Company Overview

A Global Ad-Supported Web Services Company

AOL is a leading global ad-supported Web company, with a comprehensive display advertising network in the U.S., a suite of popular Web brands and products, and a leading social media network.

The company’s strategy focuses on growing the size, engagement and monetization of its worldwide audience by providing highly relevant content and advertising to consumers across the Web. AOL’s business is centered on Platform-A, Publishing and People Networks. In addition, AOL continues to run one of the largest Access businesses in the U.S.  

Core Statistics

Platform-A 

AOL’s Platform-A is the industry’s largest digital advertising platform in the U.S., offering a comprehensive suite of marketing solutions, powered by some of the Web’s best advertising technologies. Platform-A – which includes the AOL Network and Advertising.com’s third-party display network -- reached more than 90% of domestic online consumers in Q1 2009, according to comScore Media Metrix.

Platform-A also includes TACODA’s audience insights and behavioral targeting; Quigo, a site- and content-targeting solution; ADTECH, an international digital ad serving business; Third Screen Media, a mobile ad serving network; and buy.at, an affiliate marketing solution.

In 2008, Platform-A expanded to several European countries and launched several new advertiser and publisher products, including PubAccess, a self-service tool that makes it easy for small publishers to join the Advertising.com network and Spot Marketplace, which lets advertisers bid on unsold ad inventory across the Platform-A network. In the first half of 2009, it plans to launch BidPlace, a self-service bidded marketplace for advertisers.

Publishing

AOL's network of Web properties and products attracted an average of 106 million unique visitors per month during the quarter ending March 31, 2009, according to comScore Media Metrix.

To extend reach and engagement, AOL has taken a number of steps. Its new AOL.com homepage lets consumers access both e-mail and social networking sites from other providers. AOL also relaunched all its key vertical sites (News, Sports, Money & Finance, Living, AOL Television, Moviefone, etc.) as well as its commerce channels (including Shopping, Autos and Real Estate), most of which have seen strong growth in unique visitors and page views since the relaunches. The company also has introduced many new sites targeted at specific audiences. Among them are: Asylum, which is targeted at men, Switched.com, which covers technology, a style site called StyleList, ParentDish for parents, and a personal finance site called WalletPop.

In addition, AOL has upgraded its product suite, including a new AOL Webmail product that lets users check e-mail from Yahoo! e-mail accounts, the new AOL Desktop software, a new AOL Radio, which includes 150 local CBS RADIO stations, as well as several popular applications for the Apple iPhone 3G, including AIM, AOL Radio and Truveo video search. AOL continued to help make the Internet safer for children, launching the SafetyClicks.com website, which provides news and information for parents about online safety, and a new version of its Parental Control tools, which now works with any e-mail address.

People Networks

In May 2008, AOL acquired Bebo, a global social media network that now forms the centerpiece of AOL’s new People Networks business unit. People Networks, comprised of Bebo, AIM, ICQ and AOL’s other community properties, reaches about 89 million users worldwide, according to the October 2008 comScore Media Metrix report.

Since its founding in 2005, Bebo has been a pioneer in the social media space. Its Open Media platform lets global media companies promote, distribute and monetize their programming, and its Engagement Marketing program serves as a way for brands to build lasting relationships with Bebo’s global community.

AIM continued to upgrade its product, with the launch of a Web-based version, called AIM Express, that doesn’t require a software download, a new version of AIM for the Mac, and new mobile versions of the product, including the popular AIM application for the iPhone.

Global Expansion

As part of its international growth plans, AOL expanded its reach, and now has a Web presence 38 countries. In addition, AOL has launched several of its sites, including Asylum, Engadget, Autoblog and Truveo, internationally.