Search Engine Journal

iCrossing announced today that they will be acquiring Spannerworks, a UK based search engine marketing firm, for $18 million.

Spannerworks is a 10 year old SEM company and is quite popular in the UK.

I was talking with an SEO from the UK last month and they were telling me how the agency landscape was behind the US in terms of offerings, social media, link baiting, customer service and keeping up to date.

I found this interesting as some of the best SEO’s I have met or read about hail from the UK, but these people are individuals and not agencies.

In fact, the SEO told me that they would not be surprised to see more and more US based companies enter the UK market. Looks like that is beginning to happen.

More information on iCrossing & Spannerworks from MediaPost:

In addition to search engine marketing and optimization, Spannerworks maintains a marketing practice around social networking. Similar to buzz monitoring companies, Spannerworks offers a “social media audit,” which tells companies how their brands are perceived online, and who the key influencers are.

With the deal, iCrossing will gain its first office outside of the United States. Currently, the company maintains offices in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Dallas, San Francisco, and Scottsdale, Ariz.