The Slashdot effect, also known as slashdotting, is the phenomenon of a popular website linking to a smaller site, causing the smaller site to slow down or even temporarily close due to the increased traffic. The name stems from the huge influx of web traffic that results from the technology news site Slashdot linking to websites.

In past lives, we’ve referred to this as just “the servers are melting.”  Our servers may not be melting (thanks engineering team!) but High Gear just got its first slashdotting this afternoon with our very own John Voelcker at GreenCarReports.com ending up on the front page with a story on, well, Can Urine Rescue Hydrogen-Powered Cars?

Give the story a read and drop a comment in.

Funding Comes As Traffic and Revenue Grow Substantially
With Owned and Operated Network of 38 automotive websites

Palo Alto, Calif., June 30, 2009 —High Gear Media (www.highgearmedia.com), a publisher of automotive digital media, announced today it has completed a $5.5 million Series B funding round that brings the company’s total capital raised to $12 million.  DAG Ventures, a new investor, led the round and existing investors Accel Partners and Greylock Partners also participated. The company’s Series A funding of $6.5 Million closed in November 2007.

The funds will be used for further expansion of High Gear Media’s technology platform and strategic acquisitions to accelerate the growth of its network of owned and operated websites.

In the last nine months, High Gear Media has experienced rapid expansion with the launch of 38 owned and operated auto websites including TheCarConnection.com, GreenCarReports.com, AllCarsElectric.com and AllAboutPrius.com.   Traffic and revenue have grown substantially in the first half of 2009 and the company expects to be profitable with this round of financing.

“We see significant opportunity for High Gear Media and are pleased to be investing in a fast-growing automotive digital media publishing company,” said Nick Pianim, managing director, DAG Ventures.  “They have expanded their market reach through a network of partnerships, and they are rapidly building out websites using their unique technology platform.   More importantly, the company is creating scalable and valuable advertising inventory in a substantial vertical with great demand, despite the current market environment.”

High Gear Media is the largest owned and operated network of automotive websites targeting car buyers and auto enthusiasts by lifestyle, interest and vehicle.  The 38 sites each combine aggregated automotive content from around the web with High Gear Media’s own expert editorial reviews, news and opinions.  The sites also integrate video, photos and social media features using Twitter and Facebook, making it easy for users to access relevant and rich automotive content in one place.  Companies syndicating content from High Gear Media’s 38 owned and operated automotive websites include Yahoo! Autos, HuffingtonPost.com, FoxNews.com, NBCAutoShow.com, Business Insider, Oodle, The San Francisco Chronicle and Glam Media, among others.

“We bring together a powerful technology platform, editorial expertise and a unique model of publishing multiple automotive media sites to address every interest and lifestyle,” said Hesky Kutscher, High Gear Media’s co-founder and CEO.  “We’re building a valuable product for our users, advertisers and content syndication partners and the additional capital will allow us to continue to innovate and expand.”

About High Gear Media
High Gear Media is a next generation media company building a network of owned-and-operated websites for car consumers targeting their interests and lifestyle. Its flagship website, TheCarConnection.com, gathers the automotive reviews and articles from around the web and adds its expert editors’ analysis and advice.  High Gear Media has 38 sites in the network, including GreenCarReports.com, AllAboutPrius.com, AllCarsElectric.com and MustangBlog.com. Companies using High Gear Media’s automotive content include Yahoo! Autos, Glam Media, Foxnews.com, Huffington Post, BusinessInsider.com, Oodle and The San Francisco Chronicle, to name a few. High Gear Media is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. and received its funding from Accel Partners, Greylock Partners and DAG Ventures.

Press Contact:
CommStrat
Kelly Cytron
(415) 271-3638
Kelly@commstrat.net

]]> http://www.highgearmedia.com/press_releases/high-gear-media-secures-55-million-series-b-funding/feed/ http://www.highgearmedia.com/press_releases/high-gear-media-secures-55-million-series-b-funding/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/HighGearMedia/~3/hcOwqfui7BA/ http://www.highgearmedia.com/blog/car-tweets-twitter-integration-across-high-gear-media/#comments Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:01:00 +0000 jeff http://www.highgearmedia.com/?p=536 Wanted to let you know about a recent feature release we think is pretty cool (a few super observant users have already noticed). We’ve integrated real-time Twitter conversations about cars on a make/model basis across our 38 web sites, creating a new page with this information for virtually any car you are looking for.  Here’s a quick peek:

This is a unique way for you to see up to the minute links, references, news, buzz and more about any car you care about or are looking for information on. We are using the Twitter Search API and applying some filtering to focus on high quality content. We’ve seen lots of interesting things fly by some of the cars we’ve checked, here are just a few examples:

- Links to reviews or photos
- People celebrating the purchase of a new car or bemoaning their current car.
- People asking the Twitter community for advice

We’ve shipped this integration across each one of our 38 websites.  Here are a couple of good examples of the feature in action:

- 2009 Volvo XC90
- 2009 Ford Escape
- 2009 Honda Pilot

Keep in mind this just adds to the content we’re already aggregating for you for every car:  expert reviews, user reviews, video clips, and question and answer content.  It’s all part of us trying to bring as much useful information together for you all in one place — for any one car.  And that’s before we even get to our own expert original content.

