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Apollo Interactive Partners with Blue Fire Leads, Expands into Home Services Industry
BLUE FIRE TO COMPLEMENT APOLLO'S LEAD GENERATION EFFORTS

El Segundo, CA - March 21, 2024

Apollo Interactive (Apollo), a full-service, digital performance marketing services company focused on the insurance and mortgage industry and one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, announced it has made a majority investment in Blue Fire Leads, a full-service lead generation marketing publisher for the home services industry. This controlled investment enables Apollo to expand into the fast-growing home services industry.

Founded in 2013, Blue Fire Leads provides Kitchen, Bath, Roofing, Siding, Window, Flooring, Gutter and Solar companies with real time leads of consumers with a high intent to purchase. Blue Fire has experienced tremendous success, including being #4 on the Utah Inc. 500 and 85 on the Inc. 5000 nationwide in 2019.

“We are thrilled to partner with a great team and management,” said Apollo CEO David Bohline. “Blue Fire’s customer acquisition capabilities for the home services industry are a complementary fit for Apollo’s customer acquisition platform for the insurance and mortgage industry. Together we have a clear path to boost revenue and increase margin for all of our clients.”

As Apollo continues to grow, the company remains steadfast in its mission to drive the industry forward. Strategic add-ons such as this one offer an exciting opportunity to expand Apollo’s reach into new verticals.

We are excited to collectively share best practices across verticals, platforms, and strategic marketing methods. Together, with nearly 40 years of combined experience, we will pioneer disruptive innovation in the home service industry and continue leading at the forefront of demand generation marketing, said Dick Wells, CEO of Blue Fire Leads.

Proceeds for the acquisition came from the Riverside Strategic Capital Fund. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.

About Blue Fire Leads

Blue Fire Leads is a lead generation marketing publisher, serving Home Services companies in Windows, Roofing, Kitchen, Bath, Gutters, Siding, Flooring and more. With nearly 50 employees spanning the US and cutting-edge technology and processes, Blue Fire Leads has generated hundreds of millions in sales for clients across the country. Founded in 2013, Blue Fire Leads has experienced tremendous success including being #4 on the Utah Inc 500 and 85 on the Inc 5000 nationwide.

About Apollo Interactive

Apollo Interactive is a tech-enabled lead generation provider that delivers its customers leads of high intent consumers who are actively searching online about insurance or mortgage products. Apollo sells these leads through multiple formats, such as data leads, inbound calls, targeted click traffic, warm call transfers, and remarketing of aged leads. It serves insurance brokers, insurance carriers, mortgage lenders, and lead aggregators across Medicare, under-65 healthcare plans, life insurance, auto insurance, home insurance, mortgage, and pet insurance.








Apollo Interactive’s 4th straight year on the Inc. 5000
Inc. 5000 Ranks Apollo Interactive one of America's fastest-growing privately owned companies

El Segundo, CA - August 16, 2022

Apollo Interactive is happy to announce that it has made the Inc. 5000 list yet again.

Over the years Apollo has strived to make a lasting impact on its client’s business growth by using proprietary, custom-built technology to automate the lead generation process serving clients across several different insurance platforms. Through Apollo’s well-curated and target landing pages that generate valuable, first-party data that enables its clients to efficiently segment and target prospective customers.

Apollo is incredibly proud and thrilled to be rightfully recognized as an honoree of Inc. 5000. This exclusive list annually details the 5,000 fastest-growing private companies in America. It’s where companies like Microsoft, Intuit, and Patagonia first gained national attention.

With each passing year, Apollo continues to push the industry forward while facing a new Lead Generation environment. With global issues like the pandemic, supply chain management, and inflation, achieving and maintaining success has become increasingly difficult.

“I could not be more proud of our team. The past 2 years have presented a number of challenges, but this recognition confirms what we already knew...that by combining talent with hard work we can accomplish our objectives, regardless of the obstacles”, says Mike Ranshaw, Apollo Interactive Managing Director.

