Redding, CT – December 20, 2007 – Third Door Media, Inc., producers of the Search Marketing Expo conference series, today announced that they will serve as a sponsor for Search Engine Marketing Professionals Organization (SEMPO), a search industry advocacy group. The sponsorship combines the forces of two of the most well-known brands in the search industry.

“Having been involved in the conception of SEMPO, I’m especially thrilled to be working with the group as part of the search education process,” said Danny Sullivan, co-chair of SMX West and one of SEMPO’s founding advisors.

The sponsorship was announced in advance of Third Door Media’s first 2008 show, Search Marketing Expo—SMX West.  Held in Santa Clara, California from February 26-28, SMX West promises to be the “must attend” event for search marketing professionals of all skill levels.   As a result of the sponsorship, SEMPO members interested in attending SMX West are eligible for a 20% discount on the full registration price. 

Additionally, SEMPO is programming two sessions as part of the ‘Sponsors & Partners’ track at SMX West. The sessions are designed to help budding search marketers get a head-start with SEMPO’s certification process.

“The SEMPO/SMX partnership is such a natural fit,” noted Gord Hotchkiss, Chairperson of the SEMPO Board of Directors.  “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to spread the message of SEMPO’s mission—to provide a solid foundation for the growth of the entire search marketing industry—at a conference that will attract people with so many different levels of search marketing experience.”

“SEMPO members and prospective members will appreciate the quality speakers, networking opportunities and special events that are hallmarks of SMX events,” said Chris Elwell, president of Third Door Media. “We’re please to offer the membership of this outstanding organization special rates on all SMX events, including a 20% discount for SMX West.”

Registration Information

SEMPO members need only login to their SEMPO account at SEMPO.org, then follow the on-screen instructions listed under Member Discounts to redeem their discount.
Registration from now through January 11th will be $1195 and then until February 25th will be $1395. On-site registration will be $1595. Visit SMXWest.com for details.

About Search Marketing Expo - SMX West and Third Door Media

Search Marketing Expo — SMX West is produced by Third Door Media, Inc. Third Door Media’s mission is to empower interactive and search marketing professionals by providing trusted content and community services they need to be successful. Other Search Marketing Expo events include SMX Advanced, SMX Local & Mobile, SMX Social Media, SMX Travel @ PhoCusWright, SMX London and SMX East.

Third Door Media also publishes the fast-growing search marketing news and analysis site Search Engine Land, which attracted 350,000 unique users in October 2007. The company also produces Search Marketing Now, a lead-generation marketing solution for suppliers of SEM-related products and services, and Sphinn.com, the place for web, online, search, interactive and internet marketers to share news stories, talk within subject-specific discussion forums, build a network and stay connected to hot topics in internet marketing.

For additional information on Search Marketing Expo - SMX West, or to schedule interviews with Danny Sullivan and Chris Sherman, contact Amy Hooker, 910-362-8004 or amy@mavencom.com.

For Third Door Media, contact Claire Schoen, 203-664-1350 or claire@thirddoormedia.com

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. Representing thousands in over 30 countries, SEMPO has over 700 members. It represents the common interests of 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 and Superpages.com. For more information, or to join the organization, please visit http://www.SEMPO.org .

Redding, CT (PRWeb) – December 17, 2007 – Search Marketing Expo – SMX West today announced that Cuill vice president of products Louis Monier and Search Engine Land.com Editor-In-Chief Danny Sullivan will headline the ‘Future of Search’ keynote series at SMX West.

SMX West takes place February 26-28, 2008 at the Santa Clara Convention Center in the heart of Silicon Valley, California. SMX West is programmed for search marketers of all skill levels; the event features more than 50 sessions conducted by search marketing community’s most well known experts and practitioners.

Louis Monier: Past, Present & Future of Search

Louis Monier has seen it all in the search space. Founder of AltaVista, he oversaw innovations still being used by many search engines today. At Google, he led the design for a faceted search engine. Monier also launched BabelFish, the first machine translation site, and was the first eBay Fellow, where he built a new search experience and engine for the ecommerce site.

Monier is presenting ‘Search: The Past, The Present and The Future’ on Wednesday, February 27 at 9AM. As vice president of products at Cuill (pronounced “cool”), he’s applying past and present knowledge toward Cuill’s future role in search. In his keynote conversation, Monier will share his thoughts on search over the years, as well as provide insight on how Cuill – a stealth search start-up with former Googlers as founders – hopes to shape the scene.

“While there are many search start-ups, the veteran search brainpower behind Cuill makes anyone sit-up and take notice. Yet Cuill has also been careful not to hype itself, to the degree few know much about it. I’m thrilled that attendees will be among the first to learn more about Cuill’s plans, plus hear Louis’s insights on search,” said Danny Sullivan, editor-in-chief of SearchEngineLand.com and chair of the SMX West event. “I’m excited to be a part of this inclusive event,” said Monier. 

“By reaching out to attendees with a wide variety of skill and knowledge levels when it comes to search marketing, SMX West is creating a situation that will ultimately benefit the entire search marketplace.  It will be the perfect arena to discuss where we’ve been, where we are, and where we’re going as an industry, and also to give search insiders an idea of what Cuill might offer.”

Sullivan to Discuss Search 3.0, Search 4.0 & Beyond

Danny Sullivan’s keynote will focus on the future of search and its effects on search marketers. He will discuss the implications of Search 3.0 (blended search) and Search 4.0 (personalized and social search), and take a look at likely developments beyond.In addition to programming SMX West, Sullivan is founder of Search Engine Land, a search industry news blog that boasts more than 300,000 readers each month.  Sullivan will speak at 9AM on Tuesday, February 26. 

Registration Information

Registration from now through January 11th will be $1195 and then until February 25th will be $1395. On-site registration will be $1595. Visit SMX West to register.

About Search Marketing Expo - SMX West and Third Door Media

Search Marketing Expo — SMX West is produced by Third Door Media, Inc. Third Door Media’s mission is to empower interactive and search marketing professionals by providing trusted content and community services they need to be successful. Other Search Marketing Expo events include SMX Advanced, SMX Local & Mobile, SMX Social Media, SMX Travel @ PhoCusWright, SMX London and SMX East.

Third Door Media also publishes the fast-growing search marketing news and analysis site Search Engine Land, which launched in December 2006 and attracted 350,000 unique users in October 2007. The company also produces Search Marketing Now, a lead-generation marketing solution for suppliers of SEM-related products and services, and Sphinn.com, the place for web, online, search, interactive and internet marketers to share news stories, talk within subject-specific discussion forums, build a network and stay connected to hot topics in internet marketing.

For additional information Search Marketing Expo - SMX West, or to schedule interviews with Danny Sullivan and Chris Sherman, contact Amy Hooker, 910-362-8004 or amy@mavencom.com.

For Third Door Media, contact Claire Schoen, 203-664-1350 or claire@thirddoormedia.com 

For Cuill, contact Andrea MacLean of Manning, Selvege & Lee at 415-293-2796 or andrea.maclean@mslpr.com.