Dive in to the examples and as always, let us know what you think.

We’re really excited about this new feature and curious to see where you take it.   There have been some interesting, recent blog posts on the changing nature of the web, and how social ties manifested through platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Digg increasingly allow users to discover great content they otherwise wouldn’t find.

These platforms can drive traffic to content sites differently than traditional search can.    With this new feature, we’ve essentially made our content easier than ever for you to include in the conversation going on amongst Facebook’s 200+ million plus users.  (So don’t be shy, now.)

Please note, that you will have complete control of if and when we publish comments made on our sites to your Facebook profile — we ask you twice on a per comment basis to make sure before we share any information with your Facebook friends, so feel free to comment away knowing we’ll only share exactly what you want us to.

This is also just the start for us — we’ll be rolling out additional functionality building on this new feature shortly.  (We could tell you now, but then we’d have to…).

Have a look, give it a try on some of our sites, and spread the word.

Now, you can find daily headlines from TheCarConnection.com, GreenCarReports.com and AllAboutPrius.com in the HuffPo environment.  Examples from today’s stories are here, here and here respectively.

We are doing our best to make it hard for you to avoid us on the web.  Previous syndication deals include:  Yahoo!, Glam Media, Oodle, the San Francisco Chronicle plus our recent deals with NBC and AutoTrader.

Given the demand for our content on the web, High Gear Media makes for a great place to write about cars and get real exposure.  If you are interested in writing on one of our 38 web sites, drop us a line.

“NBC Digital Networks creates opportunities for marketers to connect directly with niche audiences in their sweet spot,” said Devin Johnson, VP, NBC Digital Networks. “We chose to partner with High Gear Media because their innovative approach to creating relevant and rich content enables us to support the growth and expansion of NBC Digital Networks’ brand and assets.”

High Gear Media is the first digital publishing and syndication platform that delivers relevant automotive content targeted at consumers’ interests and lifestyle. The company operates 38 automotive properties, including TheCarConnection.com, GreenCarReports.com, MustangBlog.com, AllCarsElectric.com and AllAboutPrius.com.

Autotrader.com users can now access High Gear Media’s unique “Bottomline” reviews where professional content is combined with a curated view of what automotive industry sources around the web are saying to create a well-rounded, easy to use review of any car.

“The media business is changing and we are the first to create a publishing model that provides contextual targeting by connecting relevant content with target audiences that have an affinity for a particular area of interest,” said Hesky Kutscher, CEO of High Gear Media. “Our partnerships with NBC Digital Networks and Autotrader.com validates that our platform provides deep access into niche sites by providing multiple entry points into horizontal and vertical content.”

About High Gear Media

High Gear Media is a next generation media company building a network of owned-and-operated websites for auto enthusiasts and consumers targeting their interests and lifestyle. Its first website, TheCarConnection.com, gathers the automotive reviews and articles from around the web and adds its expert editors’ analysis and advice to help car buyers select the right car. High Gear Media has rolled out 38 sites in the network, including GreenCarReports.com, AllAboutPrius.com, AllCarsElectric.com and LexusReports.com. Companies using High Gear Media’s automotive syndication network include Glam Media, YahooAutos, Oodle and SFChronicle.com, to name a few. High Gear Media is headquartered in Palo Alto, Calif. and received its Series A funding from Accel Partners and Greylock Partners.

CONTACT:
Kelly Cytron, CommStrat, +1-415-271-3638, Kelly@commstrat.net

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 27 /PRNewswire/ — High Gear Media, a publisher of automotive digital media sites, today launched a suite of new features designed to increase users’ ability to get the most comprehensive, relevant information for car buying decisions according to their interest or lifestyle. The content is distributed across High Gear Media’s 38 automotive websites, including TheCarConnection.com , GreenCarReports.com , AllAboutPrius.com , and AllCarsElectric.com

Key features include car videos from around the web, offering users video reviews, tours and road tests; expansion of High Gear Media and Oodle’s partnership that allows users to search Oodle’s classified listings of local vehicles for sale; and access to auto part comparison shopping of over five million part configurations from over 50 online retailers.

“We are thrilled that High Gear Media’s automotive sites have joined the Oodle network, which will provide their audience access to aggregated auto classifieds listings from more than 80,000 sites, including Oodle.com,” said Craig Donato, CEO & founder of Oodle. “This partnership allows High Gear Media to leverage the opportunity to extend classifieds in the automotive market, as well as provide their audience a rich, engaging and localized experience.”

“By combining our owned and operated sites with cutting edge technology and digital media partners, we are able to create and package contextual content and increase audience traffic that monetarily benefits our advertisers,” said Hesky Kutscher, CEO of High Gear Media. “This is why we’re always adding more content and new functionality to engage our audience and provide them with the information they desire.”

