Autobytel Inc. Forms Media Sales Division, Delivers Largest Audience of Ready-to-Buy Car Shoppers to Marketers Online
IRVINE, Calif.--Jan. 15, 2002--Online automotive marketing giant Autobytel Inc. today announced the formation of its Media Sales Division, stepping up efforts to connect marketers with the approximately 4 million unique car shoppers visiting Autobytel's branded websites (Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com and Autosite.com) each month.(a)
The division will also work to deepen the relationships the company already has with the over 80% of major US automobile manufacturers currently advertising with the company.
"Autobytel Inc. is comprised of some of the most popular automotive sites on the web and generates the greatest number of online car sales(b) -- approximately four percent of all new domestic vehicle sales -- making our network one of the most efficient advertising buys around," said Autobytel Inc. President and CEO Jeffrey Schwartz. "The investment in our Media Sales Division underscores our commitment to maintaining our position as one of the leading automotive marketing services companies in the world."
The Autobytel network represents a unique marketing opportunity for automakers to reach consumers who are actively in the consideration process of car-shopping. "Consumers go to Autobytel sites to make decisions about which vehicle they want to purchase and we can literally watch them rule vehicles in and out of consideration," said Schwartz.
Brian Hafer, Vice President of Advertising Sales & Business Development, and Tom Hernandez, Director of Advertising, are spearheading the new division which is staffed with a team of media sales professionals. Hafer comes to Autobytel Inc. through the company's merger with Autoweb.com, where he served in a similar capacity, playing a key role in developing accounts with influential Internet advertisers, including the major US automobile manufacturers.
"Autoweb.com's strength in advertising and marketing was clearly established prior to our merger with Autobytel.com," notes Hafer. "Now we can build on those successes on an even larger level, helping clients market to the majority of all online car shoppers through Autobytel's four demographically-distinct consumer brands."
Hernandez brings 15 years of advertising sales and management experience to Autobytel. Prior to joining Autobytel, he served as Vice President, Western Media Sales for EngageMedia, a major online advertising network with premier web properties such as MotorTrend, FastCompany, Zagat, FHMUS and USNews.
Autobytel Inc. boasts 30 automotive manufacturer accounts on its advertising client roster. In addition to further developing these relationships, Hafer and Hernandez will strive to capitalize on Autobytel's vast, well-targeted audiences to grow and diversify its advertising client base, both within and without the automotive vertical.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. , the world's largest Internet automotive marketing services company, helps retailers sell cars and manufacturers build brands through marketing and CRM (customer relationship management) programs. Autobytel Inc. owns and operates the popular websites Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com and Autosite.com, as well as AIC (Automotive Information Center), a leading provider of automotive marketing data and technology. Autobytel Inc. generates an estimated four percent of all domestic new vehicle sales -- $17 billion in car sales annually -- for dealers through its websites. Serving approximately 6,700 subscribing dealers and 29 international automotive manufacturer customers, Autobytel Inc. is the largest syndicated car-buying content network, reaching over 4.5 million monthly unique visitors(c) as they are making their vehicle buying decisions. Autobytel Inc. content and technology has potential exposure to over 90 percent of total web traffic.(d)
(a)Jupiter Media Metrix October 2001 Custom Report.
(b)"Autobytel.com generates more vehicle sales online than any other web site according to the recently published J.D. Power and Associates 2001 New Autoshopper.com Study(SM)." (Autobytel Inc. press release 11/29/01)
(c)Jupiter Media Metrix October 2001 Custom Report. The car-buying category defined by Autobytel Inc.
(d)Jupiter Media Metrix October 2001 Digital Media Audience Report (Autobytel Inc. sites is the unduplicated audience of the Autobytel and Autoweb properties and Carsmart.com. The car-buying and ownership category as defined by Autobytel. Autobytel Inc. provides content to Yahoo! Inc., AOL websites, MSN.com and Lycos.com. The unduplicated audience of these four sites accounts for over 90 percent of total traffic.)
http://www.autobytel.com