Two Wilmington-based marketing companies with a common owner have merged, according to a news release.

SayItSocial, founded in 2008, and Perspective Internet Marketing, which began in 2004, have combined their services and their staffs and will operate as SayItSocial, said company COO Emily Trayers.

Ty Downing, who founded both companies, remains as the company CEO.

The two firms have complementary strengths. SayItSocial offers training, advertising, strategy and social and digital public relations services, according to the release. Perspective Internet Marketing is a search marketing firm that focuses on search engine optimization and search engine marketing as well as mobile and local advertising.

“Although my two companies worked independent of each other for several years, it was inevitable that these combine to strengthen our digital offerings and provide our clients the most powerful agency deliverables needed to succeed in a digital and mobile world,” Downing said in the release.

In addition to its headquarters at 1908 Eastwood Rd, Suite 323 in Wilmington, SayItSocial has a second location in Portland, Maine and satellite offices in New York City and San Francisco, the release stated. It experienced more than 400 percent growth last year and serves a wide range of clients, ranging from mobile application startups to Fortune 500 companies, according to the release. Local clients include St. James Plantation and the N.C. Aquariums.