Powered Acquires Three Leading Social Media Companies to Help Brands Fully Capitalize on the Benefits of Their Social Media Initiatives

News Facts

• Powered announced today that it is launching a full-service social media agency through the acquisition of industry leaders crayon, Drillteam and StepChange. Powered is now positioned to help brands and their agencies define and deliver cohesive social media strategies that integrate with their traditional marketing mix. Leveraging tools and tactics such as Facebook, Twitter, blogger outreach, events, communities and mobile applications, the new organization will help marketers navigate the entire social media spectrum.
• Until now, brands had to assemble a collection of providers to fulfill their diverse social media needs. This resulted in brands piecing together tools and tactics without guidance on how to integrate and leverage these efforts. Brands will continue to evolve their approach to social media from tactical implementations to integrated strategies. They will want to partner with a single source for strategy, expert execution, and technology to meet their business objectives. Powered meets these needs by providing complete end-to-end services and technologies to help marketers engage their customers and prospects in ongoing conversations across all social touch points.
• Marketers can now benefit from Powered's unrivaled offering of integrated strategy and development capabilities to support earned media, Facebook and mobile applications, content marketing and branded communities. Powered's data-driven approach ensures that its clients fully realize the ROI generated by their social programs and provides a mechanism to continually optimize those initiatives.
• Powered and its new subsidiaries have a shared vision that social media initiatives should and can drive tangible business results. The agency's client roster now includes over 60 global brands. Every day, millions of people connect with their favorite brands using Powered solutions. Marketers who engage with Powered will be able to integrate all their social media initiatives, leverage best practices from leading social media practitioners, streamline vendor management, and lower overhead costs.

Powered's Expanded Social Portfolio

• Crayon brings extensive experience as a strategic social marketing consultancy. They work with Fortune 1000 brands to develop strategies that positively impact customer relationships through the integration of continuous online conversations into traditional marketing programs. Crayon President Joseph Jaffe and his entire team will join Powered's robust staff of marketers, content creators and social media leaders, with crayon and Powered immediately merging their capabilities.
• Drillteam is an engagement marketing agency specializing in earned media.  Drillteam helps brands acquire and energize customer advocates, then sustain momentum through both offline events and online communities, and promotions on platforms like Facebook, niche blogs and Twitter.  Drillteam will retain its name and operate as a Powered company.
• StepChange enhances a brand's reach by extending presence into social networks and mobile platforms through Facebook development/applications, social site development, mobile/applications and Widget Ads. StepChange will retain its name and operate as a Powered company.
• Powered's online branded community and content marketing practices will be enhanced by the addition of the marketing and social media expertise of the other three companies. Powered will extend its community strategy, technology, analytics, and content capabilities to integrate more tightly with all areas of social media. The company will also extend its content marketing services to drive engagement and enhanced user experiences across all our social program offerings.

Quotes

• "We selected these three companies as partners in our new social media agency because we have a shared vision that social initiatives should help brands drive increased sales from new and existing customers. That mindset is ingrained in the DNA of all four companies and is evident in the success of the programs we have in market. Our capabilities are highly complementary and allow us to provide a full suite of services to global brands. Through our collective programs we have generated billions of dollars in incremental revenue for our customers. We are committed to continue to build on that success."
  Ken Nicolson, CEO, Powered, Inc.
• "If there's any debate as to whether the market needs a dedicated, comprehensive and skilled social media agency, I believe Powered will  demonstrate this acute and mission-critical need, value and impact first-hand and in doing so, lead by example.  In my role as Chief Interruptor, my sole purpose will be to challenge the brand marketing community and industry at large that when it comes to better connecting with their lifeforce AKA their customers and the communities they serve, there should be no compromise. The time for mediocrity, diluted efforts and half-hearted attempts is over."
  Joseph Jaffe, Chief Interrupter, Powered, Inc.
• "Drillteam Marketing is very excited by the potential of this new venture. Social media is a commitment to constant, continuous learning, and we believe we can now provide our clients with additional brainpower, and front line experience with the most innovative marketing solutions."
  Steve Kleinberg, President, Drillteam Marketing
• "StepChange's experience building social applications for brands and agencies has convinced us that social media marketing is most effective when it's integrated with clients' other marketing properties and programs. We are delighted to be teaming up with experts in the complementary areas of social strategy, community and activation - and to be able to offer our clients and agency partners a broader range of services."
  Kevin Tate, President, StepChange Group

About Powered

Powered is a full-service social media agency that helps brands and their agencies establish a meaningful brand presence across the social media spectrum. Powered builds and executes social media programs utilizing a full suite of services and technologies to address earned media, Facebook and mobile applications, content marketing, and branded communities. Over 60 global brands rely on Powered for results-oriented social marketing programs that drive sales and build brand loyalty. Every day, millions of consumers connect with their favorite brands using Powered solutions. Powered and its new subsidiaries crayon, Drillteam, and StepChange maintain offices in Austin, New York, Portland, and San Francisco. For more information please visit www.powered.com.