Hearst Corporation’s LocalEdge Selects VendAsta Technologies to Provide Reputation Management to Small and Medium Businesses

LocalEdge, a Hearst Media Services Company to launch reputation management as part of it’s digital product offering.

Saskatoon, SK (PRWEB) March 21, 2011

Vendasta Technologies and LocalEdge™ today announce a partnership to provide reputation management to LocalEdge’s broad customer base nationwide.

VendAsta’s reputation management solution allows small and medium businesses to monitor online mentions of their business in social networks, rating and review sites, manage online visibility and learn how they compare to their competition. As well, reputation management allows a business to conveniently engage consumers on multiple social networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin, from one dashboard. Together with tracking and engagement tools, a small and medium businesses (SMBs) can measure the ROI of their social media efforts.

“Social media, and in particular user reviews, have dramatically impacted the importance and rate of change of reputation,” says VendAsta’s CEO Brendan King. “SMB’s understand that user generated content defines how potential customers perceive them and that each review, comment or checkin is seen by a disproportionately large number of consumers. Businesses have always managed their reputation. What they do has not changed, but how they do it has. SMB’s are actively seeking tools to monitor their reputation and engage consumers with a view to enhance their online reputation.”

Hearst’s LocalEdge serves a customer base providing a broad suite of online marketing solutions including search engine marketing, search engine optimization, social media management, online video, email and text marketing, online display ads through behavioral targeting, and e-commerce to thousands of small and medium size businesses nationwide.

“With 70% of Americans consulting product reviews or consumer ratings before making a purchase, VendAsta’s Reputation Management is a very important addition to the analytics we are offering our advertiser’s,” says Jeff Folckemer, President & CEO of LocalEdge and a SVP of Hearst Newspapers. “As local and mobile search and social platforms have merged as today’s premier consumer information source, businesses need this quality of intelligence to help navigate the increasingly complex multi-media world.”

About Vendasta
VendAsta Technologies, based in Saskatoon, Canada, develops white label software solutions for publishers in the yellow pages and newpaper industries as well as interactive agencies. VendAsta’s offerings include white label platforms for reputation management and group buying / daily deal. The company was founded in January, 2008. For more information, visit http://www.vendasta.com.

About LocalEdgeTM
LocalEdgeTM, a Hearst Media Services Company, is a premier multi-media company leading the transition to web-based advertising for any size business. LocalEdgeTM has been in business for over 40 years and services thousands of customers nationwide.

Through the development of proprietary technology and partnerships with major search engines, social network sites and other leading tech-focused companies, LocalEdgeTM offers a full line of digital marketing products that help its customers reach and interact with today’s consumer. Learn more at http://www.LocalEdge.com.

About Hearst
Hearst Corporation is one of the nation’s largest diversified media companies. Its major interests include ownership of 15 daily and 38 weekly newspapers, including the Houston Chronicle, San Francisco Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, and Albany Times Union; more than 200 magazines around the world, including Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and O, The Oprah Magazine; 29 television stations, which reach a combined 18% of U.S. viewers; ownership in leading cable networks, including Lifetime, A&E, History and ESPN; as well as business publishing including a minority joint venture interest in Fitch Ratings; Internet and marketing services businesses, television production, newspaper features distribution and real estate. Learn more at http://www.Hearst.com.

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