Engauge Digital Wins Communicator Award for HearingPlanet

Business Wire, June 11, 2008

ATLANTA -- Engauge Digital, the Interactive Center of Excellence within the Engauge enterprise (www.engauge.com), recently took home the Award of Distinction from the Communicator Awards. The winning project - www.hearingplanet.com - is an online resource for people seeking information about hearing aids and hearing clinics across the United States, and is one of the largest and fastest growing hearing care providers with over 1,100 clinic locations throughout the country.

"Gaining a deeper understanding of our audience was the key to making HearingPlanet's redesign a success," said Bill Brownie, President of HearingPlanet. "Working with Engauge Digital, we were able to gather unique insights about the behavior and expectations of our customers, which allowed us to create the most intuitive experience possible."

The project leveraged a large amount of User Analysis, forming the foundation for the design and communication of the website. While the audience is largely represented by people 55 and older, within this group, two types of people were discovered -- those who are aware they had a hearing problem and those who are seeking information about hearing loss and if they might be affected. In addition, another important group was uncovered - those who are researching hearing loss for a friend or family member. These findings were used to create a website that communicates to each group, ultimately improving conversion on the site.

Overseen by the International Academy of the Visual Arts (IAVA), the awards recognize outstanding work, progress and the evolving nature of traditional and interactive media. This year's awards received 9,000 entries from across the US and around the world. Visit www.CommunicatorAwards.com to learn more.

About Engauge

Engauge, a marketing solutions agency founded by Halyard Capital in partnership with Stan Rapp, was formed to unite the power of digital interactive, direct marketing and brand communication. At Engauge, brilliant minds from diverse disciplines come together in a uniquely structured environment to encourage true collaboration and breakthrough results. Each entrepreneurial center of excellence at Engauge retains its core specialization and can access expertise throughout the enterprise when a holistic solution is required. Engauge's proprietary creative thinking process develops transformational ideas that change minds, revitalize brands, and improve bottom lines. Engauge's clients include Best Buy for Business, The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Depot, International Delight, Land O'Lakes, Logitech, MasterFoods USA, Perkins Restaurants, Pert Plus, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Sony, the State of Georgia, Sure, TiVo, Turner Broadcasting, UPS, and WellPoint. Its staff of 300 associates is located in Atlanta, Austin, Columbus, Orlando, and Pittsburgh. www.engauge.com. Contact Engauge Digital at 404-601-4321.

About HearingPlanet

Founded in 1999, HearingPlanet simplifies hearing care by providing easy access to an Endorsed Local Clinic for superior service, a wide selection of competitively priced hearing aids, and trained Hearing Consultants to guide patients throughout the process. With over 1,100 clinic locations throughout the United States, HearingPlanet is one of the largest and fastest growing hearing care providers in the country. www.hearingplanet.com Contact HearingPlanet at 800.432.7669.