SES New York Veterans Don't Need No Schedule Optimization

With Search Engine Strategies getting underway next week, veterans of SES New York don’t need no stinking schedule optimization services — even if I do offer them for free. A quick look at the conference agenda will reassure them that there is enough content to make a return trip worthwhile.

Actually, alumni of previous events may scan the schedule for more than a few minutes looking for market trends and business opportunities hidden in plain sight among the 65 conference sessions, six search engine marketing training workshops, six express site clinics, two keynotes, one Orion Panel, a one-day SEO training course, and a one-day web analytics training course.

I know, because that’s what I do. And I’ve been attending Search Engine Strategies New York each and every year since 2004. Over the years, I’ve seen the changes in the search engine industry reflected in the new content added to the agenda each year.

Looking over the SES New York Agenda Overview for March 23-27, 2009, here are the significant developments that I seen hidden in plain sight:

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

9:00-10:00 am — Twitter As A Tool For Social Media
Twitter was barely mentioned at last year’s conference, and now it’s featured in a keynote.

10:30-11:30 am — SEO: Where to Next?
Certain industry pundits have been heard to say that SEO is dead, but I’d say it’s alive, well and kicking.

11:45am-12:45 pm — Thinking Outside Your Website: Branding Without Borders
With the popularity of sites like YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, and Facebook, brands increasingly need to engage with their customers outside their website.

1:45-2:45 pm — Budget Migration: Going Digital Without Impacting Your Brand
Companies have started moving significant resources away from TV, radio and print and into search, social, display and email.

3:00-4:00 pm — Publishers & Agencies: New Business Models for Changing Times
Okay, so I’m moderating this panel. But it still looks very interesting.

4:30-5:30 pm — Video Search Engine Optimization: 2009 and Beyond
And, yes, I’m speaking at this session. But according to comScore, YouTube surpassed 100 Million U.S. viewers in January 2009.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

9:00-10:15 am — Small Voices, Big Impact: Social Media for the Little Guy
Amber Naslund, the Director of Community of Radian6. Damn, now the rest of the search engine industry will learn about this complete monitoring and analysis solution for PR professionals.

10:45 am-12:00 pm — Google Workshop: Preview the new AdWords interface
All session attendees will receive priority access to the new interface, so be sure to bring your AdWords Customer ID.

1:00-2:00 pm — The State of Search – A Maturing Marketplace or Poised for More Growth?
I don’t know about you, but I want to take a hard look at the current value proposition of search and what the future holds for the North American search marketplace.

2:15-3:30 pm — Facebook Workshop: Harnessing the Social Graph
Are you wondering how to effectively advertise on Facebook? I am.

4:00-5:15 pm — Political Search: Preparing for Search in 2010
Okay, so I’m a political junkie. But so are lots of other YouTubers.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

9:00-10:00 am — The Brand Bubble: The Looming Crisis in Brand Value and How to Avoid It
Yes, pinch yourself, an ad agency exec is talking about brand strategies at Search Engine Strategies.

10:30-11:45 am — An Update on Social Media Optimization
Are Facebook, YouTube, Microsoft Tagspace, Wikipedia and new sites allowing content to be shared through “tagging” a great way to tap into links and search-driven traffic? Inquiring minds want to know.

12:45-2:00 pm — News Search SEO
Yes, yes, this panel has been around since 2004. But I’m presenting a brand new case study (about building over 700 inlinks in just 7 weeks) and the other panelists are presenting new content as well. So, don’t let the title fool you.

2:15-3:30 pm — Google Website Optimizer: Radically Improve your Conversion Rate!
Now you know why certain industry pundits have been heard to say that SEO is dead. Google Website Optimizer killed it.

3:45-5:00 pm — Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: Black Hat PPC Tactics
I know about Black Hat SEO tactics, but there’s also Black Hat PPC! Who knew?

In addition to all this new content, SES New York 2009 will also feature a number of special events where SES veterans can network with approximately 5,000 other attendees. And on Monday, March 23, there’s the IM Charity Party at SES NY from 8:00 p.m. to midnight. And on Tuesday, March 24, there’s the SEMPO Event at 6:15 p.m.

If you want a flavor of what “networking” looks like, check out the highlights from Search Engine Strategies New York 2008. Based on this YouTube video, it appears that dancing and yodeling. (Hey, I couldn’t make this stuff up.) See for yourself.

Search Engine Strategies New York 2008

Tomorrow, we’ll look at the sessions for search engine optimizers. Stay tuned.