Every year, Ad Age ranks the top performing U.S. search marketing agencies based on the previous year's U.S. and worldwide revenue. This year, the top three agencies held their 2012 report rankings, with iCrossing, 360i and iProspect coming in at No. 1, 2, and 3 on the list of largest U.S. search marketing agencies. 360i was responsible for the fast-thinking Oreo tweet during the blackout at this year's Superbowl. The agency also received a Facebook Studio Award for an Oreo social media marketing campaign. iCrossing recently received a Shorty Award for their Maker's Mark #CocktailParty2012 [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEM | Features: Analysis | Magazine | Search Ads | Search Ads: General | Search Marketing | Search Marketing: Branding | Search Marketing: General | SEM Industry: Awards | Social Media Marketing

Google's head of search spam, Matt Cutts, a name familiar to most of the readers here, was inducted into University of Kentucky's Arts and Sciences Hall Of Fame last Friday. This was reported in the Kentucky Kernel. The article explains that Matt Cutts attended the University of Kentucky while working for the Department of Defense as part of the university's co-operative program. During that time, he became very interested in information retrieval and search engines and became one of Google's first 100 employees. On Friday, Matt Cutts visited the University's Student Center to talk to [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Google: Employees | SEM Industry: Awards | SEM Industry: General

Several search marketing-related companies are included on the Tech 200, a list of the fastest-growing tech companies in the U.S. It's the second year that Lead411 has compiled the list (although last year's list included 500 companies), which includes companies in several industries: software, hardware, internet, media, advertising, wireless, telecom, IT services, e-commerce and consulting. The Tech 200 ranks companies not based on overall revenue, but on sales growth between 2008 and 2010. Congrats to the following search marketing-related companies that we've spotted on the Tech 200: [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Strategy | SEM Industry: Awards | SEM Industry: General | SEM Industry: Stats

Wendy Boswell, About.com's Websearch Guide, has announced the opening of the 2011 Readers' Choice Awards, which will showcase the best products, features and services in more than a dozen topic areas, from technology to hobbies to sports. Categories include: Best Search Engine Best Reference Site Best Movie/Video Site Best Family and Kids Site Best Shopping Site Best Productivity/Web Tool Site Best Humor/Game Site Best News Site Best Music Site Best Social Media Site Nominations will be open until Feb. 4, and voting will run from Feb. 11 through March 8, [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards

Couple pieces of industry-related news to pass along: One is about an industry-wide survey and the other is about a new industry awards; both have just launched today. First, SEOmoz has announced the 2010 SEO Industry Survey -- an update of the industry survey they first did in 2008. There are questions about the types of services you provide, which services are more or less in demand now, your background and training in search marketing, what SEO and social strategies and tactics you use, and so forth. You can take the survey here. It took me about 10 minutes to complete. You don't hav [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards | SEM Industry: General

Our SMX West search marketing conference is approaching fast, and there's a unique way for one person to attend -- by proving their chops as the "Biggest Search Geek." For the second year, in conjunction with Marin Software, SMX is offering the Biggest Search Geek contest. Marin's assembled a list of 20 challenging questions. Get them right -- and faster than anyone else -- and you'll be making your way to SMX West, all expenses paid. Flight, hotel, conference ticket -- all's covered. The winner also gets their 15 minutes of fame. There's an awards ceremony on stage during the morning of [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards

The 2nd annual SMX Biggest Search Geek Contest, sponsored by Marin Software, is designed to recognize the most knowledgeable and capable experts in the field of search engine marketing. Here are some preliminary stats from the competition: Search geeks on average are about 30 years old, with 5 years of SEM experience Over 40% came to search marketing from another profession altogether—law, finance, biotech and even songwriting! Over 25% of Search Geeks have an advanced degree This year's contest has seen a increase in the number of female geeks over last year, from 20% to 28%. Last [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards

Our very own Matt McGee announced the nominations for the 2010 SEMMY awards is now live. Respected judges in the SEM industry will vote on articles from 17 categories. The articles that win the judges votes will then move to the next stage of the awards contest, where general public voting will be accepted. The nomination categories include SEO, PPC, Small Business, Local Search, Google, Blogs & Blogging, Link Building, Social Media, Analytics, Search Tech, Rants, Online Marketing, Reputation Management, Viral Marketing, Design & Usability, Industry, & Copywriting. Here is the timeli [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards

Want a free ticket to our upcoming SMX West search marketing conference this March 2-4, complete with hotel and airfare? You have the opportunity to score if you’re geek enough. Biggest Search Geek enough, that is. We're looking forward to crowning the "Biggest Search Geek" and working with contest sponsor Marin Software for the second year in a row. The SMX Biggest Search Geek Contest tests you with 20 questions about search marketing, on both paid and organic aspects of our favorite topic. It's an online contest, and you should be able to fly through it if you really know your stuff [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards

Our very own Matt McGee has posted the 2008 Search Quiz for the search community to take. The quiz basically tests your knowledge of events in the search industry, including news, events and community related topics. You can take the quiz over here, but once you click on the link, it should start. There are 21 multiple-choice questions, and if you get one wrong, you lose. The test is being timed, and the person who answers all the questions correctly in the shortest amount of time, wins. You can win a $50 Amazon.com or iTunes (U.S.), or $50 via Paypal. I personally took the quiz an [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards | SEM Industry: Community

