SEMPO Outlines First Year Progress
Barbara Coll, President and Chair of the Board for SEMPO, Inc., was kind enough to provide Search Engine Lowdown with an update on SEMPO's progress over the first year, here is her (unedited) letter.

"Andy - thanks for posting a comment about SEMPO in your well read blog. I wanted to drop you a line and let you know what the significant accomplishments for SEMPO have been over the past year.

SEMPO started in August 2003 officially. The first goal was to get enough members to have a voice in the industry and to attract a few key sponsors who wanted to listen to our members. You know the mission is to get the word out about SEM. Once we had enough members we were able to move to the next important steps: education about the value of SEM, visibility of the membership with sponsors, and visibility of SEM in the online marketing world. We now have 230+ members worldwide (http://www.sempo.org/sempo-membership-directory.php) and 4 key sponsors (http://www.sempo.org/sempo-sponsors.php).

The education material we have developed in conjunction with our members is significant. You can see all the material on the sempo website at http://www.sempo.org/resources.php. This central point for case studies and articles that focus on the value of SEM, and not the tactics, is central to the SEMPO mission of providing our members and the public with material to take back to potential clients or current clients to sell SEM. We will add primary research about the SEM industry shortly.

Sponsors wanted access to our members - members wanted to influence the sponsors. The larger our membership, the more likely the industry players will listen to us. There have been numerous opportunities both publicly and one-on-one, for members to meet with sponsors. From those meetings we have influenced client service models, product specifications, and industry activities. With the diversity of business models and size of companies, sponsors like Google, Overture, Verizon SuperPages get a broad look at their buyers and the buyer's clients.

Visibility of SEM and our members within the online marketing community is just as important. This is an area to crack that takes much longer. While we are very visible at the SES shows, thanks primarily to arrangements with JupiterMedia and the Search Engine Strategies team, we are just starting to crack the shows that don't focus on SEM. I am moderating a talk at Ad-Tech now: Branding and SEM (http://www.ad-tech.com/sessions_byDay.asp?SubEvent=13#S1213). The agenda shows me as President of SEMPO, not as the CEO of Webmama.com. This is only the third conference that this has happened at but more are on the way. This is a very important step to show the online marketing world that SEM marketers are worth taking notice of and that we know more about Search Marketing that they do - therefore they should work with us! That we are a force to be noticed. And you pointed out the new European-based Board member. One of the powers of having a trade association for our industry is to reach worldwide and band together to show we are an even more powerful force to be reckoned with, to be listened to. Mike Grehan is very involved in the organization. I'll let him comment further for himself.

One more thing, analysts care about what SEMPO members are doing and what SEMPO is doing. Many of us are asked for our opinions often. Much of what SEMPO's Board and members have influenced is behind the scenes: with sponsors, analysts, press, and other associations. Members are enjoying many of the benefits of the single voice and single focus. I hope you will join us and use your substantial influence for the good of the industry.

Barbara 'webmama' Coll
President and Chair of the Board
SEMPO, Inc."

Ok, me again. Most of you in the industry already know my thoughts about SEMPO, so they don't need re-stating. But let me ask both members and non-members this question. By my calculations, SEMPO has collected around $250,000 in membership dues and sponsorships. Do you think that they have put this to good use? Are you getting value as a member? If you are not a member, why haven't you joined. On your marks, get set, discuss!
Andy Beal | permalink | +marktd |