In The News

Los Angeles Business Journal: Good Googling Seal

by Booyeon Lee

Google has given its blessing to a local Internet ad company.

Woodland Hills-based ReachLocal Inc. is a digital advertising company that helps small businesses promote themselves online. Because local plastic surgeons, lawyers and certified public accountants don't have the time, knowledge or resources to seek customers on the Web, the company takes over their advertising budget and helps them spend it online.

In that process, ReachLocal uses Google AdWords, which allows users to buy key words that are matched with search queries.

Last week, the company announced that Google has named ReachLocal as an authorized reseller of AdWords. What does this mean?

"A stamp of approval," said Chief Executive Zorik Gordon. "And it ain't easy to get that approval. We're the first nontraditional media company to get that and it's a big milestone. It says we're not just a fly-by-night operation. We have Google's blessing.

"Other than the kiss on its forehead, the company gets to sport Google's reseller logo and access technical support from a team of Google ad specialists. Other Google-authorized resellers include the Yellow Pages Group and AT&T.

The four-year-old company has about $68 million in venture funding and employs 300 people, including 50 in L.A. Other U.S. offices include locations in Dallas and Louisiana.

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