Real Media Offers E-mail Services To Clients

By: Andrew Gordon (Adweek Magazines' Technology Marketing) Topica, a San Francisco-based e-mail newsletter publisher, and New York's Real Media, which offers marketing services for the digital advertising industry, announced Monday an agreement to offer Topica's Email Publisher to Real Media's clients.

"This is something our clients want because it is market driven," said Mark Naples, vice president of marketing for Real Media. "They are interested in newsletter subscriber list management and real-time reporting, both of which Topica offers."

He added that Real Media's clients are more interested in opt-in marketing such as e-mail newsletters because they provide better return on investment, delivering their message to those users who want it.

Topica CEO Anna Zornosa recognizes this deal will eliminate Topica's branding on the platform. "There are always trade-offs," she said. "This [arrangement] will help our marketshare grow and will increase both companies' revenue."

Under the agreement, Real Media's sales force has already begun selling Topica's Email Publisher. Ultimately, Real Media will work with Topica to create its own version of Topica's platform. The service also offers newsletter creation tools, high-speed delivery, and customer service.