Apollo Interactive is looking forward to the future as it has recently completed a non-control investment process with The Riverside Company, a global private equity firm. The anticipated objective of the partnership between Apollo and Riverside is to consummate one or more strategic add-on acquisitions, deepening Apollo’s reach into existing products and verticals, as well as expanding into new markets.

“We are very proud of our exceptional organic growth over the past four years and excited to accelerate it with our new partner, The Riverside Company,” says David Bohline, Apollo Interactive Chief Executive Officer.

About Apollo Interactive

Built on a foundation of more than 25 years of success, Apollo has a long and deep history of digital performance marketing for some of the largest consumer brands in the world. Apollo Interactive now combines its proprietary technology platform and advertising savvy to deliver its customers leads of high-intent consumers who are actively searching online for insurance or mortgage products.

Methodology

Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine’s September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media:

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multi-platform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across various channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 allows the founders of the best businesses to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.








APOLLO INTERACTIVE GEARS UP FOR GROWTH WITH PRIVATE EQUITY PARTNER THE RIVERSIDE COMPANY
Non-Control Investment to be Used for Strategic Acquisitions

El Segundo, CA - July 21, 2022

Apollo Interactive (Apollo), a tech-enabled performance marketing agency and one of the fastest-growing private companies in America, has partnered with The Riverside Company, a global private equity investor, in a non-control investment. The investment was made out of Riverside’s Strategic Capital Fund (RSCF) and will be used by Apollo to expand operational capabilities and increase revenue.

Apollo uses its proprietary, custom-built technology platform to automate the lead generation process, serving clients that include leading insurance carriers, brokers, mortgage lenders and lead aggregators across several industry verticals such as Medicare, under-65 health insurance, auto insurance, home insurance, life insurance, mortgage and pet insurance. Through its owned and operated websites, Apollo generates valuable, first-party data that enables its clients to efficiently segment and target their prospective customers.

“For more than 25 years, our team has provided our clients best-in-class lead generation solutions – and with Riverside’s help, we’re excited to take our performance to the next level,” said Apollo CEO David Bohline. “We’re thrilled to begin this partnership and see how Riverside’s guidance can help grow our business and product offerings.”

“We’re excited to partner with the Apollo team and provide value in a number of ways,” said RSCF Managing Partner and Co-Fund Manager Jeffrey Gordon. “During our partnership, we plan to consummate one or more strategic add-on acquisitions, deepening Apollo’s reach into existing products and verticals, as well as expanding into new markets.”

Lincoln International acted as the exclusive financial advisor to Apollo, working closely with its ownership and management team throughout the investment process. Michael Fineman, Managing Director in Lincoln’s Business Services Group, commented “we truly enjoyed working with an outstanding management team that is passionate about their business. Apollo Interactive is a clear leader in their market and well positioned for rapid growth through a number of compelling organic and inorganic growth strategies. We look forward to watching the company’s continued success.”.

Sheppard Mullin acted as legal advisors to Apollo. Financial terms of the investment were not disclosed.

About Apollo Interactive

Built on a foundation of more than 25 years of success, Apollo has a long and deep history of digital performance marketing for some of the largest consumer brands in the world. Apollo Interactive now combines its proprietary technology platform and advertising savvy to deliver its customers leads of high-intent consumers who are actively searching online for insurance or mortgage products.

About the Riverside Company

The Riverside Company is a global investment firm focused on being one of the leading private capital options for investors, business owners and employees of the middle market by seeking to fuel transformative growth and creating lasting value. Since its founding in 1988, Riverside has made more than 850 investments. The firm’s international private equity and structured capital portfolios include more than 140 companies.








