History

From being established in Arjo Ghosh's home office in 1997, through to Spannerworks' acquisition by digital marketing company iCrossing in 2007, we've always focused on search and different ways of looking at marketing in digital.

Prior to Google's launch, and by recognising that the phenomenal growth of the internet would lead to search becoming its natural gateway for consumers, we embarked on a mission to connect consumers with brands by pushing digital to the heart of all marketing.

Here’s our story so far...

  • 1997 – based out of a home office in Brighton, Arjo recognises how difficult it is to find brands on the web and set out to make companies more visible in search. Spannerworks, one of the UK's first search marketing companies, is launched. First stop AltaVista.
  • 1998 – the dotcom bubble is firmly underway. Internet access is growing and companies are discovering online. Spannerworks set its sights on tracking customers from banners to websites, to help measure the success of 'eyeballs' to sales.
  • 1999 – it’s all about portals, making a sticky environment and tempting customers to click on ads. Then up pops Google – the Spannerworks team – all five of us - love it.
  • 2000 – Spannerworks creates NetworkSense Tracking, a search campaign measurement tool. Google launches Adwords, but you pay per impression, not on click-through. The dotcom bubble bursts. Our performance marketing model goes from strength-to-strength.
  • 2001 - We establish ourselves with big company account wins and improvements in our innovative toolset.
  • 2002 - Spannerworks moves to new premises to cope with growing numbers, as they re-engineer site after site in search-friendly architecture. Google Adwords introduces the self-service cost-per-click auction business model and a whole new world in Paid Search races out of the blocks.
  • 2003 – Spannerworks continues to grow and our reputation in Paid and Natural search is now firmly established.
  • 2004 – the company introduces a far more sophisticated version of Aperture, giving clients total transparency on search results across Natural and Paid campaigns.
  • 2005 – Spannerworks moves to new premises with room for ever-more staff. Identified as the eighth fastest growing digital agency in the UK. 6 Spannerworker's climb Kilimanjaro for Amani Children's Home African children charity.
  • 2006 – we launch a new Social Media division, helping clients to engage with influential social networks and understand what the likes of blogs, MySpace, and YouTube might mean for brands. Spannerworks is voted No 1 agency in the UK by the readers of Revolution, Marketing and Direct Marketing magazines.
  • 2007 – iCrossing acquires Spannerworks, and the company announces ambitious plans to conquer Europe. Spannerworks wins Revolution Award for search success for Kiddicare.com.
  • 2008 - Spannerworks becomes iCrossing, and looks forward to drawing on deeper industry knowledge, talent and technology as the largest independent digital marketing company in the world. 
  • 2009 - iCrossing takes top honours for both its paid search and SEO current offerings in Forrester's Search Wave Report and continues to establish itself as a global full service agency. The Connected Brands Index is launched, research supporting the overall vision and mission of the company.