Wanted Technologies Increases Market Presence with Corzen Buy
InfoCommerce Group Model of Excellence award winner Wanted Technologies last month announced its planned acquisition of Corzen Inc. The companies share a market in the online classified market data and analysis space. They also share clients in the media, financial and staffing services space.
Wanted Technology anticipates that the combined company will become a strong presence in the new media intelligence market and plans to take advantage of the melding of each firm's research and development, product management and service teams.
It's certainly not surprising that Wanted Technology and Corzen agreed to this deal. By pooling their resources, they are well-positioned to make a larger impact in the market than they could ever do alone. Clients will definitely benefit from a broader collection of offerings that this acquisition will yield. And perhaps the strength of the companies' combined resources will give the new entity confidence to expand the breadth of its products and services in the coming months and years. Watch for the new Wanted Technologies to further bolster its presence in the marketplace.
MRI Data Strengthens J.D. Power Products
J.D. Power and Associates and Mediamark Research Inc. (MRI) last week announced plans to pull their resources to create supplements to J.D. Power's media studies. These new products will provide, courtesy of MRI, psychographic data about new vehicle buyers to auto marketers and their agencies and publishers. Marketers will be able to use the data to more effectively market to this segment of the auto purchasing audience.
Such data about this segment was never previously available; it will now be distributed with the magazine and cable network consumption patterns of recent new vehicle buyers that is included in the J.D. Power Car and Truck Report. The companies announced that the MRI Psychographic Supplement will be released this month. In addition, MRI's psychographics will also be included in the J.D. Power and Associates 2007 Online Media Study which will be available in August.
This is a very creative use of third-party data by J.D. Power to make its own information products more robust. Together, MRI and J.D. Power are able to offer customers a much more complete view of auto buyers for J.D. Power's marketing clients. Marketers are always looking for ways in which to learn more about their target audience and specific marketing information is typically difficult to obtain. These clients were likely satisfied with the previous contents of the Car and Truck Report, but by adding this unique dimension, J.D. Power is positioning its clients for an increased level of marketing success.
A 'News' Worthy Launch
CB.Net, a payments reference data provider, and LogicaCMG have teamed up to launch the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA) Directory that will help financial organizations manage SEPA rules that go into effect on Jan. 1, 2008. SEPA is an initiative that will unify electronic payments in euros across 31 countries, ensuring that they are as simple as domestic payments.
The new directory will include payments data, such as bank identifier codes and national codes in the SEPA region. Companies will be able to use the directory, which will be powered by CB.Net's payments data, to validate payment coordinates for banks and make sure transactions are routed properly.
This is a perfect example of finding an idea for a product in the headlines. That's where you're going to really learn about the issues that keep your customers awake at night. And it's the best way to ensure that you remain relevant with those customers. As you keep tabs on the latest news and problems facing your industry, you need to constantly think of ways in which you can become part of the solution. Make news with your customers.
Alliance Helps SNL Financial Beef Up Its Database
SNL Financial last week announced it had formed an alliance with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners to acquire and publish statutory insurance data as part of the information provider's database offerings. SNL currently serves the energy, banking, financial services, insurance, real estate and media and communications industries by providing a wealth of corporate, financial, market and merger and acquisition data.
SNL plans to begin offering the statutory insurance data in early 2008, making it a part of its SNL Unlimited for Financial Institutions information service. This data includes financial and operating data (such as line-of-business results and market share) quarterly for more than 5,000 companies.
With a full slate of offerings to its insurance industry clients already in its portfolio, SNL knew it still could, and should, offer even more. In the information industry, you're never really done—you have to always be on the look-out for new products and services that will integrate smoothly into your current platform and provide customers with a more robust experience. It certainly won't be a surprise if SNL announces similar alliances in the near future that will help bolster other industry offerings. It will be more surprising if it doesn't.
A One-Stop PR Shop
Last week, United Business Media increased the breadth of its offerings with the acquisition of Vintage Filings LLC. Companies of all sizes use Vintage's EDGAR filing services to disclose their Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings. United Business Media will now use Vintage to help it provide an even more complete slate of services to its customers.
In a company statement, United Business Media outlined exactly how this acquisition will accomplish that goal. Its subsidiary PR Newswire will now be able to offer public companies a way in which to meet all SEC disclosure demands. PR Newswire can continue to help companies distribute their news releases and host web casts as well as file their SEC documents in a timely manner.
Companies can now consider PR Newswire a one-stop shop for their publicity needs. This deal was definitely a smart move by the United Business Media brass. It's vital to understand the everyday demands of your customers and find solutions that help them ease those pressures and get their jobs done. By adding the capabilities of Vintage Filings to its portfolio, United Business Media can help its customers check another task off their to-do list. If you can help customers accomplish multiple goals, they're going to remember that. And being top of mind with customers should be top of mind for all content providers.