WPP Buys Obama's Campaign Agency Blue State Digital

Blue State Digital, the communications firm responsible for coordinating President Barack Obama’s online fundraising and social networking campaigns in the 2008 election, has been acquired by advertising giant WPP. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Blue State Digital is a digital agency that helps form online strategy, and advocacy, membership and fundraising campaigns for nonprofits, educational and cultural institutions, political campaigns and corporate brands. According to a release, Blue State Digital’s revenue has grown more than 30% per year since its founding in 2004 (and the company’s strategy and technology has helped raise $800 million to date).

Blue State Digital’s clients include HBO, The American Red Cross, Harvard University and AT&T. One factor that made BSD appealing to WPP is its proprietary technology suite that integrates tools for online fundraising, advocacy, social networking, constituency development, email marketing and content management. The company also consults on web design and strategic communications.