Search Marketing Expo

SMX East: Speakers Announced, Rates Increase Soon – Register Now!

Kendra Jaros — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:54:15 +0000

Early bird rates for Search Marketing Expo – SMX East end soon. Save up to $300 on your All Access ticket by registering now! Why should you join us October 4-6 in New York City?

More than 100 of the world’s most knowledgeable speakers will present at SMX East. They’re selected based on ability AND willingness to share the tactics and strategies that made them successful. See who’s speaking.

With 60+ sessions, you’ll find exceptional content on SEO, PPC, social media marketing and more. You’ll be a more effective, innovative and inspired internet marketer by attending SMX East. Check out the agenda.
Networking, networking, networking! Come renew industry connections and make new ones. SMX East offers a mix of structured and social networking opportunities; there’s no better place to grow your professional network.

Register today and pay only $1295 for a three-day All Access pass. Remember, early bird rates end September 10. Don’t miss out!

PS: Interested in sending the whole team? You save an additional 15-25% when registering at least three people. Check out our attractive group registration rates.

Helpful SMX East Links:

Top 10 reasons to attend SMX East
See what to expect. Read conference chair Danny Sullivan’s preview
Access to best-of-breed solutions and tools – view SMX East exhibitors & sponsors
Take a deep dive into SEO techniques, In-house SEO, Google Analytics or Paid Search in our specialized, intensive workshops held October 7

Yelp COO Geoff Donaker To Keynote SMX East

Chris Sherman — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 17:21:16 +0000

We’re delighted to announce that Yelp Chief Operating Officer Geoff Donaker will be in the spotlight for SMX East’s second day keynote on Tuesday, October 5th. Combining local search with customer reviews, special offers and a healthy dose of social interaction, Yelp is an indispensable resource for local businesses and those who enjoy “getting out and about” alike. In this keynote conversation with Search Engine Land executive editor Chris Sherman, Donaker will discuss the incredible exposure Yelp can offer to local businesses via its 30 million monthly visitors, handling online reputation management issues, the future of location based services and social media and much more.

Want to know more? Read on for more details about the conference. Ready to go? Register now and get our Early Bird rate – $300 off an All Access pass. But don’t delay—the early bird rate expires on Sept. 10.

Share the Experience: Send Your Team to SMX East…and Save Up to 25%

Kendra Jaros — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:35:44 +0000

Shared knowledge, experiences, vocabulary…they’re all part of building an effective internet and search engine marketing team. And Search Marketing Expo – SMX East provides an exceptional opportunity for teams to learn and network.

Choose from more than 60 sessions on the SMX East agenda covering topics including SEO, PPC, social media marketing, local/mobile, analytics and more.

Get your new team members up to speed with SMX Boot Camp and other “freshman”-level sessions.
Is your team experienced? The SMX East program shines with intermediate and advanced content for search engine optimization and paid search topics.
Search and social media go hand-in-hand. Foster collaboration by sending your social and search marketers.
Conversions are where rubber meets road. Send your analysts to dive deep on conversions, optimization and measuring ROI.
And don’t forget the developers. They will learn how site architecture impacts search marketing results.

The depth and quality of SMX programming ensures you’ll maximize your investment in time and money; we guarantee it. See what past attendees have said about SMX East.

Groups of 3 or more save 15%, 6 or more save 20%, and 12 or more save 25%. Call (877) 242-5242 or e-mail registration@searchmarketingexpo.com to book your group.

Flying solo? You’ll find SMX East worthwhile too. Register online by September 10th and pay only $1295 for 3 days of exceptional content, invaluable connections, and all the essential conveniences SMX events provide.

Helpful SMX East Links:

10 Reasons You Can’t Miss SMX East – October 4-6 in NYC

Kendra Jaros — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 16:05:19 +0000

Are you responsible for building site traffic? Growing sales? Boosting ROI? Acquiring customers? All of the above?

