myYearbook
 |
|
| Type | Social network service |
|---|---|
| Founder(s) | Geoff Cook David Cook Catherine Cook |
| Headquarters | New Hope, PA, USA |
| Revenue | 20 million USD [1] |
| Slogan | Friends, Flirts, Fun |
| Website | myyearbook.com |
| Alexa rank |  1,731 (January 2012[update])[2] |
| Advertising | Banner ads, custom ads |
| Registration | Required |
| Available in | Portuguese |
| Launched | April 2005 |
MyYearbook is a social networking service founded in 2005.
Contents |
[edit] History
myYearbook was initially created by two high school students, David and Catherine Cook, and their older brother Geoff, during Spring Break of 2005. Catherine persuaded Geoff, who founded EssayEdge.com and ResumeEdge.com from a dorm in 1997, to invest in their project. At the launch of the site in April 2005, Dave was a junior and Catherine was a sophomore; the project was initially activated at Montgomery High School, in suburban New Jersey where they attended. The site was created entirely by developers in India.[3]
In 2008, myYearbook partnered with casual game developer Arkadium to bring Flash based games to the site. The games incorporate Lunch Money, the myYearbook virtual currency. Lunch Money earned playing games are used elsewhere on the site.
In April 2009, the site added the Meebo instant messaging client to the site in order to provide real time chat.
In November 2009, myYearbook launched Chatter, a real-time stream that incorporates media sharing and gaming to help bring members together. Games you can play inside the stream include Ask Me, Rate Me and 2 Truths and a Lie. These games incorporate mechanics that help myYearbook members meet each other. By April 2010 the site reported the Chatter feature surpassed 1 million posts per day.[4]
In January 2010, myYearbook rolled out a new site design aimed to appeal to an older demographic. Of note is the "winning" site design was chosen through crowd-sourcing its members.[5]
In May 2010, myYearbook launched an iPhone/iPod Touch and Android application designed to bring the Chatter real time feed to mobile devices.[6]
In July 2011, myYearbook announced it had agreed to be acquired by Latino social networking site Quepasa for $100 Million In Cash And Stock.[7] The purchase was finalized on November 11, 2011.[8]
In December of 2011, myYearbook launched an iPad app in an attempt to reach the quickly growing tablet market. [9]
[edit] Virtual economy
myYearbook includes a virtual economy through which members earn and spend "Lunch Money," the myYearbook virtual currency. Lunch Money enables the purchasing of gifts which members can send to each other. Lunch Money can also be donated by members to their favorite charity through the Causes application.
[edit] Revenue model
myYearbook derives its revenue from three sources - advertising, virtual-currency sales and monthly subscriptions.[10] Advertising makes up two-thirds of its revenue, with the other sources making up the rest. It has an established sales office based in New York City and Los Angeles.
In February, 2010, myYearbook reported the company ended 2009 with a $20 million dollar run rate.[1] In December 2010, myYearbook partnered with Viximo service to provide better gaming opportunities for users.[11]
[edit] Financing
In 2006, myYearbook raised $4.1 million from US Venture Partners and First Round Capital. In 2008, myYearbook raised $12.8 million dollars in a Series B round.[12]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ a b "myYearbook Revenue at $20 Million Annually and Growing". Mashable. http://mashable.com/2010/02/26/myyearbook-revenue.
- ^ "Myyearbook.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. http://www.alexa.com/siteinfo/myyearbook.com. Retrieved 2012-01-02.
- ^ Stefanie Olsen (2007-08-16). "The secrets of a teen's Internet success". cnet. http://news.cnet.com/The-secrets-of-a-teens-Internet-success/2008-1038_3-6202845.html.
- ^ "myYearbook's Chatter Reaches 1 Million Posts Per Day". Myyearbook.com. 2010-04-12. http://www.myyearbook.com/press/release27/. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "MyYearbook Rolls Out Its Crowdsourced Redesign". TechCrunch. http://techcrunch.com/2010/01/28/myyearbook-redesign/.
- ^ "myYearbook: Dating & Fun for Friends and Singles of Any Sex. Start Flirting Now for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store". Itunes.apple.com. 2010-09-07. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id372648912?mt=8. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
- ^ "MyYearbook bought by latino social network Quepasa.". TechCrunch. http://techcrunch.com/2011/07/20/facebook-for-latinos-quepasa-buys-myyearbook-for-100-million-in-cash-and-stock/.
- ^ http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/quepasa-completes-purchase-myyearbook-14929433#.TsVqn3HSpLo
- ^ December 19 2011. "myYearbook Launches iPad App." http://www.marketwatch.com/story/myyearbook-launches-ipad-app-2011-12-19
- ^ "myYearbook Forgoes Freemium, Reports Virtual Goods Success". Socialtimes. 18 August 2009. http://www.socialtimes.com/2009/08/myyearbook-forgoes-freemium-reports-virtual-goods-success/. Retrieved 10 May 2010.
- ^ http://venturebeat.com/2010/12/16/viximos-game-service-reaches-100m-users-on-dozens-of-smaller-social-networks/
- ^ "Teen Social Network myYearbook Gets $13 Million". TechCrunch. http://techcrunch.com/2008/07/29/teen-social-network-myyearbook-gets-13-million.
