Zeta Interactive Named Digital Agency of Record by STIHL Inc.

NEW YORK, March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Zeta Interactive, a leading full-service digital marketing agency, today announced that it has been named the digital agency of record by STIHL Inc., manufacturer of the world's largest selling brand of chain saws, and producer of a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users.

STIHL Inc's desire to solidify its presence online as a leader in the OPE industry was instrumental in the decision to contract Zeta Interactive to develop robust and impactful interactive marketing strategies and to provide a variety of services and digital channels, including:

• Search engine optimization (SEO): Zeta Interactive was named a top 25 search agency by Advertising Age, and will be working to ensure top search engine rankings, qualified traffic, and improved ROI for the STIHL brand.
• Paid search: In addition to managing STIHL Inc. SEO programs, Zeta Interactive, which has managed paid search campaigns for world class brands since the company's inception, will lead STIHL Inc.'s national paid search efforts.
• Mobile marketing: A pioneer of mobile marketing in the outdoor power equipment industry, STIHL Inc. selected Zeta Interactive to further develop its innovative mobile campaigns, including its mobile customer service programs, mobile sweepstakes and SMS messaging.

"We retained Zeta Interactive because we understand the value of having a leadership presence in today's digital environment, as customers increasingly move online to make decisions," said Ken Waldron, national marketing manager for STIHL Inc. "Zeta Interactive has an excellent reputation and demonstrated capabilities in developing digital strategies for leading brands across the world, and we were impressed by their commitment to customer service."

The STIHL brand has been synonymous with high quality and excellence in the outdoor power equipment industry since 1926. Based in Virginia Beach, Va., STIHL Inc. is the headquarters for U.S. operations of the worldwide STIHL Group, including manufacturing, marketing and distribution. STIHL Inc. has over 2,000 employees nationwide, exports to over 90 countries, and distributes products through 8,000 independent servicing dealers across the country. The company's decision to distribute through servicing dealers, not mass merchants, means that its customers experience one-on-one personalized attention and service from trained dealer technicians.

"As a leader in power tool manufacture and distribution, STIHL understands that a targeted, interactive marketing program is important to its brand," said Zeta Interactive CEO Al DiGuido. "Our program with STIHL is intended to elevate their brand to the same level of prestige and recognition in the digital landscape that they have achieved in servicing dealers, hardware stores and households throughout the world for the past 80-plus years."

This announcement continues to build on the momentum Zeta Interactive has achieved over the past year. The agency has expanded its client roster by more than 50 leading customers across the world in the past year alone, and increased its staff to over 300 employees. The company also achieved the prestigious recognition from Forrester Research as a leader in the e-mail marketing sector.

For more information on Zeta Interactive, including a full listing of company locations, clients and executives, please visit: www.zetainteractive.com.

For more information on STIHL, please visit: www.stihlusa.com.

About Zeta Interactive

Zeta Interactive is a full-service digital marketing agency offering a wide range of services — from email and search marketing, to Web site development, creative services, social media marketing and mining, and more. The company has been named among the Top 50 digital agencies in the U.S. and 25th among U.S. Search Agencies by Advertising Age. It is also recognized as an e-mail marketing Leader by Forrester Research.

A leading provider of integrated, interactive services, Zeta Interactive helps marketers realize the full potential of the Internet to build brands, increase sales, improve processes, and reduce costs. The company's specialty is in crafting strategies and programs for marketers that help them acquire, retain, up-sell, cross-sell and win back their customers — cost effectively and efficiently — by leveraging customer data and insight from individual marketing initiatives to drive even more relevant and rewarding exchanges across all media and channels. The company does so by providing superior proprietary technology and a marketing approach that is focused on accountability, measurability and ROI metrics.

Headquartered in New York City, Zeta Interactive has more than 300 employees worldwide located in California, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, Rhode Island and India. The company serves more than 200 clients currently, including such world-class companies as Live Nation and Sony Electronics Inc. For more information please visit: www.zetainteractive.com.

About STIHL

STIHL Inc. manufactures the world's largest selling brand of chain saws and produces a full line of powerful, lightweight, and versatile handheld outdoor power equipment for homeowners and professional users. STIHL products are sold through servicing power equipment retailers from coast to coast — not mass merchants. STIHL products sold through U.S. STIHL dealers are for distribution in the United States only. For more information or for the name of the closest STIHL retailer call toll free 1-800-GO STIHL (1-800-467-8445) or visit the STIHL Web site at www.stihlusa.com.

STIHL is also pleased to support the work of the Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund), International Society of Arboriculture (ISA), the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA), National FFA, Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), and the American Tree Farm System (ATFS).

SOURCE Zeta Interactive