SEOmoz and GetListed join forces

SEATTLE, Wash., Dec. 4, 2012 – SEOmoz, the industry’s most popular provider of search engine and social optimization software, today announced its acquisition of Portland-based software company GetListed.org through a not-quite-anonymous ransom letter mailed from an undisclosed postal drop box located near downtown Seattle. GetListed’s acquisition for around $3 million in cash and stock should come as no surprise to industry folk since SEOmoz CEO, co-founder, and noted vigilante beardo Rand Fishkin declared an acquiring and hiring spree following Moz's funding MEMEnouncement in May 2012.

“Small businesses don't always know where local data is hiding,” Fishkin said from behind the lapel of his trenchcoat in the MozPlex’s shadowy sub-basement parking lot. “They don't understand why customers can't find their information on the web or on their smartphones. GetListed puts power in the hands of local businesses—they make data essential to inbound marketing channels easily accessible. We’re absolutely thrilled to fight the menace of data obfuscation at their side.”

Since its launch in 2009, GetListed.org has helped over 2 million local, small businesses take control of their online presence. Much like the Mozzers, the team at GetListed.org advocates for search engine optimization best practices that lead to sustained, long-term visibility and traffic for small businesses. This acquisition brings GetListed.org’s local SEO tools and top talent to Moz, including founder and CEO, David Mihm, and CTO Chris Tanger.

As part of the acquisition, SEOmoz and GetListed.org released the following local signage–themed ultimatum:

Obscure, faceless Internet tubes reportedly trembled as they scanned the reverse-ransom note, but were literally incapable of commenting.

"Our goal is to make it easy for small businesses to understand how customers are seeing them on the internet,” said Mihm, an internationally recognized local search marketing consultant and the other half of this new dynamic duo. “There's no reason every mom-and-pop can't harness the superpower of inbound marketing to outperform their bigger, wealthier, but ultimately slower competitors.”

GetListed.org will continue to operate in its current capacity for the time being, with plans for an integrated local marketing product from Moz expected in the first half of 2013. LocalU, the events organization partnered with GetListed, will continue as an independent operation. The addition of GetListed’s software capabilities, expertise, and reach is expected to widen Moz’s industry by an order of magnitude—making their software and resources accessible for everyone from agencies and consultants to small business owners who are just learning about SEO.

Said Fishkin, in an embarrassingly bad Scottish accent: “They can take our addresses, zip codes, and EINs. But they’ll never take our freedom! ... Freedom to do effective local marketing on the web and in apps, that is.”

For a more in-depth narrative on the GetListed acquisition, please visit Rand’s blog post. Scottish accent omitted.

SEOmoz would like to thank the following local Seattle and Portland businesses, whose logos they appropriated to compose their ransom note: Ace Hotel , Beast, Beecher's Handmade Cheese, Bishop's Barber Shops, Brave Horse Tavern, Bunk Sandwiches, Caffé D'arte, Caffé Vita Coffee Roasting Co., Caffe Ladro, Cherry Street Coffee, Courier Coffee Roasters, Delicatus, Deschutes Brewery, Dick’s Drive-In, Elephant Car Wash, Espresso Vivace, Evo, Fran’s Chocolates, Grand Central Bakery, Homegrown, Julia's, Kell's Pub, Kenny & Zuke's, Lola's, McMenamins,Mississippi Studios, Molly Moon's Ice Cream, Neptune Coffee, Odd Fellows, Ox, Pike Place Market, Podnah's Pit, Pok Pok Thai, Powell's Books, Quinn's Pub, Red Light Vintage & Costume, Red Mill Burger, Rogue Ales, Rudy's Barbershop, Salt and Straw, Scarecrow Video, Schnitzer Concert Hall, Serious Pie, Skillet Street Food, Snowboard Connection, Spirit of 77, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Tasty N Sons, The Crab Pot, The Nines, The Pink Door, Voodoo Doughnut

About SEOmoz

SEOmoz is the industry’s most popular provider of search engine and social optimization software, easy-to-use tools and tutorials enabling businesses of all sizes to grow their traffic in the areas where people search most. The company is powered by a passionate group of Mozzers who aspire to provide pioneering technology that empowers users to leverage the reach of the Internet - increasing visibility through organic search and social media marketing. The software’s API capabilities connect the Mozscape web index with web-based campaign applications, Open Site Explorer and dozens of additional third party offerings – helping brands gain greater mindshare easily and effectively. With a mission focused on education as well as technical innovation, SEOmoz hosts a powerful community of contributors and marketers united in bringing beneficial, user-oriented content to the top of the page.

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