CNET Networks UK Raises the Bar for Online Publishing with Re-launch of ZDNet UK
ZDNet.co.uk leads Web 2.0 revolution with Gold Standard website- Redesigned ZDNet.co.uk is MySpace meets BBC for IT professionals
CNET Networks UK, the pioneering interactive media and marketing group, is launching a world first for web 2.0 publishing with a multimillion pound revamp for ZDNet.co.uk, the influential website regarded as the BBC of information technology.
Aimed at IT and business decision-makers the new-look ZDNet.co.uk widens the gulf between existing online publishing as it is the first B2B property to deliver on the Web 2.0 promise. ZDNet.co.uk is now a fully integrated community-focused media property, packed with award-winning journalism, technology news, reviews and analysis, cutting-edge social networking and user-generated content - a first in the B2B space.
The souped-up site marries social networking and user-generated content with multimedia business publishing. Every piece of content is easily accessible via an intuitive search facility and innovative use of tag clouds - a visual collection of links, words or tags shown in varying fonts and colours to indicate an article's frequency of use or importance.
Over 12 months, ZDNet.co.uk has re-engineered itself from the bottom up to create a must-have resource at the heart of every senior IT professional's world. With the website's massive expansion into user-generated content, commentary and discussion are linked to every story enabling members to voice opinions and share insights with their peers. All members can also create their own blogs.
The new social networking tools enable members to build their own bespoke ZDNet.co.uk space where they can create their professional biography, track other members, add people to their contacts, and 'meet' other IT professionals.
ZDNet.co.uk's London-based editorial team reports breaking news, IT issues and delivers features, interviews and reviews. At a glance, viewers can see which content is most popular and what's being talked about most. With one click every article can be commented on, rated or clipped for later reading.
CNET Networks' in-house design team has given ZDNet.co.uk a cleaner look with a wider screen, fresh layout with easier navigation and clear direct links to deeper content such as Toolkits.
Suzie Daniels, head of business media at CNET Networks UK, said: "ZDNet.co.uk pioneered online business technology publishing and we've raised the bar again. In a world first for business publishing, we've put our community at the heart of the website. ZDNet.co.uk has the largest concentration of IT business decision makers in the UK and our new cutting-edge website is a combination of 'MySpace meets the BBC'. It's 'web 2.0' in action - community-focused, high editorial values, massive audiences and multimedia strength and depth."
Matt Loney, ZDNet.co.uk site director, said: "The redesign of ZDNet.co.uk is a significant and fundamental leap in thinking for large editorially driven sites. We have moved away from 'print think' - the practice of simply posting article after article on the Web - in several respects. We have woven social networking into the fabric of the editorial to help generate much richer dialogues with our members, and help them create professional relationships with each other."
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NOTES TO EDITORS
About ZDNet.co.uk
ZDNet.co.uk is the most advanced website for UK-based technology decision makers who need complete coverage of business technology. For 10 years, ZDNet.co.uk has been delivering news, analysis and interpretation of the ever-changing IT environment and how it impacts business today. The new version of the website, launched in November 2006, leads the field in B2B publishing. ZDNet.co.uk takes the principles of web 2.0 and puts community at the heart of the website; members have complete control over their experience and have unique opportunities to voice their opinions and network with their peers.
Site StatsAccording to ABC Electronic, November 2005, ZDNet.co.uk has 2,118,578 unique users generating 10,582,249 page impressions.
About CNET Networks UK
CNET Networks UK is a part of CNET Networks Inc. (NASDAQ: CNET) a leading interactive publishing company headquartered in the US, with offices in 12 countries globally. The UK office was established in 2003. CNET Networks UK focuses on the business technology and consumer entertainment categories through five UK-focused websites: Builder UK, silicon.com, ZDNet.co.uk, CNET.co.uk and GameSpot UK. CNET Networks UK also delivers one-to-one services through its direct marketing arm CNET Direct; and events through the European Technology Forum.
