SearchIgnite will provide First Rate, whose clients are spread over 50 industries including retail/e-tail, financial services, education, energy, travel, and software solutions, with an advanced suite of tools to manage, optimise, track and report on SEM campaigns for its clients, with features including cross-channel conversion path analysis and end-to-end automatic optimisation of creative, bids and landing pages.

Jon Ostler, founder of First Rate, says the company carried out an extensive, worldwide search for the best SEM technology available and chose SearchIgnite because of the technology’s leading bid management methodology, unique direct marketing features and proven client results.

First Rate chief executive in New Zealand, Kevin Francis, says there has been slow take up of SEM in New Zealand compared to other countries, but there is now a rapid increase in demand as the catch up begins.

“We are excited to introduce cutting edge technology into the country that many local advertisers would not normally be able to access,” he says. “Over the years, we have found advertisers that take full advantage of contemporary online marketing channels like search gain a huge competitive advantage. We expect the deployment of this technology across our New Zealand clients will extend their competitive advantage further.”

Roger Barnette, the founder of SearchIgnite, was impressed with the reputation and leadership position First Rate had built up around their search marketing services and hopes this new strategic relationship will grow that position further.