Online media player provides monetization and marketing opportunities for artists and record labels

St. Cloud, MN, June 5, 2009 – W3i, a provider of marketing solutions that increase revenue, distribution and engagement for Windows applications and plug-ins, and RightsFlow, a provider of music licensing and royalty services, announced today the creation of an integrated music marketing platform designed to help artists and labels monetize free music downloads through media support.

“W3i has developed solutions to enable the distribution of free content for over nine years,” comments Robert Weber, Vice President of Business Development at W3i. “Our proprietary technology, Install IQ, and W3i’s Application Network can help downloadable content providers increase their revenue as well as ensure speed-to-market while utilizing minimal artist resources.”

As traditional music business models continue to change, artists and labels are looking for innovative sources of revenue in the digital space. “We are very excited to offer record labels and artists access to the W3i Media Player,” stated Alex Holz, Director of Client Relations for RightsFlow. “This system helps artists and labels reach music lovers searching for free music, while still generating revenue from their recordings.”

The media-supported initiative involves reaching fans searching for free music and offering DRM-free downloads of unreleased and difficult-to-find digital tracks. The initial rollout features 100 tracks across Rock, Pop, Jazz, Hip-Hop, Latin, Alternative, and Country music genres, including artists such as Say When, Carey Ott, Michael Olatuja, and Drunken Barn Dance.

“We are pleased to work with W3i and RightsFlow on this exciting program,” said Gary Taylor, manager of Carey Ott and co-manager of The New Congress. “Finding creative ways to market and monetize music is especially important for D.I.Y. artists, and earning revenue while rewarding fans with free music is an unmatched deal.”

Install IQ was the first installation system certified in the TRUSTe Trusted Download program, and users have demonstrated high satisfaction in online surveys.

About W3i:
W3i increases revenue, distribution and engagement for Windows applications and plug-ins. W3i uses a network approach combining the demand for free and trial downloads monetized by the distribution of useful downloads when the consumer is in the download mindset. W3i’s Application Network uses Install IQ, W3i’s proprietary Windows installer, the first installer to be certified in the TRUSTe Trusted Download Program. Tested and optimized on over 250 million installs–currently 7.1 million installs monthly and growing, W3i will prove to be a valued distribution partner in growing your application business. To learn more, visit W3i’s Application Network.

About RightsFlow:
RightsFlow offers Mechanical Licensing & Royalty Solutions for labels, distributors, and online music services. We specialize in obtaining bulk mechanical, DPD, and ringtone licenses including streaming, tethered, and limited downloads rights. Our proprietary “FLOW” system allows us to license, account, and pay royalties directly to the Harry Fox Agency (HFA) and the thousands of publishers not represented by HFA. Today, RightsFlow services over 1,500 labels for mechanical and DPD licensing. Some of the many clients we service include marquee companies such as imeem, E1 Entertainment, Muzak, EMI Music, Active International, Tapulous, CD Baby, IODA, Audible Magic, YouLicense, Constellation Wines (Blackstone), X5 Music Group, Zebralution and Disc Makers, among others. For more information on RightsFlow’s services and management team, visit www.rightsflow.com.

Media Contact for W3i:
Deborah Manthei +1.320.257.7571 / deborah.manthei@W3i.com

Media Contact for RightsFlow:
Gideon Kalischer, +1-212-937-6955 / gideon.kalischer@rightsflow.com

St. Cloud, Minnesota, May 7, 2009 – W3i, provider of marketing solutions that increase distribution, revenue, and engagement for Windows applications, announced today that VoloMedia is now part of W3i’s Download Network (WDN).  VoloMedia, provider of advertising and reporting solutions for portable media, is using W3i’s Download Network to broaden its user base for its iTunes plug-in to grow its panel of users for more effective advertising.

“W3i’s Download Network can be a significant source of new users for growth companies with Windows applications and various types of plug-ins,” said Rob Weber, VP of Business Development at W3i.  “VoloMedia joins a network of application companies in their efforts to ramp up user acquisition at a known ROI.  During the installation process, WDN leverages the demand for popular free or trial downloads by matching them with other download companies seeking distribution, like VoloMedia, giving the user a value-add.”

