Raleigh-based digital marketing agency Click Optimize Creative Group is looking to hire as many as 30 people following its acquisition by Healthgrades. Known as COCG, the company and its core management team will remain in Raleigh as it expands under new ownership.

Healthgrades, which has offices in Colorado and Wisconsin, is an online resource for comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.

Tim Payne launched COCG in 2006 under the name Click Optimize. He is now senior vice president of Digital Strategy for Healthgrades.

“Healthgrades’ pioneering multi-channel platform, including its strategic allocation and measurement capabilities, are the most comprehensive and innovative in the industry, and I’m confident that the COCG team will be able to extend that market leadership,” Payne said about the deal. 

All other COCG employees are being retained as well by the new owners, said Maggie Mae Armstrong, project manager for COCG.

And the company is already looking to hire new workers for a variety of roles.

“Immediately,” she said when asked about when jobs are going to be filled.

“Our Raleigh office is looking for web content developers, digital strategists, web designers, and we’re always looking for both front and back-end developers. Jobs will continue to be posted at www.cocg.co.”

The deal closed on Oct. 31 and financial details were not disclosed. COCG announced the ownership change on Friday.

So why did COCG sell?

“COCG had already focused a substantial portion of its business toward local healthcare organizations, and after initial dealings with Healthgrades, determined there was a good opportunity for a partnership that would help sustain the company’s growth in Raleigh,” Armstrong explained.

“As a small agency of roughly 35 people, COCG was reaching critical mass and in need of additional resources, and Healthgrades was looking for cutting-edge digital strategy team to help support their customers with more than just retargeting and paid search campaigns, but also custom design tied to proven brand strategy.

“It was a natural fit.”

COCG still operates under that name as a Healthgrades company. 

“COCG will bolster Healthgrades’ existing digital capabilities, especially as they relate to search engine marketing, search engine optimization, social strategies and delivery,” the company explains.

“The combination of COCG’s digital expertise with the most powerful healthcare CRM will help Healthgrades continue to meet the growing needs of its hospital clients as they seek to leverage Healthgrades’ multi-channel platform to engage consumers and physicians.”