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	<title>Search Engine Land &#187; SEM Industry</title>
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	<link>http://searchengineland.com</link>
	<description>Search Engine Land: News On Search Engines, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) &#38; Search Engine Marketing (SEM)</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:45:03 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>SEMPO Announces 2012 Board Of Directors Nominees</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/sempo-announces-2012-board-of-directors-nominees-110640</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/sempo-announces-2012-board-of-directors-nominees-110640#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:49:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Barry Schwartz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Organizations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=110640</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[SEMPO, the Search Engine Marketing Profession Organization, has posted their 2012 nominees for the Board of Directors. There are currently 38 nominees for the 2012- 2014 Board, with a total of 13 seats to fill. SEMPO members can vote electronically between February 14 through February 22, 2012. Votes must be submitted by Wednesday, February 22 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img src="http://searchengineland.com/figz/wp-content/seloads/2012/02/sempo-logo.png" alt="" title="sempo-logo" width="279" height="80" class="alignright size-full wp-image-110643" />SEMPO, the Search Engine Marketing Profession Organization, has <A href="http://www.sempo.org/?2012_bod_nominees">posted</a> their 2012 nominees for the Board of Directors.</p>
<p>There are currently 38 nominees for the 2012- 2014 Board, with a total of 13 seats to fill.  </p>
<p>SEMPO members can vote electronically between February 14 through February 22, 2012.  Votes must be submitted by Wednesday, February 22 at 5pm EDT.</p>
<p>The <A href="http://www.sempo.org/?page=board_of_directors">current board</a> includes Chris Boggs, Massimo Burgio, Bruce Clay, Dave Fall, Rob Garner, Mike Grehan, Motoko Hunt, Kevin Lee, Kristjan Mar Hauksson, Dmitriy Minenko, Jeffrey Pruitt, Margaret Willette, Michael Y. Xu.  It seems over half of the existing board is not up for nomination this year.</p>
<p>For more details on the election process, download <a href="http://www.sempo.org/resource/resmgr/docs/election-process-2012.pdf">this PDF</a>.</p>
<h3>Related Stories:</h3>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://searchengineland.com/sempo-to-feds-hands-off-google-101180">SEMPO To Feds: Hands Off Google</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchengineland.com/sempo-google-dominates-but-social-now-widely-used-for-ppc-72894">SEMPO: Google Dominates But Social Now Widely Used For PPC</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchengineland.com/sempo-la-event-highlights-rapidly-emerging-opportunities-in-mobile-88639">SEMPO LA Event Highlights Rapidly Emerging Opportunities In Mobile</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchengineland.com/sempo-board-elects-officers-16790">SEMPO Board Elects Officers</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchengineland.com/sempo-seeks-help-classifying-search-marketers-for-us-government-41400">SEMPO Seeks Help Classifying Search Marketers For US Government</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchengineland.com/sempo-finds-most-sems-willing-to-pay-more-for-enhanced-targeting-interest-in-mobile-search-and-video-14232">SEMPO Finds Most SEMs Willing To Pay More For Enhanced Targeting, Interest In Mobile Search And Video</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchengineland.com/sempo-invites-search-marketers-to-take-its-annual-industry-survey-35004">SEMPO Invites Search Marketers To Take Its Annual Industry Survey</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchengineland.com/sempo-institute-adds-summer-sessions-22034">SEMPO Institute Adds Summer Sessions</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchengineland.com/sempo-releases-second-annual-in-house-salary-survey-results-30229">SEMPO Releases Second Annual In-House Salary Survey Results</a></li>
</ul>
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		<title>Want To Speak @ SMX Toronto? Here’s How</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/want-to-speak-smx-toronto-here%e2%80%99s-how-110370</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/want-to-speak-smx-toronto-here%e2%80%99s-how-110370#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:46:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Sherman</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SMX & SMN Alerts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=110370</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The agenda is live, and we’re now accepting submissions to speak at SMX Toronto 2012, on April 25-26. To increase the odds of being selected, be sure to 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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The agenda is live, and we’re now accepting submissions to speak at <a href="http://www.searchmarketingexpo.ca/">SMX Toronto</a> 2012, on April 25-26. To increase the odds of being selected, be sure to read the <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/toronto/2012/agenda-at-a-glance">agenda</a>. 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 <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/speaker-form">this form</a> to submit your request.</p>
<p>As you might guess, interest is high in speaking at SMX conferences. Here are some tips that will increase your chances of being selected.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Use the form: The speaker pitch form (<a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/speaker-form">http://searchmarketingexpo.com/speaker-form</a>) is the way to ask to speak. There’s helpful information there about how your pitch should be written and what it should contain.</p>
<p>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&#8230; and make certain that it is 100% focused on the session topic.</p>
<p>&#8220;Throw your best pitch:&#8221; We&#8217;re limiting the number of pitches to three per person, so please pitch for the session(s) where you really feel you&#8217;ll offer SMX attendees your best.</p>
<p>If you want to know what we <i><b>aren&#8217;t</b></i> looking for, see our <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/blog/20110928-125248.php">The Best (Worst) Practices For NOT Being Invited To Speak At SMX</a>.</p>
<p>The speaking pitch form will close on February 20, and we&#8217;ll notify everyone whether you&#8217;ve been selected or not by the end of February.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Don&#8217;t Miss Networking with Your Marketing Peers at SMX West &#8211; Feb. 28-Mar. 1 in San Jose</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/dont-miss-networking-with-your-marketing-peers-at-smx-west-feb-28-mar-1-in-san-jose-110352</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/dont-miss-networking-with-your-marketing-peers-at-smx-west-feb-28-mar-1-in-san-jose-110352#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:32:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Search Engine Land</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Search Marketing Expo - SMX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SMX & SMN Alerts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=110352</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;ve already highlighted the exceptional content and highly qualified presenters at SMX West. But there’s another aspect of the conference that is just as important and valuable &#8211; networking. And with well over 1000 companies sending delegates (so far), there are lots of people to network with! Keep reading to learn more about the networking [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We&#8217;ve already highlighted the <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/agenda?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=feb6-network&#038;utm_campaign=west-agenda">exceptional content</a> and <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/speakers?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=feb6-network&#038;utm_campaign=west-speakers">highly qualified presenters</a> at SMX West. But there’s another aspect of the conference that is just as important and valuable &#8211; networking. And with well over 1000 companies sending delegates (so far), there are lots of people to network with!</p>
