PR and marketing

Next Digital acquires award-winning Asian digital agency FutureLab Asia as part of regional Asian expansion drive

Catriona Pollard - Thursday, February 09, 2012
One of Australia’s leading digital marketing agencies, Next Digital, has successfully acquired South East Asian digital marketing agency, FutureLab Asia.  With an ideas led approach and focus on social media, FutureLab Asia was identified as a natural fit for Next Digital to continue its growth strategy in Asia.

FutureLab Asia’s social media strategy skills will be integrated into Next Digital’s service offering across its three Australian offices and its three Asian offices in Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai and Singapore.  

The acquisition will strengthen Next Digital’s ability to create sophisticated social strategies for its clients in addition to the core digital strategy, creative, web, ecommerce, mobile and digital marketing services it offers.

“Next Digital undertook extensive research into digital marketing businesses in the ASEAN region and found FutureLab Asia to be a great business, with world class talent and services that really complement what we already offer,” says Andrew Burke, Chief Executive Officer for Next Digital.

“This acquisition will enable Next Digital to improve the way we deliver on the social media needs of our clients, and reinforces our focus on becoming a creative leader in Australia and the wider region.”

FutureLab Asia has a comprehensive portfolio of clients including well known brands such as Maxis, Johnson & Johnson, AirAsia and 7-Eleven.

“Their idea processes, creative thinking and ability to execute amazing and award-winning campaigns will add that extra level of firepower to Next Digital,” explains Mr Burke. “Acquiring FutureLab Asia is a key step in our growth strategy and follows our continued strong growth in China.”

The founders of FutureLab Asia, Janet Teo and Vic Sithasanan, will be joining Next Digital, and heading up two separate locations in South East Asia: Janet Teo is CEO of Next Digital Kuala Lumpur and Vic Sithasanan is CEO of Next Digital Singapore.

“We are exceptionally proud to have these two talented and passionate professionals driving the Next Digital business in the ASEAN region,” states Mr Burke.

With over 15 years experience with global brands they will be the driving force behind Next Digital in South East Asia.

“Next Digital is developing a strong network across the region, has great talent across its offices and focuses on developing exceptional work. We are all really excited to be part of this vibrant company and feel a close kinship because we share similar values,” adds Mr Sithasanan.

“Being part of Next Digital brings huge benefits to our current clients as we expand our digital offering in the Asian market, and provides us with the scale to compete with global agencies.”   

Effective today, FutureLab Asia will be rebranded as Next Digital.

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About Next Digital
Next Digital is a leader in creating successful digital strategies for clients throughout the Asia Pacific region.  They combine exceptional marketing thinking, regional understanding and technical firepower to develop and deliver broad digital programs.

Their love for all things digital has been going strong for more than 16 years. That journey has helped them hone their delivery and engagement approach, and has shaped how they innovate and keep in front of a fast changing digital space.

Next Digital is a true full service digital agency with over 170 talented digital specialists working throughout offices in Brisbane, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. www.nextdigital.com
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Media Release: HotelClub.com appoints First Rate to its SEO account

Catriona Pollard - Friday, January 29, 2010
Online marketing agency, First Rate has been appointed to assist with HotelClub.com’s search engine optimisation (SEO) program. HotelClub.com is one of the world’s leading accommodation websites.

First Rate won the company’s SEO account after a competitive bid process, involving several other agencies.

The veteran online marketing agency, which has 40 staff and offices in Sydney and Auckland, has already begun SEO on the HotelClub.com website, generating significant increases to the company’s natural search engine rankings.

Tom Skotidas, head of marketing at First Rate said, “We are excited to be working with HotelClub.com, a global leader in accommodation.” 

“Our early SEO work has already shown great results, increasing HotelClub.com’s natural rankings, traffic, and bookings.  By working closely with their inhouse SEO team, First Rate is helping to ensure that HotelClub.com continues to dominate the global accommodation category,” said Mr Skotidas.

HotelClub Head of SEO Andrew Rodrigues said: “We selected First Rate on the basis of their knowledge and expertise in the online marketing and SEO arenas.”

“We feel that they truly take our best interests to heart and give their all to maximise our online performance and make us successful,” said Mr Rodrigues.

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HotelClub is a global accommodation specialist operating the following websites: HotelClub.com - bookings up to 12 months in advance and RatesToGo.com – bookings up to 28 days in advance. 

HotelClub offers users the choice of over 60,000 hotels in over 130 countries worldwide. HotelClub is available in fourteen languages – Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish and Thai. HotelClub is truly global offering its customers access through country specific websites.

HotelClub is part of Orbitz Worldwide Inc (NSYE: OWW).

First Rate is one of Australia’s leading online marketing agencies, specialising in search engine optimisation (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), and performance online advertising.  They are recognised as leaders in developing strategies and tactics that help their clients dominate the search engines and grow their online market share.

First Rate works with many of Australia’s leading blue chip brands.  Its clients are spread over 50 industries including retail / e-tail, financial services, education, energy, travel, and CRM.

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Media Release: Ted’s Cameras Appoints First Rate to its SEO Account

Catriona Pollard - Thursday, December 10, 2009
Leading online marketing agency, First Rate has been appointed by Ted’s Cameras , Australia’s largest independently owned digital camera store chain, to manage and drive its Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) program. 

First Rate won the company’s SEO account after a fiercely-contested bid process, involving nine other agencies from Sydney and Melbourne.

The veteran online marketing agency, which has 40 staff and offices in Sydney and Auckland, has already begun SEO on the www.Teds.com.au website, producing significant increases to the company’s natural search engine rankings and online traffic.

Tom Skotidas, head of marketing at First Rate said, “We are proud to be working with Ted’s Cameras, a market leader in digital cameras in Australia. Our SEO work has already produced increases to Ted’s natural rankings, against the camera category’s most popular keywords.  We are committed to driving Ted’s Cameras to be the online leader in digital cameras.”

Jason Robertson, online marketing manager of Ted’s Cameras said, “We went through a very rigorous procedure, interviewing nine different agencies. After a long, detailed pitching process, First Rate was the clear choice for us; their transparency, communication style, and consistent results with their clients were the main reasons for appointing them. And we are now seeing the results for Teds.com.au.”

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About Ted’s Cameras 
Ted’s Camera Stores (www.teds.com.au) was established in 1970 by Ted himself. After selling the business in 1983 to the Blythe and Evans families, it grew to 22 stores around the country. After the death of Ron Evans, Ted’s is now owned by the Blythe family and has just opened its 23rd store in Northland Shopping Centre, Victoria.

Headed up by Richard Robertson, MD, the small but dedicated Head office team are ably assisted by their 250+ camera experts out in the field. In 2010, Ted’s will again be putting 100,000+ digital cameras in to the hand’s of Australian’s and printing more than 7,000,000 of their favourite pictures.

About First Rate
First Rate (www.firstrate.com.au) is one of Australia’s leading online marketing agencies, specialising in search engine optimisation (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), and performance online advertising.  They are recognised as leaders in developing strategies and tactics that help their clients dominate the search engines and grow their online market share.

First Rate works with many of Australia’s leading blue chip brands.  Its clients are spread over 50 industries including retail / e-tail, financial services, education, energy, travel, and CRM.


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