SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. – Social search engine Scour.com today announced that CEO Daniel Yomtobian will participate in a panel at the Search Engine Strategies Chicago conference. The panel will explore the topic “Is There Life Beyond Google?” The conference takes place December 8-11, 2008, at the Chicago Hilton.

Yomtobian will discuss the promise of human-powered, or social, search as a complement to Google’s primarily algorithmic search. The session is scheduled for Monday, December 8th, at 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM.

The panel will explore a variety of alternative and specialty search engines that provide innovative features and attributes not readily available on Google. The Web is overflowing with so much information that no single search engine can possibly find it all. While Google’s market share is dominant today, there is still tremendous opportunity for its competitors to grow.

Launched in July, Scour is a meta search engine, gathering results from Google, Yahoo! and MSN. People are rewarded with VISA gift cards for searching, voting and commenting on results. One point is awarded for each search, vote or comment. Accruing 6500 points translates into a $25 reward. Scour has paid out many users already.

Check out Scour on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fLQ6a-DAuw&feature=related

ABOUT SCOUR.COM

Scour.com is a social search engine that bridges the gap between algorithmic and human powered search. Scour rewards people for searching, voting, commenting and referring friends. Launched in 2008, Scour was previously Aftervote.com, which was acquired by ABCSearch, an Internext Media Corp.company, in 2008. To learn more about Scour, visit www.scour.com.

Aimed at consultants, site designers, website owners, in-house marketing professionals, among others, this in-depth training occurs in a small class setting so that instructors are readily accessible for informal one-on-one or small group discussions.

“Regardless of skill level in SEO and SEM, people will come away from this intensive training with techniques that they can immediately implement,” said Matt McGowan, Vice President and Publisher for Incisive Media’s Interactive Marketing Group, including Search Engine Strategies, SearchEngineWatch.com and the ClickZ Network. “Expert search engine marketers Jennifer Laycock, Matt Bailey, Debra Mastaler, Greg Jarboe, Amanda Watlington Brad Geddes and Shari Thurow who are leading the sessions live and breathe SEO and SEM. They’ll ensure that participants leave with the latest knowledge and action plans for real-world applications.”

Training sessions include:

* Search & Analytics Workshop: Using Analytics to Increase Search Effectiveness — Analytics are a gold mine of information, just waiting to be uncovered. The results of campaigns, effectiveness of the website, and the efficiency of your rankings can all be measured with a good analytics program. Unfortunately, many site managers do not make changes to the website without prior measurement, nor do they measure after the changes. As a result, there are many changes to sites that are not based on facts, merely assumptions. Similarly, if changes are not analyzed, then there can be no clear understanding of whether or not improvements made a difference on the site or to the bottom line.
* Viral Marketing & Link Baiting — Attendees will gain a better understanding of the concepts, ideas and implementations that are required to launch a viral marketing or link baiting campaign. They will learn why the Internet has created a unique environment that allows for rapid, inexpensive word of mouth marketing and how they can harness that environment to promote their own products and services. The workshop will give real life examples of both good and bad viral marketing campaigns and will share insight on how your business can capitalize on your competitor’s viral disasters. This workshop will also focus on how you can make use of consumer generated media environments like social media outlets, blog marketing, discussion forums and more to both monitor and expand your company’s online persona. Consumer generated media (the very core of viral marketing) is the fastest growing form of media online today. It’s only a matter of time until someone online talks about your business. This course will not only help prepare you in the ways to respond to the conversation, it will help you learn how to shape that conversation to your advantage.
* Link Building Tactics, Tools & Techniques — Need links? In order to rank well and successfully promote your online business, you need an effective link building program as part of your overall SEO strategy. This link building workshop will help you to better understand and manage your link building campaigns by providing you with the knowledge to create proven, practical and creative link marketing campaigns. You’ll walk away understanding why you need certain links, how to find them, and how to effectively use links to promote your brand and your search engines rankings.
* Advanced AdWords — This session is broken down into two sections. The first section examines how to effectively use keywords, ad copy, landing pages, and the search and content networks to effectively reach your target audience based upon where consumers are in the buying cycle. The second section will examine different bidding strategies you can employ to maximize your campaign’s goals.
* Search Engine Optimization Workshop — A search-engine friendly Web site is a user-friendly, search-friendly, and persuasive site that converts visitors into buyers. In order for a site to be search-engine friendly, it must meet the terms and conditions set forth by the search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN Search, Ask, etc). Additionally, the site must satisfy the needs of site visitors. Ultimately, the site must be profitable for the Web site owner. Can a single site satisfy all of these groups? This workshop will demonstrate that these skills are essential for building a user-friendly, search-friendly, and persuasive site that converts visitors into buyers.
* Optimizing for Universal Search — Universal search changes everything! The advent of Google’s Universal Search has been called “the most radical change to its search results ever.” So, how do you take advantage of Google’s new approach that blends listings from news, maps, video, and image search among those it gathers from web search? This training session will help you get found in all the right places.