<p>Keep reading to learn more about the networking opportunities and then <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=feb6-network&#038;utm_campaign=west-reg">register</a> for your All Access pass to Search Marketing Expo – <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=feb6-network&#038;utm_campaign=west-home">SMX West</a>, February 28 to March 1 in San Jose, CA.</p>
<p><strong>
<p>SMX West Meet &#038; Greet<br />
Monday, February 27 – 6:00PM to 7:30PM<br /></strong>
Start your SMX West experience off right! Arrive early and join us for an informal evening reception with fellow attendees, speakers and invited guests. Sponsored by Brafton, Bruce Clay, Inc. and Majestic SEO.</p>
<p><strong>
<p>Meet &#038; Eat Networking Lunches and Birds-Of-A-Feather Tables<br />
Tuesday – Thursday, February 28 – March 1<br /></strong>
There are two ways to get more out of lunch at SMX than just hot meals! You’re certain to sit with knowledgeable and engaging people.</p>
<p>Like the experience to be a little more structured? Sign up to enjoy lunch at a birds-of-a-feather table. These are a great opportunities to continue the conversation with others who share your interests. Attendees can sign up for their selected topics when registering for the conference – seating is limited!</p>
<p><strong>
<p>Expo Hall Reception<br />  							
Tuesday, February 28 – 6:00PM to 7:00PM<br /></strong>
Check out all of the solutions offered by the SMX West exhibitors during the Expo Hall Reception, sponsored by Acquisio. You’ll enjoy drinks and snacks while meeting your fellow delegates and learning about tools and services that can make you a more effective internet marketer! </p>
<p><P>SMX West exhibitors and sponsors include Premier sponsors Acquisio, Covario and Marin Software, and Gold sponsors Bing, Bruce Clay Inc., Doubleclick Search by Google and Quantcast. <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/exhibitors?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=feb6-network&#038;utm_campaign=west-expo">See who’s exhibiting</a>. </p>
<p><strong>
<p>SMX After Dark<br />
Wednesday, February 29 – 9pm to 11pm<br /></strong>
SMX After will include an open bar, snacks, and the opportunity to meet internet marketers from around the world – all thanks to the good people at Covario. SMX After Dark is open to All Access passholders, speakers and press only.</p>
<p>Look for details and additions to the networking activities on <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/in-person?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=feb6-network&#038;utm_campaign=west-networking">our page</a>! </p>
<p>SMX West All Access conference passes are an outstanding value at just $1595 for 3 days of exceptional content and invaluable networking opportunities. You can be confident you&#8217;ve invested wisely; we <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/guarantee?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=feb6-network&#038;utm_campaign=west-guarantee">guarantee</a> it!</p>
<p><strong>
<p><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=feb6-network&#038;utm_campaign=west-reg">Register today</a>!</p>
<p></strong></p>
<p>PS: Over thirty organizations are sending groups of three or more. Should your company be one of them? Check out our <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/group-registration?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=feb6-network&#038;utm_campaign=west-groupreg">group discounts</a> of 15-25%.</p>
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		<title>Pass Options for SMX West &#8211; Sessions, Networking and More</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/pass-options-for-smx-west-sessions-networking-and-more-109852</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/pass-options-for-smx-west-sessions-networking-and-more-109852#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:01:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Search Engine Land</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Search Marketing Expo - SMX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SMX & SMN Alerts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=109852</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Search Marketing Expo – SMX West kicks off February 28 at the San Jose Convention Center. With nearly 60 educational sessions and keynotes, multiple networking activities and presentations from leading solutions providers, you’ll leave a more informed, effective and inspired internet marketer. SMX West offers flexible pass options to fit your needs, budget and schedule. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Search Marketing Expo – <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-home">SMX West</a> kicks off February 28 at the San Jose Convention Center. With nearly 60 educational sessions and keynotes, multiple networking activities and presentations from leading solutions providers, you’ll leave a more informed, effective and inspired internet marketer.</p>
<p>SMX West offers flexible <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/benefits?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-benefits">pass options</a> to fit your needs, budget and schedule. Which pass is your match? Keep reading, and then <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-benefits">register today</a> to secure your spot.</p>
<p><strong>The Comprehensive SMX Experience – All Access Pass</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Participate in a smorgasbord of <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/agenda?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-agenda">cutting-edge sessions</a> and keynotes covering SEO, paid search advertising, social media marketing and other internet marketing topics, presented by an <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/speakers?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-speakers">expert faculty</a> of over 130 speakers. </li>
<li>Attend all the networking activities, including the “Meet &#038; Greet&#8221; kickoff reception, the Expo Hall Reception, Birds-of-a-Feather lunch tables and SMX After Dark.</li>
<li>Enjoy conveniences like free Wifi, breakfast, hot lunches and snacks.</li>
</ul>
<p>Three day All Access Passes are available for just $1595, an outstanding value. You’ll be satisfied. We <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/guarantee?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-guarantee">guarantee</a> it!</p>
<p>Have only one day to spend at SMX? One Day All Access Passes are available.</p>
<p><strong>In-Depth Training – Workshop Pass</strong></p>
