Hibu Secures Microsoft’s Advertising Channel Partner of the Year Award

In this fast-paced digital world, finding the right partner to boost your business’s online presence can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. But here’s some exciting news that might make your search easier: Hibu, a company helping local businesses shine online, landed one of the biggest achievements in digital marketing — Microsoft Advertising’s 2024 Channel Partner of the Year Award.

Katherine Eills, global partner marketing director and awards lead at Microsoft Advertising, stated, “Microsoft Advertising is honored to present Hibu with the 2024 Channel Partner of the Year Award. The high caliber of nominations from our partners truly inspired us this year, showcasing both their collaborative nature and dedication to clients. We are excited to celebrate our winners for their outstanding and transformative work.”

Recognition from Microsoft extended beyond the top partnership honor. As a finalist for Microsoft Advertising’s 2024 Excellence in Growth Award and Omnichannel Excellence Award, Hibu showcased its ability to deliver results across multiple digital marketing channels while maintaining consistent growth. This triple recognition — one win and two finalist positions — reflects the company’s comprehensive mastery of Microsoft’s advertising ecosystem and its ability to leverage these tools for client success.

What Microsoft Elite Partner Status Means for Local Businesses

Hibu, which already helps more than 80,000 local businesses boost their online visibility, was also named a Microsoft Advertising 2024 Elite Partner. But what does that mean for local auto shops, home service providers, or neighborhood medical practices?

Think of it as getting a backstage pass to the latest and greatest in digital advertising. As an Elite Partner, the agency receives early access to new tools and direct connections with Microsoft’s top tech teams, which can be a game changer for local businesses looking to stand out online.

“We pride ourselves on providing our clients with industry-leading digital marketing solutions through our proprietary platform,” stated Nick Hopkins, Hibu’s chief product officer.

Being a Microsoft Advertising 2024 Elite Partner means the company’s clients can access advanced technological services. Hopkins explained, “It helps us maximize clients’ results across the growing Microsoft Ads portfolio, including Bing Search, the Microsoft Audience Network, and other emerging channels — and that helps them stay ahead of their competition online.”

While its Microsoft partnership strengthens its advertising capabilities, Hibu’s expertise extends to other crucial aspects of online business success. In September 2024, Gartner Digital Markets recognized the company’s excellence in review and reputation management systems. Because of its expertise in helping businesses maintain and enhance their online presence, Hibu earned spots on the 2024 Capterra Shortlist in the Review Management and Reputation Management categories.

“We have always strived to achieve higher customer satisfaction — Hibu has earned high ratings across Gartner Digital Markets sites: Capterra, Software Advice, and GetApp,” stated Jatin Kumar, marketing specialist, global marketing at Gartner Digital Markets.

The impact of the company’s solutions is evident in client testimonials and Hibu reviews. One business owner shared on Capterra: “Hibu has been a major catalyst for growing our business. Our call volume, website visits, and overall sales have continued to grow since utilizing Hibu. Our rep has been remarkable with leading the way with our advertising.”

What Hibu Brings to the Table

“We believe it’s Hibu’s combination of cutting-edge products and unmatched service that sets us apart — and it’s nice to be recognized for that by a respected platform like Gartner Digital Markets,” Nick Hopkins, Hibu’s chief product officer, said.

The firm’s excellence extends beyond its achievements. In 2024, the company earned its seventh consecutive spot on Selling Power’s prestigious 60 Best Companies to Sell For list, highlighting its commitment to fostering an exceptional workplace culture.

Gerhard Gschwandtner , founder and CEO of Selling Power, a leading digital magazine for sales managers and sales VPs, praised the company’s organizational alignment, noting that it “excels in this alignment, creating a collaborative and supportive sales organization rich in both the tangible and intangible aspects of fostering the perfect environment for sales professionals to succeed professionally and personally.”

The company’s corporate culture, championed by Angie Corcoran, chief human resources officer, emphasizes core values of open communication, teamwork, and inclusivity — principles that ultimately translate into better service for its small business clients. “We’re proud to be a company where employees grow together while we help our clients grow their businesses with our state-of-the-art digital marketing products and services,” Corcoran stated.

Hibu isn’t just another tech company that appeared overnight. It’s been helping businesses connect with customers for over 80 years. But Hibu has had quite the glow-up during that time. It has continuously adapted to better serve small and medium-sized businesses across the US. It specializes in helping companies in essential service industries, such as home repair contractors, auto shops, legal offices, and medical practices. Its comprehensive approach offers everything from website development and search engine optimization to social media marketing and online reputation management|

What makes the company different? Hibu packages all these services into an integrated, proprietary solution specifically designed for small and medium-sized businesses. There are no piecemeal offerings or complicated contracts — just a straightforward approach to digital marketing.

“Our close relationship with Microsoft is just one example of the professional partnerships we maintain with industry leaders that enable us to enhance our digital marketing solutions and help our clients grow their businesses,” Hopkins said.

In a marketplace where 98%  of all U.S. consumers search online for local businesses, digital visibility has become the lifeline of modern commerce. For small and medium-sized business owners, this means having access to a partner who understands the complexities of internet-based marketing and has the tools, partnerships, and expertise to help them stand out in an increasingly crowded online marketplace.

Hibu’s string of accolades proves it helps businesses survive online and empowers them to thrive in an increasingly competitive digital arena.