While Google’s AdWords scheme has taken plenty of wind out of the sails of print media—and traditional directory services—here and around the world, one thing Google lacks is the sales force on the ground to sell to the small to medium enterprises that make up such a big chunk of the economy. So, to remedy that, it partners up with resellers and New Zealand-based tech company Gopher has become the third local company alongside Yellow and Localist to be named as a Google
AdWords premier SME partner.
This news comes hot
off the news of the announcement that Gopher is the first official Google
AdWords premier SME partner in Indonesia, with this partnership marking the first time a New Zealand company has ever gained an
international PSP (Premier SME Partnership) with Google.
Gopher was started in 2007 by John Campbell and BJ Sveistrup, who have been friends since childhood, and it offers small to medium-sized
businesses a comprehensive range of digital advertising packages, including online directories, social media and search, and now Google AdWords at low
fixed prices.
“Google has tough criteria, which include working with companies that
have equally ambitious growth targets combined with a thirst for true
innovation and commitment to excellence,” says Campbell, chief executive of Gopher Group. “These two new partnerships are a real vote of confidence in Gopher and
what we can deliver to our customers in New Zealand, Indonesia and beyond.
“We’re focused on using technology to help small businesses get the best return from their Google AdWords spend. It’s a key part of our mission to deliver
products that are affordable and accessible to small businesses that may not have significant marketing budgets or in-house expertise. Google AdWords has been a key growth driver for SMEs
globally and we are excited to use this to benefit New Zealand businesses and
drive economic growth and exports.”
Gopher
Group works with tens of thousands of small
businesses looking to get leads from the internet in New Zealand, Australia and
Indonesia. Optimisation experts and software engineers
combine local knowledge and proprietary technology to enable small to
medium-sized businesses to sell inside and outside their local area, as well as
export to offshore markets.
“While our roots and
natural drive to innovate are Kiwi, we’re fast becoming a force to be reckoned
with in markets as diverse as Indonesia,” Campbell says. “With our Thailand office opening soon, we are looking to expand further
through Asia. Like us, Google has
recognised that Asia is the emerging powerhouse, and those who are in on the
groundswell of growth will benefit from taking a calculated risk in an exciting
and emerging market.”
Gopher was recognised in 2010 as part of the Deloitte
Technology Fast 500, listed as the 2nd fastest growing technology company in
New Zealand, and the 20th fastest growing technology company in Asia-Pacific.