“W3i’s distribution capabilities are helping us reach our target users,” notes Jeff Karnes, VP of Marketing and Products for VoloMedia. “Their installation and download process is a great way for us to promote our unique iTunes plug-in.” 

W3i used its consultative services to optimize this distribution channel for VoloMedia, demonstrating how using proven techniques to engage the user can increase lifetime value and make their marketing spend more effective.

About W3:
W3i increases revenue, distribution and engagement for Windows applications and plug-ins. W3i uses a network approach combining the demand for free and trial downloads monetized by the distribution of useful downloads when the consumer is in the download mindset.  W3i’s Download Network uses Install IQ, W3i’s proprietary Windows installer, the first installer to be certified in the TRUSTe Trusted Download Program.  Tested and optimized on over 250 million installs–currently 15 million installs monthly and growing, W3i will prove to be a valued distribution partner in growing your application business. To learn more, visit W3i’s Download Network.

About  VoloMedia:
VoloMedia provides a unique combination of products with a nationwide ad sales team to deliver advertising and reporting solutions for portable media, extending the reach and monetization of video and audio podcasts. The company’s products and services are utilized by some of the largest and most well known media companies, including ABC News, FOX News, MSNBC, Washington Post/Newsweek, and Public Radio International in its Business, News, and Politics podcast verticals.  Other VoloMedia content verticals include Entertainment, Health, Music, Sports, Technology, Video Games, and Women. http://www.volomedia.com.

Contact:
Deborah Manthei
Director of Marketing Communications
320-257-7571
deborah.manthei@W3i.com

Jocelyn Johnson
212-924-9500
PR Contact for VoloMedia
jjohnson@gravitas-pr.com

St. Cloud, Minnesota, April 9, 2009-W3i, LLC today announced a global partnership with Yahoo!, under which W3i will continue to offer the Yahoo! Toolbar, as well as sponsored search and contextual advertising services, to over 16.5 million visitors monthly.

As a leader in desktop and browser marketing solutions, W3i provides its users with useful, safe, free software and utilities to improve their Internet experience.  W3i’s goal is to connect users with downloads that add utility to their desktop and make their time on the Internet more productive.

“Our partnership with Yahoo! allows us to offer world-class search capabilities to our users. Yahoo! has made impressive strides with its search marketing system, and continues to innovate to drive the most compelling user and advertiser experience,” said Andy Johnson, CEO of W3i. “As a leader in delivering quality, downloadable content, W3i is excited to continue our partnership and looks forward to growing our relationship with Yahoo! even more over time.”

About W3i:
W3i delivers proven, integrated desktop and browser marketing solutions.  With solutions tested and optimized on over 200 million installs–currently 4.2 million installs monthly, W3i can increase revenue and traffic for downloadable software, applications and digital content or provide a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted distribution programs while the user is in the download mode.  W3i’s solutions utilize Install IQ, a proprietary Windows installation system and download manager developed by W3i.  Install IQ is the first installation system to be certified in the TRUSTe Trusted Download Program.  To learn more about W3i, visit www.w3i.com.  For premium quality, free consumer content, visit freeze.com (screensavers, wallpaper and clip art), wallpapers.com (animated, static and Wallery wallpapers), screensaver.com (3D and flash screensavers), and my.freeze.com (latest news, home page).

Contact:
Deborah Manthei
Director of Marketing Communications
320-257-7571
deborah.manthei@W3i.com

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Throughout the past year, W3i focused on optimizing landing pages. Considerable success was made from A/B testing translating to increases in bottom line revenue. Several tests saw double digit percentage increases in EPC (earnings per click) and downloads. Although success was made, optimization is an ongoing process that doesn’t stop at landing pages, extending to keywords, installer skins, and consistency in the overall installation process.

