Paul Werth adding social media expertise through Huber acquisition

Source: Business First

Bryan Huber’s 1,100 Twitter followers got a cryptic tweet March 1.

“It’s been a ‘fundamental change’ day,” Huber wrote.

For the executive and seven workers at Huber & Co., the day brought one of the biggest changes – his social media marketing agency was bought out and became a division of the public relations and marketing company Paul Werth Associates.

There will be fundamental change for both agencies. For Huber & Co., the deal means an expanded client base and a move from the Arena District to Capitol Square. For Paul Werth, the acquisition adds much-needed new media and search engine optimization expertise that clients are demanding, said CEO Sandra Harbrecht.

“It’s become increasingly clear that clients are looking for a complete and integrated array of marketing and communications,” she said. “This rounds out our services at time when the Internet is offering up a whole new array of customers.”

Terms were not disclosed, but Harbrecht said the deal will add clients such as Nationwide Realty Investors Ltd. and the Columbus Marathon, and should help the agency increase its revenue from about $5.7 million from public relations work last year. Neither executive would disclose Huber & Co.’s annual revenue. Huber does not join Paul Werth as an equity partner, but he has signed a three-year contract to be the agency’s chief digital officer.

“I’m envisioning that this is how the future of marketing and communications is going to work – a more integrated approach,” Huber said, noting Paul Werth’s PR, research, advertising and added new media capabilities.

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