Sempo Dual Advertising Continues as of 8/11/04

[bethabernathy]

See:

http://www.webpronews.com/news/ebusinessnews/wpn-45-20040811HotBananaUpgradedWithImprovedSearchEngineO ptimizationFeatures.html

"Content Management Systems that are Search Engine-friendly are critical to the development of a Web site where the owners want to achieve visibility in the organic search results," says Barbara C. Coll, CEO and President of WebMama.com Inc. and President and Chairperson of the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) Board of Directors."

[Elisabeth]

I wouldn't consider that 'advertising' at all. because it's an editorial article - I would say the journalist is well within his rights to justify his supporting source's experience as a leader of a corporation & industry organization -

although I do agree with you if there's non-profit rules being broken with regard to co-advertising, than there's still an issue that needs to be dealt with.

[seobook]

I wouldn't consider that 'advertising' at all. because it's an editorial article - I would say the journalist is well within his rights to justify his supporting source's experience as a leader of a corporation & industry organization -

although I do agree with you if there's non-profit rules being broken with regard to co-advertising, than there's still an issue that needs to be dealt with.

you cant really stop journalists. my first newspaper article my name was not Aaron but Adam (which I guess is cool if I said anything wrong)

Andy Beal recently got a bad deal with CNBC I think.

often times people have their various associations referenced in articles and websites. you cant controll journalists.
http://www.theyrule.net/ <--- interesting site

[Incubator]

See:

"Content Management Systems that are Search Engine-friendly are critical to the development of a Web site where the owners want to achieve visibility in the organic search results," says Barbara C. Coll, CEO and President of WebMama.com Inc. and President and Chairperson of the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) Board of Directors."

Forget the fact of advertising, this is an editorial, and besides that Barbara is 100% correct, all our corporate clients that grasp the importance of online marketing our now inquiring with us fully develop SEO/SEM server side control for all their stats as well as campaign control fetures. This area of dev. has proven a good change to see in the last few "quarters" to say....

Good advice Barb.

Cheers WC

[bragadocchio]

In the context of a statement about the industry in general, it's great advice from Barbara.

But...

In the context of a press release (http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/8/prweb147016.htm) directly from the company, it's a little bit more of a problem.

The article linked to in bethabernathy's post isn't really news reporting, and the inclusion of Barbara's statement and mention of her SEMPO affiliation isn't an independent statement added to a story by an independent journalist. The editorial is based upon the press release I linked to which is issued by a circle member of SEMPO, about their personal product. Sounds to me (from the press release) like Barbara's statement was made directly "from the Hot Banana Booth #712, at the Search Engine Strategies Show, 2004".

In addition to a potential IRS problem, this is also a potentially a "duty of loyalty" problem where a director uses his or her position to benefit one member to the detriment of the industry the nonprofit purports to represent.

If SEMPO isn't talking to an attorney about these issues, they should. If individual directors and members hadn't considered talking to an independent attorney about the responsibilities and liabilities inherent in their positions, it's something they might want to consider.

[dannysullivan]

The press release is an issue, but that's not a SEMPO press release. It's from Hot Banana. They're quoting Barbara, and using both of her titles. Certainly if asked, she should use/provide the one that's most appropriate -- so we know if she's speaking on behalf of SEMPO or instead her company.

[garyp]

A SEMPO news release moved on PR Web a couple of hours ago.

Title: Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) Launches Industry Advertising Campaign - Education Campaign Focused on Media Buyers and Features Tag Line "Top of Search = Top of Mind"

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/8/prwebxml149028.php

[bethabernathy]

The bottom line is that if an exempt organization endorses a particular product, they are not supposed to include their personal business title along with that endorsement. It can either be endorsed by the personal business or the exempt organization, not by both. The last press release looked alot better.