NEW BRIGHTON, MINN. (Feb. 15, 2008) – Embracing and further integrating social media, Risdall Marketing Group (RMG) announces the creation of its new division – Risdall Integration Group (RIG). To lead the division and position RMG’s depth of marketing services, Jared Roy joins as president of RIG.  

“Social media is a continually emerging and vital component to the integrated approach for our clients,” said John Risdall, chairman, CEO, RMG. “At Risdall, we’ve been doing it for over 10 years and generating results for clients. With the experience and leadership of Jared Roy, the creation of RIG capitalizes on our integration of social media with the range of work we do for clients.”  

Roy previously spent seven years at RMG. He comes most recently from Mullen, where he focused on new business and account management – leading the interactive work for Embarq, Microsoft and Wachovia. Prior to Mullen, Roy also worked at Keystone Symposia, a Bill and Melinda Gates-supported organization, where he created a social network for scientists.

Roy will utilize his integrated background to tie all of the components of RMG’s 12 divisions together for clients.

“Consumers are getting smarter when it comes to marketing and attracting attention is getting harder. With the recent surge of social media, the savviest brands create brand evangelists, as prospects trust actual consumers,” said Roy, president, RIG.  “The new Risdall Integration Group will intertwine social media across all of Risdall’s divisions to continue cultivating communication with clients’ key audiences.”

RMG already provides social media components for a number of clients. Tapped into the interactive scene as the largest Web developer in Minnesota, RMG knows how to facilitate the crossover of social media into other traditional media pieces.

Magnum Research, Inc., America’s No.1 manufacturer of premium firearms, has benefited from RMG’s social branding expertise. RMG maintains Magnum’s home product site and a separate social media site that is dedicated to graphics, movies, games and videogames in which Magnum products appear.

“Magnumfilms.com is a true example of how Risdall integrates traditional Web media and social media,” said Lon Koenig, senior developer for ZAM Network, maintainers of the most popular World of Warcraft fan sites. “A destination for the gamer audience, the site presents the Magnum brand to a demographic not necessarily looking to purchase a firearm, but interested in the number of high-profile videogames and movies featuring the company’s firearms. We’re using social media to further the Magnum brand.”

* For an in-depth case study on Magnum Research, Inc., or other RMG clients utilizing integration of social media, please contact Anne Cloeter at 651.286.6746, or anne@risdall.com  

About Risdall Marketing Group
Founded in 1972, Risdall Marketing Group has annual capitalized billings of $162 million and over 60 employees in 2007. Headquartered in New Brighton, Minn., Risdall is heralded as one of the oldest and most successful agencies in the Twin Cities market and is recognized nationally for its leading-edge interactive marketing capabilities. The full-service agency embraces an integrated approach offering marketing, advertising, public relations, promotion and collateral development, traditional and interactive media, research and fundraising capabilities. According to the 2008 Twin Cities Business: Annual Business Information Guide, RMG is ranked as the largest Web developer, fifth largest PR agency and the seventh largest advertising agency in Minnesota. For more information, visit www.risdall.com

Anne Cloeter
Risdall McKinney Public Relations
651.286.6746

John Risdall
Risdall Marketing Group
651.286.6702

Jared Roy
Risdall Integration Group
651.286.6731