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I often write a few pithy words at the beginning of PositiveWire about the state of the industry. This time, I can only come up with one word...
WOW!
Just look at the M&A momentum of our industry!
You probably heard the news already - companies including Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft all made high-profile acquisitions in the online advertising/marketing space in the past two months:
- DoubleClick to Google ($3 Billion)
- RightMedia to Yahoo ($680 Million)
- Aquantive to Microsoft ($6 Billion)
- 24/7 Media to WPP ($649 Million)
This totals over $10 Billion in acquisitions in eight weeks. I would file that type of activity under the "white hot" category. To put that number into perspective, if the $10 Billion sum represented the annual revenue of a single company, then that company would be in Fortune 500 territory. Please keep in mind that NONE of these four companies listed above even EXISTED ten years ago.
WOW! again.
Back at home, and on a much smaller scale...
DoublePositive was invited to attend the MAVA Capital Connection for the second year in a row - check out what the Baltimore Business Journal had to say about the event. This was both an honor and privilege for DoublePositive. It was a top-notch affair (as usual for MAVA), and I was particularly excited for WWC Capital Group and The Grosvenor Funds - it's always a good thing for a venture capitalist when a portfolio company shows well at an industry event.
One of the reasons that DoublePositive was able to draw interest from the attendees was that we were only one of a few later-stage investment opportunities. I did, however, have the chance to talk and meet with many of the early-stage companies' CEOs. I was energized by their passions and extremely respectful of their collective early-stage courage.
The keynote speakers at MAVA Capital Connection 2007 were Kevin Plank (CEO, UnderArmour) and Seth Godin (author, and founder of Squidoo). Seth's primary message was "FOCUS" in order to "Be the BEST." Kevin's message was somewhat complementary - never say "that's the way we've ALWAYS done it" in order to make your brand the best. BTW, Kevin Plank was introduced as the CEO of ArmorAll - somebody at MAVA probably owes Kevin an apology :-S).
I look forward to sending the next edition of PositiveWire in July when we can provide some additional details on yet another record quarter for DoublePositive.
Best regards,
Sean P. Fenlon
President & CEO
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Industry Trends
If you've been following the DoublePositive blog, visited the website, or talked to us at a trade show, you're probably familiar with our "Evolution of Online Marketing" story. In short, the story explains how online advertising has moved from a pricing model based on ad impressions (CPM), then to clicks (CPC), and then to a performance-based model that is based on cost per lead/acquisition (CPL/CPA). Finally, we introduce the idea of CPT (cost per transfer), which is the most evolved model, delivering a double-verified live call transfer of a consumer directly to a sales professional. You don't get any more "evolved" than that. Keep reading The Evolving Lead Generation Lexicon: Introducing Cost Per Qualified Lead
DoublePositive News
DoublePositive Shines at MAVA
DoublePositive was selected for the second year in a row to present at the Mid-Atlantic Venture Association's (MAVA) Capital Connection 2007 conference. Sean Fenlon, DoublePositive's CEO, presented at the invitation-only event which happened May 29-30 at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. Read the MAVA Press Release
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DoublePositive in the Scotsman Guide
For the second time this year, an article by DoublePositive's Joey Liner is featured in June's Scotsman Guide, one of the mortgage industry's most popular publications. The article, titled "Pick The Right Lead For You," explains the differences between lead types including lists, trigger data, Internet leads, live-contact leads and double-confirmed leads. It's a must-read for lead buyers in any industry Read the article.
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Deeper in Debt!
Over the past few months, we have attended a couple of debt industry conferences. Dianne Conley, Sr. Vice President, attended The Association of Settlement Companies (TASC) conference in (of all places) Las Vegas back in March. Dianne returned with many debt settlement contacts and a wealth of knowledge pertaining to the debt settlement industry. Marisa Waterman, Director of Affiliate Programs, recently attended the American Association of Debt Organizations (AADMO) conference in Washington, DC. Marisa networked with dozens of people in the credit counseling industry while on an evening cruise on the Potomac River. We will continue to educate ourselves on the industry as a whole as well as recent legislation, compliance, and the future of the business. Stay tuned as we dive deeper into debt.
