Toluna's PanelPortal™ Has Transformative Year

WILTON, Conn., Jan. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Toluna, one of the world's leading online research respondent and technology providers announces a number of recent successful milestones for the company's proprietary 'branded community' product, PanelPortal™. 

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110208/NY43624LOGO )

The PanelPortal™ suite powers 120 clients' custom panel programs globally.  The tool enables companies to provide customers with a branded web-portal that encourages on-site interaction amongst members, in addition to quantitative research opportunities.  This powerful combination yields both qualitative and quantitative data that can lead to new insight and in-depth learning about the company's brand usage, perception, and more.

PanelPortal™ was inspired by Toluna's panelist website www.toluna.com, which enables members of Toluna's panel to post on-site polls, and interact with one and other. 

Over the course of 2011, specifically over the last 6 months, Toluna signed more than 35 new clients – and no two clients are alike, from Immediate Media, formerly known as BBC Magazines to the University of Texas Energy Poll, who are building a discussion blog around public perspectives on energy issues and posting data for customers to access. 

When asked about PanelPortal™, Tanya Andrien, Associate Director of the Energy Management and Innovation Center at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business said, "Toluna's Panel Portal™ platform is a terrific fit for UT to meet an important objective – using research to build awareness of energy issues and bring together energy experts, consumers, and policy makers - to better tackle concerns related to our global energy supply."

In many cases Toluna's PanelPortal™ is white labeled by market research companies and consultancies, as they add value by managing the community and developing research and we signed a number of new market research clients in 2011 as well.

"Agencies are able to leverage PanelPortal™ to deepen relationships with their clients, by building and managing their branded communities on their behalf and adding value by providing critical consumer insight," says Mark Simon, Managing Director, of Toluna's Technology Practice.

In addition, this year the company announced the launch of PanelPortal Connect™, which integrates PanelPortal™ software within the Facebook platform.  This enables companies to create a 'branded community' within Facebook turning Facebook fans and followers into members and obtaining their valuable feedback.

"PanelPortal™ is a unique product.  It brings Facebook pages to life, and helps users monetize their fan base.  The tool enables companies to extract valuable insights from brand users in a new and exciting ways and provides participants with a relevant and enjoyable experience with the brand.  I've seen customers do interesting things with PanelPortal™ and think outside-of-the box about what is possible," says Simon.  Mark goes on to mention "the ability to 'listen' is so important.  I have had clients tell me that they've uncovered behaviors, key drivers and new insight they would not have known, or obtained via any other research methodology."

During the fourth quarter, Toluna announced that PanelPortal™ clients would have access to data in TolunaAnalytics™ the company's proprietary, web-based data analytics tool.

The company has a number of exciting features and new releases planned over the course of 2012.  Stay tuned.

About Us
Toluna enables organizations to generate valuable customer insight by combining its online market research panel and industry leading technology. Toluna provides a comprehensive proven, scalable solution that enables companies to answer questions of their target audience quickly and efficiently.

Toluna leverages a unique approach to respondent recruitment and engagement with its online 'community' and proprietary respondent engagement methodologies and guarantees that the data clients receive is of the highest quality. 

Further, Toluna provides the industry's leading technology suite, enabling hundreds of market research organizations and agencies worldwide to create surveys manage panels and build online communities.  Toluna's products include PanelPortal™, PanelPortal Connect™, AutomateSurvey™, QuickSurveys™.

Toluna has offices in the US, Canada, UK, France (headquarters), The Netherlands, Romania, Germany, India, Australia, Japan and Hong Kong.

Contact:
Jennifer  Mancusi
203-846-5750
[email protected]

SOURCE Toluna