Newsquest Media Group, the leading local multi-media group in the UK and publisher of this website, has won the award for the 'best use of data for commercial gain’ at the 2016 Online Media Awards.

Shortlisted alongside the Economist and Financial Times, the award reflects the innovative and successful approach Newsquest has taken in developing category-specific display advertising products for its 50,000 local advertisers.

The new suite of products delivers highly targeted advertising packages for specific client categories. They have simplified the sales process for Newsquest’s local sales teams, improved campaign performance for advertisers and simultaneously increased yields, average campaign values and sales volume.

Speaking after receiving the award, Newsquest’s digital display director Simon Sarahs said: “Becoming a more client-centric organisation has been critical to our success. By putting our clients’ needs at the heart of everything we do we’ve been able to develop a credible digital product proposition for our local advertisers – ensuring their ads are being served to the right people, at the right time, and in the right environment.”

Newsquest digital director Mark Smith said: “It’s a fitting reward for the digital display team and the smart thinking and effort that they’ve put in to what they’ve produced for our local sales teams.

"To have been shortlisted alongside the Financial Times and the Economist and won is no small feat and they deserve the recognition."

Having already won Most Innovative Digital Publisher of the Year at the Drum’s Digital Trading Awards in May, the Award reflects the continued effort to drive digital innovation throughout the Newsquest business.

David McMurtrie, Google’s head of publishers, UK and Ireland, said: “Newsquest’s use of Google products from both a technical and strategic perspective has seen them drive revenue and efficiency across their portfolio.”