“Only one is a wanderer; two together are always going somewhere…” Kim Novak, Vertigo

So last week, some of my fellow SEMpdx Board Members and I got together for a SearchFest 2010 planning meeting.  We discussed many relevant topics (date, venue, topics, speakers, etc.) and at the end of the meeting, I was tasked with inviting a group of speakers, most of whom I consider some of my closest friends in our industry.

If you do any sort of email prospecting for your business, you’ve likely come across a “hard ass” prospect like me who likes to try to have a little fun at your expense. If you encounter such a person, this woman’s response to me is the absolute correct way to handle the situation. Even though I really didn’t have a clue about her and the company she worked for, she definitely earned a bit of my time (and my respect as well).

SEMpdx has partnered with CMD, Oregon’s largest multi-disciplined marketing agency, and specifically with the agency’s earned media group, to help further promote and raise SEMpdx’s profile.

CMD has been a front runner in developing best practices for how to incorporate social media and search within PR efforts for its clients, such as Cisco Systems, NW Natural, Intel and JELD-WEN, inc. In fact, the agency’s PR group recently changed its name to CMD’s earned media group, which better reflects CMD’s philosophy that generating exposure and building a reputation in today’s increasingly digital world requires seamlessly incorporating creative PR, search and social media solutions.

SEMpdx is proud to partner with Portland State University’s Professional Development Center to provide 2 annual scholarships for the SEM Workshop, which is part of the Digital Marketing Strategy Certificate series.

The 3-day SEM Workshop is taught by SEMpdx board members Kent Lewis & Hallie Janssen. SEMpdx and PSU are offering the $635 scholarship twice each year, one for each class. The next workshop starts October 23rd, 2009.

Most marketing professionals understand the importance of search engine optimization (SEO), paid search, and social media marketing (SMM) but a limited few understand the actual processes.  Even fewer have the experience to evaluate a search engine marketing (SEM) agency.  Frequently agencies are chosen based on a media buying or traditional advertising relationship.  Rarely are SEM agencies put through the rigorous vetting of a traditional agency.  This is a mistake.

Adapted from Wallace Stevens

I
Among twenty snowy mountains,
The only moving thing
Was the eye of mesothelioma.

II
I was of three minds,
Like a tree
In which there are three mesotheliomiacs.

III
Mesothelioma whirled in the autumn winds.
It was a small part of the pantomime.

IV
A man and a woman
Are one.
A man and a woman and mesothelioma
Are one.

Pay-Per-Click or PPC marketing is a highly effective method to reach potential customers online. This never-ending auction-style advertising strategy has revolutionized the way people buy or find things online and can jumpstart any Web site marketing campaign.

However, as every paid search marketer can attest, a successful campaign requires special attention to a number of factors, such as keyword research, A/B testing, creative copy, multi-variate testing, spend-cap management to name a few. Join the SEMpdx crew on Tuesday, January 12th for an evening of paid search marketing education.

Are you in the online marketing space? Are your client’s Holiday success metrics making you so stressed out that you are considering using black hat techniques? Then come blow off some steam with like-minded online marketers and let’s raise a glass of eggnog to the calm before the Holiday storm.

When: Tuesday November 17th, 2009 at 5:30pm – 7:00pm
Where: Rontoms 600 E Burnside, Portland, OR 97214
Cost: Free!!!

Whether you’re just getting started in Web site design, or are a seasoned veteran at a local media agency, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) may seem confusing. Title tags. Keyword relevancy. Rich content. Link strategies. All of these proper SEO elements may even be a bit intimidating.

For this reason, our next SEMpdx event will present the basic fundamentals of effective Search Engine Optimization strategies. You’ll learn the latest techniques on how to properly implement common optimization elements into both new and existing Web sites. Our panel of industry experts will also answer any questions you may have pertaining to search engine friendly design and development.

When: November 10th, 2009 at 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Where: Hotel deLuxe 729 SW 15th Ave, Portland, OR

Attention search engine marketers, web designers, developers, digital strategists, PR rockstars and social media mavens! The SEMpdx board would like you to join us for an evening of social networking and Halloween celebration! Join us on Tuesday, October 20th to celebrate online marketing and pumpkins, monsters, vampires, witches, werewolves, ghosts and CANDY!

In addition, the SEMpdx board will be handing out candy to anyone in costume and giving away a free pass to SearchFest to the best costume!