The key to a successful text ad campaign is matching your landing page keywords to your ad keywords. This same concept applies to the creatives you use later in the process, such as the installer. Creating consistency through the entire download process from the landing page onward is the ideal scenerio; and this led to our installer testing. The ultimate goal of this installer optimization was to increase conversions, defined by how many users accept offers and download the product, as well as overall revenue. Below is how W3i’s first installer test resulted in an increase in both EPC (earning per click) and downloads.

By creating consistency, aligning the design used in the installer with the design used on the landing page, we saw significant lifts in EPC (earning per click) ranging from 10%-15% due to increased conversions.

Background:  W3i recently redesigned wallpapers.com, a consumer site which offers three different types of downloadable wallpapers: static wallpapers, animated wallpapers, and wallery, an application that rotates wallpapers. This radical redesign drew attention to subsequent creatives in the installation. After reviewing the entire download process, W3i considered the potential benefit of an installer that offered more design consistency with the site (our optimized landing page in this case). The site is merely an entry point to complete the installation process. After hitting the“Download” button, the user reaches an installer where they start the installation process, accept offers and ultimately download the product.

Optimization Test:  The task was simple and required W3i to align the installer creatives with the site creatives and then test the new installer creative against the original.

Wallpapers.com Site: This page is treated like a download page and
starts the installer when the user hits “Download Now.”

Control: The original installer – lovely              New Design: Notice the black skin with the
design, but not very consistent with the site      blue shading that resembles the design used
creative.                                                            on Wallpapers.com.

Results:  The new installer provided significant lifts in EPC (earning per click) ranging from 10%-15%. Completed downloads also increased conversions anywhere from 3%-10%, depending on the product. Providing consistency in the install process clearly made users flow through the download and complete the install with less hesitation.

W3i’s optimization efforts provide considerable rewards, and we will continue to find better ways to increase conversion rates. With the valuable learnings as a result of our installer test, W3i intends to move forward with several more tests and make the download process a seamless and consistent user experience from start to finish.

Jessie Golombiecki, Marketing Specialist, W3i
Jessie uses her experience in internet marketing, graphic design and testing to lead the charge in marketing management optimizing all touchpoints with consumers.

St. Cloud, Minnesota, September 5, 2008 Developers and authors are making their software and digital content available for free to satisfy the demanding online public, but they should get some reward for their work. 

You’ve heard of the Windows installers Wise and InstallShield, and possibly Nullsoft, but how about W3i’s Install IQ?  Install IQ is a unique, ad-supported Windows installer system; and it’s the first Windows installer to be certified in the TRUSTe Trusted Download Program ensuring compliance and user satisfaction.

Install IQ, can increase your revenue and/or traffic in three ways:  monetization, bundle, and carrot. 

As a monetization partner, you do the marketing and get paid for every installation.  Yes, you get paid to use Install IQ.   With Install IQ you can customize download images with your brand and text to increase conversions.  Our research shows that this Windows installer system is widely accepted by users. For example, Install IQ generated revenues of $86,280 during the first month for an audio and multimedia player distributed by an online marketing firm.  After achieving such phenomenal success, the firm asked W3i to distribute a dozen additional applications using Install IQ.

As a bundle partner, you pay us to distribute your software and content.  When a user installs a download that they are searching for–such as a game, screensaver, utility, or desktop widget–they are asked whether they would like to install your software or content too.  Through this partnership W3i has downloaded toolbars, weather widgets, games and other useful downloads providing a rapid growth in their user base.

As a carrot partner, W3i will market your software or content free of charge.   In addition to using our unique Windows installer system, Install IQ, we put our experienced team to work for you utilizing their expertise in online marketing.  We then direct users through Install IQ installing your software or content.  Thus, we can market your software and content with funding from approved partners.  

If you have software or digital content and are interested in getting additional revenue or traffic using W3i’s unique Windows installer system, contact W3i for a free consultation.  You can then determine whether monetization, bundle or carrot is the right solution for you. 

For more information, e-mail: info@w3i.com. 

New phones are driving explosive (2x to 10x+) mobile internet usage growth.

