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Internet Brands

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Internet Brands, Inc.
Company typePublic, (NASDAQ: INET)
IndustryInternet Media
Founded1998
HeadquartersEl Segundo, CA
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Robert Brisco, President and CEO
ProductsConsumer websites; software applications
RevenueIncrease USD 99.8 million (2009)
Increase USD 20.2 million (2009)
Increase USD 12.4 million (2009)
WebsiteInternetBrands.com

Internet Brands (Nasdaq: INET) is a new media company based in El Segundo, California that operates online media, community, and e-commerce sites in vertical markets. The company operates one of the largest portfolios of vertical websites, targeted at high value advertising, attracting more than 55 million unique users per month. The company also develops and licenses internet software and social media applications. The company is a member of the NASDAQ Internet Index.[1]

Businesses

The company operates two divisions: consumer internet and licensing.

Consumer Internet Division

The consumer internet division owns and operates more than 95 websites in seven categories. The company attracts more than 55 million unique visitors per month, with 97% of the audience originating from organic, non-paid sources.[2] [3] The company's strategy is to attract target audiences that are primarily monetized through advertising; the sites are focused on specific vertical markets which tend to be most attractive to advertisers.[4] [5][6] SEC filings indicate that approximately 70% of the company's revenues are derived from advertising from more than 40,000 accounts-- most of them SMBs. The company operates websites in seven verticals and the largest sites include:

The company's portfolio of websites include many with social media features, since they extensively utilize social network services, user generated content, blogs, wikis, and internet forums.[12][13] Many of the websites are driven by sizeable virtual communities (millions in total membership); for instance FlyerTalk counts 225,000 registered members on its home page, CorvetteForum.com more than 200,000, Huntingnet.com more than 122,000, HDForums (Harley Davidson) more than 80,000. The highly engaged nature of these communities is also used by marketers to better understand their customers.[14]

The company is an active acquirer of websites.[15]

Licensing Division

The licensing divisions consists of Autodata Solutions and vBulletin. vBulletin software, which is among the most popular internet forum software in the world, is utilized by many of the company's community-driven websites. Autodata Solutions supplies content and software solutions to Internet Brands websites, but Autodata's primary business is serving third party clients, such as most as of the leading Automotive OEMs and many internet portals. Autodata was acquired by Internet Brands in 1999.[16]

History

The company was founded in 1998 as CarsDirect.com, launched from the business incubator Idealab. The company invented a consumer-advocacy approach to selling cars "haggle-free" online, an approach it continues to employ.[17] In 2000, Roger Penske invested in the company and joined the Board of Directors. In 2002, Time Magazine voted the site one of the 50 best in the World.[18]

Reflecting its growth and diversification, the company changed its name to Internet Brands in 2005. [19] The company's IPO was in November 2007 on the NASDAQ exchange.[20] INET was added to the NASDAQ Internet Index on March 22, 2010. [21]

Internet Brands is headquartered in El Segundo, California; Autodata is headquartered in London, Ontario.

Recognitions and Awards

Internet Brands websites have received numerous recognitions; some of the recent awards in reverse chronological order:

  • BensBargains.net named one of the "100 most useful websites" by MSN Money in 2009.[22]
  • DoItYourself.com selected as one of the "Top 10 Sites for Do It Yourself Projects" by PlanetGreen.com in 2009.[23]
  • Bargainist.com named one of the "Top 100 Favorite Blogs" by PC World in 2009.[24]
  • CarsDirect.com named top 7 site for "buying or selling anything" by PC World in 2008.[27]
  • ApartmentRatings.com won the Innovator Award in 2006 from the Inman News.[29]
  • Cruisemates.com voted best site for Cruise reviews by Kiplinger's in 2006.[33]

See also



References

  1. ^ Yahoo Finance. "List of NASDAQ Internet Index companies".
  2. ^ SECInvestor. "Point Your Portfolio to Internet Brands".
  3. ^ SeekingAlpha. "The Number One Internet Stock You've Never Heard of".
  4. ^ New York Times. "As Online Ads Grow, Eyeballs Are Valuable Again on the Web". Retrieved 2006-06-26.
  5. ^ Investopedia. "Internet Brands Thrives Under Google's Shadow". Retrieved 2008-04-22.
  6. ^ Small Cap Investor. "Internet Brands a Step in a different direction".
  7. ^ Internet, Brands. "Car Enthusiast Site coverage". Retrieved 2006-06-26.
  8. ^ Internet Inc. "10 Career Sites Acquired by Internet Brands".
  9. ^ Marketwire. "Internet Brands Launches Health Vertical With Two Acquisitions".
  10. ^ SoCalTech. "Internet Brands Buys Two Websites, Targets Money and Finance".
  11. ^ INET Press Release. "Internet Brands Acquires Tjoos".
  12. ^ U.S. News and World Report. "The Next Internet Gold Rush". Retrieved 2006-08-28.
  13. ^ Internet, Brands. "Internet brands goes into overdrive: Web 2.0 company is on a buying binge". Retrieved 2008-03-18.
  14. ^ New York Times. "Finding Market Data in Travel Chat Rooms".
  15. ^ Internet, Brands. "Internet Brands Looks to Future Acquisitions". Retrieved 2008-08-11.
  16. ^ CarsDirect. "Acquires Autodata Solutions".
  17. ^ CarsDirect. "Initial Test of Online Car Buying".
  18. ^ Time Magazine. "Time Magazine's 50 Best Websites".
  19. ^ Internet, Brands. "CarsDirect Becomes Internet Brands". Retrieved 2005-06-16.
  20. ^ Internet, Brands. "Internet Brands IPO data". Retrieved 2008-11-21.
  21. ^ CNN Money. "Internet Brands added to NASDAQ Internet Index". {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  22. ^ MSN Money. "The 100 most useful Web sites".
  23. ^ PlanetGreen.com. "Top 10 Sites for Do It Yourself Projects".
  24. ^ PC World. "Our Favorite Blogs".
  25. ^ Time.com. "50 Best Websites 2008".
  26. ^ FitDay. "FitDay site wins PC World Award". Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  27. ^ CarsDirect. "CarsDirect site wins PC World Award". Retrieved 2008-10-01.
  28. ^ Wikitravel wins webby. "Interview with Wikitravel founders". Retrieved 2007-05-11.
  29. ^ ApartmentRatings.com. "ApartmentRatings win prestgous Inman award".
  30. ^ RealEstateABC. "RealEstateABC.com Webby award nominee".
  31. ^ DoItYourself.com. "CNN Money selects DIY as one of best Real estate sites".
  32. ^ Autos.com. "Autos.com Webby award nominee".
  33. ^ Cruisemates.com. "Cruisemates chosen as one of best 25 travel deal websites".
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