Press Releases

LinkShare Celebrates Fifth Annual Golden Link Awards Finalists

Comedian Susie Essman to Host The Web's Most Glamorous Awards Ceremony

New York -- June 19, 2008 -- LinkShare, a leading pay-per-action marketing network, congratulates the finalists for the 2008 Golden Link Awards, an invitation-only ceremony to be hosted in New York City on June 23, 2008.

Traditionally the prelude to LinkShare's annual Symposium, a daylong industry event covering developments in performance-based marketing, the Golden Link Awards celebrates the best of breed in both publishers and advertisers doing business on the Web. This black-tie awards ceremony is attended by hundreds of leaders from the world of e-commerce.

“LinkShare believes that e-commerce companies that rise above their peers with innovative and creative marketing programs should be recognized," said Mark Kirschner, Chief Marketing Officer of LinkShare. “That is why we created the Golden Link Awards and celebrate the best the Web has to offer.”

The 2008 Golden Link Awards will be hosted by comedic talent Susie Essman, an accomplished comedian and actress best known for her role on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” who has numerous credits from appearances on HBO and Comedy Central.

The Golden Link Awards honor three finalists each in fourteen categories, including: Best New Advertiser/Publisher, Innovative Advertiser/Publisher of the Year, Advertiser/Publisher's Choice, International Advertiser of the Year, Best Performance-Based Search Strategy, Best Integrated Lead Generation Campaign, Most Valuable Publisher for Lead Generation, Best Integrated Multi-Channel Marketing, Best Overall Online Distribution Strategy, Technology Genius Award, and Performance Marketing's Most Vocal Advocate.

Winners are selected by a panel of industry experts. Visit www.linkshare.com for a full list of award finalists.

LinkShare wishes to thank its LinkShare Symposium 2008 sponsors, including Platinum Sponsor Chase, Gold Sponsor American Express, Silver Sponsor Fleurop.com, and Partner Sponsors Davis & Gilbert, LLP, Informatica, and LinkShare Japan.

About LinkShare
LinkShare Corporation provides ecommerce businesses with a wide range of online marketing services including Search Marketing (SEM), Lead Generation and Affiliate Marketing. Advertisers can increase their online sales by leveraging LinkShare's massive performance marketing network along with expert consultative services and patented technology. Superior service combined with technology innovation allows advertisers and publishers to acquire and retain new customers, increase revenue and drive results.

LinkShare clients include Fortune 500 and other prominent and emerging companies doing business online, including J.C. Penney, 1-800-Flowers.com, American Express, and Avon Products. LinkShare was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, London and Tokyo. LinkShare is a division of Rakuten, Inc.

About Rakuten, Inc.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Rakuten is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive Internet service companies, providing leading services in e-commerce, portal & media, travel, financial services, and professional sports. Rakuten focuses on new business development and increasing its scope in order to improve and diversify service offerings. Rakuten, Inc. is a publicly traded company in Japan (JASDAQ: 4755).

US Media Contacts:

Mark Kirschner
LinkShare
646-943-8359
mkirschner@linkshare.com

Dan Dent
Blanc & Otus
617-451-7351
ddent@blancandotus.com