IPG Emerging Media Lab, SocialVibe Form Strategic Alliance

Agreement Provides Preferred Partner Status for Interpublic Agencies, Clients

SocialVibe, a social media utility that enables interaction between brands, people and causes across social media, announced that it has entered into a strategic partnership with the Interpublic (IPG) Emerging Media Lab. Through the partnership, the Lab will introduce SocialVibe to IPG’s media services and advertising agencies. IPG agencies will have preferred partner status should they decide to utilize SocialVibe as part of their social media campaigns.

“The Lab’s mission is to make the industry’s best new media solutions available to our agencies and clients,” said Lori H. Schwartz, senior vice president, director, Interpublic Emerging Media Lab. “We partner with solutions providers that are helping to bring business insights to what have historically been unproven models. SocialVibe will allow us to accurately assess the value of an influencer and that’s a huge step forward. We’re excited to feature them in the Lab and establish an offering for our agency partners.”

SocialVibe mobilizes social media consumers to easily endorse the brands and causes they’re passionate about and distribute these alliances via a SocialVibe badge on social networks like Facebook, MySpace and MyYearbook; blogs and personal web sites. By endorsing their favorite brands on online profiles, members earn points that direct donations to the charities they support. Members can endorse a variety of brands, including Sprint, Adobe and Coca-Cola Cherry and can support causes such as World Wildlife Fund, SurfRider Foundation and Stand Up 2 Cancer.

“Interpublic’s commitment to solving the social media puzzle for their brand clients makes this a natural partnership. By formalizing this partnership, SocialVibe is better positioned to serve all of IPG’s agencies. With the guaranteed best pricing for all IPG agencies, discussions can start at how SocialVibe can help meet IPG client needs,” said Joe Marchese, president and founder, SocialVibe.

Interpublic’s Emerging Media Lab will steward collaboration between IPG’s agencies, clients and SocialVibe.

About The Interpublic Emerging Media Lab

The Interpublic Emerging Media Lab opened in February 2006 and provides all IPG companies and their clients with a physical and virtual space in which to experience the trends and technologies that are shaping the consumer media experience, today and into the future. A center for marketing innovation located in Los Angeles, the Lab provides consultation and solution recommendations for the latest in broadband, wireless and emerging media for IPG’s global client roster. The Lab facilitates emerging media “upfronts” and exclusive partnerships with companies like Joost and TiVo for the company’s agencies and its clients. Since its launch, the Lab has expanded its executive team, opened social media and consumer generated content practices and added a blog to its extranet called The Future of Media http://blog.ipglab.com.

About SocialVibe

SocialVibe recognizes that individuals hold the key to generating attention and wielding influence in social media. It’s a powerful new way for brands to interact with people and change the way brands participate in social media. SocialVibe allows people to choose a brand to endorse, earning opportunities to get brand perks and points. The points that members earn are then turned into funds for the charitable cause of their choice.

SocialVibe received $4.2 million in Series A funding led by Redpoint Ventures in December 2007.