Inc. Magazine Ranks Apollo Interactive as One of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America for Third Consecutive Year
Apollo Interactive Makes 2021 Inc. 5000 List with Three-Year Revenue Growth of 178%

El Segundo, CA - August 17, 2021

Inc. Magazine named Apollo Interactive one of the fastest-growing private companies in America for the third consecutive year. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small businesses. Ranked number 2,379 on the annual Inc. 5000 list, Apollo Interactive, a performance marketing agency, prides itself on connecting customers with clients through engaging messaging and media across a wide range of industries and has been doing so for over 25 years.

Among the list of 5,000, the average median three-year growth rate was 167 percent, and median revenue reached $11.1 million. Together, the Inc. 5000 list added more than 2.5M jobs over the last three years.

Through hard work and dedication, Apollo Interactive continues to push the envelope in the Advertising and Marketing arena. Notable companies that joined Apollo are Intuit, Zappos, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names that gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000.

"We are proud to once again be included on the Inc 5000 list. The growth rates required to make the list 3 years in a row are significant, and are a reflection of the hard work our talented team puts in each and every day", says Mike Ranshaw, Managing Director and CFO of Apollo Interactive.

Not only have the companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 been very competitive within their markets, but this year’s list also proved especially resilient and flexible given 2020’s unprecedented challenges. As the market evolves, Apollo keeps its edge on the industry by continuously adapting to the client’s needs. In particular, the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic altered consumers' behavior and attitudes, upending strategies, and media plans. With the current climate for marketers still in flux, Apollo’s ability to proactively address changes and consider alternate solutions is what drives its agile business growth.

Apollo utilizes performance marketing to drive consistent, profitable revenue. The advertising strategy uses powerful built-in-house products and unique insight into consumer behavior to maximize sales. "Apollo's lead generation platform and technology is best in class and led by an exceptional team of marketers, developers, and innovative thinkers. Without them, our sustainable strong growth these three years would not have been possible", says Todd Anderson, Executive Vice President.

What’s next for Apollo Interactive? As the company moves to expand its footprint in the online lead generation space, the success of its clients and key partners highlights the essential component of Apollo’s strategy and solutions as growth for the future of the performance marketing industry at large.

"Our team has worked very hard this year to hit our goals and grow the company,” says David Bohline, Apollo Interactive Chief Executive Officer. “Even during an unprecedented shutdown of normal business operations. Out of the three years in a row, we have made the Inc 5000 List, this year means the most to us.”

About Apollo Interactive

Built on a foundation of more than 25 years of success, Apollo Interactive provides Lead Generation, e-Commerce, and Advertising solutions across a wide range of industries, including insurance, financial services, retail, entertainment, franchise, hospitality, industrial, CPG, restaurants, and manufacturing.

Methodology

Companies on the 2021 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to three decimal places. There was one tie on this year’s Inc. 5000. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media:

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multi-platform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across various channels, including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 allows the founders of the best businesses to engage with an exclusive community of their peers and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com

INC 5000 Honoree 3rd year in a row







Apollo Interactive’s 12th Annual Las Vegas LeadGen Golf Tournament is Back
The event is sponsored by Drips and will be held on October 20th at Bali Hai Golf Club

El Segundo, CA - July 16, 2021

Mark your calendar! After much anticipation, Apollo Interactive’s 12th Annual LeadGen Golf Tournament is finally happening. This year’s tournament will be held on Wednesday, October 20, 2021 at the tropical golf oasis, Bali Hai Golf Club. The event was originally scheduled for March 2020, but with the health and safety of our fellow golfers and sponsors in mind, the tournament was postponed due to COVID-19. As many people are starting to travel and visit with current and prospective partners again, we look forward to sharing a round of golf with you.

Apollo Interactive has been working hard to bring you an even better experience than in years past. We have all of the same sponsors on board, plus some new ones; and we are hopeful that many, if not all, of the same golfers that were signed up previously are on board. Fees are still just $225 per person, which includes your green fees plus a cart, a boxed lunch, a swag bag, the opportunity to win many prizes, and a Bloody Mary bar sponsored by ConnectStream.

