Digital entrepreneur scoops Internet Marketer Award for 2009 – DoneDeal.ie breaks through 1.5 million barrier for website visits per month!

Geraldine Karlsson, co-founder and marketing director at DoneDeal.ie, Ireland’s fastest growing online classified adverts website, has won the Internet Marketer of the Year Award at the annual Irish Internet Association Net Visionary Awards.  The 2009 event was attended by over 320 guests celebrating the best in business online throughout Ireland.

The Award presented to Geraldine Karlsson, coincides with DoneDeal.ie surpassing 1.5 million visits this month and is now firmly positioned among the Top 20 most popular Irish owned websites.  Geraldine and her partner, Fred Karlsson, co-founded the business in 2004, when they identified a need in the market to provide a safe, easy to use, online classified advertising service that could take the hassle out of buying and selling goods, particularly second hand items.

Commenting on Geraldine’s achievement on winning the 2009 Net Visionary Internet Marketer Award, Fergal O’Byrne, CEO of the Irish Internet Association, said: “Ger’s success in this category is a testament to DoneDeal’s commitment to their site users. To reach the shortlist, Ger’s work was judged on its innovation, creativity, use of media and return on investment for DoneDeal.  However, it was down to the public to vote for Ger and they did!”

On receiving the Award, Geraldine Karlsson, DoneDeal.ie said: “This is fantastic news for all of us associated with DoneDeal.ie.  It provides us with valuable industry recognition and due to the nature of the judging process, is a ringing endorsement from both web industry professionals and our end users, that we are doing something right.  At DoneDeal.ie, we pride ourselves on building positive customer engagement and delivering a useful, easy to use and safe service to help people more effectively buy and sell things.”

The Net Visionary Internet Marketer Award recognises an individual who has excelled in the field of internet marketing through innovative techniques and has successfully executed campaigns using various online marketing techniques.

Following a three-stage process of nominations from the public, judging by a panel of internet business experts and voting by the public, 15 overall Award winners were announced from amongst 71 shortlisted business people.

The 15 Award categories cover all aspects of online business and include Business Blogger, Business Podcaster, Best Use of Social Media, Mobile Internet Innovation and Web Designer Excellence among others.

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Editors Notes
About DoneDeal.ie
DoneDeal.ie provides an easy safe marketplace for people to buy or sell all sorts of things. Features include photos with all ads, low cost advertising (EUR3 per classified advert) with hassle free payment by phone and free tracking tools.

On average, up to 15,000 items are advertised each month, with products ranging from art and antiques, right through to video games and vehicles.  The site currently has approximately 23,000 adverts active on the website.

Founded in 2004 by Fred and Geraldine Karlsson, the business has steadily grown and today claims approx. 1.5 million visits per month, according to independent website metrics company, Ireland Metrix.

To view, visit: www.donedeal.ie

For more information or to arrange an interview with Geraldine Karlsson, please contact Frans Van Cauwelaert at WHPR on 01 669 0030 / 087 9476743 or email frans.vancauwelaert@ogilvy.com