Digital Trends
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Technology news, Media |
| Founded | 1 June 2006 in Lake Oswego, Oregon, United States |
| Founder | Ian Bell, Dan Gaul |
| Headquarters | Portland, Oregon , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Ian Bell (CEO), Bob Gruters (Chief Revenue Officer) |
| Products | Technology news, product reviews, how-to guides, videos, podcasts |
| Parent | Digital Trends Media Group |
| Website | digitaltrends |
Digital Trends is a technology news and lifestyle platform headquartered in Portland, Oregon, providing content such as news updates, product reviews, how-to guides, videos, and podcasts focused on consumer electronics. Managed by Digital Trends Media Group, the organization also operates Digital Trends Español, catering to Spanish-speaking readers, along with The Manual, a site dedicated to men's lifestyle topics. With offices located in Portland, New York City, Chicago, and additional cities, the company serves a wide-ranging audience of technology enthusiasts.
The website features coverage on diverse tech categories including smartphones, gaming consoles, laptops, desktop computers, accessories, televisions, home entertainment systems, cameras, and tablets. As reported by SimilarWeb, Digital Trends attracted more than 40 million visits each month as of mid-2018.
Between 2014 and 2021, Jeremy Kaplan served as Editor-in-Chief under the leadership of co-founders Ian Bell (CEO) and Dan Gaul. Kaplan stepped down in May 2021, with Andrew Martonik stepping in as interim editor-in-chief.
History
Ian Bell and Dan Gaul launched Digital Trends in June 2006 in Lake Oswego, Oregon. In May 2009, the company moved its main office to the US Bancorp Tower located in Downtown Portland, Oregon, and established a second location in New York City by 2012. Digital Trends continues to operate as a privately held entity. In December 2014, the company introduced Digital Trends en Español, aimed at Spanish-speaking audiences worldwide and led by Editor-in-Chief Juan Garcia alongside News Editor Milenka Pena, an Emmy Award nominee.
The platform experienced significant expansion, doubling its audience in September 2015 to surpass 24 million unique global visitors and over 13 million within the United States. Currently, Digital Trends reaches roughly 30 million monthly readers with more than 100 million page views.
In 2015, Digital Trends broadened its awards program to include international events such as Mobile World Congress and IFA Berlin. It also launched new accolades like Car of the Year and Smart Home awards to emphasize growth in these sectors. Additionally, the company unveiled DT Design, an internal creative advertising agency focused on branded content and impactful advertising campaigns.
In 2016, reports emerged about a possible $120 million acquisition by Condé Nast, with Digital Trends anticipating $30 million in revenue and $6 million in profit for that year; however, CEO Bell denied any ongoing negotiations while acknowledging occasional interest from potential buyers. Industry analysts placed Digital Trends alongside prominent tech media outlets such as Purch, CNET, and The Verge. In 2018, Bob Gruters, formerly of Facebook, joined as Chief Revenue Officer to strengthen the company’s strategic leadership team.
During 2020, following employee concerns over past workplace issues that highlighted cultural challenges within the organization, CEO Ian Bell publicly opposed cancel culture. That same year saw Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall join the board of directors to enhance governance amid increased scrutiny.
By 2021, Digital Trends had developed an advertising approach driven by data analytics using intent-based audience segmentation. The company also formed a partnership with Valnet—the parent company of Screen Rant—to broaden its market presence and pool resources for reaching larger news audiences.
See also
External links
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- Articles with short description
- American companies founded in 2001
- Technology news websites in the United States
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- American companies established in 2001