A well executed search engine marketing program can help you exceed your goals. And Search Marketing Expo – SMX East is where you’ll learn the cutting edge tactics to make it happen.

Here are 10 reasons you should join us October 4-6 in New York City for SMX East:

10) The conference program is dynamic. 75% of sessions are all new. Returning sessions are all 4-star rated. Check out conference chair Danny Sullivan’s preview for a guided tour.

9) Actionable tactics, best practices and strategies for all skill levels – whether you’re a search marketing veteran or just starting out. Check out the agenda.

8) SMX East is programmed by the editors of Search Engine Land, the people marketers trust to keep them up-to-date and ahead of the curve.

7) It’s about you; customize the experience. Choose from nearly 60 sessions on paid search advertising (PPC), search engine optimization (SEO), local and mobile marketing, social media marketing, analytics and more. See the full agenda.

6) SMX East speakers are subject-matter and presentation experts. Find out how we select them.

5) Networking galore! Meet your search industry peers at a mix of structured and social networking events.

4) Meet the best-of-breed solutions providers who offer the tools and services that can make you a more effective and efficient marketer. See the current list of exhibitors.

3) Dive deep into SEO, PPC, in-house search marketing or analytics. Check out the full-day workshops on October 7.

2) You’ll be pampered with the essential conveniences that are SMX hallmarks: free wifi, hot lunches, snacks and networking activities. All included with your All Access pass.

1) Your peers rave about SMX East. See what they’ve said.

BONUS REASON) SMX East is an incredible value. Register by September 10 and pay just $1295 for all 3 days of actionable content, invaluable connections, and essential conveniences. You’ll be satisfied. We guarantee it.

Sign up by September 10 and save up to $300. Register today!

PS: Want to send the team? You save even more when registering 3 or more. Check out our group rates.

Search Marketing Expo Adding International Search Summit to 2011 Schedule

Kendra Jaros — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 08:00:23 +0000

The Search Marketing Expo – SMX conference series is expanding its focus on international search marketing. International Search Summit (ISS) will be offered in conjunction with SMX events worldwide beginning in 2011. ISS is produced by international search agency WebCertain Group LTD,

The first International Search Summit @ SMX will take place at SMX West in San Jose March 8-10, 2011 followed by events in London, Seattle and New York. Additional dates and locations will be announced in the near future.

By co-locating these events, SMX attendees will have the opportunity to dive deep into the complexities of international search marketing.

The International Search Summit started in London in 2007 and has seen been produced in London, Oslo and Berlin.

Speakers at the event regularly include senior executives from major global search engines and social media sites from Russia to the Middle and Far East. The program also includes case studies from organizations with significant experience in operating in multiple languages dealing with all the cultural issues which that entails.

Click here for more information about SMX West and International Search Summit @ SMX.

Search Marketing Expo – SMX East: A Personal Tour By Danny Sullivan

Danny Sullivan — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 13:40:10 +0000

The SMX East search marketing conference comes to New York from Oct. 4-6. Involved with generating business for your company? You should be there, to ensure you’re keeping up with the burgeoning medium of search.

SMX East isn’t just for search marketers, though there’s plenty for the SEM folks! There’s also ample content for web designers, developers, public relations people and traditional marketers. Anyone who is even remotely involved with gaining visitors, customers or sales should be attending. Search is a crucial marketing medium that you ignore at your peril, that you embrace at your gain.

Below, a virtual tour of what to expect and why you should attend.

Something For Everyone

First, an overview of what SMX East is all about. This is one of the “big” SMX search engine marketing conferences that Search Engine Land’s publisher Third Door Media runs each year in the United States (SMX West, held in San Jose during March, is the other).

The event is large enough that we offer multiple tracks filled with sessions for people of all interests and experience levels. Beginner, intermediate or advanced — in PPC, SEO, or social media — there’s plenty for you.

