DALLAS YellowPages.com has named GSD&M its new advertising agency following a review that included four finalists.
The Austin, Texas-based Omnicom Group shop will be the first ad agency of record for the new company, an Internet Yellow Pages joint venture of SBC Yellow Pages and BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. Yellowpages.com is based in Pasadena, Calif.
Finalists included Venables, Bell & Partners in San Francisco, Ogilvy & Mather in New York and Euro RSCG of Chicago. Estimated billings are $4 million.
GSD&M's assignment is to develop a campaign strategy that will build brand awareness and traffic and will position YellowPages.com as the premier site for local information, the agency said. The initial campaign is expected to launch in 2006, the agency said.
San Antonio-based SBC is one of GSD&M's largest clients.
"Based on their body of work and their insights into our business and industry, it was clear that GSD&M would be a key partner to help us achieve our objectives," said Matt Crowley, vice president of marketing for YellowPages.com.
SBC Yellow Pages and BellSouth Advertising and Publishing Corp. agreed in 2004 to merge their Internet Yellow Pages operations and purchased YellowPages.com. The site will launch in late 2005. Consumers who are searching for local products and services online will have access to a database of shopping and city guides, advertiser content and other resources, the agency said.