For those who don’t play golf, this can serve as a great face-to-face networking opportunity or a joyride in the golf cart. Space is limited. Reserve your spots for golf--or even just a cart ride--at www.apollointeractive.com/golf/

12th Annual Las Vegas LeadGen Golf Tournament







Apollo Interactive is Ranked One of the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in California, According to Inc. 5000 Regionals List

El Segundo, CA - March 16, 2021

Inc. Magazine announced that it has ranked Apollo Interactive number 128 on the Inc. 5000 Regionals List, an esteemed honor that only the most distinguished privately-held businesses in California can receive. Apollo joins previous Los Angeles based honorees from the performance marketing space including MediaAlpha, Centerfield Media, and WPromote.

Apollo COO David Bohline states, “Our team has worked very hard this year to hit our goals and grow the company. Even during an unprecedented shutdown of normal business operations. Out of the three years in a row we have made the Inc 5000 List, this year means the most to us.”

Executive VP Todd Anderson added, “Making the list of fastest growing private companies in California is a testament to the continued dedication and hard work of our team. Continuing to grow at this fast pace in our 25th year in business is no easy feat and is a testament to our continued focus, forward thinking, and great partner relationships.”

Since its inception in 1995, Apollo Interactive has raised the bar with its sustained growth in the Performance Marketing arena. Over the past two years Apollo has been ranked on the Inc. 5000 list, and this year was recognized on the Inc. 5000 Regionals List.

The Methodology of Inc. 5000

Companies are ranked according to the percentage growth of their annual revenue from 2017 to 2020. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2017. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent--not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies--as of December 31, 2020. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2017 is $100,000; the minimum for 2020 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. More information can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Apollo Interactive

As the market continues to be competitive, especially in the recent year with the COVID-19 pandemic, the necessity to pivot and adapt to an evolving landscape has changed how businesses of all kinds respond. As a Performance Marketing Agency, Apollo Interactive is where it is today because of the innovative use of proprietary products and unique insight into digital consumer behavior to maximize sales and exceed expectations. Built on a foundation of more than 25 years of success, Apollo Interactive provides Lead Generation, e-Commerce, and Advertising solutions across a wide range of industries, including insurance, financial services, retail, entertainment, franchise, hospitality, industrial, CPG, restaurants, and manufacturing.

Interested in joining our growing team? Apply to one of our open positions today!

Find out more about what it's like to work for Apollo Interactive here.

INC 5000 Honoree







Apollo Interactive Solves Complex Marketing Challenges With Jornaya Solutions

By: Jornaya - Conshohocken, PA – September 10, 2020

For 25 years, Apollo Interactive has connected customers with clients through engaging messaging and targeted media. Apollo’s core focus is on lead generation for the insurance industry, serving clients across Health, Medicare, Life, Auto, Home, and now Pet Insurance. Apollo has also produced outstanding results for clients across a wide range of industries, including financial services, retail, entertainment, franchise, hospitality, industrial, CPG, restaurants, and manufacturing.

GOAL

For Apollo, a better understanding of consumer intent has been the driving force behind developing meaningful, long-term relationships with their consumers. In an effort to drive these meaningful and compliant consumer engagements, Apollo has partnered with Jornaya to help drive safe and smart business growth. Through Jornaya’s Publisher Partner Program, Apollo has focused on driving improvements in three core areas of their business.

RESULTS

While working with Jornaya, Apollo has been able to:

  • Ensure privacy and consumer compliance across every interaction
  • Drive revenue by delivering more relevant and timely customer journey marketing to in-market consumers
  • Increase partnership opportunities with industry peers through the V!A industry directory
"These initiatives have enabled us to continue to grow revenue and expand into new verticals while still maintaining an acute focus on customer compliance."
Todd Anderson, EVP, Apollo Interactive
CHALLENGE #1: ENSURE PRIVACY & COMPLIANCE DURING EVERY CONSUMER INTERACTION

Millions of consumers interact with Apollo’s website properties, seeking information about insurance policies and looking for Apollo’s help in connecting with service providers who can best meet their needs. These consumers expect Apollo to protect their privacy, and Apollo’s customers trust and rely on Apollo to ensure that compliance measures have been taken to gather and verify the consumer’s consent and opt-in for marketing communication.

