eHow Now is live in top categories and offers new subscription model with unlimited access to experts
SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 6, 2013-- Demand Media® (NYSE: DMD) today announced the launch of eHow Now, a new platform where customers chat directly with experts to receive advice and guidance quickly, conveniently and affordably. eHow Now extends eHow.com’s mission to build the most helpful place on earth by providing individualized consultations from experts. It supports eHow’s position as a top 20 website dedicated to solving people’s everyday needs with Content for Real Life provided by experts in more than 30 categories, from tech and finance to fashion and home décor. As part of its launch, eHow Now will offer unlimited access to experts through its new subscription package while also offering users the option to pay per consultation. eHow Now is part of Demand Media’s growing subscription business, which includes Stronger (online exercise and fitness program) and Creativebug (online video workshops offering art and craft instruction).
“After an exciting beta period with more than a million and half users engaging with the product, we’re happy to make eHow Now available in six categories - auto, tech, health, legal, personal finance and pets,” said
Dan Brian
, Executive Vice President of Media. “We see eHow Now as an extension of the expert-driven platform we’ve created for eHow.com. eHow Now gives users on-demand access to our team of experts and helps people get answers tailored to their specific needs.”
eHow Now extends the eHow mission
eHow Now provides direct access to answers through one-on-one online conversations with experts. Options and pricing vary depending on the category and how quickly answers are needed. Users can choose the fast track option and get immediate, real-time access via online chat or opt for the basic service and receive an email response within 24 hours. The average cost per question is $19.99. As part of the launch, a monthly subscription of $9.99 with a 7-day free trial will be available as a limited time introductory offer. This will grant subscribers unlimited access to experts in all six categories.
“More than 65 million users1 come to eHow every month for solutions to life’s everyday problems, big and small. With eHow Now, many of the same experts who have contributed to the huge amount of Content for Real Life on eHow.com are now engaging directly with our customers. Customers can get their unique circumstances addressed and our experts get the immediate satisfaction of connecting with and helping people first-hand,” added
Cassandra Campbell
, Senior Director of eHow. “We plan to offer a variety of categories that people need in real life, from the practical (including auto, tech and finance) to the inspirational (including home & garden, fashion and style).”
About Demand Media
Demand Media, Inc. (NYSE: DMD) is a leading digital media and domain services company that informs and entertains one of the internet’s largest audiences, helps advertisers find innovative ways to engage with their customers and enables publishers, individuals and businesses to expand their online presence. Headquartered in Santa Monica, CA, Demand Media has offices in North America, South America and Europe. For more information about Demand Media, please visit www.demandmedia.com.
Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties regarding the Company's future financial performance, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry, financial condition, operating performance and results of operations, including certain assumptions related thereto. Statements containing words such as guidance, may, believe, anticipate, expect, intend, plan, project, projections, business outlook, and estimate or similar expressions constitute forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others: our ability to complete a separation of our business into two separate public companies as previously announced and unanticipated developments that may delay or negatively impact such a transaction; the possibility that we may decide not to proceed with the separation of our business as previously announced if we determine that alternative opportunities are more favorable to our stockholders; the possibility that we decide to separate our business in a manner different from that previously disclosed; the impact and possible disruption to our operations from pursuing the previously announced separation transaction; our ability to retain key personnel; the high costs we will likely incur in connection with such a separation transaction, which we would not be able to recoup if such a transaction is not consummated; the expectation that the previously announced separation transaction will be tax-free; revenue and growth expectations for the two independent companies following the separation of our business; the ability of each business to operate as an independent entity upon completion of such a transaction; changes in the methodologies of internet search engines, including ongoing algorithmic changes made by Google as well as possible future changes, and the impact such changes may have on page view growth and driving search related traffic to our owned and operated websites and the websites of our network customers; changes in our content creation and distribution platform, including the possible repurposing of content to alternate distribution channels, reduced investments in intangible assets or the sale or removal of content; our ability to effectively integrate, manage, operate and grow a crowd-sourced e-commerce website such as Society6; our ability to manage risks associated with the sale of goods over the internet; our ability to successfully launch, produce and monetize new content formats; the inherent challenges of estimating the overall impact on page views and search driven traffic to our owned and operated websites based on the data available to us as internet search engines continue to make adjustments to their search algorithms; our ability to compete with new or existing competitors; our ability to maintain or increase our advertising revenue; our ability to continue to drive and grow traffic to our owned and operated websites and the websites of our network customers; our ability to effectively monetize our portfolio of content; our dependence on material agreements with a specific business partner for a significant portion of our revenue; future internal rates of return on content investment and our decision to invest in different types of content in the future, including premium video and other formats of text content; our ability to attract and retain freelance creative professionals; changes in our level of investment in media content intangibles; the effects of changes or shifts in internet marketing expenditures, including from text to video content as well as from desktop to mobile content; the effects of shifting consumption of media content from desktop to mobile; the effects of seasonality on traffic to our owned and operated websites and the websites of our network customers; the impact of seasonality on our e-commerce business; intense competition, which could lead to pricing pressure among other effects; our ability to expand our customer base and meet production requirements; our ability to develop additional adjacent lines of business to complement our growth strategies; our ability to continue to add partners to our registrar platform on competitive terms; our ability to successfully pursue and implement our gTLD initiative; changes in stock-based compensation; changes in amortization or depreciation expense due to a variety of factors; potential write downs, reserves against or impairment of assets including receivables, goodwill, intangibles (including media content) or other assets; changes in tax laws, our business or other factors that would impact anticipated tax benefits or expenses; our ability to successfully identify, consummate and integrate acquisitions; our ability to retain key customers and key personnel; risks associated with litigation; the impact of governmental regulation; and the effects of discontinuing or discontinued business operations. From time to time, we may consider acquisitions or divestitures that, if consummated, could be material. Any forward-looking statements regarding financial metrics are based upon the assumption that no such acquisition or divestiture is consummated during the relevant periods. If an acquisition or divestiture were consummated, actual results could differ materially from any forward-looking statements. More information about potential risk factors that could affect our operating and financial results are contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (http://www.sec.gov) on March 5, 2013, and as such risk factors may be updated in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, information under the captions Risk Factors and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
Furthermore, as discussed above, the Company does not intend to revise or update the information set forth in this press release, except as required by law, and may not provide this type of information in the future.
1 comScore, June 2013
Source: Demand Media
Demand Media
Investor Contact:
Julie MacMedan, 310-917-6485
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Media Contact:
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