ReachLocal

ReachLocal is a digital marketing services business founded in 2003 to help small and medium-sized local companies attract and convert customers through online channels. Its original offering, ReachSearch, placed paid search advertisements across major search engines and directories, including Google, Yahoo, and Bing. The company subsequently broadened its scope from search advertising into a portfolio of managed marketing services and software intended to cover the customer-acquisition process from media buying to lead follow-up. The company introduced ReachDisplay for banner advertising on premium websites, ReachCast for broader web marketing, and several forms of retargeting, including ReachRemarketing and ReachRetargeting. It also developed ReachEdge, a website, lead-management, reporting, and marketing-automation platform designed to help local businesses identify incoming leads, understand their sources, monitor actions, and improve conversion performance. Other services included search-engine optimization through ReachSEO, local listings management through ReachListings, and social advertising through ReachSocial Ads. ReachLocal combined technology development with a managed-service model. Its systems were intended to publish campaigns, track leads, optimize spending, and present performance reports to clients that might not have had dedicated digital-marketing staff. The company released mobile applications for campaign and lead monitoring, including an initial client application in 2012 and a ReachEdge application in 2013. In 2014 it also released LigerMobile, an open-source framework for developing hybrid mobile applications. ReachLocal was venture-backed before becoming a public company in 2010, with financing from investors including VantagePoint Venture Partners, Rho Ventures, and Galleon Special Opportunities Partners Fund. It acquired local-deals company DealOn in 2011 for approximately $10 million. Sharon Rowlands became chief executive officer in 2014, replacing interim chief executive David Carlick. Gannett acquired ReachLocal in June 2016 for approximately $156 million, bringing the business into the newspaper and media company's broader marketing-solutions activities. The business expanded internationally, and by March 2017 it reported more than 1,300 employees across 68 offices. It had more than 17,000 active clients as of February 2016. Following Gannett's broader development of its marketing-services operations, the ReachLocal business adopted the LocaliQ name in the United States and Canada in February 2023. The Wikipedia subject therefore represents the former ReachLocal business and its continuing LocaliQ-branded operations rather than an independent, standalone public company. Its market position is centered on making digital advertising, local search visibility, lead management, and performance measurement accessible to small and medium-sized businesses.

ReachLocal was established in 2003 by Zorik Gordon, Nathan Hanks, Michael Kline, Robert Wright, John Mazur, and Robert “Rick” Spitz. The company was created around the practical problem of helping local businesses use internet advertising without having to build their own marketing departments or acquire specialist expertise. Its first major product was ReachSearch, launched in 2005. The service managed paid text advertising across leading search engines and directories, with the objective of producing measurable inquiries and customer leads. From this initial search-focused proposition, ReachLocal expanded into adjacent areas of online marketing. ReachDisplay added banner advertising on premium websites, while ReachCast provided broader web-marketing capabilities. The company introduced ReachRemarketing in 2011 and ReachRetargeting in 2012, extending its ability to reconnect with people who had previously visited a customer's website or interacted with an advertisement. In 2013, it launched ReachEdge, a platform that combined a website, lead-management functions, reporting, and marketing automation. ReachEdge was intended to connect advertising activity with the subsequent handling and conversion of leads, rather than treating media exposure as the only measure of campaign success. ReachLocal continued to add services for local visibility and customer acquisition. ReachSEO was introduced in 2014 to support search-engine optimization. ReachListings, launched in 2015, addressed the management of business information across local listings. In 2016, the company added ReachSocial Ads, including Facebook advertising capabilities, and enhanced its SEO offering. The product portfolio consequently covered paid search, display, retargeting, websites, organic search, local listings, social media, lead management, and reporting. Technology was an important part of the company's operating model. ReachLocal developed systems for campaign publication, lead tracking, optimization, and client reporting. It released its first mobile application for clients in September 2012, providing real-time lead notifications and reports. The ReachEdge mobile application followed in 2013, allowing customers to monitor leads and marketing performance away from a desktop. In February 2014, ReachLocal released LigerMobile, an open-source framework intended to support the development of hybrid mobile applications. The company received venture financing from VantagePoint Venture Partners, Rho Ventures, and Galleon Special Opportunities Partners Fund LP before completing an initial public offering in 2010. Its corporate development included the February 2011 acquisition of DealOn, a local-deals company, for approximately $10 million. In April 2014, Sharon Rowlands was appointed chief executive officer and a member of the board, replacing interim CEO David Carlick. ReachLocal's scale grew beyond the United States. As of February 2016, it reported more than 17,000 active clients, and by March 2017 it had more than 1,300 employees working across 68 offices in the United States and multiple international markets, including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore, Austria, India, Belgium, and Japan. This international footprint supported its role as a provider of standardized but locally oriented marketing services. In June 2016, Gannett acquired ReachLocal for approximately $156 million. The acquisition placed ReachLocal inside a media company with an established advertising-sales network and enabled its technology and services to be used alongside Gannett's broader marketing activities. In 2019, Gannett named Kevin Gentzel president of USA TODAY Network Marketing Solutions, while Rowlands became chief executive of Web.com. In February 2023, the ReachLocal business adopted the LocaliQ name in the United States and Canada. ReachLocal is therefore best understood as the historical name and product lineage of an operating marketing-services business that continues within Gannett's LocaliQ organization.

