SEMPO Institute Is Live! Enrollment Is Now Open for Distance Learning Courses to Train Next Generation of SEM Hires: Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO) Online Courses Will Help Advertisers Meet Staffing Demands with a Skilled Workforce

The surging online economy is creating a growing demand for both new search marketing hires and seasoned professionals. To help fill the demand, SEMPO (Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization) is launching SEMPO Institute(TM), www.sempo.org/training, a series of online distance learning courses that will provide a breadth of search marketing instruction from search fundamentals to advanced search advertising.

The surging online economy is creating a growing demand for both new search marketing hires and seasoned professionals. To help fill the demand, SEMPO (Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization) is launching SEMPO Institute™, www.sempo.org/training, a series of online distance learning courses that will provide a breadth of search marketing instruction from search fundamentals to advanced search advertising.

We're at a critical juncture in the global Internet economy. Search marketing is becoming an essential part of business operations now and that means job creation is at an all time high. We need many more people to fill SEM jobs, within both corporations and agencies

Enrollment is now open at www.sempo.org/training on the SEMPO web site for the first course, “Fundamentals of Search Marketing,” which begins immediately. Fundamentals consists of 14 lessons intended to give the student a high level understanding of the essentials of Search Engine Marketing. Cost of the Fundamentals course is $499. Since it is distance learning, students can immediately begin their education after enrollment.

SEMPO membership is not required to take the training, but SEMPO encourages new members to join and take advantage of the 20 percent member discount on course fees (30 percent for Circle members). SEMPO offers military personnel and fulltime students a 50 percent discount on course fees, to encourage an influx of new talent.

“We’re at a critical juncture in the global Internet economy. Search marketing is becoming an essential part of business operations now and that means job creation is at an all time high. We need many more people to fill SEM jobs, within both corporations and agencies,” says SEMPO President Dana Todd.

SEMPO’s online courses will provide career education for individuals wishing to enter the search marketing profession, says Terry Plank, Dean of SEMPO Institute. “Taking SEMPO courses online is a good first step to finding an entry level job in the SEM industry,” Plank says. “And it’s a great time to consider SEM as your profession.”

Since the courses and tests are all online, Plank notes, SEMPO can help educate professionals around the globe. And, students can work at their own pace.

One example of the growing need for online marketing professionals Plank notes is Jupiter Research’s recent report that 78 percent of small business, almost 20 million companies, are now using the Internet regularly and one of the primary drivers is online spending. According to Jupiter, small businesses spent more than $43 billion in online purchases in 2005. The analysts project 82 percent of small businesses will have Internet access by 2011.

“It’s not only consumer spending now,” says Todd. “Business to business transactions are also contributing mightily to the Internet growth, opening up another avenue for marketing jobs.”

Advanced Curricula

In late March 2007, SEMPO will offer two advanced courses: Advanced SEO and Advanced Search Advertising. Advanced SEO is a 15-lesson course at a cost of $1,750. Advanced Search Advertising is a 14-lesson course at a cost of $2,250.

A Certificate of Completion will be awarded to students who complete each course in full, and who successfully pass a series of rigorous tests.

Best Practices

In launching online training, Todd notes, SEMPO is offering professionals a benchmark for best practices in search engine marketing, search engine optimization and search advertising. “As market dynamics change, our curricula will evolve as well. We will revise the curricula periodically to reflect changes in SEO methodology and the various advertising programs,” says Todd.

The course outlines and framework are the result of volunteers from SEMPO’s Education Committee, led by co-chair Fionn Downhill. She and her volunteers created a peer review process for each of the courses to further ensure all courses reflect best practices in the industry.

About the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO)

SEMPO is a global non-profit organization serving the search engine marketing industry and marketing professionals engaged in it. Its purpose is to provide a foundation for industry growth through building stronger relationships, fostering awareness, providing education, promoting the industry, generating research, and creating a better understanding of search and its role in marketing. SEMPO represents the common interests of more than 450 companies and consultants worldwide and provides them with a voice in the marketplace. SEMPO’s education and outreach initiatives are sponsored in part by Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google, Verizon Superpages.com, Atlas, and Search Engine Strategies. For more information or to join the organization, please visit http://www.SEMPO.org.