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Insurance Company Goes Show Biz - Publishes Site for Motorcycle Riders


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But First Snide's Remarks: Just because you can, doesn't mean you should! Here we go again...a successful business whose advertising expenditures brought them success, now thinks that they can do it better than the professional content publishers and producers.

I searched "Motorcycle" on Google and got back 36 million responses...36 million.

Apparently some insurance guys believe that an insurance company (oh how creative insurance execs are) can become a publisher and attract an audience more better and way cheaper then the pros, because they will "Own" the media outlet themselves.

"Yeah, yeah I can see it now" says Mr. Insurance show biz..."we create a franchise...we get equity from our ad expenses...and not flush it down the toilet"...bla bla bla...its failed before (a zillion times) and will fail again.

So just how does the management of a successful company get suckered into investing in show biz...? Let me know what you think;msnide@theautochannel.com

WASHINGTON--GEICO unveiled a new Web site www.MyGreatRides.com created exclusively for motorcycle aficionados to give riders a place to indulge their enthusiasm for their bikes, rides and friends.

MyGreatRides members are in the drivers seat when it comes to content. After registering on the site, which is free and open to anyone over the age of 18, members can create personalized profile pages to discuss the great rides theyve taken and post photos of their bikes. The site also hosts an extensive member-generated Ride Calendar of upcoming events, rallies and rides.

A true online community, MyGreatRides.com lets members connect with each other. Member-generated discussion topics can range from favorite gear for winter riding to year-round bike maintenance.

GEICO developed MyGreatRides.com to give all riders, not only GEICO customers, a place to revel in their zeal for all things related to riding. For many people, riding is way of life, said Jess Reed, GEICOs chief information officer. MyGreatRides.com takes both the independent spirit of motorcyclists and the camaraderie of the riding community, and brings them to the web.

With more than 1,500 active members already, MyGreatRides.com is on its way to becoming a favorite destination for riders on the Web.

For more information, please go to www.mygreatrides.com.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 7 million policyholders and insures more than 12 million vehicles. As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company and ranked top in customer satisfaction among property and casualty insurers according to the 2006 American Customer Satisfaction Index survey.