7.0 launch.

"Deeper brand integration into MSN Messenger and MSN Spaces will enable our advertisers to connect with their target audiences in more creative, spontaneous and unobtrusive ways," said Joanne Bradford, vice president and chief media revenue officer for MSN.

According to the release, every month more than 155 million active users log in to the MSN Messenger service. The new theme packs in MSN Messenger 7.0, which include backgrounds, emoticons, dynamic display pictures and Winks.

Marketers are provided with more opportunities to position their brands in a viral way. Customers can use the customized content from within the MSN Messenger service to personalize their MSN Messenger experience.

Other advertising options for MSN Messenger 7.0 include these:
• MSN Video Conversation. More than 30 million unique users each month use MSN's basic webcam feature.
• Conversation window text ads. New advertising space in MSN Messenger 7.0 includes a text ad at the bottom of the MSN Messenger screen.
• MSN Tabs. Another new way for advertisers to prominently integrate their brands by sponsoring MSN Tabs.
• MSN Today. MSN Today offers rich-media sponsorship opportunities.
• Half banner. MSN will continue to offer advertisers a half banner space in the MSN Messenger client.

More than 4.5 million consumers have already started their own MSN Spaces sites since December 2004, when the beta version of this service became available.