IRVINE, Calif., Jan 23, 2009 -- Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), a leading Internet marketing services company, today announced that Tim Nelson has been named as Vice President, Websites. Nelson, who is named as an inventor on patents for two automotive Internet products developed during his time at Autobytel, returns from Kelley Blue Book, where, as Senior Vice President of KBB.com, he was responsible for the overall strategy of one of the Web's most visited automotive research and ecommerce sites.
At Autobytel, Nelson is charged with driving the further development of the company's family of popular automotive websites, focusing on improvements to both the consumer experience and the company's traffic acquisition strategies in order to attract even greater numbers of high-quality, in-market automotive consumers.
"We are very pleased that Tim, one of the inventors of the automotive Internet, is rejoining Autobytel," said Autobytel President and CEO Jeffrey Coats. "Tim and Zane Rathwick, our newly named VP of IT Development, are a formidable team who have been instrumental in the management and development of two of the automotive industry's most successful automotive websites. Their ongoing record of innovation is responsible for attracting literally hundreds of millions of automotive consumers and generating tens of millions of automotive leads."
During his previous eight year tenure at Autobytel, Nelson was responsible for developing core website technologies and infrastructures for autobytel.com as the website rose to prominence as the leading automotive research and purchasing website and one of the most recognized brands on the Internet. This technology resulted in two patents and much of it is still in use by Autobytel today.
"I am very excited to return to Autobytel to join a management team that not only is focusing on the core values that led to Autobytel's greatest successes, but that is engaged in encouraging the sort of smart innovation that directly addresses the automotive industry's current landscape," said Nelson. "Having had a front seat at the birth - and ongoing evolution - of the automotive Internet, I remain firmly convinced that its continued development offers some of the best and most efficient marketing opportunities for the industry, while providing car-shoppers and buyers in the new economy with their best options for a positive consumer experience.
Nelson originally joined Autobytel in September 1997 and was responsible for the company's family of consumer websites, including flagship site autobytel.com, as well as for market research, usability, content and tool development, website design, and other related activities. He also managed the natural and paid search engine marketing for Autobytel's website properties, contributing $11 million in annual revenue. Among his many accomplishments at Autobytel were bringing core trailblazing website content and tools to market, including dealer pricing, reviews, photos, videos, recalls, rebates, comparison tools, configuration tools, "My Garage" personalized websites, and the first free, online automotive reliability database.
Continuing his focus on driving the development of best-in-class, consumer friendly web tools and high quality traffic acquisition programs for the automotive Internet, Nelson joined KBB in January 2006 where he launched the online marketing group responsible for traffic acquisition and retention, including natural search engine optimization and paid search marketing. He also brought core automotive content to KBB.com such as 360deg vehicle views, online video reviews, consumer reviews, new car resale values, a personalized "My KBB" section, and a Find-a-Dealer interactive map tool.
"Tim's long and successful record of website management leadership, his key role in driving the evolution of the automotive Internet during his tenures at both Autobytel and Kelley Blue book, and his instincts for creative innovation in the automotive vertical, will serve Autobytel well as we continue our renewed focus on leveraging our rich web assets to provide automotive consumers with a top notch online experience and dealers and automakers with the industry's highest quality leads and traffic," concluded Coats.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL) is an Internet automotive marketing services company that helps dealers and manufacturers sell cars and related products and services. The company owns and operates several consumer-facing automotive websites, including Autobytel.com(R), AutoSite.com(R), Autoweb.com(R), Car.comsm, CarSmart.com(R), CarTV.com(R) and MyRide.com(R). By providing a convenient and comprehensive automotive consumer experience across the purchase and ownership lifecycle, Autobytel seeks to provide dealerships with opportunities to connect with a steady, diverse stream of motivated, serious shoppers, while providing manufacturers with precision-targeted brand and product advertising opportunities. In addition to its websites, the company generates leads and advertising opportunities for dealers and automakers through its marketing network, which includes the AutoReach ad network, co-brands, such as ESPN.com, and marketing affiliates such as AOL, Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book.