What can you do to maximize your user engagement with this audience?  Take into considersation these factors when designing your website:

1)      Smaller and Different Proportioned Screen Resolutions

2)      Bandwidth Limitations

3)      Similar Multi-Channel User Interface

Screen resolutions are dramatically different on your phone.  Web designers have long designed their pages to fit the lowest, but still predominant, PC screen size which is usually some multiple of 4×3 (Ex: 800 x 600 pixels).  Several common mobile phone resolutions are:  128 × 160 pixels,  176 × 220 pixels, 240 × 320 pixels, and 320 × 480 pixels (iPhone).   These multiples vary from a 4×3 and are not consistent.  To adjust for this, you should consider a single column design.

In addition, you should consider scaling back your use of images. Mobile connection speeds are significantly lagging behind fixed broadband speeds, which are now the norm with PC users in the U.S. If you are going to offer a mobile-only website, design it with the above listed factors in mind; and you will allow for a more consistent user interface when your website is accessed from each of these channels.

For example, Facebook is coming out with a new iPhone application in September which looks very similar to the their website.   You can see from this article (http://venturebeat.com/2008/08/20/facebooks-forthcoming-iphone-app-to-be-more-like-its-web-site-that-site-redesign-was-no-coincidence/) how similar the application is to their website, leading to an easier adoption by users.

Ryan Weber, Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Co-Founder, W3i Holdings, LLC
Ryan is an internet marketing pioneer with over eight profitable years evolving W3i (owner of Freeze.com) in the Integrated Interactive Media industry.

The allure of the web widget is simple and seductive – the power of technology connecting millions of users with a marketer’s brand.  Unfortunately, beneath the luster of massive scale widget marketing lies a costly truth some marketers aren’t prepared to face: depleted budgets with no intelligent ROI because of costly distribution fees.  

BrandWeek reports that installation or engagement fees can range from $1 to $5 per widget install. According to comScore, nearly 148 million U.S. Internet users viewed widgets in November 2007, representing 81 percent of the total Internet audience. MySpace.com widgets had the widest audience, reaching more than 57 million Internet users. Slide.com ranked second with 39.2 million viewers. Google.com had the sixth widest widget-viewing audience with more than 19 million viewers. Translation for interactive marketers: These numbers can add up to real cash quickly and drain most marketing budgets.

Internet marketing agency W3i, who has earned a reputation as a Silicon Valley-like company in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, is raising the IQ of widget marketing. Founded in 2000, the Minnesota company built its profitable legacy by giving away high-demand downloads for free through an ad-supported business model. Through Freeze.com and other websites, W3i distributes over 4 million downloads each month. With just 60 employees, 2007 gross sales were $27 million.

Recognizing the opportunity and fear in the marketplace among widget marketers, W3i created a clever way to offset user acquisition and maintenance costs by layering on an additional, ad-supported revenue stream during the download process through a proprietary installation system they developed, aptly called, “Install IQ.” 

The way the system works is simple and user-friendly. In short, Install IQ bundles the primary widget download with other high-demand software — like the Yahoo! Toolbar and the Weatherbug Desktop widget. If a user accepts one of these optional offers during the install, the widget marketer makes money – up to a $1 in most cases. To prevent inadvertent installs, Install IQ deploys a unique download manager that allows the user to pause or cancel at any time.

The intelligence inside W3i’s unique installation system continues to impress by allowing for customization, optimization, and suppression. Marketers can leverage their brand equity throughout the entire installation process with images and text. The bundled software offered during installation can be optimized for target marketing. And if the software is already installed on the user’s desktop, Install IQ suppresses the offer and suggests an alternative download. Finally, in an age when best practices in privacy on the Web are carefully monitored, Install IQ holds up under scrutiny by being the first installation system to receive certification in the TRUSTe Trusted Download program.

A number of desktop widget marketers are currently using Install IQ and taking advantage of the high-volume rates W3i has negotiated with top industry partners who are part of W3i’s Download Network.

