NEW YORK, NEW YORK--(Marketwired - July 22, 2013) - Yappn Corp (OTCBB:YPPN) is pleased to announce that Yappn ( www.yappn.com ), the online multi-lingual social community where people can meet, chat, engage and consume media, has launched the first stage of its open beta program for consumers. The sponsor driven, revolutionary communications and discussion platform allows users to chat and engage with content and with other people around the world in real-time in almost 70 languages, including commercial brands and personal topics and interests. The platform brings a global dimension to content driven social media allowing brands to interact with consumers regardless of geography or language. In addition, Yappn redefines global social marketing with a unique set of stand-alone commercial tools for brands providing easy to implement and cost effective globalization solutions complimenting Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Flickr and YouTube, web, mobile, online broadcasting, private networks and event virtualization.
Beginning today, Yappn will open its beta to select groups of consumers who have signed up for a free Yappn account ( www.yappn.com ). Over the course of the next few weeks, Yappn will open access to all users who sign up for Beta access.
Unlike other social media that focuses on a user's ability to connect with friends, Yappn connects people based on their common interest and likes, creating a unified global platform for topic discussion in the user's native language with instant conversion into almost 70 languages. Users only see content in their native language, regardless of the originating language. Yappn also includes a number of gamification processes to enhance user engagement.
Yappn has already seen early stage commercial success broadcasting live events around the globe with multi-language closed captioning in real time. Recently, Yappn provided live video communication tools for online broadcasts by Good Life Networks and FOX's Red Carpet Premiere Arrivals of The Wolverine movie in London.
In addition to providing consumers and organizations with the tools to create and maintain ongoing, multi-lingual discussions, allowing all participants to "share their voice", Yappn offers commercial brands the opportunity to create unique global discussion platforms tailored to their brand offerings and messaging. Capturing a global perspective, brands can engage and market to consumers using visual, video, text and other solutions while continuing to be part of the ongoing conversation. Yappn delivers a new and innovative approach to online marketing which continues to grow at a rapid pace.
Fast Company reported in February 2013, that social media spending as a percentage of marketing budgets will more than double over the next five years, referencing a Duke University survey of 468 U.S. chief marketing officers (CMOs). Currently, CMOs surveyed spend 8.4% of their budgets on social media, but in the next five years that figure will reach 21.6%. Also reported in the article is that the business-to-consumer (product) category, which includes companies like Proctor & Gamble and The Coca-Cola Company, expects the most dramatic increase, from 9.6% to 24.6%.
A recent study by Digiday shows that U.S. advertisers plan to spend $4.1 billion this year on social media advertising as reported earlier this year by Business News Daily. The study also found that 64% of advertisers plan to spend more on social media. In the same article, Emarketer is referenced as reporting that social media still lags behind other advertising and that 45% of advertisers use social media ads to raise awareness and influence brand opinion, while only 16% use these ads to drive product trials or site visits.
6 Fresh Social Media Stats (Source: HubSpot April 30, 2013):
1) 27% of total U.S. internet time is spent on social networking sites. (Source: Experian)
2) 15% of total U.S. mobile internet time is spent on social networking sites. (Source: Experian)
3) Social media produces almost double the marketing leads of trade shows, telemarketing, direct mail, or PPC. (Source: HubSpot)
4) Social media lead conversion rates are 13% higher than the average lead conversion rate. (Source: HubSpot)
5) 21% of marketers say that social media has become more important to their company over the past six months. (Source: HubSpot)
6) Approximately 46% of online users count on social media when making a purchase decision. (Source: Nielsen)
"Yappn's approach to engagement is simple; people want to chat about things they like with people who like the same things and brands want to know who those people are and how to reach them globally," said David Lucatch Founder and CEO of Yappn. "Yappn's not about connecting with people you once knew or have a casual connection with. It's all about discussions, passions and opinions. Yappn provides a focused and effective approach and the tools allowing consumers, experts, brands and others to meet, chat, engage and consume in an environment that is absolutely global - making it the next step in the evolution of social media."
Consumers are encouraged to sign up for their free Yappn account and beta program and can learn more about the platform at www.yappn.com .
Brands are encouraged to send a request for more information to info@yappn.com
Like the Yappn Facebook page and follow Yappn on Twitter: @YappnCorp.
About Yappn
Yappn ( www.yappn.com ) is a place where people can meet, chat, engage and consume content, individually, in groups and by topic, regardless of the language they speak. By removing the language barrier, the entire world opens up to an entirely new paradigm of communication.
Yappn redefines global social marketing by also providing a set of stand-alone commercial tools for brands providing easy to implement and cost effective globalization solutions complimenting Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Flickr and YouTube, web, mobile, online broadcasting, private networks and event virtualization.
Intertainment Media Inc. (TSX VENTURE:INT) (OTCQX:ITMTF) (FRANKFURT:I4T) has a controlling interest in Yappn Corp.
Yappn Corp is publicly in the US on the OTCBB - symbol "YPPN"
Forward Looking Information
Legal Notice and Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, and those preceded by or that include the words "believes," "expects," "given," "targets," "intends," "anticipates," "plans," "projects," "forecasts" or similar expressions, are "forward-looking statements." Although Yappn Corp.'s management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with the SEC including the Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 3, 2013 and each subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Current Report on Form 8-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update any of the information contained or referenced in this press release.