SES SEM Training can be taken in addition to the SES Chicago conference or independently, as workshops are on the Friday following the event. The full-day training session is $1,345 and half-day is $745. Register for SES SEM Training at http://www.searchenginestrategies.com/chicago/training.html.

To register for the SES Chicago conference or for more information, see http://searchenginestrategies.com/chicago. SES Chicago Expo-only passes are free in advance.

About SES

Incisive Media’s Search Engine Strategies is a leading global conference and training series focused on search engine optimization and search engine marketing. Other Incisive resources for interactive marketers include the ClickZ network for digital marketing news, information, commentary, advice, opinion and research and Search Engine Watch which provides news and information about search, analysis of the search engine industry and tools for improving search marketing effectiveness.

About Incisive Media

Incisive Media is a leading global provider of specialized business news and information, in print, in person and online. The company’s principal markets include financial services, legal services, commercial real estate, marketing services and risk management. Incisive Media’s market-leading brands include Accountancy Age, Computing, Investment Week, Legal Week, LegalTech, Post, Real Estate Forum, Risk, Search Engine Strategies and The American Lawyer. For more information, visit www.incisivemedia.com.

CHICAGO – Over 2,000 marketers scouting out sure-fire ways to boost their companies’ online presence are gathering to kick off this year’s Search Engine Strategies (SES) Chicago 2008 Conference & Expo . In its tenth year, SES Chicago (http://www.searchenginestrategies.com/chicago) gives attendees an unmatched combination of high-profile speakers, four-star rated sessions, and specialized educational tracks. The digital marketing conference takes place at the Chicago Hilton and runs December 8-11, 2008.

This year’s conference hones in on current issues facing marketers—from social media to search privacy to click fraud. Marketers will learn from noted search industry experts and gain practical knowledge for issues such as mobile search, web analytics, and global search.

SES Chicago highlights include:

* Keynote addresses by Professor Lawrence Lessig, an expert on law and technology, Omniture president and CEO Josh James, and Hitwise general manager of Global Research Bill Tancer.
* Introductory courses on Search Marketing, SEO Tools, Link Building Basics, and Search Advertising
* Intermediate sessions—including Universal and Blended Search, Igniting Viral Campaigns, Site Clinic, and Social Media Optimization
* Advanced sessions focused on issues ranging from Advanced B2B to Duplicate Content and Multiple Site Issues to Black Hat, White Hat & the Best Kept Secrets to Search

Organized and hosted by search authority Kevin Ryan, SES Chicago arms attendees with the latest knowledge in the search industry. The world’s most comprehensive gathering of search engine marketing and optimization-related providers, partners and affiliates, SES Chicago offers more than 60 sessions for everyone from newbies to the savviest marketers.

“Each year, marketers return and rave about how they’ve applied knowledge at our sessions to drive site traffic and vastly enhance conversion rates,” said Ryan, Chair of the SES Advisory Board. “We’re exceptionally proud of our 98 percent satisfaction rate year after year, based on the immense wealth of knowledge sharing at this unique event.”

For more information on SES Chicago and other shows in the series, see http://www.SearchEngineStrategies.com/chicago.

About Incisive Interactive Marketing LLC — A Division of Incisive Media PLC

Incisive Media’s Search Engine Strategies is a leading global conference and training series focused on search engine optimization and search engine marketing. Other Incisive resources for interactive marketers include the ClickZ network for digital marketing news, information, commentary, advice, opinion and research and Search Engine Watch which provides news and information about search, analysis of the search engine industry and tools for improving search marketing effectiveness.

