It was about to be one spicy Friday, as Searcharazzi received a call on Thursday from a recruiter looking to replace a top editor in the search space. The conversation went something like this: Recruiter: "Our client is looking to replace the top spot at [name of publication]." Searcharazzi: "I thought that role was filled a month or so ago by [name of person]?" Recruiter: "Didn’t last 2 weeks." Searcharazzi: "Are you sure?" Recruiter: "Yes, I got this job req a few weeks back." As it turns out, our friend the recruiter had been wrong, very wrong, and frantically called back to clar [...]

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UK based global advertising firm WPP has acquired the publicly traded 24/7 Real Media for a whopping $649 million. The company was previously being looked at by Microsoft (for $1 billion) according to rumor. It follows on the heels of several high-profile acquisitions, including Yahoo's intended purchase of Right Media and Google's planned acquisition of DoubleClick. On a smaller scale ad firm Interpublic bought SEM Reprise Media last month. WPP already has investments in VideoEgg, mobile search firm JumpTap and Spot Runner. [...]

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Let’s just get it out there: it appears that Zunch Communications, a Dallas-based SEM, has filed for bankruptcy. While some might call this an isolated incident, some speculative minds suggest that a correction is on the horizon for SEM agencies. Indeed, Searcharazzi is dumbfounded by the hundreds of firms that have grown and multiplied during the early years of search, which traditionally means that the environment is ripe for consolidation. Take a quick tour of any Search Engine Strategies exhibitor hall and you will get the drift. Let’s start with a tour of SEM and related acq [...]

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Many have wondered if it's a conflict for Google to keep the search marketing-focused Performics division of DoubleClick as part of Google's planned DoubleClick acquisition, since it would seem odd for Google to own a firm with an interest in helping people rank well on Google. Kris Jones of Pepperjam has the latest statement from Performics on the issue. Stuart Frankel, president of Performics, says there are no plans to change the business. The key part of his statement: We have consistently and repeatedly communicated to our clients, publishers and employees that it is business as usual [...]

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A quick heads-up and congrats to the gang at Reprise Media, which has now been acquired by global advertising company Interpublic. Reprise will remain an independent company within Interpublic, as part of the newly formed Futures Marketing Group. Reprise will be the first company to reside within FMG. Other assets there include the IPG Emerging Media Lab and investments in Facebook, Spotrunner & Spongecell. More news from the official release and Reprise blog post here. [...]

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Brand Republic reports that Bigmouth Media has merged with a German based SEM company named Global Media creating one of the largest, if not the largest, SEM companies in the world. The company is now reportedly worth £150m, which is about $300m US Dollars (I believe). The deal, set up by private equity firm Carlyle, makes it the largest independent search marketing company, with over 300 customers, including Hilton, British Airways, AOL and Barclays. Some more details at e-consultancy.com. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry | SEM Industry: Acquisitions | SEM Industry: General | SEM Industry: Outsourcing