To make your sessions choices easy, we have “ski run” icons on our Agenda-At-A-Glance page that indicate which sessions are suitable for anyone versus those with intermediate and expert skills. You can see which sessions are focused toward search engine optimization (working with “free” listings), PPC (paid search ads) or both combined (SEO+PPC = search engine marketing).

For The Newbies

Search engines are one of the major ways people locate information. That means search marketing isn’t just a big online marketing thing. It’s a huge marketing activity, period. If you are in a position that helps drive sales, visitors, customers and so on, you need to understand the search space.

Our SMX Boot Camp will get you up to speed. It happens on the first day of the show, Oct. 4. In it, you’ll learn the fundamentals in these sessions:

To encourage newbies to learn more about search, you can attend all of these sessions through a special low-cost SMX Boot Camp ticket, which includes admission to the afternoon keynote and the Expo Hall reception at the end of the day. You even get a certificate of completion! If you decide you want to learn more, you can upgrade your ticket to a full pass and attend sessions on the second and third day of the show.

For The Experts: SMX Advanced Track

SMX Advanced is our show especially for advanced search marketers held during June. It sold out once again this year. Missed it? We’ve got a mini-version running on the first day of the show, in the SMX Advanced Track:

Even if you made it to SMX Advanced, the SMX Advanced Track at SMX East features all new, all fresh sessions. In addition, there are plenty of expert-level sessions happening on the second and third day of the show, too.

Search Marketing Beyond Search Marketing

We know New York is home to large numbers of traditional marketers and advertisers. That’s why we’ve got a special track on the second day of the show designed to focus on search as part of the overall marketing activity. In the Marketing Track, sessions include:

Get Your Facebook Tweeting Socially In Real Time, YouTube-Style

SMX keeps the focus firmly on search, so that you can dive deep into this important area. But social media is so closely tied to search that search marketers need to be up-to-speed on social as well. That’s why we have two tracks on social. On the first day, there’s the Social & YouTube Track. On the second day, there’s the Twitter & Facebook Track. Sessions include:

Local & Mobile Search

The smartphone revolution continues, driving up the mobile search activity happening. Our Local & Mobile Search Track, which runs on Day 1, keeps you up to speed on the latest in the mobile and local search space. Sessions include:

When SEO Meets Design & Development

Working with designers or developers? Are you a designer or developer? Or are you an SEO who wants to ensure you’re up-to-speed on the latest technical aspects that can impact your SEO performance? The popular Technical SEO Track, programmed in conjunction with Nine By Blue, returns to SMX East. It has these sessions on the second day of the show, Oct. 5:

Paid Search, This Track’s For You

Really interested in sessions on paid search? There are plenty of sessions on this topic throughout the conference, but we also have a special Paid Search Track on Day 3 just for you. Park yourself in one place and enjoy! And tired of PowerPoint? Our two “Ask The…” sessions are PowerPoint-free. Put your questions to panel of paid search reps, then to a panel of paid search buyers. The sessions:

SEO, This Tracks For You

Don’t worry, SEO types! We’ve also got a track devoted to you. Aside from SEO-only sessions throughout the conference, Day 3 features an entire SEO Track, including two PowerPoint-free “Ask The…” sessions. The panels:

Analytics & Conversion

Getting people to your web site via search and social media marketing is only half the battle. Are they converting, when they arrive? And are you attributing the visit the right way? Plus, what can you learn from your competitors. Our Analytics & Conversion Track on the third day of the show has sessions on all of these topics:

In Housers & Retailers

Involved with doing search marketing in house, for a company or organization? We’ve got two special sessions for you on the third day of the show, in our In House & Specialty Search Track. The In House sessions will be posted soon, so stay tuned. As for specialty search, our Ecommerce & Retail Search Marketing Tactics is designed for those especially focused on online retail.

The Big Picture

While much of SMX focuses on how-to tactics, we also look at strategies. Where’s the space going and what issues does search marketing face? That especially happens in our Big Picture Track. Sessions include:

At the end of the second day, I’m also hosting our Evening Forum, where we talk about any topics, issues big or small, with lots of audience interaction.

