SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acxiom® Digital, a leading provider of integrated digital marketing solutions for Global 2000 enterprises, today announced the results of a nationwide poll measuring attitudes and responses of online adults toward e-mail marketing communications.
The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive®, found that about three in four online adults (74 percent) view e-mail communications from a company they frequently patronize to be valuable or very valuable. In addition, 30 percent of online adults have purchased a particular good or service as a result of receiving such e-mails, and of these, 85 percent have done so within the past year. The poll surveyed 2,541 online adults throughout the United States.

In the group surveyed, the results concluded that:

94 percent have received an email solicitation.
30 percent reported that the solicitation prompted them to respond.
30 percent reported that the solicitation prompted them to purchase.
74 percent viewed email from companies they do business with as valuable.
17 percent viewed emails from companies they do not do business with as valuable.
61 percent identified timing of the email as an important factor in their desire to respond.
60 percent reported that compelling offers and discounts were an important factor in their desire to respond.
55 percent reported that email targeted to their specific interests, lifestyle or preference was important to them.
On average, 23 percent reported that personalization and graphic design were important to them.

"Savvy consumers have come to rely on e-mail marketing communications as a resource to help them get the best deals possible," said Kevin Johnson, president of Acxiom Digital. "Likewise, retailers have established e-mail marketing as an efficient and productive way to build and retain a loyal customer base and increase revenue by communicating with consumers in a meaningful way. This poll demonstrates that e-mail marketing has evolved over the years to bring more value to consumers while proving to be a more effective medium for retailers than ever before."

About the Survey

This survey was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of Acxiom between September 25 and 27, 2006, among 2,541 U.S. adults 18 years of age or older. Figures for region, age within gender, education, household income and race/ethnicity were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Data were also weighted to be representative of the population of online adults on the basis of Internet usage (hours per week) and connection type.

With a pure probability sample of 2,541, one could say with a ninety-five percent probability that the overall results would have a sampling error of 3 percentage points. The sampling error for the sub-samples of online adults who have received e-mail communications from companies (n=2,430) and online adults who have purchased a good or service as a result of an e-mail communication from a company (n=909) is higher and varies. However that does not take other sources of error into account. This online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no theoretical sampling error can be calculated.

About Acxiom Digital

Acxiom Digital is a leading provider of integrated digital marketing solutions for Global 2000 enterprises including Marriott, Gap, Inc., and Hewlett-Packard. Acxiom Digital combines agency services with world-class campaign execution on a proprietary technology platform to deliver superior marketing results for clients. The Company's proprietary IMPACT(TM) platform combines campaign management with advanced analytics to assist account and client teams in designing, sending and analyzing direct marketing communications. The Company creates and executes campaigns across multiple media channels including personalized e-mail, targeted websites, banner and other web advertisements, search engines, and direct mail (print). Acxiom Digital is a member of the TRUSTe Privacy Program and the NAI's E-mail Service Provider Coalition and works only with companies that adhere to appropriate consumer privacy guidelines. Acxiom Digital was founded in 1997 and operated as Digital Impact prior to acquisition by Acxiom Corporation in 2005. For more information, visit www.acxiomdigital.com.

About Acxiom Corporation

Acxiom Corporation (NASDAQ:ACXM - News) integrates data, services and technology to create and deliver customer and information management solutions for many of the largest, most respected companies in the world. The core components of Acxiom's innovative solutions are Customer Data Integration (CDI) technology, data, database services, IT outsourcing, consulting and analytics, and privacy leadership. Founded in 1969, Acxiom is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, with locations throughout the United States and Europe, and in Australia, China and Canada. For more information, visit www.acxiom.com.

About Harris Interactive

Harris Interactive is the 12th largest and fastest-growing market research firm in the world. The company provides research-driven insights and strategic advice to help its clients make more confident decisions which lead to measurable and enduring improvements in performance. Harris Interactive is widely known for The Harris Poll, one of the longest running, independent opinion polls and for pioneering online market research methods. The company has built what it believes to be the world's largest panel of survey respondents, the Harris Poll Online. Harris Interactive serves clients worldwide through its United States, Europe and Asia offices, its wholly-owned subsidiary Novatris in France and through a global network of independent market research firms. The service bureau, HISB, provides its market research industry clients with mixed-mode data collection, panel development services as well as syndicated and tracking research consultation. More information about Harris Interactive may be obtained at www.harrisinteractive.com. To become a member of the Harris Poll Online and be invited to participate in online surveys, register at http://go.hpolsurveys.com/PR.

® Trademarks are property of their respective owners