Brand Thunder Nets Deal with NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers for a Team-Branded Internet Browser by Patrick Murphy

COLUMBUS (March 4, 2009) — Brand Thunder LLC (http://www.brandthunder.com), the branded browser specialists, announced today an agreement with the Cleveland Cavaliers to bring the first NBA custom browser to Cavaliers fans.

Cavaliers fans will enjoy an Internet experience where the browser is immersed in the look, feel and content of Cavaliers basketball. The customization is delivered through a small download, called a Boom, and since it becomes part of the browser it stays with the user regardless of the website being visited. Once installed, fans will be able to switch seamlessly between a version featuring the colors, logo and news from the Cavaliers team, or one that includes elements of CavFanatic.com, the team’s official social network site.

“We’ve had a record breaking season in many areas, both on and off the court. Our websites are no different. Just like so many fans like to wear our colors and logos on clothing and decorate their walls at the office and at home, Brand Thunder has created a way for our fans to now outfit their web browsers too.’” said Jeff Lillibridge, Director of Web Services of the Cleveland Cavaliers. “Our work with Brand Thunder will help us connect with our fans in a fun and convenient way whenever they are online. Bring on the Boom!”

“It’s hard to find another team that has as much energy around it as the Cavaliers,” said Patrick Murphy, founder and CEO of Brand Thunder. “This is a great way for the team to stay connected to those fans. And being an Ohio-based company, we’re thrilled the Cavs will have the first NBA Boom.”

Booms are lightweight active customizations that can include themes, toolbars, sidebars and other content or functionality. Users can dynamically switch between Booms without restarting their browser.

About Brand Thunder:

Formed in April 2007, Brand Thunder creates a more persistent presence between corporate brands and their Internet consumer through its branded-browser customization, which leads to increased website visits and revenue. Through a software installation, end users change the look and feel of their Internet browser into an immersive experience from their favorite sports team, entertainment franchise or internet site. The customized browsers feature official logos, colors, content and functionality, but can also extend capabilities including video, music players or other Internet widgets. Current business partners and clients include the Huffington Post, Major League Soccer, NASCAR, NCAA, NHL, Starpulse.com, Universal Music and Yahoo!. Samples found at http://brandthunder.com/gallery/.

Posted in Press Releases | Tags: firefox, Mozilla, NBA, themes | No Comments »

Compelling Data and a Call for Lead Generation by Patrick Murphy

It’s been a little over a year since we launched our first custom browser theme for the NHL’s Washington Capitals. That tenure has given us a solid data pool from which to compile our first case study, which will be made available via our website as a lead generation tool. (For our blog readers, you can secure yours now simply by giving us your name, title, company, phone number and email address on our Contact Us page – as close to free as you can get, but yes, you’ll hear from us for a short follow up). Note: The commercial portion of this blog post has now ended.

We don’t want to give away all the facts that are found in the case study, but one that we’re proud of is we doubled the penetration of Firefox usage on the Capitals web site. OK, we’ll give Firefox its due since it saw 40% growth over that period of time (growing from 16% to 19% over the time frame analyzed). Even giving Firefox credit for a 40% lift, that still leaves 60% that looks an awful lot like Brand Thunder contribution.

While Firefox penetration is not the goal of our program, what it indicates is a user’s willingness to overcome the hurdle of acquiring another browser to get the Capitals custom browser theme and that a compelling product can reach beyond the boundaries of your site and reach a new user. It also demonstrates a growing audience that has a persistent online connection with the Capitals. And that ongoing connection to the fan is the goal.

Posted in Commentary | Tags: capitals, firefox, nhl, themes | No Comments »

Removing Ego for the Benefit of our Company by Patrick Murphy

How often does your ego get in the way because you say to yourself “I can do it all”? The ego has its role. It probably inspired a lot of entrepreneurial ventures because you believe you can do “it” better. But, does it also give you free reign to do what’s right for the business?

As a start up, we have some notion that we simply can’t do it all and one aspect of that is reaching all client prospects as rapidly as we’d like. So, to broaden Brand Thunder’s business development, we’ve talked with a number of agencies since they’re already representing brand marketers and are used to pitching emerging media opportunities. Coolfire Media offered all that, plus brought an added dimension. Their existing interactive division provided the technical expertise to allow them to extend the browser functionality beyond the portfolio of offerings Brand Thunder currently provides.

This distribution strategy really required setting the ego aside. Aren’t interactive agencies and Brand Thunder both in the business of providing creative, technical solutions to brand marketers? But, there is no one true path for creativity or execution. Each company will offer its own strengths and perspectives. And, that’s why we pursued this path.