SOLUTION #1: IMPLEMENTATION OF JORNAYA’S PRIVACY GUARDIAN SERVICE

Now, every consumer interaction on Apollo’s website is safely and securely captured and verified by a neutral 3rd party, with a record of the consumer’s consent stored for use in the event of a lawsuit or complaint. A unique LeadiD, issued by Jornaya on every lead, is shared with Apollo’s customers, enabling any company that engages with the consumer to verify consent before marketing to the consumer.

CHALLENGE #2: DRIVE MORE REVENUE WITH RELEVANT & TIMELY CUSTOMER JOURNEY MARKETING

For 25 years, Apollo has been a leader in creating targeted media that attracts consumer interest and results in high converting leads for clients across a wide-range of industries, including insurance, financial services, retail, entertainment, franchise, hospitality, industrial, CPG, restaurants, manufacturing.

While the ability to attract new consumers at the top of the funnel remains a key focus for driving demand and website traffic, Apollo has also unlocked new revenue streams by making strategic investments into customer centric marketing that re-engages with consumers at the right-time in their buying journey.

SOLUTION #2: IMPLEMENTATION OF JORNAYA ACTIVATE

Apollo has been able to create right-timed email offers for their consumers that match the individual’s product interest. Each day, Jornaya Activate updates an in-market activity score in Apollo’s ESP, and emails are personalized and delivered based on the consumer’s interest and intent. These campaigns have become one of Apollo’s highest performing revenue per email channels, unlocking new revenue for their business, while also delivering superior experiences for the consumer.

CHALLENGE #3: CONNECTING WITH NEW PARTNERS

Apollo and Jornaya have long collaborated on facilitating mutual introductions between trusted lead buyers and sellers.

SOLUTION #3: V!A BY JORNAYA INDUSTRY DIRECTORY

Now, this has become significantly easier for publishers to find trusted partners and be seen by hundreds of advertisers with the launch of the V!A Industry Directory.

Apollo has quickly taken advantage of V!A to tap into the Jornaya network, customizing their profile page and both making and receiving connection requests. By making connections through a network these connections are made on a bedrock of mutual trust and mutual values of protecting consumer privacy and intent, leading to more trusted, valuable relationships.

“These three initiatives have enabled us to continue to grow revenue and expand into new verticals while still maintaining an acute focus on customer compliance,” said Todd Anderson, EVP of Apollo Interactive.

jornaya spotlight







Apollo Interactive is named to the Inc. 5000 list for the second consecutive year

El Segundo, CA – August 12, 2020

Apollo Interactive, a leading Performance Marketing Agency, announced today that Inc. magazine ranked it number 2,125 on the magazine’s annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. The list ranks the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment - its independent small businesses.

This is the second consecutive year that Apollo Interactive has been recognized by Inc. Since its 2019 ranking of 3,390, Apollo has risen above 1,265 other companies to be named number 2,125 overall and number 44 in the Advertising & Marketing category in California. “Our entire team worked tirelessly throughout the year to achieve our goals and objectives”, says Mike Ranshaw, Managing Director at Apollo Interactive. “Fortunately, that hard work translated to continued growth and improvement in this year’s ranking.”

Apollo joins the ranks of businesses such as Microsoft, Under Armor, Intuit, and Zappos, who gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. “We have succeeded through many business cycles and industry changes, but in these last few years all of our experience, talent and skills have come together to make us one of the best in our business,” says David Bohline, Chief Operating Officer and one of the founders of Apollo Interactive. “I am truly amazed and proud of our team.”