<p>Take a deep dive into <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/seotoolset-training?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-BC">SEO</a>, <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/international-search-summit?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-ISS">international search marketing</a>, <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/in-house-seo-exchange?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-inhouse">in-house SEO</a>, <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/advanced-adwords-training?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-adwords">advanced AdWords</a> or <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/facebook-marketing?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-FB">Facebook marketing</a> by attending a pre-conference workshop on Monday, February 27.</p>
<p><P>Register for just a workshop or save by buying a combination All Access + Workshop Pass.</p>
<p><strong>Just Getting Started? &#8211; SMX Boot Camp</strong></p>
<p><P>Getting started can be difficult, so we’ve created a one day pass that provides the search engine marketing basics. Attend <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/boot-camp?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-bootcamp">SMX Boot Camp</a> on February 28 for sessions on paid search advertising, SEO, copywriting and link building.</p>
<p><P>Attend all four sessions and earn your Certificate of Participation. Boot Camp Passes are only $499.</p>
<p><P><strong>Find Solutions to Your Business Needs – Expo+ Pass</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Attend the more than 20 presentations in the <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/theater-presentations?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-theater">SMX Theater</a>. </li>
<li>Visit all of the 40 <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/exhibitors?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-expo">exhibitors and sponsors</a>, including market leaders Acquisio, Bing, Bruce Clay, Covario, Marin Software and Quantcast. </li>
<li>Access the keynotes and host of other activities on February 28-29. </li>
</ul>
<p>Expo+ Passes are FREE when you register online prior to SMX West, $50 at the door. <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/expo-plus-pass?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-expoplus">Learn more</a>! </p>
<p>SMX West will be here before you know it! <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-benefits">Register online</a> and secure your spot. Have questions? Call us at (877) 242-5242, or email <a href=mailto:registration@searchmarketingexpo.com>registration@searchmarketingexpo.com</a></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-benefits">Register Today! </a></strong></p>
<p><em>Helpful Links:</em></p>
<ul>
<li>Your peers have raved about SMX West. <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/testimonials?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-testimonials">See what they said</a>.</li>
<li>Want to bring your team? <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/group-registration?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-groupreg">Group discounts</a> of 15-25% available!</li>
<li><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/blog/20120104-111042.php?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-top10">Top 10 reasons</a> to attend SMX West</li>
<li><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/hotel?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-hotel">Hotel</a> and travel info</li>
<li>Get an <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/blog/20120116-070049.php?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan31-options&#038;utm_campaign=west-preview">insider’s view</a> of SMX West</li>
</ul>
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		<title>Search Engine Land&#8217;s SMX West Conference Rates Increase Saturday – Register Now!</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/search-engine-lands-smx-west-conference-rates-increase-saturday-%e2%80%93-register-now-109311</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/search-engine-lands-smx-west-conference-rates-increase-saturday-%e2%80%93-register-now-109311#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:16:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Search Engine Land</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Search Marketing Expo - SMX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SMX & SMN Alerts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=109311</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Early Bird rates for Search Engine Land&#8217;s SMX West conference end this Saturday, January 28th. Register now and save $250 on your All Access ticket! Join us February 28-March 1 in San Jose for: Timely programing: 85% of the sessions are new, exploring new developments in personalized search, keyword data blocking and the impact of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Early Bird rates for Search Engine Land&#8217;s <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan26-eblast&#038;utm_campaign=west-home">SMX West</a> conference end this Saturday, January 28th. <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan26-eblast&#038;utm_campaign=west-reg">Register now</a> and save $250 on your All Access ticket!</p>
<p>Join us February 28-March 1 in San Jose for: </p>
<ul>
<li>Timely programing: 85% of the sessions are new, exploring new developments in personalized search, keyword data blocking and the impact of technologies such as Siri/search by voice. <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/agenda?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan26-eblast&#038;utm_campaign=west-agenda">Check out the agenda</a>.</li>
<li>Actionable tactics, best practices and strategies from over 130 subject-matter experts. <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/speakers?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan26-eblast&#038;utm_campaign=west-speakers">See who’s speaking</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/in-person?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan26-eblast&#038;utm_campaign=west-networking">Networking opportunities</a> to connect with your industry peers. </li>
<li>Access to <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/exhibitors?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan26-eblast&#038;utm_campaign=west-expo">leading solution providers</a> in the Expo Hall. </li>
<li>Five <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/workshops?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan26-eblast&#038;utm_campaign=west-workshops">in-depth workshops</a> February 27.</li>
<li>Essential conveniences. At SMX West you’ll be treated right. Hot lunches. Snacks. WiFi access. All *included* with your All Access pass. </li>
</ul>
<p>Don’t miss your chance to save! <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan26-eblast&#038;utm_campaign=west-reg"><strong>Register today</a> to secure SMX West Early Bird rates!</strong></p>
