UKNM: Ad Age: Search engine HotBot pushes e-commerce

[Rachel Wight]

Don't mean to plug my own new product :-) but this has got to be better

reading than Spice Girls news........


-Rachel


> Search engine HotBot pushes e-commerce

>

>Wired creates shopping directory

>

> by Beth Snyder

>

> Wired Digital today announces aggressive plans for electronic commerce that include

>a first push to build its HotBot search engine brand and $20 million in commitments

>from retailers on a new e-commerce offering.

>

>Wired Digital is positioning HotBot as the "premium portal for power users," and

> expanding what began late last year as ShopWired into the HotBot Shopping Directory.

>

>The new directory moves from a handful of exclusive merchandisers in specific

> categories to more than 14 categories with multiple retailers in most. HotBot

>Shopping also goes from simply a space on the front page of the search engine to its

> own destination site; the ShopWired name disappears.

>

> Wired Digital's parent, Wired Ventures, last month sold off Wired magazine to

>Conde Nast Publications but retained the Wired name in perpetuity.

>

>"We are continuing to focus on the Wired brand, but we will also be building

>HotBot," said Andrew DeVries, Wired Digital director of marketing

> communications. "We feel it's important to build both brands at the same

>time."

>

>HotBot this year already has jumped to 16th from 23rd in monthly listings

>of most  highly trafficked Web sites, according to RelevantKnowledge.

>

>$20 MIL IN DEALS

>

>Wired Digital has generated $20 million in deals over a three-year period for the

>HotBot Shopping Directory. Wired executives said each deal has been individually

>tailored, with advertisers locked in for six months to three years. Only two

>categories remain exclusive: BarnesandNoble.com will be the only bookseller and

> N2K's Music Boulevard the only music seller.

>

> Two of the original retailers on ShopWired--Virtual Vineyards and Cyberian

>Outpost--have not signed deals for the HotBot directory, said Doug Nester, Wired

> Digital director of commerce. However, he pointed out that both are still advertising

>on other Wired Digital sites and are weighing their options.

>

>COMPARING PRICES

>


>Wired Digital also is adding a quick price-comparison feature. On every page of the

>HotBot directory, users can ask for a comparison and get back a list of products

> based on various specifications, including features and price.

>

>"There's a split reaction. Some retailers do not want to be known as a price brand.

>They don't want that as a positioning in the marketplace," Mr. Nester said, though

> so far no advertiser has backed away because of the price comparison.

>

> Retailers can opt to be excluded from the comparison database.

>

> "But we really wanted to deliver an enhanced user experience and also have a better

>environment for retailers," he said. "We're trying to balance what the user wants

>with what the merchant wants."

>


> Retailers get added perks, such as the inclusion of hot link buttons on the quick price

>integrated search page. Also, certain retailers will be linked to the shopping directory

>from other Wired Digital sites.

> 

R a c h e l  'W  i  g  h t

European Advertising Manager

W  I  R  E  D *  D  I  G  I  T  A  L

rachelwired [dot] com

tel:  01 40 21 60 70

fax:  01 40 21 68 88


18 Rue du Faubourg du Temple

Escalier Gauche

3eme Etage, Porte Droite

75011 PARIS

FRANCE



http://www.hotbot.com


http://www.hotwired.com