CHICAGO, Nov. 20, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) (www.sempo.org), will celebrate the launch of its SEMPO Institute(tm) -- an online learning program to create the next generation of search marketers -- at two networking events it is hosting at the Search Engine Strategies conference, http://searchenginestrategies.com/sew/chicago06/, December 4 to 7 at the Hilton Chicago. Those interested in learning more about the training programs can go to www.sempo.org/institute.
"Chicago is one of the hottest growing markets for search marketing professionals and a great locale for celebrating our new virtual training programs that enable marketers to step up their skills, whether they are in Illinois or India," says Dana Todd, SEMPO President. SEMPO training courses begin in January, 2007 with a foundational course, Fundamentals of Search Marketing. Follow-on courses will focus on advanced search engine optimization and advanced search advertising.
SEMPO is celebrating the launch of SEMPO Institute at two events: a Monday night mixer and a special Tuesday networking event for corporate search marketers. On Monday, December 4, 6-8 PM, SEMPO members and non-members can gather for socializing and an open organizational meeting in Stevens Room 3.
Special Event for Corporate Marketers
A second event, reserved only for in-house marketers (no vendors please), will be open also to members and non-members of SEMPO. The in-house networking event will be Tuesday, December 5, from 7:15 to 9:15 PM in Room 4D at the Conference Facility.
"This is the second event SEMPO is hosting for in-house marketers. Our first was a huge success, with more than 60 people attending, representing Fortune 500 companies. We expect the Chicago event to draw a sizable number of corporate marketers as well," says Duane Forrester, who is co-chairing SEMPO's In-House Committee with Rob Crigler. Forrester is manager of search marketing for SportsDirect, Inc., which operates Covers.com, a sports news and information website. Crigler is Director, Interactive Marketing, for Rollins, the parent company of Orkin.
"The event will provide some excellent networking and sharing of best practices from some of the leading in-house search marketers," says Forrester.
SEMPO 2006 Survey Is Underway
At the December 4 general meeting, SEMPO board members will give detailed info on the SEMPO Institute and its first round of courses, and an update of the 2006 SEMPO industry survey which began collecting data in early November. More than 1,000 marketing professionals are being asked to log on to www.sempo.org/survey and respond to the third annual survey. It will gauge industrywide trends in search engine marketing activities, attitudes and spending. Results of the survey will be published in Q1 2007.
"SEMPO is moving quickly on issues that serve our members, as well as supporting our position as an independent industry organization serving Web 2.0, and the emerging Web 3.0 profession of search marketing," says Todd. "With the annual survey and our training programs we are further extending our global reach to all marketers, engaging them in constructive dialogue and helping to chart the future of the search marketing industry," she adds.
SEMPO will also solicit nominations from members for its board elections which will take place in January, 2007, and discuss the results of its global expansion initiatives.
About the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO)
SEMPO is a global non-profit organization serving the search engine marketing industry and marketing professionals engaged in it. Its purpose is to provide a foundation for industry growth through building stronger relationships, fostering awareness, providing education, promoting the industry, generating research, and creating a better understanding of search and its role in marketing. SEMPO represents the common interests of more than 450 companies and consultants worldwide and provides them with a voice in the marketplace. SEMPO's education and outreach initiatives are sponsored in part by Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google, Verizon Superpages.com, Atlas, Search Engine Strategies, and Ingenio. For more information, or to join the organization, please visit http://www.SEMPO.org.
The Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization logo is available at http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2228
About the SEMPO Institute
SEMPO Institute, launched in November, 2006, is an online distance learning program designed to create trained search engine marketing professionals for new job hires, and to provide advanced learning for professionals seeking to gain greater knowledge and career advancement.
The courses are open to both SEMPO members and non-members worldwide. Upon completion of the course materials, and after passing a series of rigorous tests, students will receive a certificate of completion for each course.
Another objective of SEMPO Institute is to teach broadly-accepted best practices in search engine marketing, search engine optimization and search advertising. All courses are authored and peer-reviewed by experienced professionals in search marketing.