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		<title>Infographic: How Much Does SEO Cost?</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/infographic-how-much-does-seo-cost-109152</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/infographic-how-much-does-seo-cost-109152#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:00:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Search Engine Land Infographics</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Infographics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Stats]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=109152</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[How much does SEO cost? How much time do you have to discuss the various models and prices out there! However, a new survey sheds some light on the subject. Over 500 people and companies who offer search engine optimization services were asked about how their models. Turns out, it&#8217;s most common to charge $100 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-109154" style="margin-top: 4px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 14px; margin-right: 14px;" title="how much does seo cost" src="http://searchengineland.com/figz/wp-content/seloads/2012/01/how-much-does-seo-cost1.jpg" alt="" width="214" height="106" />How much does <a href="http://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-seo">SEO</a> cost? How much time do you have to discuss the various models and prices out there! However, a new survey sheds some light on the subject.</p>
<p>Over 500 people and companies who offer search engine optimization services were asked about how their models. Turns out, it&#8217;s most common to charge $100 to $150 per hour, in the US. But by-the-hour consulting is only one of four nearly co-equal ways of charging.</p>
<p>Also popular is project-based pricing, where the average price is between $2,500 to $5,000, in the US. That&#8217;s also the same average price for those who buy on a monthly retainer basis. Fixed prices on a contract basis is also a popular way that SEO is sold, but no averages were provided.</p>
<p>The survey was conducted by <a href="http://www.seomoz.org">SEOmoz</a> and compiled into the infographic below by <a href="https://aytm.com/">AYTM</a>:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://searchengineland.com/figz/wp-content/seloads/2012/01/SEO-cost_1.png" rel="lightbox"><img class="size-full wp-image-109153 aligncenter" title="SEO Cost" src="http://searchengineland.com/figz/wp-content/seloads/2012/01/SEO-cost_1.png" alt="" width="600" height="2548" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Want the infographic for yourself? You&#8217;ll find it, along with more details about the survey and findings, at SEOmoz here: <a href="http://www.seomoz.org/blog/seo-pricing-costs-of-services">SEO Pricing: 600+ Agencies Share Costs of Services &amp; Pricing Models</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Need to learn more about SEO? Then be sure to see our list of resources, including a background video, on our <a href="http://searchengineland.com/guide/what-is-seo">What Is SEO / Search Engine Optimization?</a> page.</p>
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		<title>130 Experts Speaking at Search Engine Land&#8217;s SMX West – Conference Rates Increase Saturday</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/130-experts-speaking-at-search-engine-lands-smx-west-%e2%80%93-conference-rates-increase-saturday-108688</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/130-experts-speaking-at-search-engine-lands-smx-west-%e2%80%93-conference-rates-increase-saturday-108688#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:51:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Search Engine Land</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features: Analysis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Search Marketing Expo - SMX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SMX & SMN Alerts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=108688</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Early bird rates for Search Marketing Expo – SMX West expire this Saturday, January 28. Register now and save! Here’s why you should join us February 28 to March 1 in San Jose, CA: More than 130 of the world’s most knowledgeable search marketers will present at SMX West. They’re selected based on ability AND [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-109108" title="smx-logo-128" src="http://searchengineland.com/figz/wp-content/seloads/2012/01/smx-logo-128.png" alt="smx-logo-128" width="128" height="128" /></p>
<p>Early bird rates for Search Marketing Expo – <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-home">SMX West</a> expire this Saturday, January 28. <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-reg">Register</a> now and save!</p>
<p>Here’s why you should join us February 28 to March 1 in San Jose, CA:</p>
<ul>
<li>More than 130 of the world’s most knowledgeable search marketers will present at SMX West. They’re selected based on ability AND willingness to share the tactics and strategies that make them successful. <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/speakers?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-speakers">See who&#8217;s speaking</a>.</li>
<li>You’ll learn how the experts are prospering in spite of constant algorithm modifications, blocked keyword data and radical changes in personalized search results. The program offers sessions on SEO, PPC, social marketing and more for expert and beginning internet marketers. <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/agenda?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-agenda">Check out the agenda</a>.</li>
<li>Networking, networking, networking! Come renew industry connections and make new ones. SMX West offers a mix of structured and social <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/in-person?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-network">networking opportunities</a>; there’s no better place to grow your professional network.</li>
</ul>
<p><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-reg">Register today</a> and pay only $1445 for a three-day All Access pass.</p>
<p><strong></strong> Rates increase Saturday, so do it now!</p>
<p>Want to send your team? You save an 15-25% when registering three or more people. Check out our attractive <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/group-registration?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-groupreg">group registration rates</a>.</p>
<p>Helpful SMX West Links:</p>
<ul>
<li>See what to expect. Read conference chair <a href="http://searchengineland.com/the-big-preview-post-search-engine-lands-smx-west-2012-search-marketing-conference-comes-to-san-jose-108133">Danny Sullivan’s preview</a>.</li>
<li>Access to best-of-breed solutions and tools – view <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/exhibitors?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-expo">SMX West exhibitors &amp; sponsors</a>.</li>
<li><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/hotel?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-hotel">Where to stay</a> and how to get there.</li>
<li>Take a deep dive into SEO techniques, in-house SEO, Google AdWords, international search or Facebook marketing in our specialized, <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/workshops?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-workshops">intensive workshops</a> held pre-conference on February 27.</li>
<li>Still have questions? Check out our <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/faq?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&amp;utm_medium=jan23-ebspeakers&amp;utm_campaign=west-faq">FAQ</a>.</li>
</ul>