We are also confident in platform we’ve created for custom browsers. This gives a company, like Coolfire Media, the foundation against which to develop while still giving them the functional creativity to add more than visual appeal to a browser. They don’t have to recreate the wheel, they just have to enhance the vehicle. And, together we hope to sell more cars (or custom browsers actually, wanted to clarify in case the metaphorical ramblings were getting too vague).

To see the range of Coolfire’s work, go to www.coolfiremedia.com. To see our current client executions, visit www.brandthunder.com/media. To see the press release of the agreement, click here.

Posted in News | Tags: advertising, agency, browser, extensions, firefox, themes | No Comments »

Treat Them Right – Giving More to Your Most-Valued Consumer by Patrick Murphy

Brand Thunder launches its browser customization for Universal Music Nashville’s Sugarland concurrently with the duo’s Deluxe Fan Edition CD (the standard CD will release a week later). This bonus version is similar in value proposition to a custom browser.

The Deluxe Fan Edition offers additional tracks, more detail in the CD booklet, exclusive downloads and a chance to win a VIP package to the CMA Awards and hang out with the band. This CD bundle goes farther, does more and gives bonuses to the more avid fan. Sugarland is creating a deeper connection with that fan by providing them more insight and access to themselves.

Brand Thunder’s custom browsers also create an opportunity to engage and create a deeper, longer-lasting relationship with your audience. With Sugarland’s browser, fans can watch video right in the browser’s sidebar, stream music for free, receive exclusive news feeds and are never more than a click away from the band. It provides more to that consumer willing to go the extra step of downloading the browser and really connecting with the band.

You can see how it all comes together in the browser customization here.

Posted in News | Tags: browser, firefox, nashville, sugarland universal music, themes | 1 Comment »

Brand Thunder attending MozCamp in Vancouver by Patrick Murphy

Brand Thunder, among some other big names in the Mozilla Development Community, will be attending MozCamp Vancouver on April 13.

Brand Thunder focuses on helping spread the word of Mozilla as a platform for various partners to showcase their brand. Unlike other development platforms, Mozilla allows brands to fully visualize their image to the end user across all major platforms.

Please see the official Release from Shane Caraveo below for info on MozCamp:

Shane Caraveo: MozCamp at OpenWeb Vancouver

Posted in News | Tags: branding, browser, custom, firefox, marketing, moz, mozcamp, skins, themes | No Comments »

Geffen Records artist NLT and Brand Thunder Unveil Themed Browser by Patrick Murphy

Brand Thunder Inc (http://www.brandthunder.com) announces the first use of its innovative browser tool within the music industry via their client Geffen Records and artist NLT.

NLT is the first musical group with their own customized web browser (http://www.nltmusic.com). “Brand Thunder’s customized theme helps fans show their love for NLT while keeping them informed about the latest NLT news,” says Aaron Foreman, head of New Media for Geffen. “We are extremely pleased for NLT to be the first musical artist to have their own customized browser.”

Internet marketers are scrambling to find ways of keeping visitors riveted to their web sites. By customizing the web browser with an entertainment theme, marketers can keep the attention of fans, even as they navigate away from the brand’s main page. “In a web marketplace where users expect personalization, our unique themes facilitate that and something far more valuable: a persistent channel of communication from businesses to consumers,” explains Patrick Murphy, CEO of Brand Thunder. “We integrate the brand into the browser, so businesses extend their reach regardless of where their customers or fans wander on the internet.”

Nearly every aspect of the browser was customized to reflect NLTs’ music, brand and web presence. After fans install NLTs’ custom theme on the popular Firefox browser, the otherwise generic browser is transformed into a branded arena that puts the fans right in the show. The boys from NLT flood the screen and browser navigation features are transformed with fun new transparent elements. Directly beneath are permanent links to NLT photos and iTunes so fans can download the latest tracks. In addition to driving traffic to NLTs’ website, the browser theme also includes a real-time news ticker so fans can stay on top of the latest NLT news. Such a display seamlessly integrates the traditional use of a web browser with revenue generating links and tools.

The advantages of a themed browser are manifold. “It extends the brand using a fresh, innovative and effective channel,” says CEO Patrick Murphy. “Themes offer passionate users another avenue to display their affinity while facilitating more frequent and focused communication to consumers.”

Brand Thunder is the brainchild of interactive marketing expert Patrick Murphy. His marketing channel development experience spans several well-recognized brands including Netscape, Verizon, Swiss Re, Conseco and JP Morgan Chase / Bank One.

Posted in News | Tags: branding, browser, custom, firefox, geffen, marketing, music, nlt, pop, skins, themes, universal music | No Comments »