November 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Press Releases, Clients in the News
Exclusive Opportunity for Next Generation Luxury Vehicle Owners to Interact and Shape the Future of the Mercedes-Benz Brand
LOS ANGELES, November 17, 2008 ” Passenger, the technology leader in on-demand Customer Collaboration, today announced it has partnered with Mercedes-Benz USA to create Generation Benz, an exclusive online community for Generation Y customers to interact and...
November 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
As posted by Emily Chang from iMedia Connection.
By testing potential branding efforts on online community members, the company attempts to predict how upcoming advertising and marketing campaigns will be received and adjust accordingly. "Generation Benz represents yet another innovative step in Mercedes-Benz's brand evolution, and is the first of its kind in the luxury auto space," said Justin...
November 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
As reported by Andrew McMains for ADWEEK.
NEW YORK Mercedes-Benz USA, six months after launching a new password-protected Web site for interacting with Generation Y consumers, is planning a second site next year to reach an older group of Mercedes owners.
In fact, vice president of marketing Steve Cannon has found the Gen Y site, www.generationbenz.com, so efficient and useful that he can...
November 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Mercedes launched the password-protected Web site six months ago. Through questionnaires, polls and live chats, the company seeks to better understand what makes Gen Y tick. It uses the forum to get feedback on an array of topics from product designs to advertising concepts for the 19- to 32-year-old crowd.
“In marketing, you have to stay relevant. Certainly some brands are more challenged...
November 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
"It's one of the projects that I'm most excited about because it's finally a technology that's allowing us to gather data and get to know our customers in a deeper and richer way," Cannon added.
The site currently has about 800 members, each of whom was invited by Mercedes. Nearly half of them have visited in the past 60 days, and of those, a few hundred are "very regular users," Cannon said....
November 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
As posted by Karl Greenberg of MediaPost.
Mercedes-Benz USA wants an invited group of Gen Y netizens to open up about the brand. So it is running a social networking marketing program called Generation-Benz, intended to bring younger consumers into the brand while giving Mercedes insights about the 20-somethings.
The site, at www.GenerationBenz.com, via L.A.-based firm Passenger, is an...
November 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
As posted by Kathleen from Adotas
Mercedes-Benz has created an online customer community for Generation Y in a bid to tap into their paradigm “ and then turn around and market the hell out of them of course. The company has teamed up with Passenger to create the invite-only community, dubbed Generation Benz.
“Mercedes-Benz has always been highly attuned to the voice of its loyal...
November 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
As posted by Fred Aun for ClickZ.
An invitation-only online community created for Mercedes Benz USA by customer collaboration player Passenger is seeing a healthy level of interest from prospective young owners even as the auto industry free-falls.
Justin Cooper, co-founder and head of innovation for the L.A.-based Passenger, said the invitation-only "Generation Benz" community currently has...
November 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Mercedes-Benz, on the other hand, has taken a decidedly more grown-up approach to their target audience by inviting an exclusive group of Gen Y consumers to www.generationbenz.com, a password-protected website. MediaPost (reg. required) reports that the site is an attempt to mine the select Gen Y sample for insight towards their "attitudes, lifestyle and brand preferences" through questionnaires,...
November 13, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News
"What this means," explains Justin Cooper, who cofounded the company with Andrew Leary, "is that you have an ongoing dialogue with the people who ultimately help you shape the brand, through our online community platform." This dialogue enables brands to harvest ideas from outside their corporate walls, while giving consumers a sense of ownership of the process.
Read Full Article
November 3, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Press Releases, Awards
Passenger announced today that customers JCPenney and ABC Studios were honored as finalists in the prestigious Forrester Groundswell Awards program, which recognizes excellence in effective business uses of social technologies. Winners and finalists were selected from over 150 submissions spanning seven categories that represent the main goals Forrester Research recommends companies consider as...
October 31, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News
Passenger provides an on-demand platform for companies to collaborate with their customers. The company was founded in 2005 when social networking, web forums and chat rooms had started becoming a common way for consumers, especially younger consumers, to provide feedback (solicited or otherwise) on products. Passenger’s co-founders, Andrew Leary and Justin Cooper, realized that companies...