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		<title>An Interview With A Google Search Quality Rater</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/interview-google-search-quality-rater-108702</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/interview-google-search-quality-rater-108702#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:42:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Matt McGee</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Features: General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google: SEO]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Google: Web Search]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEO: General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Top News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=108702</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Since at least 2005, Google has been using a large, worldwide focus group to help review its search results and the quality of the web pages that rank well in its algorithm. The people in this program are called Quality Raters and, as you can imagine, the work they do is important to search marketers [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><img class="alignright size-full wp-image-108714" title="google-quality-rater" src="http://searchengineland.com/figz/wp-content/seloads/2012/01/google-quality-rater.jpg" alt="google-quality-rater" width="240" height="136" />Since at least 2005, Google has been using a large, worldwide focus group to help review its search results and the quality of the web pages that rank well in its algorithm. The people in this program are called Quality Raters and, as you can imagine, the work they do is important to search marketers everywhere.</p>
<p>Google was actually <a href="http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/001195.html">advertising Quality Rater jobs</a> in late 2004, but today the Quality Raters don&#8217;t actually work for Google; they work for contractors such as Lionbridge, Leapforce, Butler Hill and possibly others. According to Lionbridge&#8217;s <a href="http://en-us.lionbridge.com/MultilingualSearch.aspx?pageid=1293&amp;LangType=1033">Internet Assessors Program job page</a>, it has more than 4,500 people around the world rating search results. Leapforce&#8217;s website doesn&#8217;t indicate how many are in its program, but the <a href="https://www.leapforceathome.com/qrp/public/jobs/list">job listings page</a> includes opportunities with names like &#8220;Search Engine Evaluator,&#8221; &#8220;Social Search Engine Evaluator&#8221; and &#8220;Search Quality Judge.&#8221;</p>
<p>The Quality Raters&#8217; work has become more widely known over the years thanks to a couple occasions when the guideline document that Google provides as part of their work has been leaked online. (See our posts in <a href="http://searchengineland.com/the-google-quality-raters-handbook-13575">March 2008</a> and <a href="http://searchengineland.com/download-the-latest-google-search-quality-rating-guidelines-97391">October 2011</a>.) Webmasters have also noticed unique <a href="http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/006791.html">quality rater referral strings</a>, indicating when one of the evaluators had visited a website.</p>
<p>After Jennifer Ledbetter <a href="http://www.potpiegirl.com/2011/11/google-raters-who-are-they/">posted about the program</a> last fall, one current Quality Rater contacted Search Engine Land wanting to explain and clarify some of what&#8217;s been written and said about the program. Since then, with a couple breaks for holidays, I&#8217;ve traded numerous emails with this person … who, in addition to working for Lionbridge as a Quality Rater, also happens to work for a US-based search marketing agency.</p>
<p>To help ensure that this person, whom I&#8217;ve never met, is actually a Quality Rater, I asked for some screenshots from inside the website where the rating work is done. A couple of those are inserted within the interview, and here&#8217;s an image of the rating tasks home page showing an empty task queue.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-108717" title="rating-tasks" src="http://searchengineland.com/figz/wp-content/seloads/2012/01/rating-tasks.gif" alt="rating-tasks" width="600" height="186" /></p>
<p>Below, we talk about the hiring process, what Quality Raters look for when they examine websites, details of the different evaluation tasks they do and much more.</p>
<h2>Q&amp;A With A Google Search Quality Rater</h2>
<p><strong>SEL: Tell me how, when and why you got started with the Quality Rater program.</strong></p>
<p>Quality Rater: I first started with Lionbridge in May of 2011. I was looking for work because my then current employer had told me I was taking a pay cut, so I needed a way to add income. I began searching all the normal places for job listings and came across one on Craigslist for a Quality Rater. It sounded cool, so I sent them my resume and they got back to me the next day saying they were excited to have me and if I could just pass a few simple tests I would be hired. That was the easy part.</p>
<p><strong>Did the job listing specifically mention Google?</strong></p>
<p>The listing didn&#8217;t mention anything about Google but as soon as they contacted me, they said I would be doing work related to Google.</p>
<p><strong>So, you knew it was Google-related. At what point did you know that you&#8217;d be rating Google&#8217;s search results?</strong></p>
<p>I knew before I got hired.</p>
<p>One thing I think the SEO community is missing is that this program has nothing to do with SEO or rankings. What this program does is help Google refine their algorithm. For example, the Side-by-Side tasks show the results as they are next to the results with the new algorithm change in them. Google doesn&#8217;t hire these raters to rate the web; they hire them to rate how they are doing in matching users queries with the best source of information.</p>
<p><strong>Let&#8217;s talk about the hiring process. There&#8217;s some kind of test. Was it difficult?</strong></p>
<p>I had six days to complete both parts of the test, with the second part opening after I passed the first test.</p>
<p>The tests turned out to be a 24-question, essay-response theoretical test that asked questions based on a PDF they had sent me. The questions were designed to test my ability to take the rules and apply them to situations that weren&#8217;t covered in the PDF. One that I vaguely remember was about spam and what to do if the site didn&#8217;t show any signs of spam, but it gave off a spammy feeling. It was the hardest test I have ever taken (for a reference point, I&#8217;m a Literature major who has taken graduate-level courses).</p>
<p>Only after having passed that test did I get to take the practical exam, which had more than 140 questions. This test had actual results that I had to rate. In order to be hired, I needed to score a 90% or higher in each of the four categories (which were <em>Vital</em>, <em>Useful</em>, <em>Relevant</em> and<em> Off-Topic or Useless</em>). Ideally, these represented the actual tasks that I would receive as a rater.</p>
<p><strong>What were the questions like?</strong></p>
<p>To give you example of questions asked:</p>
<p><em>Query [crispy cream], English (US)</em><br />
<em> URL: http://www.treblebooster.com/</em></p>
<p>It would then be up to me to visit the page &#8212; something that I want to stress, because blogs out there have been saying that a rater can rate the page without visiting it &#8212; decide if it fits the query and then assign a rating. It really is up to the rater, but the correct answer here is Useful because of the spelling. If the user had typed &#8220;Krispy Kreme,&#8221; than this result would be off-topic, but because it is &#8220;crispy cream,&#8221; and the guitars on this page are called Crispy Cream, this could be the page the user is wanting.</p>
<p>There were 143 just like that. It was good times.</p>
<p><strong>Do you have any direct contact with anyone at Google, or do you only communicate with Lionbridge?</strong></p>
<p>I have no contact with Google; it&#8217;s only Lionbridge.</p>
<p><strong>After you get hired, is there some kind of training?</strong></p>
