Search Marketing Expo

We’ve already highlighted the exceptional content and highly qualified presenters at SMX West. But there’s another aspect of the show that is just as important and valuable – networking. And with hundreds of companies sending delegates (so far), there are lots of people to network with!

Keep reading to learn more about the networking opportunities and then register for your All Access pass to Search Marketing Expo – SMX West, March 2-4 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Santa Clara CA.

SMX Online Networking

Networking begins before the conference on SMX Connect, the SMX West social networking site. You can:

• post your profile, introduce yourself to others, and arrange meetings
• create and print a custom itinerary of sessions and activities
• schedule lunches with others who share your interests at birds-of-a-feather tables (see below for details)

For more details about SMX Connect and the other virtual networking opportunities, visit our online networking page.

Meeting people online is great, but networking in person is where you make the connections that grow your professional network. Here is the schedule of in-person networking events at SMX West:

SMX Meet & Greet
Monday, March 1 – 6:00pm to 7:30pm

Start your SMX West experience off right! Arrive early, pick up your All Access Pass and join us for an informal evening reception with fellow attendees, speakers and invited guests at the Santa Clara Convention Center. Open to All Access and Networking Pass holders.

Meet & Eat Networking Lunches and Birds-Of-A-Feather Tables
Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday at lunch

There are two ways to get more out of lunch at SMX than just hot meals! All lunches are included for presenters, SMX West All Access and Networking pass holders. You’re certain to sit with knowledgeable and engaging people.

Like the experience to be a little more structured? Sign on to SMX Connect and sign up for a birds-of-a-feather table. These are a great opportunities to continue the conversation with others who share your interests. Topics include paid search, local search, technical SEO, real time search, analytics, social media, video search and more.

SMX Expo Hall
Tuesday, March 2 – 9:45am to 7pm & Wednesday, March 3 – 10am to 3:30pm

There’s another important group to network with at SMX West – the leading search engine marketing solution providers on the Expo Hall floor. Bing, Google and Yahoo will be there. Others include SEO and PPC agencies, search management software services, pay-per-click networks and search analytics providers. See the complete list here. They all bring their most knowledgeable people to SMX, so you’ll get the straight scoop on how they can help you grow your business.

Having all these great companies in one place saves you time. You can see all of them in a couple of hours, rather than spending weeks on in-office meetings or on WebEx conference calls. And many of the exhibitors and sponsors will be presenting case studies, best practices and solution demonstrations in the SMX Theater. The Theater is a no-pressure environment where you can learn about a company’s offerings, and decide whether you want to visit their booth for a follow up conversation. Check the SMX Theater schedule for the presentation schedule and times.

At the close of the sessions on March 2, come back to the Expo Hall for the SMX Networking Reception. This is your time to talk, relax, and have a drink and snacks while you visit with exhibitors and sponsors you may have missed during the day. The SMX Networking Reception is sponsored by Ask.com.

Join us for Ignite SMX West. What *is* Ignite? It’s a fun, high-energy evening of a dozen or so “speed presentations.” Ignite presenters get 5 minutes to talk about a topic, using a slide deck that auto-advances every 15 seconds – whether they’re ready or not! Ignite is free for anyone with any type of SMX conference pass to attend, including Expo passes which are also free with pre-registration. Ignite SMX is part of Global Ignite Week.

Join us for an evening of fun and networking at SMX After Dark, sponsored by Bing.com. All SMX West attendees are invited to spend the evening pool side at the Santa Clara Hyatt (adjacent to the convention center) to enjoy each others’ company and some refreshments.

Look for details and additions to the networking activities on our page!

SMX West is an outstanding value at just $1395 for 3 days of exceptional content and invaluable connections, with the essential conveniences SMX events offer. You can be confident you’ve invested wisely; we guarantee it!

PS: Want to send a team? Check out our attractive group rates and save 20-35% on registration prices.

We do. That’s why Search Marketing Expo – SMX West offers 50 sessions in 12 tracks on all of the search engine marketing topics – SEO, PPC, social media marketing, real time search, local & mobile, and more. Create an agenda that meets your needs. You’ll appreciate the depth and flexibility the SMX West agenda offers, whether you’re new to search or a seasoned vet, own a small business or employed at a Fortune 500 company.