Get Help At Clinics!

Looking for some specific advice from experts. See the doctor! On the second and third days of the show, our popular clinics return again in these areas:

SEO Site Clinic (twice on Day 2, once on Day 3)
PPC Tune-up Clinic with the SMX Mechanics
Link Building Clinic
Social Media Clinic

Post-Conference Workshops & Training

Looking for even more advice in particular areas? Stick around for an extra day, and you’ve got a choice of optional workshops and training to choose from:

Over 50 Editorial Sessions!

Having covered the sessions, it’s worth a word on how we program our events.

All the SMX sessions I’ve described above are what we call editorial sessions. That means people are speaking on them because we feel they have great information to offer. No one bought their way onto a panel.

Each session is developed by a “session coordinator” who reviews speaking pitches and reaches out to knowledgeable people, to assemble a panel. The session coordinator then works with their speakers to create a session where presentations support each other, rather than overlap. In most cases, the session coordinator is also the session moderator.

I and my co-chair Chris Sherman oversee all the sessions. We’ve been organizing search conferences longer than anyone in the industry (this is my 12th year of doing it, myself!)

The attention to programming is part of what we call the SMX Content Difference, and it’s why we’re able to guarantee the quality of our events.

Freebies: Expo Hall, SMX Theater & Sponsored Sessions

Of course, the SMX East sponsors & exhibitors do have great information to share with SMX attendees. That’s why we provide some ways for you to hear from them.

On the first two days of the show, we have a Sponsors & Partners Track. Unlike editorial sessions, these are created and produced by the company sponsoring them. That’s why we mark them as “Sponsored Sessions.”

Despite being sponsored, they have lots of great information. Sponsors know they’re competing to attract attendees who are also considering high quality editorial sessions. That causes them to want to match the “high tide” of content being provided. Before some editorial sessions, we’ll also have a few very short “Solutions Spotlights” that are also offered.

The Expo Hall runs for both days of the show. In it, you can get information from exhibitors and sponsors about many products and services available to search marketers.

On the Expo Hall floor, SMX Theater Presentations are mini-sponsored sessions that are offered, lasting 20-40 minutes. They’re a great way to learn quickly about a company, product, service or topic. The full list of theater topics will be posted later this month to the SMX East site.

An Expo Hall is free for anyone, as long as you register in advance. The Expo+ Pass allows you into the Expo Hall and the sponsored sessions. And naturally, those with full conference passes can enter the Expo Hall, go to the SMX Theater or Sponsored Sessions, plus have access to all the editorial sessions.

This is also a good time to thank our major sponsors: Bing and FOX Audience Network, our premier sponsors; iProspect, our platinum sponsor, and our two gold sponsors, Covario and Bruce Clay.

Network Like You’ve Never Networked Before

Beyond the conference sessions, there’s networking. At SMX, we don’t leave networking to chance, where you hope to randomly encounter the right people. We’re organized!

Even before you arrive, our SMX Connect networking system will allow you to meet people. Think of SMX Connect as an easy-to-use, disposable Facebook for just this event. You can find people with common work or personal interests, plan sessions to attend and see others who say they’re going.

The night before the show, we have our SMX Meet & Greet reception. It’s another easy way to meet people before the show starts.

During lunches, we offer special Birds of a Feather lunch tables, where attendees can network with each other and discuss specific topics. Being grouped with people who share a common interest is a great icebreaker. And in the evening of the first day, we have a reception in the Expo Hall.

Don’t be worried about meeting people. You’re going to meet plenty of them. Come out, and when you’ve registered, don’t forget to tell the world using one of our I’m Going badges.

Good Food, WiFi & Backpacks

We want you to really enjoy your SMX experience. That’s why we don’t do boxed lunches at our shows. You’ll get a great lunch, on a real plate, and you’ll want seconds. You’ll also get refreshments during the day. People take pictures of the food we serve at our events, they’re so amazed and pleased. Honest!

