SES 2005 toronto

[Incubator]

Hello, just a question for the ones above :)

Upcoming at SES 2005 toronto will you have any Canadian SEO/SEM firms speaking this time ?

I quickly went through the 2004 speakers list and didnt see much at all from the host location ..... comments ?

Cheers

wC

[critter]

I'm Canadian, have an SEM company and would love to speak

Cheers

CRITTER
;)

[Incubator]

Nice Critter way to stand up

Lets hope you get the shot !

Cheers to you
:)

WC

[Incubator]

Hey Critter, you must be like me then, in thinking "im not seeing to many main people from SES making a comment here?

Do you think this is strange, i cant see anything here through my frosted igloo glass window...can you ? :)

Cheers

WC

[Joseph Morin]

I know for a fact of several people already in route or already in San Jose for SES. I'm sure you will get an answer soon but you may want to ping Chris Sherman here directly as he is the one responsible for that show.

Good luck.

[Incubator]

I'm sure you will get an answer soon but you may want to ping Chris Sherman here directly as he is the one responsible for that show.

Good luck.
Thanks Joseph, I appreciate your input.

I think I will let it rest for now and start in up end of next week again since SES is on now.

I will definetly wait to hear what Chris has to say.....

I'll be looking for ya Chris ...on this post :)

Cheers

WC

[Chris Sherman]

Back from SES San Jose -- great show!

Regarding Toronto: For last May's show, we had numerous Canadian speakers, and two panels dedicated solely to Canadian SEM. Next year, since we're expanding to three days, I plan to add even more Canadian content and speakers.

Critter -- and anyone else who hails from Canada -- I'm happy to consider you as a potential speaker for the show. Send me a private email detailing your credentials and speaking experience and I'll certainly keep you in mind when I begin organizing the show in earnest after the first of the year.

I'm also interested in hearing ideas for Canadian content -- any panels you'd like to see that we aren't currently doing? Any and all input welcome! :)

Chris

[Incubator]

Thanks Chris, you brought up some intesting points. Someone like myself who has read the SES delivery system from last year really doent see the scope that should be carried from last year.Sorry. I understand you may have had canadian input but the coverage didnt offer that as an include.There is a great community here spreading from coast to coast that would probally enjoy more about whats happening in canada, especially regarding, to be re-sold through ad agencies, it just was not delivered. III staff was at it the last T.O show, yet I wasnt, because I was out of the country with a client, all in all, they were disappointed. If Critter wants to speak give him 1 day for 30mins, on not a "sales pitch" but his view point on an educational positive direction.I do not have a personal issue here, but if your in Toronto do something to boost it locally with providers here for SEO/SEM. If you have opinions about this , lets clarify them now so more Canadian base companies have a say


Cheers

WC

[Chris Sherman]

I'm absolutely interested in feedback, suggestions -- and in getting the Toronto/Canadian SEM/SEO community involved. Specifics would be helpful. We got a lot of great feedback from people who attended the show via the feedback forms, but any other/further comments are welcome.

How would you suggest we promote the show with the local community beyond what we're doing now?

[Incubator]

There are many committees and organizations in Toronto that would draw relivent people to the show. Try the Retail council of Canada, IAB Canada, AIMS, AMA Canadian charter, Im sure many of these organization would be willing to help with some of advertising as well as offering a discounted price to there members for the show
Also your reasearch in Canadian seo/sem firms should carry across Canada from Vancouver to Quebec. Im sure many attendees would like to hear pricing, case studies that are going on with canadian suppliers.

Cheers

wC

[critter]

Critter -- and anyone else who hails from Canada -- I'm happy to consider you as a potential speaker for the show. Send me a private email detailing your credentials and speaking experience and I'll certainly keep you in mind when I begin organizing the show in earnest after the first of the year.

I'm also interested in hearing ideas for Canadian content -- any panels you'd like to see that we aren't currently doing? Any and all input welcome! :)
ChrisHey Chris...

Nice to see some interest and discussion around the Canadian SEM Industry. I will for sure get back to you with regards to some information pertaining to my credentials and speaking experience, etc...

in terms of what Incubator has mentioned, through my experience in dealing with Canadian clients, there seems to be a real lack of knowledge and awareness in the SEM industry and it's existence in Canada. Many Canadian clients I have dealt with are unaware SEO even exists here in Canada and therefore opt for an SEM Company in the USA.

Topics surrounding SEM Canada, would be very helpfull. More specifically, maybe discussions around the Canadian Real Estate industry and how SEO fits in, E-Commerce, etc......but as we all know, Canada has different laws, demographics and industry standards and would benefit greatly from some insight into SEM Canada.

Cheers

Critter
:)

[Incubator]

Hey Chris...

Canadian Real Estate industry and how SEO fits in, E-Commerce, etc......but as we all know, Canada has different laws, demographics and industry standards and would benefit greatly from some insight into SEM Canada.

Cheers

Critter
:)
Very well said Critter, the laws are very different here, for example,Pharma clients here are very very restrained in what can be promoted as well. Canadian demo graphics are way different as well, linking structure as well as niche types of promotions (directory inclusions) can get overwhelming to some of the prospective clients here. More education is definetly need so that these prospective clients do not end up with seo/sem contract that they are unsure of from a conversion point of view

cheers
WC

[Chris Sherman]

Thanks, Incubator and Critter -- excellent suggestions that I'll most definitely follow up on. If you get any more ideas keep them flowing! :)

[Incubator]

Thanks to you as well Chris for addressing this in its early stages.

Cheers

WC

[critter]

Thanks Chris!

Cheers

Critter

[Incubator]

Hi Chris just noticed :

http://www.jupiterevents.com/sew/toronto05/index.html

Can you please enlighten on the Canadian speakers and the other Canadian areas of input?

