CHARLESTOWN NAVY YARD, BOSTON, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Eons.com(TM), the social network for spirited adults lovin' life on the flip side of 50, today celebrates its first year as the market innovator and leader in introducing Web 2.0 communities, tools and resources specifically to boomers who are passionate about their health, their relationships, their travel and leisure and living the biggest life possible.
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"Eons defined the market for online social networks for 50-plus when it launched last summer," said Jeff Taylor, founder and CEO of Eons. "More than 5.5 million people have visited Eons in the past year, and the growth in that time to more than 560,000 profiles and nearly 2,500 Eons communities sends a message loud and clear that online social networking isn't just for kids. Boomers are loving life online, and Eons is the center of gravity for everything 50-plus."
According to Web analytics company Compete, Inc., if compared to the top 50 most-trafficked Web sites by 50-plus people, eons.com would rank No. 3 in the amount of time these people spend on the site in a single visit.
"The amount of time that Web visitors spend on Eons tells marketers that baby boomers are drawn to the Web 2.0 offerings and communities that Eons has aggregated," said Don McLagan, CEO of Compete, an Eons partner. "Eons visitors aren't merely touching the site, they are immersing themselves in discussions and in online relationships, and that's a powerful message to marketers who are eager to reach this affluent population."
The most popular Eons communities, each with thousands of active members, draw a clear picture of the sort of discussions and relationships boomers want online, including 50+ Singles; Hippies for Life; Six Degrees of Separation (Make New Friends); and Bookaholics.
"Boomers are busting the myths about life after 50," Taylor said. "They are as active and as hungry for satisfying relationships as ever, and their meet- ups on Eons sometimes move offline into the real world, further cementing the value of their Eons connections in their everyday lives. Boomers have always changed the world around them in their own way, and prime time Eons is gaining momentum as boomers are spending more time connecting online."
Eons celebrated a number of milestones in its first year that positioned it as the clear market leader in boomer online social networking, including:
Growth funding: Eons raised $22 million in Series B financing led by Charles River Ventures, with participation from new investors Intel Capital and Humana Inc., as well as existing investors General Catalyst Partners and Sequoia Capital. The financing, which followed a $10 million Series A round, fuels Eons' accelerating growth.
Corporate partnerships: Partnerships with Fidelity Investments and CVS/pharmacy bolstered Eons' roster of marketing partnerships that includes Humana, Verizon Wireless, Harrah's Entertainment and Liberty Mutual Group.
Boomer Research: Eons released the results of its first annual Eons Sex & Intimacy Survey, forming a portrait of a generation that is as interested as ever about sex. It also released the Eons Boomer Campaign Track, a 50-plus survey of the political motivations of the most politically energized generation in America. It released the results of its inaugural Eons Boomer Fitness Survey of the fitness attitudes and behaviors of the most physically active and healthy generation in history. Finally, it released the State of Longevity report based on data collected from more than 450,000 adults over the age of 50 who completed Eons' proprietary 50+ Longevity Calculator. For full details, visit http://www.eons.com/about/eons#research.
Politics microsite: Eons created the Eons Campaign Central destination site, http://www.eons.com/election08 , to bring 2008 presidential candidates Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, Barack Obama, John McCain, John Edwards and others together in a single forum oriented around the passions and political activism of baby boomers. The campaigns created online presences and profiles of the candidates where Eons members can actively engage with them around the most important issues.
Longevity Calculator and Brain Builders: Eons introduced the proprietary 50+ Longevity Calculator, the first Web-based life expectancy calculator specifically targeting 50-plus adults, in partnership with noted longevity expert and Eons advisor Dr. Tom Perls. Eons also debuted a suite of Brain Builders that challenge members to play online games, specifically selected by Dr. Perls, to help keep Eons members' memories sharp, thought processes speedy and contribute toward longer, healthier lives. Proprietary results tracking enables players to watch their progress over time as regular engagement helps maintain, and even improve, brain function.
Experts and bloggers: Eons bolstered its roster of expert bloggers, which includes actress Jane Seymour, with the addition of Rudy Maxa -- the world- recognized expert in traveling in style for less. Maxa's travel blog joins Eons blogs by more than 20 experts, such as, "Don't Retire, Rewire!" authors and speakers Jeri Sedlar and Rick Miners; longevity expert and Eons partner Dr. Tom Perls; "Happiness Coach" Loretta LaRoche; and popular gossip maven Sherry. Other blog topics include the environment, gardening, birding, weight loss, nutrition and spirituality. Visit http://community.eons.com/microsite/experts.
"As they have through all stages of their lives, the Eons Generation is looking to connect in meaningful ways to the world around them. The Internet is quickly turning into the logical next meeting ground," explained Taylor. "Users are flocking to Eons to build relationships and interact around their passions, to learn about health and ways to live longer, to build their brain with online games and to just have fun. They are telling us in no uncertain terms that they want to use Web 2.0 tools in a distinctive way, and Eons is the place they are doing it."
About Eons(TM)
Eons, Inc., a social portal that empowers a new generation of spirited boomers through interactive content, tools and community. Founded by Jeff Taylor, creator of Monster.com, Eons has attracted a team of renowned advisors and industry-leading partners and is backed by venture capital financing from General Catalyst Partners, Sequoia Capital, Charles River Ventures and Intel Capital, as well as Humana, Inc. It is supported by corporate founding partners Humana, Inc., Fidelity, CVS, Liberty Mutual Group, Verizon Wireless and Harrah's Entertainment. Eons is headquartered in Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, Mass. For more information about Eons, visit http://www.eons.com/ and http://www.cranky.com/.
Contact:
Linda Walsh (617) 227-0012, ext. 263
lwalsh@thecastlegrp.com
The Castle Group, Inc.
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