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Inter-building Rivalry Heats Up!
The inter-building rivalry between the Student Loan Group and DoublePositive is heating up! This Friday is set for the next leg of the competition, a ruthless game of softball. DoublePositive looks to tie the score after a humiliating defeat on the football field in late January. Marty Mitowski, quarterback for the DP squad, talked with reporters after the game, "We didn't have our stuff today, and that disappoints me, but I know the next round will be ours. The DP Team has to much class and integrity - in the office and on the field - to lose again to the highly over-rated SLG." And he may be right, thanks to recent hire and ringer, Kris D. She couldn't be reached for comment, and insisted that her last name be kept confidential, but did release this statement in regards to joining the team for the big game. "I'll play on the DP softball team, as long as they don't suck." Truly, I think that says it all.
Featured Partner
May 2007 marks the end of an era.
Blue Sky Factory moved to Tide Point in 2001 (shortly after many future DP team members did). Their first year of business was documented in a multi-part feature article in the Baltimore Sun business section. Fast forward to 2007 and Blue Sky Factory is the OFFICIAL Email Service Provider (ESP) for DoublePositive. You're reading an e-letter carried by their servers. Moreover, we have become quite good friends with their CEO Greg Cangialosi. Greg featured DoublePositive on his first podcast on ROI Radio. We have learned a lot from Greg about email, podcasting, blogging, RSS, etc. He is a genuine pioneer. Many have referred to Greg as the "Mayor of Tide Point."
But, as of Friday, Blue Sky Factor has officially moved its office off of the Tide Point complex and into the old Fort McHenry Theater in Federal Hill. The space is perfect for Greg's growing company, but Tide Point will feel the loss.
Please visit the following Blue Sky Factory links for more information on their products and services:
www.blueskyfactory.com
www.publicaster.com
www.rssfwd.com
www.blueskyfactory.com/blog/ ("The Thinking Inbox" blog)
www.roiradio.com
www.thetrendjunkie.com (Greg's personal blog)
Careers at DoublePositive
We want you! Join the DoublePositive team, and enjoy a rewarding career, top-notch colleagues, and terrific coffee! At present we're actively recruiting for a number of openings, and we're always looking for exceptionally talented individuals in any relevant field. Please see DoublePositive Careers for more detailed job descriptions and instructions on how to apply.
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The DP Process, XPLANEd
LIVE Hot Transfer Process
LeadScrub Process
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ROI Radio
Interview with Sean Fenlon, President & CEO of DoublePositive. Listen.
Interview with Jonathan Wallace, the Managing Partner of WWC Capital Group, an investment banking and private equity firm located in Reston, VA.Listen.
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DP is Hiring
At DoublePositive, our strategy is simple: we hire the best and the brightest, and encourage them to do what they do best. We're actively seeking candidates for the following positions for our corporate headquarters at Tide Point on Baltimore's waterfront.
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About DP
DoublePositive Marketing Group, Inc. was founded in late 2004 with the specific purpose of bridging the "last mile" of converting traditional (data-only) leads into sales. More primitive versions of marketing provide leads to sales professionals in data form, requiring sales professionals to work through the data themselves in order to find a genuinely interested and genuinely qualified consumer. DoublePositive has evolved the model of lead generation so as to provide sales professionals with a live, qualified, and interested consumer, along with the consumer's data, all in real time.
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DP Relationships
Please visit the sites of these other organizations that we have relationships with as well:
www.partnerpoint.com
www.4thoughtinc.com
www.socialsolutions.com
www.carchex.com
www.velaro.com
www.wwccapital.com
www.grosvenorfund.com
www.blueskyfactory.com
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