Pink Banana Media Offers a Hand in Marketing

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. - What does one do for fun and income after selling an enormously successful gay news and entertainment ezine like GayWired? Matthew Skallerud jumped into marketing and promotions with his new company Pink Banana Media.

According to Skallerud, the new company will assist its clients in effectively placing their product and services in front of the gay and lesbian community through social networking, marketing and advertising. Pink Banana makes liberal use of such Web 2.0 services as Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, Flickr, IGoUGo, Trip Advisor and blogs.

In order to capture the considerable buying power of the gay community - which in 2008 will spend approximately $712 billion, according to Witech-Combs Communications - Pink Banana Media employs not only Web 2.0 marketing, but also traditional marketing, including banner advertising and email marketing. The company matches products to the online gay community by targeting specific regions and themes such as travel and sports, for example, Skallerud said.

"So much of a company's marketing dollars are being channeled more and more online," said Skallerud, who founded GayWired in May 1995. "To work with a company that is seen as cutting-edge and visionary and one that can help navigate them in this space ahead of their competitors seems to be very compelling in today's marketplace."

The company already is working with Falcon Entertainment, Skallerud told GAYVN.com, as well as NYC & Company (New York City's tourism department), Rivendell Media, Interactive Male, Community Marketing and the Las Vegas Gay Days and Nights event, among others.