Case Study #1

An audio and multimedia player deploying Install IQ generated $86,280 in revenue during the first month of use. After achieving such phenomenal success, the online marketing firm representing the software added a dozen more applications to W3i’s installation process.

Case Study #2

A social networking profile editor using Install IQ’s optimization feature increased EPC rates by 33%, install rates by 44%, and CTR rates by 16%, resulting in a 34% increase in revenue. 

Case Study #3

A utility software application that speeds up PC performance earned $263,089 over the course of ten months using Install IQ.

Conclusion

With Install IQ, clients of W3i are monetizing their desktop widget channel in an unprecedented fashion, generating meaningful revenue with minimal drain on their internal resources because nearly all of the set up and on-going maintenance is performed by W3i staff. Install IQ also works with any type of downloadable digital content like music, video, and games. With such a unique opportunity now available in so many flavors, you can take the fear out of widget marketing and embrace the future of software downloads.

For more information about increasing your revenue using Install IQ, click here.     

About W3i:
W3i, owner of Freeze.com, delivers proven, integrated desktop marketing and mobile marketing solutions. With offers and services tested and optimized on over 15 million unique users each month and over 4 million downloads, W3i can increase your revenue from digital content or provide a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs. Solutions include: software marketing for shareware and freeware, software bundling and ad-supported installations. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region. To learn more about W3i, visit www.w3i.com.

St. Cloud, Minnesota, July 3, 2008 – W3i, provider of integrated desktop and mobile marketing solutions, announced Tuesday  the sale of Ringtone.com and its assets to New Motion, Inc., doing business as Atrinsic, a premier Internet media and mobile entertainment company.

“In line with our strategic intent to be the market share leader in the Integrated Interactive Media Industry, the sale of Ringtone.com will allow us to focus on our core business,” comments Andy Johnson, CEO of W3i. 

W3i’s continued focus is to create digital market places by providing compelling content for users supported by valued offers from clients.  Recently it launched its proprietary, Install IQ installation system, to enable ad revenue during the installation process.  “Our strategic focus is to continue to develop additional services that enable low cost distribution of quality content and information,” adds Andy. 

About W3i:
W3i, owner of Freeze.com, delivers proven, integrated desktop marketing and mobile marketing solutions. With offers and services tested and optimized on over 15 million unique users each month and over 4 million downloads, W3i can increase your revenue from digital content or provide a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs. Solutions include: software marketing for shareware and freeware, software bundling and ad-supported installations. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.

St. Cloud, Minnesota, June 17, 2008 –W3i, provider of integrated desktop and mobile marketing solutions, announced today that it has joined the Right Media Exchange. W3i will leverage the Exchange to optimize its ad impressions and user- acquisition budget.

W3i buys and sells over 5 billion ad impressions each month to promote its content and the content of its partners. “Utilizing the Right Media Exchange’s advanced targeting opportunities and scale is essential for us to grow our current business,” comments Robert Weber, VP of Business Development and Co-Founder.

“It was crucial for us to find a platform that was more efficient to give us optimal return on our ad dollars and inventory,” said Andy Johnson, CEO. “We need to continue to grow our business in a fragmented online advertising market. Right Media provides a solid platform and a community of buyers and sellers that are essential to our advertising efforts.”

W3i has built its business on providing free, compelling content to its users since 2000. Display advertising is an essential part of connecting interested users with valued offers. W3i’s network has grown to over 3,000 publishers that can utilize the Right Media Exchange through W3i to optimize their marketing efforts. To become a W3i publisher, click here.

About W3i:
W3i, owner of Freeze.com and Ringtone.com, delivers proven, integrated desktop marketing and mobile marketing solutions. With offers and services tested and optimized on over 15 million unique users each month and over 4 million downloads, W3i can increase your revenue from digital content or provide a receptive consumer base for customized, targeted marketing programs. Solutions include: software marketing for shareware and freeware, software bundling and ad-supported installations. The three Weber brothers, owners of W3i, are recent winners of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2006 Award in the Minnesota and Dakotas region. To learn more about W3i, visit www.W3i.com.