Ad-funded youth mobile network Blyk says it will launch in Germany, Spain and Belgium in 2009. The news follows Blyks decision to enter the Dutch market in the second half of this year.
Blyk signed up its 100,000th subscriber in the UK in April, and to date, has run over 900 campaigns in the UK for brands such as Coca Cola, STA Travel, Penguin and Buena Vista, with an average response rate of 29%. Blyk notes that a campaign for Penguin to promote Nick Hornbys new novel, saw 7 out of 10 members engage with the publisher in a dialogue.
There is a great opportunity for Blyk in these markets, says Blyk CEO and Co-founder Pekka Ala-Pietil. Our research shows that young people in Germany, Spain and Belgium are interested in the Blyk proposition because they want to interact with brands they like in exchange for free communication. Our success in the UK, illustrated by robust member adoption, has proven that Blyk is a youth media that works, and we hope to replicate this success as we enter new countries. We are also working to attract local talent who share our enthusiasm and can help build Blyk into a significant youth media in other countries.
In addition to its European expansion plans, Blyk says it will continue to strengthen its services in the UK by adding more members and advertiser brands. Blyk aims to boost the number of brands using Blyk to 200 by the end of 2008. In doing so, Blyk says it wants to deliver on its driving idea to unite young people and advertisers to free communication.