ReachLocal, Inc. (ReachLocal), a divisions of Gannett,[2] was a provider of digital marketing solutions to businesses in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. ReachLocal now operates as LocaliQ in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.[3][4]
History
ReachLocal was founded in 2003 by Zorik Gordon, Nathan Hanks, Michael Kline, Robert Wright, John Mazur, and Robert "Rick" Spitz.[citation needed]
ReachLocal's first product[when?] was a search engine advertising service[5] called ReachSearch. This technology places businesses’ advertisements on multiple search engines, including Google, Yahoo! and Bing.[6] ReachLocal has since introduced a range of digital marketing products, including ReachEdge, its lead conversion software.[7]
In 2010, ReachLocal launched its initial public offering (IPO).[8] Before the company's IPO, ReachLocal was venture-backed by VantagePoint Venture Partners, Rho Ventures and Galleon Special Opportunities Partners Fund LP.[9]
In February 2011, ReachLocal acquired DealOn, a local deals company for approximately $10 million. [10]
In April of 2014, ReachLocal appointed Sharon Rowlands as chief executive officer and member of its board of directors, replacing interim CEO David Carlick.[11]
In June of 2016, the company was acquired by Gannett for about $156 million.[12]
In January 2019, Gannett named Kevin Gentzel, who became the media company's first chief revenue officer in 2015, as president of USA TODAY Network Marketing Solutions,[13] when Sharon Rowlands was appointed the CEO of Web.com.[14]
In February of 2023, ReachLocal became LocaliQ in the United States and Canada.[15]
Staff and clients
As of March 2017[update], ReachLocal had over 1,300 employees across 68 offices[16] located in the United States, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Austria, India, Belgium, and Japan.[17] As of February 2016[update], the company had more than 17,000 active clients.[18]
Services
In addition to search engine marketing, ReachLocal provides other online marketing services. In 2005, the company launched ReachSearch, a search engine advertising product designed to attract more leads from consumers. The product achieves this by placing text advertisements on leading search engines and directories.[19]
In 2009, ReachLocal introduced ReachDisplay, an online display advertising service that places banner advertisements on premium websites. The following year, the company built ReachCast, a web marketing service, and launched a site retargeting product called ReachRemarketing in 2011.[20]
ReachRetargeting was launched in 2012, followed by the launch of the website and lead management system ReachEdge in 2013.[21] In 2014, ReachLocal introduced a search engine optimization service, ReachSEO.[5] In 2015, ReachLocal launched ReachListings, for local listings management.[22] In 2016, ReachLocal launched ReachSocial Ads,[23] Facebook advertising, and enhanced their SEO product, ReachSEO.[24]
Technology
The company has developed various technologies to assist their clients in publishing their campaigns and tracking, optimizing and reporting results for a variety of their services.[25] In September 2012, the company released the first ReachLocal mobile application, which provides real-time lead notifications and reports to their clients,[26] followed by the ReachEdge app in 2013.[27][28]
ReachEdge, the company's marketing automation platform released in 2013, provides clients with a list of leads, sources, actions needed, performance and reports. The platform consists of a website, lead management software and the aforementioned mobile application.[28]
In February 2014, ReachLocal released LigerMobile, an open source framework that assists in the development of hybrid apps.[28][29]
