• by Rob Garner , March 25, 2009

Whether planned or not, I always seem to end up at SES NYC, making my annual 1,500-mile trek from the Midwest  (this was my fifth SES show in NYC). Here is another installment of what has become my ritual report, following other SES NYC columns from 2007  and 2008.

Steve Baldwin's column on Monday talked about "lost" SES buzzwords, though many, if not most, of those buzzwords listed are still valuable and useful strategies and tactics (though they're just not covered as much anymore at SES).  The fact that sessions are changing is a good thing for attendees, and Tuesday's list validated a lot about search as a constantly evolving practice.  The list of sessions was successful in bringing up topics that addressed new challenges that we all have to deal with, or will have to deal with in the near future.  Overall, there was depth and choice in session topics for a first time attendee, or someone like me who has been attending repeatedly for several years.

Here is the list for Tuesday's sessions, and I'll let you be the judge of their value and whether or not at least a few would have piqued your interest:

Keynote: Guy Kawasaki: Twitter As A Tool For Social Media
Search & the Fundamentals Track
-       First Timer's Guide to SES and SEM

-       Introduction to Search Engine Marketing

-       Chitika Workshop: SearchAppalooza - Kick-Ass Apps Contest & Talking Search Beyond Google

-       The Imperative: Successful Site Architecture

-       Getting Mobilized! Mobile Marketing Strategies

Search and the Fear Economy Track
-       Searching for a Solution: The Impact of Today's Economy on the Search Landscape

-       Survival of the Fittest 2.0

-       Every Day in Every Way: Search Marketing as a Business Activity

-       Publishers & Agencies: New Business Models for Changing Times

-       Pay-for-Performance: Winning Strategies for Advertisers and Agencies

-       The Dozen Most Common Search Marketing Mistakes That CMOs Make

 

Search & the C-Level Executive Track
-       Entrepreneurs and C-Suite Executives: A Fast-Track to Search Marketing Fluency

-       Thinking Outside Your Website: Branding Without Borders

-       Budget Migration: Going Digital Without Impacting Your Brand

-       Implementing a Digital Corporate Governance Program

 
Search and Measurement Track
-       Meaningful SEO Metrics: Going Beyond the Numbers

-       Landing Page Testing and Tuning

-       Pay Per Conversation

-       Advanced SEO Strategies: Integrating Analytics, Usability, Persuasion and Journalism

-       Extreme Makeover: Conversion Edition

 
Search and the Future Track
-       SEO: Where to Next?

-       Key Points in Launching a Global Website

-       Beyond Googling: Where Will Your Customers Be Searching in Five Years?

-       Universal and Blended Search: An Update

-       Video Search Engine Optimization: 2009 and Beyond

 
Again, this is just the list of sessions for Tuesday, and I found more than a few to be interesting and valuable, particularly the sessions on the "Search and the Future Track." 

SEMPO update

SEMPO also had its member's meeting on Tuesday evening, with what appeared to be between 150-200 people in attendance. My iCrossing colleague and SEMPO transitioning president, Jeff Pruitt, gave a report on progress in the organization, and handed over the reins to new president Sara Holoubek.   Here is the new board:
?     Jeffrey Pruitt, Chairman
?     Sara Holoubek, President
?     Ron Jones, Vice President
?     Dave Fall, Treasurer
?     Chris Boggs, Secretary

The overall goals for the organization in the next year are focused on continued thought leadership, increasing global and local membership, and education.  Pruitt also gave out the first SEMPO President's Award to Motoko Hunt, for her contributions to helping grow SEMPO over the last year.