Press Release

Premier Search Engine Strategies Conference Begins Amidst Burgeoning Internet Search Growth

Top three search engines garner double-digit growth in total number of searches performed

New York, NY - Feburary 23, 2006 - On the heels of extraordinary growth in the search industry, premier search engine marketing event Search Engine Strategies (SES) Conference & Expo 2006 is gearing up to commence in New York with a roster of timely topics and experts to help marketers make sense of the head-spinning change.

Advertisers in the U.S. were on track to spend $4.2 billion on paid search in 2005, a 35 percent increase over 2004 spending, according to JupiterResearch. A new report conducted by Radar Research and IntelliSurvey found U.S. and Canadian advertisers spent $5.75 billion on search engine marketing in 2005, a 44 percent increase over 2004. The report projects that search engine marketing (SEM) spending in North America will reach $11 billion in 2010. The paid listings market is expected to increase from $4 billion in 2005 to $7 billion in 2010, resulting in a compound annual growth rate of 12 percent.

According to a new Piper Jaffray report, paid search is expected to generate more than $14 billion globally in 2006. The Internet research firm Nielsen/NetRatings also reported the total number of Internet searches in the U.S. grew this year by 55 percent, with nearly 5.1 billion searches performed across approximately 60 search engines during December 2005.

With the tremendous boom in SEM dollars being spent, SES NY '06 will gain even further momentum among those looking to take advantage of these lucrative opportunities. Chaired by Danny Sullivan, a recognized authority on search and search engine marketing, SES NY '06 is the must-attend event for those seriously engaged in the field of search engine marketing.

"The tremendous growth in search underscores it as a fundamental advertising and public relations medium that has to be considered alongside other ad and PR venues, rather than being an afterthought," said Danny Sullivan, chair of Search Engine Strategies, which is hosted by Incisive Media. "The growth also makes the New York event all the more critical for anyone and everyone looking to gain further traction in this surging market. Those not already in it are falling further behind. Those who are taking part face stronger competition for limited search inventory and rising prices. Our conference helps both groups get ahead."

The four-day conference kicks off February 27, 2006, at the Hilton New York, where the world's foremost search experts and entrepreneurs will share the latest thinking on privacy issues, search engine marketing strategy, search behavior, podcast search, ad agencies and search, search and phone calls, web site development, and technology and creative innovation.

Search Engine Strategies Conference & Expo attendees will learn the ins-and-outs of search engine marketing from top experts in the field, along with information from the search engines themselves. For additional information about the event, visit https://searchenginesstrategies.com.

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About Incisive Interactive Marketing LLC - A Division of Incisive Media PLC

Incisive Media PLC is a specialist business information provider, based in the UK with offices in North America, Hong Kong, India and Mainland China. The company's activities are currently built around ten core industry sectors - mortgages; marketing services; financial technology; retail investment; capital markets; risk management; insurance; legal services; private equity and photography. Information is provided via a wide range of channels--in print, in person and online. Funds advised by Apax Partners, a leading global private equity group, recently completed the successful de-listing of Incisive Media from the London Stock Exchange alongside the existing management.

Incisive Interactive Marketing LLC is the marketing services division of the company and incorporates leading websites Search Engine Watch, the ClickZ Network and their associated events series including Search Engine Strategies. These properties were acquired in 2005.

Editorial Contacts
Ann Shannon
PAN Communications
978-474-1900
ses@pancomm.com

Matt McGowan
Incisive Media
212-457-7794
matthew.mcgowan@incisivemedia.com