Clickable

Based in New York City, Clickable is an online advertising management platform that provides tools for marketers to manage search and social media campaigns across multiple networks. Founded in 2006 by chief executive officer David Kidder, the company offers a unified interface that integrates directly with major channels like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and Facebook to streamline digital marketing operations. Operating primarily as a software platform provider for small and medium businesses, the enterprise reached a scale of 160 people by October 2011. The organization successfully raised a total of 34,500,000 dollars in venture capital funding across three distinct rounds from prominent investors such as Union Square Ventures, FirstMark Capital, Founders Fund, Peter Thiel, and American Express. American Express also serves as a major distribution partner by reselling the platform to its own commercial small business customers.

High-Level Overview

Clickable is a marketing technology company founded in 2006 that provides automated data collection, custom reporting, and dashboards to help agencies and brands measure marketing ROI across multiple channels.[1][3] It unifies data from social, search, CRM, email, and other tools, solving the problem of manual data wrangling by delivering actionable insights and scalable solutions tailored to business needs, primarily serving marketers overwhelmed by data volume.[1][3] The platform emphasizes human-centered analytics for sectors like automotive, enabling better visibility on revenue metrics and customer retention without cookie-cutter tools.[3]

As a subsidiary of LookSmart Ltd. since its 2013 acquisition, Clickable focuses on long-term client partnerships via referrals rather than sales tactics, adapting to evolving digital landscapes with award-winning software for search and social advertising.[1][3]

Origin Story

Clickable was founded in 2006 to address the growing complexity of marketing data from exploding sources like social, search, and analytics tools.[1][3] It emerged as a solution for agencies and brands needing automated ROI measurement, starting with pro advertising tools and expertise in dedicated search and social campaigns.[3] A pivotal moment came in 2013 when LookSmart Ltd. (NASDAQ: LOOK) acquired it to bolster their Search Advertising Network, integrating Clickable's award-winning software into a broader ecosystem.[1] This acquisition marked its evolution from standalone analytics to a customized, scalable platform under a public parent, prioritizing relationships and innovation amid shifting digital ad challenges.[1]

(Note: Search results reference a separate 2018 acquisition by Brand Networks forming Azalea Commerce, but current operations align with LookSmart affiliation.[6])

Core Differentiators

• Custom, Scalable Solutions: Unlike one-size-fits-all platforms, Clickable builds tailored reporting and automation that adapts to business growth, integrating diverse data sources (social, search, CRM, email) for a unified view without manual spreadsheets.[1][3]
• Automation and Insights Focus: Automates data flows to free marketers from overwhelming data tasks, providing proactive, revenue-focused metrics like VIN retention reports for automotive clients to boost margins and retention.[3]
• Relationship-Driven Model: Relies on referrals and deep partnerships over aggressive sales, fostering trust and long-term value in a transaction-heavy industry.[1]
• Proven Adaptability: Award-winning tools evolved over 20 years for search/social advertising, handling complex data in dynamic landscapes as a LookSmart subsidiary.[1][3]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Clickable rides the trend of marketing data explosion, where multichannel campaigns generate overwhelming volumes that hinder decision-making, positioning it as a key enabler in the martech stack.[1][3] Timing favors it amid rising demand for automated, integrated analytics post-privacy changes and ad platform shifts, helping brands consolidate insights from fragmented sources like social and CRM. Market forces such as AI-driven personalization and ROI scrutiny amplify its value, influencing the ecosystem by empowering agencies to scale without design/data expertise, indirectly supporting ad tech evolution.[1][3]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Clickable's emphasis on custom automation positions it to capitalize on AI-enhanced martech integrations and real-time analytics demands, potentially expanding into emerging channels like connected TV or regulated e-commerce if trends align.[1][3] Upcoming shifts toward privacy-first data and predictive insights will shape its trajectory, with its LookSmart backing enabling further innovation in shopper-centric tools. Its influence may grow by deepening automotive and agency partnerships, evolving from data unifier to full marketing intelligence leader—reinforcing its core promise of smarter decisions over spreadsheets.[1][3]