We’ll also keep you connected, providing free WiFi in the conference rooms. Twitter and Facebook and Foursquare email to your heart’s content – though consider shutting that laptop or turning off that iPad, lest you miss a great point one of our speakers is going to make.

Among the little touches, we’ll also give you a conference backpack. It’s a real backpack, not a bag, that you’ll take home and use again and again.

Still To Come: TBAs & Keynotes

Could there be more? Yes! Two sessions are marked TBA, which gives us a chance to add in any late-breaking topics. In addition, we’ve got two keynotes that will be announced shortly, so stay tuned!

Go. Now. Register!

I sure hope you’re ready to attend! You’ll find more details on the SMX East web site, including the Agenda-At-A-Glance. You can register online or by phone at (877) 242-5242. Do it by Sept. 10 to get the best “Early Bird” rate on your ticket, and you can save up to $300 off our on site pricing.

See you in New York!

This post was originally published on Search Engine Land by editor-in-chief Danny Sullivan, who also serves as co-chair for Search Marketing Expo – SMX East.

SMX, Mediagazer & How Search Is Media, Not Tech

Danny Sullivan — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 19:20:29 +0000

I’m really happy that our SMX: Search Marketing Expo search marketing conference is now a sponsor of Mediagazer. That’s not just for the exposure! It’s because Mediagazer itself finally exists as a place where search can escape being seen as “tech” and more as “media,” as it should be.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a huge fan of Techmeme, Mediagazer’s sister site that compiles tech headlines from across the web. It is my daily online newspaper, which I read each day along with many others (check out this recent New York Times profile of the service). Stories about search and search marketing from our Search Engine Land news site regularly appear over there. Currently, we’re the 18th source on the Techmeme Leaderboard.

But most of search, to me, is a media story. Not a tech story. Technology is involved, sure. But you know, technology is involved in the TV shows you watch and the newspapers you read. That’s media. Search, somehow, gets stuck as tech.

It’s a question that long pestered Google. As the company grew, it would constantly be asked, “Are you a media company?” Heck, it was one of the questions I asked Google cofounder Sergey Brin back in 2004, during a keynote discussion at one of my conferences. “We’re a technology company that applies technology to media,” he replied.

Google’s Eric Schmidt answered similarly in an Los Angeles Times interview in 2006, saying in answer to the same question:

It’s better to think of Google as a technology company. Google is run by three computer scientists, and Google is an innovator in technology in our space. We’re in the advertising business — 99% of our revenue is advertising-related. But that doesn’t make us a media company. We don’t do our own content. We get you to someone else’s content faster.

These days, Google does do some of its own content, at least content hosted on sites it owns and operates such as YouTube or Google Knol. But I never defined Google as a media company because it produced its own media. Instead, it was a media company because it made money by getting ads out in front of a wide audience, in front of a broad medium — a medium known as search.

If TV is a medium; if print is a medium; if outdoors is a medium, I wish that more people would finally get that search is a co-equal medium to all of them. It is a broadcast system, but one that works in reverse, where consumers broadcast their desires to marketers and advertisers, as I’ve written:

I’ve described search as a “reverse broadcast system.” In a broadcast system, advertisers spend lots of money to reach a mass audience, hoping to build desire for a product or service. But most of the audience is not interested in their pitches. Search is the reverse. Each search is an expressed desire, something that someone at a particular time actually wants. Advertisers can tune in to the “desire-cast” that’s going on.

That brings me back to Mediagazer. Launched last March, the site collects media headlines from around the web. I remember talking with Mediagazer editor Megan McCarthy after it launched about how pleased I was that many of the tech stories that were also media stories had a new place to be spotlighted, search stories among them.

Search is a media story. If you’re in media, and you’re not doing search or not thinking of search as part of your job, think again. You’re missing out.

