SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA -- Grouptivity today announced the official launch of its Email+ web service platform - exponentially increasing the power of the existing "email a friend" functionality to give users a better and more robust content sharing experience and publishers control over the distribution of their content while expanding revenue opportunities.
Similar to "email a friend", Email+ allows users to share content with one or more people. But, instead of creating a string of email that has to be sorted through in your inbox, Email+ creates a private discussion group with threaded comments. For the user, it is a better experience for sharing and discussing content and, because it's private, a more comfortable environment for participating in online discussions around content of interest.
For publishers, it provides the ability to see which stories are of greatest interest to users, not only the most emailed, but the most commented upon. At the same time, Email+ gives publishers new opportunities to monetize their content creating an ad impression every time content is mailed, users are notified, and comments are made. These are highly targeted ad impressions which generate higher CPMs.
"Our goal with Email+ is to redefine web content sharing and distribution," said Ankesh Kumar, CEO of Grouptivity. "On the web today there are many places for public discussions through blogs, wikis, discussion boards, social networks, etc. But private content sharing and discussion is dominated by a tool that was built in the 1980s and has not adapted to today's needs."
Kumar continued "With Email+, publishers get a deeper view into what their readers care most about, thus giving them the ability to strengthen their relationships with their audience by delivering more of that content. Consumers get a better content sharing experience and, when publishers respond to their needs, more of the content they care most about."
The Telegraph of Nashua, New Hampshire is the first customer to deploy Email+ on its NashuaTelegraph.com website.
"Our goal as a newspaper company, in print and online, is not just to provide readers with news, but to help put that news into context, relative to the world, to their community and to their lives," said Ernesto Burden, Vice President, Digital Media, The Telegraph. "We think Email+ will allow us to go one step further and give the reader a tool to take our stories or images and put them into even more personal context for his or her own family, friends, and community - in a forum that facilitates genuine, non-mediated conversation about the news of the day."
Within a month, American Community Newspapers will launch Email+ on its Leesburg Today website. "American Community Newspapers strives to publish the best local newspaper websites possible, said Roger Will, Vice President, New Media, American Community Newspapers. "With the addition of Grouptivity's Email+ we move onto a different level of customer service. This is an excellent method to encourage our readers to share the story, the point of view and the information our reporters and editors provide. Emailing to someone is ordinary - sharing the story in an active setting is another, far deeper use of our material."
Grouptivity also announced the appointment of Susan DeFife, Co-Founder and former CEO of Backfence, to its Board of Advisors. DeFife said "Email+ provides a solution to many challenges facing publishers today. In addition to getting a deeper view into content distribution and the ability to monetize content that might have otherwise been lost to them, publishers can leverage the viral networks of their users to increase site traffic and participation. At the same time, it is an opportunity to benefit from the creation of user generated content without the risk of damaging their brand."
Grouptivity was recently awarded a patent for its system and method for integrating e-mail into functionality of software application.
About Grouptivity
Grouptivity is a service launched by Appmail, a web services company that has been developing email based web applications since 2002. Appmail's services are currently being used by customers like Business Objects, Leapfrog, iPass and Agile Software. The company is privately held and based in San Mateo, CA.
About NashuaTelegraph.com
The Telegraph Online is the award-winning digital version the Telegraph of Nashua, New Hampshire. The paper and Web site serve Nashua and the Southern New Hampshire region.
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