Gannett launches LOCALiQ as one-stop digital advertising shop for customers

USA TODAY NETWORK, part of Gannett Co., is launching LOCALiQ, an end-to-end digital marketing and advertising service for clients, small and large, nationwide.

Gannett, which owns USA TODAY and 109 local media properties, is now offering LOCALiQ to businesses looking to improve and solidify their digital reputations, while also providing data-supported marketing strategies across web search, social media and mobile platforms.

LOCALiQ Grader technology will bring sophisticated data intelligence tools to local businesses, helping them enhance and track their online presence – across Facebook, Google and other search and online sites – and compare it to the competition. The technology also helps deliver recommended ad marketing approaches for businesses, using data across a large client base to show what succeeds. Real-time feedback will allow for changes in strategies and will show how successful campaigns are.

"Through our company’s history, we have gained a strong understanding of local marketing and with LOCALiQ, we are bringing together all of our assets to make a real difference for local businesses,” said Sharon Rowlands, president of USA TODAY NETWORK Marketing Solutions and CEO of ReachLocal.

These enhanced online advertising and marketing tools are bundled with offline advertising solutions such as newspaper and mailers for an all-in-one solution for clients.

“USA TODAY NETWORK embodies trust and transparency in our local communities through our commitment to great journalism and our desire to deliver a robust marketing solution to businesses to help them succeed,” Rowlands said in a statement announcing LOCALiQ. “We have been on a transformative journey to be the partner businesses trust with their marketing investments."

Gannett has expanded its digital advertising marketing services over the past two years with the acquisitions of online marketing firm ReachLocal in August 2016, location and reputation management software company SweetIQ in April 2017, and cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions for local and regional campaigns company WordStream in July.

“We are a digital media and marketing solutions partner that can help businesses compete and win, and their growth is core to our mission. LOCALiQ is the platform that effectively utilizes our scale, proprietary technology, data driven solutions and informed best practices," said Kevin Gentzel, chief revenue officer for Gannett and USA TODAY NETWORK. "We are excited because LOCALiQ, and the technology powering it, will give our clients a big advantage in reaching customers in consistent and innovative ways."

Gannett's digital advertising and marketing revenue increased 8.5 percent in the second quarter of 2018 to $107.9 million, accounting for 32 percent of total advertising and marketing revenue.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.