SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 23, 2003--
GameSpot Trax Allows Marketers to Track
Their Competitive Position at Each Stage of the Buying Cycle
CNET Networks, Inc. (Nasdaq: CNET), the leading global media
company informing and connecting the buyers, users and sellers of
technology, today introduced an innovative ROI measurement tool that
enables marketers to gain unprecedented insight into users' interest
in and engagement with a product or brand at each stage of the buying
cycle. The tool leverages the research and tracking power that is
unique to content-oriented Web sites.
Until now, the only established Internet ROI measurements
available to marketers have been search listings and commerce leads,
which often represent the very beginning and end of the buyer's
consideration process, respectively. CNET Networks' new ROI
measurement tool now tracks the user's information gathering process
-- including reading news and product reviews, downloading product
demos and white papers, and comparing products and prices -- and turns
that data into a dynamic research lab that reveals category and brand
preferences as well as purchase intent.
Introduced as "GameSpot Trax" to the more than 50 marketing
partners of CNET Networks' GameSpot Web site (www.gamespot.com), the
tool is the company's first foray into real-time, customizable usage
tracking and trend analysis. GameSpot, the leading online source for
games information, serves nearly 500,000 unique daily users, and its
premium subscription service has more than 52,000 active members. The
tool, which is provided to marketing partners at no additional charge,
combines comprehensive GameSpot user data with data gathered from
other sites and offline sources that report on gaming. It translates
the data into easy-to-understand ROI metrics that enable marketers to
continually monitor and enhance the effectiveness of their online and
offline spending, and clearly prove the value of their initiatives.
GameSpot Trax lets marketers monitor daily how Web users are
responding to their products and brands, and those of their
competitors, at each of the five major stages of the buying cycle,
including awareness, consideration, trial, purchase, and post-purchase
engagement or feedback. Marketers can easily set parameters for their
daily feed, mapping their own and their competitors' visibility
initiatives -- such as ad campaigns and PR activities -- into user
trend graphs that show the effectiveness of their efforts in building
mindshare, adding customers, and enhancing the loyalty of existing
customers.
Feedback from leading game publishers such as Ubi Soft
Entertainment, Midway, and LucasArts, has been extremely positive.
"We have always looked to GameSpot to provide us with information
that helped us measure buzz in the marketplace," said Tony Kee, vice
president of marketing for Ubi Soft Entertainment, publisher of Tom
Clancy's Splinter Cell and Lock On: Modern Air Combat. "With GameSpot
Trax, now we can get a lot more depth and comparison, as well as long
term track records so we can measure not only the challenge of the day
or month, but look much farther out into the future."
"GameSpot Trax finally taps the power media companies like CNET
Networks have to provide detailed insight into user behavior," said
Helene Sheeler, vice president of marketing for Midway Games,
publisher of Mortal Combat: Deadly Alliance and Spy Hunter. "We have
always viewed market data as an important tool to guide not only our
marketing decisions, but also our product development. GameSpot Trax
is the first time we have had such a deep, 360-degree glimpse into all
stages of user interest and response, from initial news gathering, to
accessing more detailed product info, downloading a software demo,
purchasing a product, and interacting with others about the product
after buying."
Over the next year, CNET Networks plans to introduce versions of
the tool created specifically for customers of its enterprise- and
commerce-related media sites.
"This tool redefines ROI metrics on the web and provides a whole
new level of intelligence on the true dynamics of online purchase
behavior," said Barry Briggs, chief operating officer of CNET
Networks. "We are already realizing the value this tool has in
enhancing our relationships with our gaming marketers. We're looking
forward to refining this tool to serve the needs of our business
technology and commerce partners."
Marketers interested in more information on GameSpot Trax should
send an email to info@gamespot.com.
About CNET Networks, Inc.
CNET Networks, Inc. (www.cnetnetworks.com) is the leading global
media company informing and connecting the buyers, users and sellers
of technology. The company's product portfolio includes top brands
CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Builder.com, News.com, GameSpot,
Download.com, and mySimon, as well as Computer Shopper magazine, and
CNET Channel. With a strong presence in the U.S., Asia and Europe,
CNET Networks has operations in 16 countries.
CONTACT: CNET Networks, Inc.
Sarah Winterhalder, 415/344-2218 (Media contact)
sarah.winterhalder@cnet.com
or
Robert Borchert, 646/472-3806 (Investor contact)
robert.borchert@cnet.com
SOURCE: CNET Networks, Inc.