To help you, we’ve got a conference heading to New York, our SMX East show that runs from Oct. 4-6. A “boot camp” to get you up to speed. Sessions like:

Plus much, much more. Check out the agenda. We hope to see you there, and we’ll be telling you even more about the show in the coming weeks.

SMX East Super Early Bird Rates Expire Tomorrow July 30 – Register Now!

Kendra Jaros — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 10:47:49 +0000

Time is up! The lowest rates available for Search Marketing Expo – SMX East expire tomorrow. Register today and pay only $1195 for three days of exceptional tactical content and invaluable networking opportunities.

SMX East offers sessions covering search engine optimization (SEO), paid search advertising (PPC) social media marketing, analytics and conversions, local, mobile and more. Programmed by the editors of Search Engine Land, you can expect only the most relevant content and qualified speakers at SMX East.

Check out our multi-track agenda with advanced, intermediate and beginner-level sessions
Stay for a deep dive! Attend one of the Oct. 7 workshops on SEO, paid search, in-house or Google analytics
New to search? Learn more about SMX Boot Camp
Visit with best-of-breed solution providers – take a look at the latest exhibitor list
Should you attend? See what others have said
Want to send your team? Group rates can save you 15% or more
View our FAQ and get your questions answered

Don’t miss out! Register now to take advantage of SMX East super early bird rates before they run out!

One-day All Access Passes, Networking Passes and free Expo+ passes are also available – see pass options to learn what you get.

Click Here to Register Today!

Want To Speak @ SMX East? Here’s How

Chris Sherman — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:03:51 +0000

The agenda is live, and we’re now accepting submissions to speak at Search Marketing Expo – SMX East 2010. To increase the odds of being selected, be sure to have read the agenda. Understand what the sessions are about. Ensure that your pitch is on target to the show’s audience and the session. Please also be very specific about what you intend to cover. Also, if you do not see a particular session listed, this is because there are no openings for that session. Use this form to submit your request.

As you might guess, interest is high in speaking at SMX conferences. Danny, Chris and the session coordinators sift through thousands of speaker submissions to make their selections. Here are some tips that will increase your chances of being selected.

Pitch early: Submitting your pitch early gives you a better chance of being selected. Coordinators accept speakers as soon as they identify a pitch that they think best fits the session, just like colleges that use a rolling admissions policy. So pitching early increases the likelihood you’ll be chosen.

Use the form: The speaker pitch form (http://searchmarketingexpo.com/speaker-form) is the way to ask to speak. There’s helpful information there about how your pitch should be written and what it should contain.

Write it yourself and be specific: Lots of pitches come in that are obviously written by staff or not specific to the session. These are two of the most effective ways to ensure that your pitch is ignored. If you’re a thought leader, write the pitch yourself… and make certain that it is 100% focused on the session topic.

You’ll be notified: If you are accepted to speak, you’ll be notified by e-mail. If not, you’ll be notified by e-mail in late August.

SMX East Agenda Live – Register by Friday to Get Super Early Bird Rates!

Kendra Jaros — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:29:23 +0000

Attend SMX East October 4-6 in New York City and become be a more effective, innovative and inspired internet marketer. Register by this Friday, July 30 and pay only $1195 for 3 days of exceptional content, invaluable connections, and all the essential conveniences SMX events provide.

The SMX East Agenda features more than 50 sessions providing expert insight and real-world-proven tactics that you’ll implement instantly…and deliver results for months and years to come.

There are sessions just for you at SMX East, whether you’re an experienced search marketer or just starting out, employed at a Fortune 500 company or run your own business or agency.

The multi-track program includes advanced, intermediate and beginner-level sessions on paid search, SEO, social media marketing, local and mobile search, conversions and more. The depth, quality and diversity of SMX programming ensures you’ll maximize your investment in time and money; we guarantee it.

Register by July 30 and get the lowest rate: just $1195 for an All Access pass. On a budget? One day, Networking and free Expo+ Passes are available too.

Register today!

Thinking about bringing the team? Check out our group rates and save even more!