Cheers

WC

[critter]

HEy CHRIS..

Was just about to make the same post as INCUBATOR!

Search Engine Strategies Toronto 2005 - Curious about some details regarding speakers, etc...

Cheers

CRITTER

[Chris Sherman]

Whoa!

I'm still just in the process of programming Stockholm for October, guys! :-)

Other than the exchanges we've had here in the forums, I've not given a lot of thought to next year's Toronto show just yet. I'm certainly willing to continue the dialog, but won't shift into full planning mode until after the first of the year. The web site is there to let people know dates, venues, etc.

Neither Danny nor I begin planning SES shows in earnest until 4-5 months ahead of the event. This gives us time to see what's changing and better adapt the agenda to what we feel are the hot topics of the moment.

Again, please keep your comments and suggestions flowing, though -- I'm paying careful attention and keeping copious notes.

Chris

[mcanerin]

ROFL!

Poor Chris! Sorry - it's just easy to get all happy about SES, especially since (in my case) I went to the TO one but missed the others this year due to client load and finances (just bought a new house - ouch! I think my wallet is still bleeding....)

When I spoke at SES I focused on issues of Canadian geolocation and some copyright law, on the assumption that others would pick up the more general things like statistics and so forth. And they did, which was great.

I suspect that most non-US SES conferences would like pretty much the same location specific issues addressed:

PPC Ad geolocation issues
Cross border Trademark issues
Geolocation and personalization
Tips for non-host country websites marketing TO the host country
Language issues
Keyword research issues
Privacy/accessibility/liability
E-comm tips regarding taxes, information collection, shipping, etc
Domain name issues
Market statistics for the host country
Submissions issues, important directories etc
Cultural differences including slang, color choices, and marketing language
Advantages/disadvantages of being in the host country

Cheers,

Ian

[andrewgoodman]

There are many committees and organizations in Toronto that would draw relivent people to the show. Try the Retail council of Canada, IAB Canada, AIMS, AMA Canadian charter, Im sure many of these organization would be willing to help with some of advertising as well as offering a discounted price to there members for the show
Also your reasearch in Canadian seo/sem firms should carry across Canada from Vancouver to Quebec. Im sure many attendees would like to hear pricing, case studies that are going on with canadian suppliers.

Cheers

wC
Wayne, there was a bit of a double-cross on the AIMS front vis-a-vis promoting the 2004 show. In volunteering to do my best to promote SES Toronto 2004, I did not get warm fuzzy feedback from some in spite of the great job we (you, me, and the MSN and Google reps) did at that one summer seminar for 400 attendees at AIMS. We ought to try again this year, but starting from the top instead of a couple of rungs down. I am thinking some of this has to do with a certain hostility to search (professional jealousy) and an unwillingness to promote a show by JupiterMedia unless someone explains clearly "why should I" type of thing. I don't know if that means a more direct relationship or partnership of some kind is needed...?

Anyway what happened nearish to the show was that June (discussion list moderator) finally gave me the green light to post about the show. I sent in the post to the AIMS discussion list at her request, but the new moderator came back to me the following week with an email that wanted to know why I sent in that biased post. (He is in the email marketing biz and resides in Hamilton I believe). It never got posted in spite of June's having solicited it.

More recently the same individual contacted me as a potential panelist for an AIMS panel about search for this fall, but I haven't heard back although he professed to be impressed by my credentials including a forthcoming book. In the meantime I'm going to be sitting on a panel at the Canadian Marketing Association in the fall that sounds a lot more receptive. I was flattered to be invited.

There are also some reporters who do cover the beat, but I think that needs to be addressed farther in advance. I don't know that any of us wants to get the reputation for hounding reporters with self-promoting PR, so it's probably best that this go through appropriate channels, even a press release including quotes from local search engine offices and SEM firms.

I do agree more can be done to get the word out for 2005. See you off thread. :)

[andrewgoodman]

I suppose I do have one more comment on this general topic.

SES attendees are very savvy people. Having attended so many of the shows and being honored to speak at some, I realize that the feedback is so much better when the panelists are not just there to shamelessly self-promote.

Self-promotion goes with the territory, but it's also the case that Chris and Danny and JupiterMedia are probably looking carefully at the feedback from past shows and other factors to decide on who to invite.

I believe this attitude needs to be kept in mind not only as regards the selection of panelists but also topics.

In spite of what one may think, there is no shortage of people in Canada who have hung out an SEO shingle. All of them might want to speak, since it's a great networking opportunity. But not everyone can be invited so I know that oftentimes the decisions are programmatic (what topic is in demand or emerging, and who is an expert) or probably based on who has rated high at other SES's or spoken at other conferences like ad:tech, etc. etc.

The shows are increasingly granular and they work better when things are clearly programmed, as opposed to just being a general concept of seeing a procession of professional SEO firms go up to the front of the room and talk.

Also, realistically, many of the attendees, and many of the best-rated speakers, will be from the US. There will only be so much Canadian content, as befits Toronto being the fourth-biggest North American market with a cosmopolitan focus.

That being said I am really happy that there are three days instead of two and that more local professionals will have a chance to step into the limelight at SES 2005.

[Incubator]

Great post Andrew, your comments are always welcome.
You are correct on that last AIMS show, lots of ppl but AIMS didnt see it that way.
Now that the AIMS list is up and running after the summer, I am going to send a few post to the ADL, to get back on scope again with markering numbers as opposed to justification within campaigns as most spend time doing. I will see what I can do, and count on you to be part of the fall out. Lets try and educate more then listen to over hype talk, I think the ground rules need tro be defined from an educational point of you rather then a sales pitch.

cheers to you Andrew, and thank you for being in Toronto

WC