Is search marketing your new career? SMX Boot Camp and a variety of other “freshman”-level sessions on the agenda will provide a strong foundation to build on. Boot Camp coordinator Disa Johnson has even mapped out a SMX West Beginner’s Agenda to get you started.

Have experience? The SMX West program shines with intermediate and advanced-level content. >/p>

Focused on PPC? Get the very latest on mobile paid search ads, new AdWords formats, Bing Cashback and Facebook advertising. Program coordinator Matt Van Wagner has shared his own PPC Professional’s Dream Agenda with highlights he’s noted in the program.

SEO your thing? It doesn’t matter how many years you have under your belt, there are always new techniques and solutions to uncover. Ask Bruce Clay. Even after running his own agency for 12 years, he still has his own plan of attack, the SMX West Dream Agenda for Advanced SEOs.

Want to get started? Check out the agenda at a glance for a snapshot of the session titles, level and focus. Then dive deep into the full descriptions, with more info on which sessions are brand new, top rated, PowerPoint free and more.

You’ll participate in sessions led by the most knowledgeable group of internet marketers ever assembled. SMX West is programmed by the Search Engine Land editorial team; they’ve been educating search marketers since the industry’s inception.

Join us March 2-4 in Santa Clara and you will leave a more insightful, inspired and innovative internet marketer. An All Access pass gets you three jam-packed days of exceptional content, invaluable networking opportunities, and essential conveniences (like free WiFi, free beverages and free food) that make your time out of the office a bit easier.

Register today! You’ll be satisfied, we guarantee it.

Experienced SEOs understand the need for keeping up on changes in the constantly evolving search space. That’s why I’m so passionate about continuing SEO education and training. The upcoming SMX West conference taking place March 2-5 in Santa Clara, CA, is one such opportunity I recommend to fellow advanced-level SEOs.

The advanced-level content that will be shared at SMX West is set to span a variety of fields and specialties, so check out the full agenda for all the offerings. Meanwhile I’ve gone over the agenda with an SEO-focused gaze and I’ve drafted an “Advanced SEO’s Dream Agenda” to be my guide while navigating the presentations, conversations and events at the show.

Tuesday, March 2 – Local SEO and Real-Time Search

SEO Training instructor and search marketing expert Bruce Clay

The conference kicks off strong with the opening keynote by Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer. Any SEO interested in keeping up with latest developments of the search landscape will be in attendance to hear this outspoken officer’s address to the search marketing community. Here’s hoping we learn more about the impending partnership between Bing and Yahoo! and what it could mean for marketers.

As an advanced SEO, one thinks a lot about how various pieces of the Internet marketing puzzle can be leveraged together for greatest effect. That’s why on Day 1, I’ll be taking advantage of the sessions that drill down into the specific SEO areas of local search and real-time search.

When you have two hotels!

Just an alert for those of you attending SMX West in Santa Clara March 2-4 and those planning to come that we’ve sold out the Santa Clara Hyatt.

Thankfully, just across the street from the Santa Clara Convention Center sits the Santa Clara Hilton, and we’ve got a block of rooms there as well. Best of all, the Hilton’s rates are even better than the Hyatt’s!

So, register for SMX West and book your room today. Prefer to speak with someone? Give us a call at (877) 242-5242.

We’re especially excited this year because we’re changing the format of SMX London to be similar to our always sold-out SMX Advanced show. We think the time is right to take things to the next level for the UK and European search marketing community.

Do you have a topic you’d like to see covered in a session at SMX Advanced London on May 17-18, 2010? Something you’d like to see covered in depth, or a discussion of advanced strategies and tactics for getting the most out your search marketing campaigns? If so, we’d like to hear from you. Please head over to the SMX session pitch form and describe your idea(s) for sessions at the show. Please include:

• Proposed session title
• One paragraph description of the session
• Optional: Speakers who you think are most qualified for this panel

Remember that all sessions at SMX usually feature 3-4 speakers with 10-15 minutes each of speaking time, so please make sure your idea will accommodate that format. We’re not interested in any pitches for sessions where a single individual would speak for an entire session. And also please remember, no product or service pitches.

Ready to pitch? Please use the SMX session pitch form, and do not email Danny or Chris. These days we work with a team of people to help coordinate speaker selection. We need a centralized online system to help manage that process so things don’t slip through the cracks. By far the most reliable way to express interest in speaking is to go through the system – email too often gets overlooked or lost.