October 29, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Events
Samantha Skey, Passenger’s newly appointed senior vice president of business development and eastern region general manager, will be a keynote speaker at ad:tech New York, occurring November 3-6, 2008.
Ms. Skey will present a session entitled “Obama, Apple and Ice Cream “ Building Brand Passion Among Millennials,” discussing the nuances of brand adoption among this...
October 28, 2008 | Posted by Admin
By Elisabeth A. Sullivan, Staff Writer for Marketing News
Online Communities Can Provide Valuable Insights, But Keep Your Research Goals In Mind When Drafting Your Guest List
Qualitative research isn’t quantifiable, of course. It’s not a numbers game. But numbers do come into play when you’re building an online research community because the size of the community you choose...
October 7, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Press Releases
Former Alloy Executive to Lead NY Office; Steve Howe Promoted to President and COO
Passenger, today announced that Samantha Skey has joined the company as senior vice president of business development and general manager of Passenger’s eastern region. Samantha will apply her diverse media industry background to develop new strategic partnerships with global and East Coast-based brands and...
September 8, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
JCPenney called upon Passenger to create an online community that would give loyal JCPenney customers the opportunity to provide feedback on Ambrielle® - JCPenney’s line of lingerie for the modern woman. By creating a private online community for Ambrielle customers, JCPenney was able to get valued input from community members on among other things, how to improve upon product sizing...
September 8, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Passenger worked with Coca-Cola to inspire loyal customers to extend its popular “My Coke Rewards” program to students and schools in need. Using Passenger’s intuitive platform, Coca-Cola turned to its existing community around a concept called “My Coke Rewards for Schools”, which enabled members to engage in discussions on what school rewards would be most impactful...
September 8, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News
Consumers and taxpayers are getting boardroom access to Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and cultural chieftains thanks to a virtual twist on old-fashioned focus groups.
Recognizing that social networking portals are the new water cooler, organizations are elbowing their way into the conversation by creating websites exclusively for their supporters.
Like gated electronic communities,...
September 5, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Passenger, the leader in on-demand Customer Collaboration teamed up with adidas to harness the customers’ voice to inspire innovation and affect change into its nationwide back-to-school marketing campaign, “New School of Thought.” adidas relied upon Passenger’s platform to engage its customers on the merits of this campaign, have a voice into the campaign’s...
September 5, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
ABC Studios created a long-standing private online community of television viewers with Passenger. Recently, “Lost” producers looked to the community to glean valuable feedback on which episodes were most worthy of Emmy nods. Because of ABC Studios’ intent of nominating Lost episodes on the basis of their standalone appeal, ABC Studios really wanted to listen to what...
August 6, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News
Sure, you bitch and moan from the comfy confines of your couch about the plot twists in your favorite TV shows, and you sure as hell made sure the entire office knew what you thought about the latest McDreamySteamyWhatevy hookup at the water cooler. But if you could actually talk to the producers of your favorite TV shows, what would you say? Would you pipe up to the big guns?
Read Full Article
August 5, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Press Releases
Innovator in On-Demand Customer Collaboration Cites Team’s Thoughtful, Creative Approach, Unmatched Responsiveness as Key Factors
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 5, 2008 ” The Bateman Group, an independent technology-focused public relations agency, today announced that Passenger, the leader in on-demand Customer Collaboration, has selected the firm to serve as PR agency of record, effectively...
July 7, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News
MARKETING: Passenger helps clients test products with customer base.
By JOEL RUSSELL
Los Angeles Business Journal
Remember the focus group?
Companies may still put people in a room to watch them try their products while marketing executives watch from behind one-way glass. But the old-fashioned marketing concept is quickly turning virtual.
Passenger, a tech company on L.A.’s Miracle...
June 23, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Network Eyes Greater Engagement and Collaboration with Viewers.
Passenger today announced it has partnered with The Fox Broadcasting Company to help launch an online community for viewers of FOX programs to drive improved communications and viewer collaboration on programming and marketing.
