Trendum Buys BuzzMetrics in Word-of-mouth Strategy

Trendum, the Herzliya-based innovator in Internet search and linguistic analysis technologies, announced yesterday that it had acquired BuzzMetrics, a high-tech firm specializing in online word-of-mouth research. In so doing it hopes to create the global standard to measure and analyze consumer buzz.

The company will do business as BuzzMetrics and have the strategic backing of VNU, owner of research brands such as ACNielsen and Nielsen Media Research. The new BuzzMetrics hopes to build on Trendum's advanced technology, while leveraging VNU's global sales, marketing and research capabilities. BuzzMetrics will aim to take advantage of the rapid rise of consumer content and social media, prevalent with blogs, message boards, social networks, product feedback sites and other forms.

"We're excited to bring together Trendum and BuzzMetrics," said Trendum chair Itzhak Fisher, "and to have the strategic support of VNU." Fisher, who will also serve the same position at BuzzMetrics, added, "This is a positive development that will benefit clients and advance an important, burgeoning industry."

BuzzMetrics President and CEO Jonathan Caron expects that "the company will draw upon the assets of an extraordinary triumvirate, including BuzzMetrics' market leadership and client services, Trendum's revolutionary media mining technologies and VNU's strategic backing."

The new company's client roster includes more than 75 Fortune 1,000 corporations in a variety of industries, including HP, Comcast, General Motors, Mazda, HBO, CNN, AOL and Estee Lauder.