Search Marketing Blog
SMX Seattle. A Lot More than Just Rain.
Posted by Sean McMahon on 06.05.2007
Greetings from the Great Pacific Northwest. Representatives from EngineWorks spent the past couple days at Danny Sullivan’s latest conference and exposition venture . . . the inaugural Search Marketing Expo (or more affectionately “SMXâ€). And, of course, Seattle didn’t disappoint . . . two solid days of 54 degrees, overcast, and rain. And, I am happy to report . . . the conference didn’t disappoint either.
While not nearly as crowded, in terms of both attendees and exhibitors, as Danny’s former circuit (i.e., Search Engine Strategies), the quality of presenters and exhibitors has been exceptionally high. Kent Schnepp, our VP of Operations, has picked-up the most current techniques and machinations for improving Web site visibility from several outstanding sessions, including Personalized Search: Fear Or Not track and the SEO, Meet Social Media Marketing track.
In addition, I had the opportunity to meet-up with legacy contacts of mine from the major search providers and industry peers. Exhibitors include Google (of course), Yahoo! (of course), and several other “of course†players from the search space. Conspicuous in their absence were Ask.com, and many of the usual suspects from the SEM providers. However, the twenty or so booths in the Exhibit hall do represent the entities in our space with the vision, and dollars, to step-up to this inaugural event.
The topics covered at this show have been very in-depth and detailed. Something that has not always been the case at recent industry conferences. And, as advertised, the tracks were well beyond the basics, and pushed the thought of what will be possible in years to come. It almost had the feeling of Danny’s first ever search event.