New and Expanded Features

Videos showcased by VideoSurf

Users can now watch the latest video reviews, popular video tours, and video crash test results for any model car. Powered by VideoSurf , the first computer vision search engine for videos, users can see at-a-glance what the video is about, before they click play. They can also jump to a specific moment within the video, or find related car videos from across the Web.

Aggregated Classified Car Listings Powered by Oodle

High Gear Media and Oodle , the largest network for online classifieds, are expanding their existing partnership to allow users of High Gear Media sites to search Oodle’ s classifieds to find any model car for sale locally. Car reviews by High Gear Media’s expert automotive editors are integrated into automotive ads on the Oodle Network, which provides classifieds for leading digital brands including Facebook, MySpace, Cox Interactive, Lycos and thewashingtonpost.com.

Auto Parts Shopping Comparison Engine Powered by FrugalMechanic.com

High Gear Media has partnered with FrugalMechanic.com to launch a fully-integrated auto part comparison shopping engine that includes five million auto parts from over 50 online retailers. By leveraging FrugalMechanic.com’s sophisticated auto part matching technology and search engine, TheCarConnection.com now provides its visitors with the ability to quickly and easily find the lowest price on the parts that fit their car.

About High Gear Media
High Gear Media is a next generation media company building a network of owned-and-operated websites targeting car-buying audiences by vehicle and lifestyle market segments. Its first website, TheCarConnection.com, gathers the best automotive reviews and articles from around the web and adds its expert editors’ analysis and advice to help car buyers select the right car. Other sites in the network include: GreenCarReports.com , AllAboutPrius.com , and AllCarsElectric.com .  High Gear Media is based in Palo Alto, Calif. and received its Series A funding from Accel Partners and Greylock Partners.

Instead of piloting big, bulky SUVs, though, car shoppers are increasingly turning to crossover vehicles. At this week’s New York Auto Show, crossover vehicles are being introduced by the major automakers–luxury brands included–and according to the automotive experts at TheCarConnection.com, this may signal a clear move from the SUV to the lighter, more versatile Crossover.

“Crossover vehicles have essentially replaced big SUVs in the minds of many shoppers,” said TheCarConnection.com’s executive editor, Marty Padgett. “They frequently have better fuel economy, more carlike handling and extra entertainment oriented features. The car companies are responding to consumer demand and rolling out these new, more user-friendly utility vehicles with the features they like.”

The car experts at TheCarConnection.com, the flagship reviews site at High Gear Media–report that even at GM and Chrysler, the financial crisis hasn’t stopped introductions of two critically important new crossovers. The most important new crossovers on display in New York this week include:

2010 BMW X5 M and X6 M

BMW’s American-made “sport-activity vehicles” get a major injection of horsepower thanks to the automaker’s M division. Both the upright X5 and the sleeker, coupe like X6 get a twin-turbo V-8 with 555 horsepower and a price tag likely soaring past $75,000–but either one’s still cheaper than the Porsche Cayenne Turbo.

2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid

Mercedes already sells a greener ML-Class with a diesel engine; now the German automaker launches a hybrid version of its gas-engined ML-Class, giving consumers the rare choice of either green machine.

2010 Kia Sorento

Kia’s mainstream SUV once took on the Ford Explorer; the new version has become more of a big wagon, with less emphasis on off-roading and more emphasis on seven-passenger seating and all-weather safety.

2010 Acura ZDX

Like BMW, Acura’s taking its mainstream ute and spinning a sexier version from it. In this case, the Acura MDX gets a four-seat silhouette to become the 2010 ZDX. Front- and all-wheel drive versions are expected.

2010 GMC Terrain

The Chevrolet Equinox was previewed in GM’s federal-loan filing. Now, the GMC brand gets a creased-and-folded twin with its own edgy styling and choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Four-cylinder and six-cylinder engines promise best-in-class fuel economy.

2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The latest version of Jeep’s venerable sport-ute surfaces this week after being leaked in Chrysler’s federal loan filings. The new version’s now a cousin of the Mercedes-Benz ML-Class; even though Chrysler and Mercedes are going their separate ways, the Grand Cherokee now shares some pieces with the former Benz ML, though it has its own new fuel-efficient 3.6-liter V-6 underhood. All-wheel drive and a V-8 engine are options.

About TheCarConnection.com and High Gear Media

TheCarConnection.com is the flagship site of Palo Alto, Calif.-based High Gear Media. High Gear Media is a next-generation publisher of websites targeting car-buying audiences by vehicle and lifestyle. TheCarConnection.com’s consumer-friendly reviews gather the most respected opinions from around the web and add expert analysis and advice to help car buyers select the right car.

High Gear Media also publishes GreenCarReports.com, AllAboutPrius.com, AllCarsElectric.com, and MustangBlog.com among its 23 automotive sites.