Want a free ticket to our upcoming SMX West search marketing conference this Feb. 10-12, complete with hotel and airfare? Marin Software's got a package for you to win, if you're geek enough. Biggest Search Geek enough, that is. The SMX Biggest Search Geek Contest by Marin Software tests you with 20 questions about search marketing. I've contributed a few of them on the organic search side, and there's a good dose from the paid search side of the house. To win, you've got to answer the most questions correctly in the least amount of time. Winners [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards

Beu sent me a link to the Search Engine Rap Battle. Basically rappers go out it, mocking each other, as if they are Google, Yahoo and MSN. Google vs. MSN, MSN vs. Yahoo and Yahoo vs. Google. You can check out the videos and vote for the winner at searchenginerapbattle.com. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | Search & Society: General | SEM Industry: Awards

As many of you exhibitors knew, Danny Sullivan sent me on a mission to find the best schwag ever at SMX West because I am a schwag addict. In the end, you all had a lot of great schwag, and it's super hard to choose the "best" piece. Therefore, I'm going to categorize my favorites. Over the next few weeks, I'll feature all this schwag on my Schwag Addict site. Until then, here are the contenders for best schwag of SMX West 2008. By the way, only exhibitors with schwag available to all conference-goers were considered for these awards (unfortunately, that means that the eVisibility shir [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards | SEM Industry: Conferences | SEM Industry: General

Global ad agency WPP, which paid almost $650 million for 24/7 Real Media last year, will be bringing together all its search agencies under the Outrider brand and under the GroupM media division. That includes the search group at 24/7, Catalyst, Quisma, and Outrider, which won Yahoo's Searchlight Award in New York last night for its Smirnoff campaign. This consolidation creates a global search agency with offices on multiple continents. [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Acquisitions | SEM Industry: Awards | SEM Industry: General

As Yahoo was apparently laying off its promised 1,000 workers today, I was at the Time-Life Building in New York as a panelist for the third Yahoo Searchlight Awards. I've had the honor to be a part of this event since its inception in 2005 and think it's a terrific opportunity for ad agencies to showcase and share best practices about search, display, and integrated ad campaigns. In the three years of Searchlight the campaigns have become dramatically more sophisticated and inventive. The four finalists (out of a total of 40 entries) were the following agencies and their clients: -- Carat [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEM | Search Marketing: Branding | SEM Industry: Awards | Yahoo: Search Ads

There are three surveys underway right now for the search engine marketing industry looking for participation. SEMPO and SEOmoz are both running surveys to collect data on the search marketing industry, while the SEMMYS are a more fun look at search marketing articles up for awards. SEMPO's 2007 State of the Market Survey is open and taking your responses up until February 1st. SEMPO's surveys are used throughout the industry and beyond by analysts, editors, internally by SEM companies, and more. You can win an iPhone and free tickets to an SES event if you complete the survey. Please ma [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards | SEM Industry: Community | SEM Industry: General | SEM Industry: Organizations

The SEMMYS Finalists Are Ready, finally! Matt McGee has announced that we can now go over to The SEMMYS and vote for our favorite posts of the year. The voting starts at 12:00 pm ET (9:00 am PT) today. The finalists are listed over here for all 15 categories. Those that vote are expected to review each finalist and then click on the "VOTE NOW IN THIS CATEGORY" link under each of the 15 categories. A new window will open up, where you can place your vote for your favorite article/post of the year. You can vote until the end-of-day (PT) on January 30th. Eight Search Engine Land articles h [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards

For years, a conference idea banging around has been a trivia quiz involving the search engines. For our SMX West search marketing conference this Feb. 26-28 in California, we've got it happening! SMX Search Bowl will have teams from Ask, Google, and Microsoft competing against each other to test their knowledge of search and search marketing. I'm pretty sure Yahoo will be stepping up to take part, as well. The fifth team is being assembled right now. We're taking nominations for search marketers to be on that team to take on the search engines, so please help out! Rand and his team at SEOmo [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Other | SEM Industry: Awards | SEM Industry: Community | SMX & DMD Alerts

The Yahoo Search Marketing Blog announced the 3rd Annual Yahoo Searchlight Awards. The awards will be taking place on February 12th in New York City. At the awards, Rob Norman, CEO of Group M Interaction, will be giving a keynote address. One of the four panelists is our very own Greg Sterling. Here is the complete list of panelists: Abbey Klaassen - Digital Editor, Advertising Age Kevin Ryan - Global Content Director, Search Engine Strategies Greg Sterling - Founding Principal, Sterling Market Intelligence Brian Morrissey - Senior Reporter, Adweek If you have an outstanding Yahoo Search [...]

Related Topics: Channel: SEM | SEM Industry: Awards | Yahoo: Search Ads

The voting for the best search blogs of 2007 began December 28th. Loren Baker of Search Engine Journal held their annual search blog awards, and after two days of posting the results, all the results are finally in. We are proud to have won in three categories, best search news blog, best search marketing blog, and our Sphinn won best search community/forum. Plus, my Search Engine Roundtable won best SEO blog and best search conference blog. Here are all the winners: Best Affiliate Marketing Blog of 2007: ShoeMoney Best Link Building Blogs of 2007: Jim Boykin's Blog Dosh Dosh: Best [...]

Related Topics: Channel: Industry | SEM Industry: Awards