Not only have the companies on the 2020 Inc. 5000 been extremely competitive within their markets, but also the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with previous lists as well. The 2020 Inc. 5000 achieved an incredible three-year median growth rate of 165 percent. The Inc. 5000’s aggregate revenue was $209 billion in 2019, accounting for over 1 million jobs over the past three years.

Apollo Interactive revenue has grown 198% since 2016 and this meteoric rise “speaks to our team’s strategic and innovative thinking, entrepreneurial spirit, and hard work” says Todd Anderson, Executive Vice President. “We have continued to grow market share in our core verticals of Health Insurance and Medicare, while also expanding into new verticals and investing in our team, despite a rapidly changing environment.”

What does the future hold for Apollo Interactive? “Apollo never stands still”, says Bohline. “We are always focusing on what’s next. Our goal has never been to make the list, but I sure wouldn’t count us out for a three-peat.”

About Apollo Interactive
Apollo Interactive is a Performance Marketing Agency that connects customers with clients through engaging messaging and targeted media. Built on a foundation of more than 25 years of success, Apollo Interactive provides Lead Generation, e-Commerce, and Advertising solutions across a wide range of industries, including insurance, financial services, retail, entertainment, franchise, hospitality, industrial, CPG, restaurants, and manufacturing. Apollo Interactive utilizes powerful proprietary products and unique digital insight into consumer behavior to maximize sales and exceed expectations.

Methodology
The 2020 Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth when comparing 2016 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2016. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2019. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2016 is $100,000; the minimum for 2019 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Companies on the Inc. 500 are featured in Inc.’s September issue. They represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media:
The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multi-platform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

INC 5000 Honoree







Apollo Interactive is Named One of Inc. Magazine’s “Fastest Growing Private Companies in the US”

El Segundo, CA – August 14, 2019

Inc. Magazine today ranked Apollo Interactive No. 3,390 on its 38th annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. This list is the most comprehensive look at an integral segment of the economy – America’s independent entrepreneurs. Apollo joins a prestigious list of businesses that have gone on to become household names including Microsoft, Pandora, LinkedIn, Zillow, Oracle, and Patagonia.

“We are honored to be named one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in the US,” says Mike Ranshaw, Apollo Interactive Managing Director. “It is a direct result of the hard work each and every member of our team puts in and we are grateful to be recognized for those efforts.”

Apollo Interactive is ranked No. 65 among the Top Advertising & Marketing companies in California on the 2019 list, having achieved 105% growth over the previous three years.

“Our lead generation division has been on a strong trajectory for the past 10 years now, consistently achieving a 3-year growth rate of over 100% since its inception in 2010,” says Todd Anderson, Apollo Interactive Senior Vice President. “Certainly, the collaborative decision to allocate the majority of the company’s resources to its lead generation business has helped propel Apollo Interactive to a new level of sustained excellence.”

Collectively, the companies on this year’s list amassed $237.7 billion in revenue in 2018, with a median three-year growth rate of 157.4 percent and average 2018 revenue of $47.5 million.

This list doesn’t just look at annual revenue; it also takes into consideration the rate at which a company is growing. Apollo Interactive is growing fast and does not plan on slowing down anytime soon.

“Making the list in 2020 is not a goal in and of itself,” says David Bohline, Apollo Interactive Chief Operating Officer. “Advertising programs that deliver measurable and profitable results to our clients are we how we define success. But if we continue on our current trajectory, no one should be surprised if you see Apollo Interactive on the list in 2020.”

About Apollo Interactive
Apollo Interactive is a Performance Marketing Agency that connects customers with clients through engaging messaging and targeted media. Built on a foundation of more than 20 years of success, Apollo Interactive provides Lead Generation, e-Commerce, and Advertising solutions across a wide-range of industries, including insurance, financial services, retail, entertainment, franchise, hospitality, industrial, CPG, restaurants, and manufacturing. Apollo Interactive utilizes powerful proprietary products and unique digital insight into consumer behavior to maximize sales and exceed expectations.