<p>After I got hired there was a weekly, two-hour webinar along with training modules to complete. It was very intense training. During the first four weeks, I was required to comment on every rating I gave. These comments were then reviewed and commented on, giving me feedback on my ratings.</p>
<p><strong>At what point do you get the raters&#8217; handbook?</strong></p>
<p>I got this the moment I got hired.  It basically is just a list of tasks we perform along with examples of how to rate them.</p>
<p><strong>How does Lionbridge (or Google) describe the handbook?</strong></p>
<p>They refer to it as the guidelines, not a handbook.</p>
<p>While we are on the subject of guidelines, one thing that really impressed me was how they have more than one rater looking at a site. I believe (I&#8217;m not sure, I&#8217;m going off the comments left by other raters) that there are about six raters looking at each task. If I rate something as useful but another rater says it&#8217;s off-topic, we must come to an agreement (through comments and debate) before the rating is submitted.</p>
<p><strong>How much do you make and how often do you get paid?</strong></p>
<p>I get paid $14.50/hour and I am paid once a month. I&#8217;m only able to work a max of 20 hours a week and a total max of 80 hours a month.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-108720" title="quality-rater-home" src="http://searchengineland.com/figz/wp-content/seloads/2012/01/quality-rater-home.jpg" alt="quality-rater-home" width="600" height="449" /></p>
<p><strong>In one of the recent articles about the Quality Raters, it says you can only work for a year and then you have to wait three months before you can re-apply. Is that true?</strong></p>
<p>I know they say you can only be a rater for a year, but everyone I&#8217;ve talked to says that, as long as they get their hours in and keep up the quality they are allowed to rate.</p>
<p><strong>Is the schedule completely up to you, or do they give you assigned hours?</strong></p>
<p>I schedule my own hours; as long as I get at least 10 but no more than 20, I stay on pretty good terms with them. They are very strict, but allow you to make up hours that you missed. So, if I only did four hours the first week, I could make up the hours by doing 16 hours the next week. Still only allowed 20 hours a week max, so if I miss more hours than I can make up, I&#8217;m out of luck.</p>
<p>They also tend to be really strict about their productivity goals. There is a certain number of tasks that I must complete every minute, depending on the task type. If I fall short of those goals, I am put on probation, during which I can not work. If my quality isn&#8217;t up to par, they fire me. It&#8217;s a very controlled work environment.</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned there about getting fired &#8220;if my quality isn&#8217;t up to par.&#8221; How do you know if you&#8217;re doing a good job? It seems to me that in a lot of cases, rating search results is pretty subjective.</strong></p>
<p>Results are subjective, but they have a quality center that shows your progress over time. They track how many returned results you have, how long it takes you to take care of a troubled rating, etc. While the rating is up to me, it has to be similar to what other raters have said. So, they track quality based on staying within the time period for rating tasks and the number of tasks you have returned to you.</p>
<p><strong>They return tasks to you &#8212; what does that mean?</strong></p>
<p>It means that there has been a disagreement on the rating and you have to go back in and come to an agreement with the other raters.</p>
<p><strong>So, the rating of search results is a group project. Is it difficult to come to agreement?</strong></p>
<p>Sometimes it&#8217;s harder to agree with raters, especially if they haven&#8217;t read the guideline like they should or if they are just starting out. However, after enough exchanges, they have a moderator come in and choose which rating matches it best. This moderator looks at our comments and makes a decision off of that.</p>
<p><strong>How often does that happen in your experience?</strong></p>
<p>Not very often. Most of the time if you give your reasoning for why you rated something one way, the other raters will agree with you. Most of the time, these types of disagreements occur when something is either slightly relevant or off-topic. Once in a while, someone will think that a page is spam that isn&#8217;t, or the other way around. I&#8217;ve only had a moderator step in once.</p>
<p><strong>What do you know about the moderators? Are they Lionbridge employees?</strong></p>
<p>Yes, they work for Lionbridge. From what I know of them, they used to be raters and then got promoted.</p>
<p><strong>Do you only look at organic results, or are you also grading ads/PPC landing pages?</strong></p>
<p>We look at any type of page on the web. Most of them are organic results, but some of the tasks are geared towards more ad-related topics.</p>
<p><strong>Do you remember an example of an ad-related task?</strong></p>
<p>Not really. Most of what they were was placement on the page, order in which they are presented and which one would I click, etc.</p>
<p><strong>Do you look at Google Places results and other Universal results, like News or Videos?</strong></p>
<p>Yes, we do. I can think of many tasks where it shows the map of what a user was looking at before they typed in a query, and we are then to rate the results of that query based on the map they were looking at. We also rated news based on how current it was, how relevant it was to the query, and if it came from a trustworthy source. As for videos, we had to watch the video to determine if it was a match for the query and rate it <em>Useful</em>, <em>Relevant</em>, <em>Slightly Relevant</em>, or <em>Off-topic</em>.</p>
<p><strong>That part about Maps is really interesting. So, in that task, they were putting you in the middle of some process &#8212; you&#8217;re not just doing tasks that involve standalone searches, but sometimes taking into account what has happened before? Does that also happen with other searches, too?</strong></p>
<p>Almost all of the tasks given have to do with user experience. Even with just the basic searches, we are given the user&#8217;s language and location before we can rate a page. It&#8217;s not about if a page fits a query, it&#8217;s about if a user would find the page useful. The Maps queries (called local queries) are the only ones that give what the user was looking at before searching, but we are supposed to keep in mind what a user is expecting to see from that query with every task type. For example, if someone was in Seattle and typed in the query &#8220;weather,&#8221; they would find a page showing the weather in Florida slightly relevant; however, someone in Tampa would find it useful.</p>
<p><strong>Aside from the collective rating that you described above, do you ever have other communication with other raters? Are there official or unofficial places where you can chat back and forth?</strong></p>
<p>There are lots of places &#8212; forums and such on the Lionbridge site &#8212; where raters can talk to each other, but I never interact with them. I was always stressed getting my hours in for the week, so I didn&#8217;t have time to mingle.</p>
<p><strong>Can you share a specific example of one of your recent tasks?</strong></p>