And don’t delay—we’ll be closing the session pitch form on February 19.

Key milestones for SMX Advanced London

This pitch form is for session ideas only. We will open up a separate pitch form for people to apply to speak on specific panels once the agenda is posted.

• Session pitches open Feb 1, close Feb 19
• Agenda posted & speaking pitches open week of Feb. 22
• Speaking pitches close: March 19

I suppose the next best thing to dreaming about leaving the cold New Hampshire winter is to actually do it! Can’t think of a better way to toss off winter blahs than with a few days at SMX West.

Agenda Item #1 – Monday, Monday

I am planning to get in early on Sunday to soak up the sun for a day or so before my favorite part of the week: Monday night’s SMX Meet & Greet reception. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. This is the absolute best way to meet speakers and other attendees and make great connections in a relaxed comfortable setting. Don’t be shy. This is a very friendly crowd.

Day 1 – Ruby Tuesday

Absolutely don’t want to miss Steve Ballmer’s gem of a keynote. Microsoft has been doing nothing shy of re-engineering the entire search landscape for the past two years and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. What’s next for Microsoft? If there’s a news scoop – I don’t want to miss it.

The Early Bird Rate for Search Marketing Expo – SMX West expires in just two days (Saturday, Jan. 30) Register now and get 3 days of exception content and invaluable industry connections for only $1245.

Join us in Santa Clara, CA March 2-4 for the most compelling search marketing conference on the West coast. Our roster of 100+ of the most knowledgeable presenters will share tactics that made and keep them successful. The multi-track, 50 session agenda allows you to customize your program to best fit your needs and maximize your investment. Plus SMX West offers the ideal mix of opportunities to grow your industry connections – check out the networking events schedule!

Just added to the program – Thursday March 4th will kick off with a dynamic “State of the Search Union” panel of including some of the sharpest minds in search to discuss the dramatic developments which have reshaped our industry. You won’t want to miss the insights and recommendations (complete with controversy) from this collection of super savvy panelists.

Time is running out! Register now and grab your chance to save $150 off an All Access pass (or more if you take advantage of our group rates!)

Have questions or need help registering? Contact us at registration[at]searchmarketingexpo.com or call (877) 242-5242.

Helpful SMX Links:

• Get a guided tour of SMX – read conference chair Danny Sullivan’s preview.
• The program is by Search Engine Land, the site marketers trust to keep up to speed on search marketing.
• Find tools and services to help you do your job better from leading vendors in the SMX Expo Hall.
• We’re confident you’ll be satisfied with SMX West – we guarantee it!

Continue your education post-conference with our March 5th workshops:

• Learn white hat SEO tactics to increase search traffic at Bruce Clay’s SEO Training.
• Drive conversions by planning and implementing an analytics strategy – attend Google Analytics training.
• Work in-house? In-house SEM Exchange is a must, exclusively programmed for you and your peers.

The Early Bird Rate for Search Marketing Expo – SMX West expires Saturday, January 30th. Save up to $350 on your All Access ticket by registering now! Here’s why:

• More than 150 of the world’s most knowledgeable speakers will present at SMX West. They’re selected based on ability AND willingness to share the tactics and strategies that made them successful. See who’s speaking in addition to featured keynote Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO.
Read the rest of this entry »

Register now for Search Marketing Expo – SMX West and save up to $350. You have until the end of the day Saturday, January 30th to take advantage of our early bird rate.

As the search industry changes, so does the SMX agenda. Learn tactics to make the most of developments such universal search, real-time search and new paid advertising opportunities. Over 70% of this year’s sessions are completely new compared to last year’s program. Take a look at the full agenda.

This post was originally published on Search Engine Land by SMX Boot Camp session coordinator Disa Johnson.

Need to get up to speed fast on search engine marketing? Here’s your “dream agenda” for Search Marketing Expo – SMX West (March 2-4 in Santa Clara, CA).

By following this agenda, you’ll get a comprehensive introduction to Search Engine Marketing, and maximize your investment in money and time. We highly recommend that beginners attend all of the Boot Camp sessions on Tuesday March 2. We’ve also made recommendations on sessions that follow, but feel free to attend sessions that interest you most.