• 2023

  Rebranded as LocaliQ in the United States and Canada

  [1]ReachLocalen.wikipedia.org

  The ReachLocal business adopted the LocaliQ name in the United States and Canada.

• 2016

  Acquired by Gannett

  [1]ReachLocalen.wikipedia.org

  Gannett acquired ReachLocal for approximately $156 million.

• 2011

  DealOn acquisition

  [1]ReachLocalen.wikipedia.org

  ReachLocal acquired DealOn for approximately $10 million.

• 2010

  Initial public offering

  [1]ReachLocalen.wikipedia.org

  ReachLocal completed an IPO after receiving venture backing.

• 2005

  ReachSearch introduced

  [1]ReachLocalen.wikipedia.org

  ReachLocal launched its search advertising service for placing local-business advertisements across major search engines and directories.

• 2003

  ReachLocal founded

  [1]ReachLocalen.wikipedia.org

  The company was founded by Zorik Gordon, Nathan Hanks, Michael Kline, Robert Wright, John Mazur, and Robert “Rick” Spitz.

A managed digital-marketing and marketing-technology provider for local businesses, combining advertising execution, local search visibility, lead tracking, conversion tools, and performance reporting.

• Search-engine advertising · 2005

  ReachSearch

  ReachSearch was ReachLocal's original major product, launched in 2005. It managed paid text advertising for local businesses across leading search engines and directories, including Google, Yahoo, and Bing. Its purpose was to attract prospective customers and generate trackable leads through search intent.

• Display advertising · 2009

  ReachDisplay

  ReachDisplay provided online banner advertising on premium websites. It extended ReachLocal's offering beyond search results and allowed local businesses to use visual advertising placements to build awareness and reach prospective customers across publisher sites.

• Web marketing · 2010

  ReachCast

  ReachCast was a web-marketing service introduced as ReachLocal broadened its business beyond paid search. It formed part of the company's managed-services portfolio for helping local companies establish and promote an online presence.

• Remarketing · 2011

  ReachRemarketing

  ReachRemarketing was a site-retargeting product launched to help advertisers reconnect with users who had previously visited a website or encountered a campaign. It gave local businesses an additional way to pursue prospects beyond their initial interaction.

• Retargeting · 2012

  ReachRetargeting

  ReachRetargeting expanded ReachLocal's retargeting capabilities and was designed to support follow-up advertising to audiences with prior exposure to a business's online presence.

• Lead management and marketing automation · 2013

  ReachEdge

  ReachEdge was a marketing-automation and lead-management platform launched in 2013. It combined a website, lead records, source attribution, recommended actions, performance information, reports, and a mobile application. The platform was designed to connect digital advertising with the operational work of responding to and converting leads.

• Search-engine optimization · 2014

  ReachSEO

  ReachSEO provided search-engine optimization services for local businesses. It complemented paid search by helping clients improve organic search visibility and the discoverability of their websites and business information.

• Local listings management · 2015

  ReachListings

  ReachListings addressed the management of local business listings. The service was intended to help businesses maintain consistent information across online directories and other local-search destinations.

• Social media advertising · 2016

  ReachSocial Ads

  ReachSocial Ads expanded the portfolio into paid social media, including Facebook advertising. It allowed local businesses to add social campaigns to their search, display, SEO, and listings activities.

• Integrated digital marketing services · 2023

  LocaliQ

  LocaliQ is the later operating brand used for the former ReachLocal business in the United States and Canada. It represents the continuation of ReachLocal's integrated services for local advertising, customer acquisition, lead management, and marketing performance.

• 2023

  Transition to the LocaliQ brandStrategy

  Background

  Following its integration into Gannett's marketing-services organization, the former ReachLocal business was operated as part of a broader marketing brand.

  Action taken

  The business adopted the LocaliQ name in the United States and Canada.

  Aftermath

  ReachLocal became primarily a historical brand and product identity, while LocaliQ became the operating name in those markets.

  Source

• 2016

  Gannett acquisitionM&A

  Background

  ReachLocal had developed a broad digital-marketing platform and an international client and office network, while Gannett was expanding its marketing-solutions activities.

  Action taken

  Gannett acquired ReachLocal for approximately $156 million.

  Aftermath

  ReachLocal became part of Gannett's marketing-solutions operations rather than continuing as an independent publicly traded company.

  Acquisition price. Approximately $156 million (June 2016)

  Source

• 2011

  Acquisition of DealOnM&A

  Background

  ReachLocal was expanding its local-business marketing portfolio beyond search advertising and pursued a local-deals company.

  Action taken

  It acquired DealOn for approximately $10 million.

  Aftermath

  The transaction added a local-deals capability to ReachLocal's broader local-commerce and marketing activities.

  Acquisition price. Approximately $10 million (February 2011)

  Source

1. 1ReachLocalen.wikipedia.org