<p>I can&#8217;t think of the exact URLs I rated, but the keyword was &#8220;Nike Women&#8217;s Running Shoes.&#8221; It gave me a list of 20 URLs to rate (10 on each side) [<em>Ed. note: he's referring to the "Side-by-Side" tasks mentioned earlier.</em>] and I visited each one in order to determine whether they were vital, useful, relevant, slightly relevant, or useless. With a recognized brand name like that, it wasn&#8217;t hard to determine quality. For example, I think the Nike site was one of the options, so that would get a &#8220;vital&#8221; rating. I remember a couple of sites sold the shoes, so I gave them a &#8220;useful&#8221; rating and the Wikipedia entry on Nike was giving a rating of &#8220;slightly relevant&#8221; because I believe not many people searching for Nike Women&#8217;s Running Shoes want a history of the company.</p>
<p><strong>Do you click through and review all ten results that show up for a given task?</strong></p>
<p>I always click all the links simply because I&#8217;m not good enough to tell what the site is about by just reading its description. No one is good enough, that&#8217;s why they give us the links.</p>
<p><strong>When you click through from a Google search result page, what are you looking for on the web page that you visit?</strong></p>
<p>When looking at a site, I always check for spam signals first &#8212; keyword stuffing, hidden text, sneaky redirects, and the like. Once I know it&#8217;s a good site, I start to look at the page as a person who would type the query in Google and whether or not the content on the page would help me fulfill my needs. There are some tasks that ask about design and layout and the like, but for the normal URL rating or Side-by-Side tasks, I really just look at content and figure out if it would be a worthwhile page for a user to see.</p>
<p><strong>Do you ever look at the source code or anything like that? Are Raters asked or trained to look at source code of the web pages being rated?</strong></p>
<p>There is a quick primer on looking at the source code in the guidelines, nothing in depth. Basically we look for hidden keywords and other spammy tactics discussed in the guidelines.</p>
<p><strong>You mentioned URL rating tasks and Side-by-Side tasks, but also some that involve design and layout. What are those tasks like?</strong></p>
<p>Design tasks ask if the page has a good ratio of main content, supplemental content, and ads. It also asks about the overall design, is it easy to read, clear communication of information, and the like. It&#8217;s not about whether the page is beautiful or amazing, but whether or not the normal user could find what they need on the page without getting lost.</p>
<p><strong>Do they give you a single web page and ask you to rate its design, or are you still going through a page of search results and then rating design?</strong></p>
<p>They are specific tasks, not part of rating a URL.</p>
<p><strong>Are spelling and grammar part of the design-based tasks?</strong></p>
<p>Spelling and grammar are something we look at in all tasks (at least I do) but there&#8217;s not a ding for it.</p>
<p><strong>When looking at design and layout, do your criteria change based on the type of site you&#8217;re looking at? For example, a web page on a big brand site might be expected to have a more professional design than some small business sites.</strong></p>
<p>Like I said before, it&#8217;s more about the layout than the actual design. A company with a simple design would be rated just as well as a big company with a professional design as long as the information is clear and presented in a way that is easy to understand. To give you an example, a page where you can tell what the main content is with ads taking second page in the design would get a high rating. A page where the ads are confused with the main content, where you can&#8217;t tell the difference between content and ads would get a low rating.</p>
<p><strong>How many different kinds of tasks are there? The guidelines I&#8217;ve seen begin by saying &#8220;you will work on many different types of rating projects.&#8221;</strong></p>
<p>There are a lot of different tasks but they are all grouped under four main groups: URL, Side-by-Side, Experimental, and Result Review.  The big one there is the Experimental tasks which have a ton of different types of tasks in them. I&#8217;ve included a picture that lists all the task types and how long they are supposed to take, as well.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-108722" title="tasktypes" src="http://searchengineland.com/figz/wp-content/seloads/2012/01/tasktypes.gif" alt="tasktypes" width="510" height="1331" /></p>
<p><strong>What are &#8220;Display Block&#8221; and &#8220;TTR&#8221; tasks?</strong></p>
<p>Display Block, if I remember right, is a block of images that we rate as a whole rather than one at a time. TTR stands for Time to Rate, which is the baseline task they use to determine how long it should take to get a task done. It has all the different tasks in it, but instead of looking for accuracy it just cares about time.</p>
<p><strong>Do they try to give you tasks related to topics and things you know about, or do you review pages about things you&#8217;re not very familiar with?</strong></p>
<p>If someone types in &#8220;Best Dog Food for Puppies,&#8221; it&#8217;s not very hard to know what they are wanting and most queries have a fairly obvious meaning. However, once in a while I&#8217;ll get one that I can&#8217;t figure out and that&#8217;s when I do research to figure out what they want. For example, if someone queried &#8220;Release Liner,&#8221; I would need to do some research to figure out that it&#8217;s something used in cutting vinyl for signs and the like. At that point, I could determine whether a site is worthwhile or not. Granted, it&#8217;s not a perfect system but it works most of the time.</p>
<p><strong>Are there specific industries/niches that show up more than others in your rating tasks?</strong></p>
<p>Not that I have noticed.</p>
<p><strong>How does your work affect Google&#8217;s search results &#8212; do they tell you anything about that?</strong></p>
<p>They don&#8217;t talk about that; however, I know that what it really does is perfect the algorithm instead of changing actual live search results. I gathered this from the way that Side-by-Side are the most important tasks because they show the old algorithm versus a change in the algorithm that they are testing.</p>
<p><strong>Are you an active Rater these days? How long do you think you&#8217;ll keep doing it?</strong></p>
<p>I still rate on the weekends. I like doing it, so I&#8217;ll keep doing as long as I can.</p>
<p><strong>Does Lionbridge and/or Google know that you work in the search marketing industry?</strong></p>
<p>No. I got this job after I got the Lionbridge job.</p>
<p><strong>Do you know of any other search marketers who are also Quality Raters?</strong></p>
<p>I don&#8217;t know any personally, but I bet there aren&#8217;t a lot of us.</p>
<p><strong>What&#8217;s your opinion of Google&#8217;s search results, and has that opinion changed since you became a Quality Rater?</strong></p>
<p>I&#8217;ve always used Google as my &#8220;go to&#8221; search engine; however, since I became a rater, I&#8217;ve started using it more because I can see the behind-the-scenes improvements they are trying to make.</p>
<p>I like the idea that they have an army of actual people working towards bettering their engine. I know some people might think this wrong or even that raters have a negative effect on their rankings. Well, I can honestly say that they don&#8217;t. The whole point behind quality raters is not to rate the actual web, but rather rate how well Google is doing at providing quality results.</p>
<p>Almost every company has some form of quality control. Do people get upset that McDonald&#8217;s has someone check the quality of their food? I don&#8217;t see what Google does as any different than wanting to present the best possible product they can to their users.</p>
