Former WebEx Marketing Chief and Genius.com CEO Launches MarketingGenius Blog

Author and marketing leader, David Thompson, offers practical marketing know-how for success during an economic downturn

San Mateo, Calif., October 17, 2008 - Genius.com Incorporated®, the leading on-demand provider of B-to-B marketing solutions for sales and marketing professionals, today launched the MarketingGenius blog, authored by Silicon Valley marketing guru, David Thompson. In the blog, Thompson will call upon the marketing acumen gained through his years of experience at such notable companies as Genentech and WebEx and through the rise and fall of the initial dot com era. In the blog, Thompson will offer lessons learned and insight and advice to marketers dealing with the economic crisis. The blog can read at: http://www.genius.com/marketinggeniusblog.

"I’ve been through the trials and tribulations of marketing through the upturns and downturns of Silicon Valley and the broader market. I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t and can share action plans for responding to economic trends that have occurred repeatedly. And, one of the most important things I've learned is how much we can learn from each other – how important it is to listen to and discuss ideas with others in the same situation. The MarketingGenius blog is a perfect forum to offer advice and inspire discussion and action."

For nearly two decades Thompson has been at the forefront of major trends in the software industry. He has delivered pioneering software applications, launched the leading on-demand software service, and developed marketing campaigns recognized across the industry for their innovation and effectiveness.

Currently Thompson is CEO of Genius.com, the leading on-demand provider of B-to-B marketing solutions that require no IT. He has also co-authored the popular book, Sales 2.0 For Dummies, which provides tips and reviews technologies that sales and marketers can use to speed up their sales cycles.

Thompson started Genius after his tenure at WebEx Communications, where he served from 1998 through late 2004 as vice president of marketing and then chief marketing officer. While at WebEx, Thompson shipped award-winning web conferencing products that reinvigorated the category, named the company, and directed legendary marketing campaigns that vaulted WebEx to #1 in on-demand software.

Thompson is heralded for creating the legendary "Meetings are a Drag" campaign that featured the green and blue bedecked drag queen, RuPaul, who touted the benefits of online meetings in front of millions of Super Bowl television viewers. The campaign was a breakthrough for its unconventionality as well as its placement and reach; and has been much-emulated ever since. Thompson also architected WebEx’s industry-leading "Sales 2.0" lead-generation system, integrating innovative email and web marketing technologies to drive a large volume and velocity of sales leads. By 2004, WebEx had acquired more than 12,000 customers and generated $250M in revenues with posted operating margins of 20 percent.

In addition to his success at WebEx, Thompson is a veteran of Silicon Valley and has held various senior management positions in products, technical strategy and marketing for such notable companies as Quarterdeck, Microsoft, Genentech, Pacific Bell, and his first startup, StarNine Technologies.

About Genius.com
Genius.com Incorporated creator of SalesGenius® and MarketingGenius®, is the leading on-demand provider of B-to-B marketing solutions that enable frontline professionals to quickly identify and connect with their best prospects, without IT. Genius solutions instantly deliver personalized email campaign and website visit results to both Marketing and Sales, dramatically improving lead generation and qualification.

Genius.com is a Sales 2.0 leader, with over 500 corporate customers using Genius.com's unique technology to automate email marketing and lead generation campaigns that deliver the most qualified leads directly to frontline Sales reps, so they can immediately qualify and follow-up on their best opportunities. Genius.com is a privately held company, funded by Accel Partners, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Emergence Capital and Walden International, with headquarters in San Mateo, CA. For more information visit www.genius.com or email info@genius.com.