About the Inc. 5000
Companies listed in the 2019 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to their percentage revenue growth between 2015 and 2019. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2015. They had to be U.S.-based, privately held, for profit, and independent – not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies – as of December 31, 2018. (Since then, a number of companies on the list have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2015 was $100,000; the minimum for 2018 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. More information can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000.

About Inc. Media:
Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for today’s innovative company builders. Winner of the National Magazine Award for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012. Total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 18,000,000 today. For more information, visit www.inc.com. The Inc. 5000 is a list of the fastest-growing private companies in the nation. Started in 1982, this prestigious list of the nation’s most successful private companies has been the hallmark of entrepreneurial success. The Inc. 5000 Conference and Awards Ceremony is an annual event that celebrates their remarkable achievements. This event offers informative workshops, celebrated keynote speakers, and evening functions.

INC 5000 Honoree







Apollo Interactive Talks About Using Invoca To Streamline The Caller Experience

By: Invoca – September 28, 2016

Digital marketers have started cashing in on phone calls. Apollo Interactive, a digital marketing agency that generates leads for health and life insurance carriers, has made phone calls a critical part of their strategy. They know that one of the easiest ways to take a consumer to the next step in their journey is to give them the opportunity to call -- especially for consumers shopping for a new insurance policy.

Apollo uses Invoca to track calls and automate the call experience and routing, so each call has the best chance of converting. With Invoca, Apollo has created custom rules to automate the caller experience to ensure calls are connected to the carrier that best fits their needs.

To get the inside story, I talked to Apollo’s Todd Anderson, VP of Insurance, to see how his team uses Invoca to optimize their caller experience and maximize conversions.

What role do calls play in the customer’s path to purchase?

"Health insurance customers need to make a phone call in almost all instances. Whether the customer initiates this through an inbound call, or an agent initiates the dialogue through an outbound call, speaking with the customer over the phone is an essential part of the purchase process."

How are you driving phone calls? Do you find most calls come from mobile channels?

We prominently place phone numbers on all customer touchpoints. These include emails, websites, ads, and anywhere else a consumer may be exposed to our brand. Mobile channels tend to drive higher percentages of phone calls than other channels, but we do see consumers calling in from all channels.

How has Real-Time Routing (RTR) helped you improve the caller experience?

RTR ensures that the caller will be connected to an insurance agent who can help them immediately. Through our algorithm we prioritize companies with the highest connect rates so we can route prospects where their call will most likely be answered. This is a win from our perspective as it allows us to monetize the most calls possible, and it’s a win for callers who get connected to the agent who can best help them.
We also use Invoca’s IVR (interactive voice response) and RTR to ask callers detailed questions and then automatically route calls based on their answers. For example, the type of policy they are looking for, how old they are, and when they would like coverage to start. Ultimately we bring value by connecting interested customers with the companies and agents that can best meet their needs.

Has using Invoca helped you improve your marketing performance and conversion rates?

Yes! A practical example of this is when one of our insurance clients experiences a sudden fluctuation in their call conversion rate. This could be due to anything from an emergency in the call center, a technical issue, or even an operating hour change that wasn’t properly communicated. In these instances, our RTR configuration recognizes these fluctuations and adjusts the call routing accordingly so we’re not sending calls to companies that can’t handle them.
We also use Invoca to track the performance of our marketing channels so we can see both the online and offline leads any particular channel or campaign produces. From there we can calculate ROI and optimize our budget to maximize quality leads.

How do you ensure the calls you generate are high quality?

The best measure of call quality is conversion rate, and most often this is determined based on a minimum call duration. By using call duration to gauge quality we know exactly which marketing sources and channels are driving disproportionately low quality so we can try and improve the campaign or we can eliminate it altogether.

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