The community is built for viewers aged 18-49 from FOX drama, reality, comedy, and animation programs...
June 23, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Fox is pairing with social networking service Passenger to launch a private online community giving the network access to ongoing audience feedback on programming and marketing efforts. Made up of some 2,000 loyal Fox Network viewers invited to join, the community lets members preview new shows, interact with TV producers, post comments, engage in online discussions and participate in...
June 16, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Press Releases
Network Eyes Greater Engagement and Collaboration with Viewers
LOS ANGELES, CA. “ June 16, 2008 “ Passenger today announced it has partnered with The Fox Broadcasting Company to help launch an online community for viewers of FOX programs to drive improved communications and viewer collaboration on programming and marketing.
The community is built for viewers aged 18-49 from FOX...
June 4, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse, the executor producers of Lost, just gave the ABC Studios Advisors a special thank you in their latest podcast. Here's a short excerpt from the interview. The podcast can be heard in its entirety at abc.com.
Click To Play
May 14, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News
Passenger (profiled by JackMyers Media Business Report back in January) announced today that it had closed its Series C round. The investment was led by StarVest Partners; both Steamboat Ventures and Shelter Capital Capital also re-upped their participation. To date, the company, which offers Software as a service (SaaS) with a focus on customer collaboration, has raised a total of $20.5M.Read...
May 14, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Press Releases
Funding to Accelerate Growth and Fuel International Expansion Plans
LOS ANGELES “ May 14, 2008 - Passenger, the leader in on-demand customer collaboration, today announced its series C funding of $8 million, led by existing investor StarVest Partners, a venture capital firm with key investments in technology-enabled business services. Larry Bettino, general partner of StarVest Partners...
March 24, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
“Through our online Customer Advisory Board, we have a new platform to engage our customers in two-way dialogue so we can harness their insights and vehicle dreams as we move quickly to develop and refine technologies and products,” said Deborah Meyer, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler LLC. “Chrysler designers and engineers have always had a pulse on the...
March 24, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Chrysler this week is launching a new program that aims to bring consumers--some 2,000 of them--into the boardroom, virtually. The industry's first online Customer Advisory Board (CAB) will have consumers offering their takes on product features, designs and technology.
Read Full Article
March 24, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Automaker to Recruit Online Consumer Advisory Panel.Chrysler will begin recruiting U.S. residents in the next few weeks to participate in closed, online dialogues to gather insights for the automaker's marketing, product development, vehicle features and engineering.Read Full Article (must be AdvertisingAge Subscriber)
Read AdAge Mobile short version (for non-AdvertisingAge Subscriber)
March 24, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
The automaker plans an online "customer advisory board." The goal is "to establish a two-way dialogue" to glean consumer insights, chief marketing officer Deborah Meyer says.
Discussion won't be limited to cup-holder placement or the design merits of side vents. She says participants will be asked about everything from safety issues to environmental concerns to opinions on Chrysler's ads. Folks...
March 17, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Networks embrace viewers online, giving them input into what we see on the tubeABC Entertainment relaunched an online community group it refers to as The Inner Circle late last year. Initially created three years ago as a marketing tool, it was brought back to life with the help of social-networking software enabler Passenger. The company built an online community that allows ABC to engage with...
January 14, 2008 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
Proprietary Panels Help Consumer Companies Shape Products, Ads
The private networks are part of companies' continuing efforts to figure out how to use the Web to assess and shape the way consumers think about their products.
Read Full Article
November 27, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Thought Leadership, Awards
Passenger has been honored with another emerging media award this time by the Summit International Awards (SIA). Passenger received the "2007 Innovator Award” under the Social Media category for the Passenger platform. This is a great accomplishment, as the “Innovator” award is one of the top recognitions by the Summit International Awards. The award highlights Passenger as a...
