A fast-growing digital marketing agency based in Greater Cincinnati has acquired a Georgia firm.
Helium SEO, located in Blue Ash, announced Jan. 28 its acquisition of Venture Automotive LLC, a national digital advertising group that caters to car dealers in Atlanta. It represents a new market segment for Helium and an industry that’s seeing some rapid change, Timothy Warren, Helium founder and CEO, said in a release.
For example, in response to the ongoing pandemic, car dealers are offering more online selling options and home delivery, among other services. Competition for customer attention is also higher than ever, which is “why Helium’s, and now Venture’s, digital marketing strategies and services are vital,” the company said.
“By expanding into the automotive space, we look forward to serving a new market segment with the products and services that have helped our clients in other verticals excel,” Warren said in the release.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Helium will retain all six Venture Automotive employees, who will continue to work with their existing accounts, Julie Crow, a Helium SEO spokeswoman, told me. Jerry Petrotto, CEO and founder of Venture Automotive, will stay on board as chief automotive strategy officer.
The acquisition brings Helium SEO’s employee count to 45, she said, and the company has added at least one new hire with plans to add at least two new manager positions.
A 2020 “Inno on Fire” nominee, Helium is positioned for growth, having received state tax credits to triple in size over the next three years. Helium SEO, founded in 2017, uses search engine optimization and search marketing grounded in AI and machine learning to outperform more traditional agencies. Its clients include the likes of Honeywell, Watson’s and TriHealth.