<p>So, to answer your question, yes, my opinion has changed for the better.</p>
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		<title>Keep Pace with Search Marketing Changes &#8211; Attend SMX West</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/keep-pace-with-search-marketing-changes-attend-smx-west-107964</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/keep-pace-with-search-marketing-changes-attend-smx-west-107964#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:00:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Search Engine Land</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Search Marketing Expo - SMX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SMX & SMN Alerts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=107964</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[SMX West &#8211; February 28 &#8211; March 1 in San Jose, CA Google is blocking some referrer information. Link data has gotten harder to analyze. Google&#8217;s Search Plus Your World bombshell promises to take personalization to a whole new level. Understand the landscape and get the tactics you need to map out a brilliant 2012 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/?utm_source=tdm-sel-scap-west&#038;utm_medium=text&#038;utm_campaign=west-home">SMX West</a> &#8211; February 28 &#8211; March 1 in San Jose, CA</h2>
<p>Google is blocking some referrer information. Link data has gotten harder to analyze. Google&#8217;s Search Plus Your World <a href="http://searchengineland.com/googles-results-get-more-personal-with-search-plus-your-world-107285">bombshell</a> promises to take personalization to a whole new level.</p>
<p>Understand the landscape and get the tactics you need to map out a brilliant 2012 and beyond. Attend Search Engine Land&#8217;s <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/?utm_source=tdm-sel-scap-west&#038;utm_medium=text&#038;utm_campaign=west-home">SMX West</a>, February 28 to March 1 in San Jose.</p>
<p>With nearly 60 sessions across 15 topic tracks on the <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/agenda?utm_source=tdm-sel-scap-west&#038;utm_medium=text&#038;utm_campaign=west-agenda">SMX West agenda</a>, you can customize a program to suit your needs. Whether you&#8217;re an expert or new to search marketing, focused on paid advertising, SEO or social media, you&#8217;ll benefit from the depth and breadth of content presented.</p>
<p>Early Bird rates expire January 28. Don&#8217;t wait &#8211; <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-scap-west&#038;utm_medium=text&#038;utm_campaign=west-reg">register now</a>! Groups of 3 or more save 15-25%!</p>
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		<title>Keep Pace with Changes in Search Marketing: Attend SMX West, Feb. 28-Mar. 1 in San Jose</title>
		<link>http://searchengineland.com/keep-pace-with-changes-in-search-marketing-attend-smx-west-feb-28-mar-1-in-san-jose-107368</link>
		<comments>http://searchengineland.com/keep-pace-with-changes-in-search-marketing-attend-smx-west-feb-28-mar-1-in-san-jose-107368#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:06:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Search Engine Land</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Conferences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SEM Industry: Search Marketing Expo - SMX]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SMX & SMN Alerts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://searchengineland.com/?p=107368</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Search engine marketing changes almost daily. Google is now blocking some referrer informationa. Link data got harder to analyze. And today&#8217;s Google’s Search Plus Your World bombshell promises to take personalization to a whole new level. Understand the landscape and get the tactics you need to map out a brilliant 2012 and beyond. Attend Search [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Search engine marketing changes almost daily. Google is now blocking some referrer informationa. Link data got harder to analyze. And today&#8217;s <a href="http://searchengineland.com/googles-results-get-more-personal-with-search-plus-your-world-107285" title="Google's Search Plus Your World" target="_blank">Google’s Search Plus Your World</a> bombshell promises to take personalization to a whole new level. </p>
<p>Understand the landscape and get the tactics you need to map out a brilliant 2012 and beyond. Attend <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-home">Search Marketing Expo &#8211; SMX West</a>, February 28 to March 1 in San Jose.</p>
<p>With nearly 60 sessions across 15 topic tracks on the <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/agenda?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-agenda">SMX West agenda</a>, you can customize a program to suit your needs. Whether you’re an expert or new to search marketing, focused on paid advertising, SEO or social media, you’ll benefit from the depth and breadth of content presented.</p>
<p>At SMX West you can expect only the <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/content?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-content">most qualified speakers</a> and relevant topics, programmed by the <strong>Search Engine Land</strong> editorial team, who have been reporting and analyzing this industry since its inception. </p>
<p><strong>Register Now and Save</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-reg">Register</a> by January 28 and pay only $1445 for three jam-packed days of exceptional content</strong>, invaluable <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/in-person?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-networking">networking opportunities</a> with leaders in search marketing, plus essential conveniences (like free WiFi, free beverages and free food) that make your time out of the office a bit easier. It’s all included in your All Access pass!</p>
<p>Adapt and succeed in the ever-evolving search industry. Don’t take our word for it – see what <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/testimonials?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-testimonials">past attendees have said</a>. You’ll be satisfied with your investment in SMX West, we <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/guarantee?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-guarantee">guarantee</a> it. </p>
<p><strong><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/register?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-reg">Register today</a>!</strong></p>
<p><strong><em>Helpful SMX West Links:</em></strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Want to send a team? Save 15-25% with our <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/group-registration?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-groupreg">group rates</a>!	
<li>Current list of <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/2012/exhibitors?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-exhibitors">exhibitors &#038; sponsors</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/faq?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-faq">SMX West FAQ</a></li>
<li><a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/hotel?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-hotel">Where to stay</a></li>
<li>Need approval? Check out the <a href="http://searchmarketingexpo.com/west/get-the-boss-onboard?utm_source=tdm-sel-post-west&#038;utm_medium=jan10-custom&#038;utm_campaign=west-boss">Get the Boss Onboard</a> form</li>
</ul>
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