October 5, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News
Web 2.0 has created a goldmine of information on customers' opinions and preferences, wants and needs, goals and dreams. That insight is trapped inside millions of online blog posts, community sites, and personal pages that hold the tantalizing promise of helping companies better understand their customers.Read Full Article
September 17, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Press Releases
Former EarthLink Executive to Extend Company’s Leadership Position
Today, Steve Howe, a former executive at EarthLink, was named chief operating officer,
effective immediately. Howe will oversee strategic planning, business development, sales,
finance and day-to-day operations. He will also spearhead the company’s New York expansion while
evaluating additional growth...
September 14, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Thought Leadership
Web 2.0 lets brands become a part of the consumer conversations that are already happening...Read Full Article
August 7, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News
Founded in 2005, Los Angeles, California-based Passenger helps "companies redefine their customer relationships by fundamentally changing the way consumers are able to communicate with their brands," Steamboat Ventures Managing Director Dan Beldy said in a statement.Read Full Article
August 7, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Press Releases
Funding to Accelerate Company’s Business Success and Technology Leadership in On-Demand Customer Collaboration Market
LOS ANGELES, CA, August 7, 2007 -- Passenger®, the technology leader in on-demand customer collaboration, today announced that it has secured $8.3 million in Series B funding led by Steamboat Ventures, a venture capital firm affiliated with The Walt Disney Company. In...
July 17, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Thought Leadership, Awards
The pace of change in the tech sector is accelerating. This year's AO 100 list of the hottest private companies includes a big batch of young innovators paving the way in emerging markets.
With the large number of promising contenders, deciding which companies make the AO100 list is always complex. To pick the final winners, AlwaysOn editors, KPMG, Bridge Bank, Merrill Corp., Level 3...
July 6, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Thought Leadership
Whether you like it or not, customers are out there talking about their experiences with your brand every day. It's up to you to align your organization with this reality in order to benefit from these discussions.Read Full Article
May 16, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News
"It's no longer about a marketer throwing a message out there and yelling at people, " adds Justin Cooper, chief innovation + marketing officer for Los Angeles-based Passenger, a software-as-a-service technology company that enables brands such as ABC and Coca-Cola to deploy online "private brand communities." "With digital, it's more of an organic approach. It's about tapping into the social...
May 10, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Thought Leadership
Think of consumers as partners, not 'targets'. Every company likes to brag about customer loyalty, but the relationships between many companies and their customers are only skin-deep, experts say. Customer relationship management is a fine tool--for you. But your relationship with your customers must be a two-way street.Read Full Article
April 19, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Events, Clients in the News, Passenger in the News
"Errett added that communities are affinity groups, but that successful social network communities must be authentic, and authenticity only exists where there is an emotional connection. MySpace's Gold finished by stating that those consumers attracted to social networking engage because they are seeking a sense of community. Therefore, the key to a successful social networking community is...
April 9, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News, Clients in the News
"Passenger is an extension of our marketing," said Ravi Parmeswar, Sara Lee's vp-business insights. "Because they are out there, we are constantly coming up with ideas that we can bounce off our consumers. It's about [consumers] feeling their opinion counts."
Read Full Article
April 4, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News, Clients in the News
Most forward thinking marketers would agree that the advertising and marketing landscape has changed dramatically over the past few years with the dawn of web 2.0 and the powerful influences of social media. As more and more consumers embrace social media as a way to communicate with each other, marketers are clamoring to tap into this relatively new medium and its vast influence.Read Full Article
April 2, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Clients in the News, Passenger in the News
Los Angeles Business Journal
April 2-8, 2007
By Anne Riley-Katz
Staff Reporter
Remember focus groups?
Well, this is the digital age, so it’s no surprise that there are groups gathering virtually on the Internet rather than in boardrooms to discuss brands and products.
What’s surprising is that participation in these groups increasingly is by invitation, and only for fans or...
March 29, 2007 | Posted by Admin
Passenger in the News
Translated from French to English
With Passenger, the consumer becomes a consultant for brands. The
companies use Web 2.0 to solicit the advice of their most influential
consumers.
How to tap into the conversations from those on the Internet; on blogs or their
favorite social channels around a brand or product? That is the question that
Justin Cooper and Andrew Leary asked themselves,...