Incisive Media is a leading global provider of specialized business news and information, in print, in person and online. The company’s principal markets include financial services, legal services, commercial real estate, marketing services and risk management. Incisive Media’s market-leading brands include Accountancy Age, Computing, Investment Week, Legal Week, LegalTech, Post, Real Estate Forum, Risk, Search Engine Strategies and The American Lawyer. For more information, visit www.incisivemedia.com.

CHICAGO – The 2008 SES Chicago Conference & Expo (http://www.searchenginestrategies.com/chicago) announces a lineup of sessions that cover intermediate-level and advanced tools and strategies to improve campaign performance, optimize website content, and take existing SEO and digital marketing knowledge to the next level. This year’s SES search conference takes place at the Chicago Hilton, December 8-12, 2008.

This year’s program, developed with feedback from SES alumni, provides intermediate and advanced attendees with new ways to boost their organizations’ profitability, which is more important than ever in the current economic climate. SES also provides the ultimate atmosphere to network with peers, connect with clients and prospects, and share compound strategies to strengthen their business’s visibility online. For the intermediate attendee, SES offers the following sessions:

* Universal & Blended Search – Industry gurus will describe how search, marketing and information seeking is changing the industry that follows the search. This ongoing series on universal search will include research data available only at SES.
* Igniting Viral Campaigns – In a world dominated by behemoths like MySpace and YouTube, small- and mid-sized companies must break through to generate online destinations that create buzz, encourage word of mouth and establish relationships with buyers. This session unveils the secrets of Web 2.0 techniques that enable companies to stand out.
* Social Media Optimization – Community-built web sites, Facebook, YouTube, Microsoft Tagspace, Wikipedia and new sites allowing content to be shared through “tagging” can be a great way to tap into links and search-driven traffic. Hear tips from search marketers who have discovered what works today and what to avoid.

Advanced search marketers will whet their craving for fresh insights by attending:

* Advanced B2B – This seasoned panel of B2B marketing professionals will share the latest tips and trends in using search to find those niche decision-makers that drive your business.
* Duplicate Content & Multiple Site Issues – More and more site owners are concerned that they might get penalized accidentally or overtly because of duplicate content. If you run mirror sites, will search engines ban you? What if you have listings that are similar in nature? What happens if you syndicate content through RSS? Will other sites be considered the “real” site and rob you of a rightful place in the search results? This session looks at the issues and explores solutions.
* Advanced Link Building – How far is too far in optimizing your internal link structure? If you operate a network of sites, can natural interlinking be perceived as link spam? How should you handle affiliate links? Advanced linking issues like these and more will be explored during this session.
* Black Hat, White Hat & the Best Kept Secrets to Search – Some say that “black hat” search marketers will do anything to gain a top ranking and others argue that even “white hat” marketers who embrace ethical search engine optimization practices are ultimately trying to game the search ranking system. This no-holds-barred interactive session will include an exploration of the latest black and white issues.

Organized and hosted by SES Advisory Board Chair Kevin Ryan, SES Chicago delivers new, actionable information needed to grow your site’s online visibility immediately. Intermediate and advanced attendees at SES will quickly learn how to enhance their existing search engine marketing and search engine optimization knowledge and to ensure they are well-versed in the most complex and advanced search developments.

For more information on SES Chicago and other shows in the series, see http://searchenginestrategies.com/chicago.

About SES

Incisive Media’s Search Engine Strategies is a leading global conference and training series focused on search engine optimization and search engine marketing. Other Incisive resources for interactive marketers include the ClickZ network for digital marketing news, information, commentary, advice, opinion and research and Search Engine Watch which provides news and information about search, analysis of the search engine industry and tools for improving search marketing effectiveness.

Incisive Media is a leading global provider of specialized business news and information, in print, in person and online. The company’s principal markets include financial services, legal services, commercial real estate, marketing services and risk management. Incisive Media’s market-leading brands include Accountancy Age, Computing, Investment Week, Legal Week, LegalTech, Post, Real Estate Forum, Risk, Search Engine Strategies and The American Lawyer. For more information, visit www.incisivemedia.com.

NEW YORK – Search Engine Strategies (SES), the leading digital marketing conference series geared toward search engine marketing (SEM) and optimization (SEO), announces that Kevin Ryan, chairman of the SES Advisory Board will bring his principled approach and insights in online marketing to ad:tech New York, an interactive marketing conference, taking place this week. The panel, “Search Marketing Tactics and Strategies: Best Practices Across Current and Emerging Digital Search Platforms,” will profile some of the most useful online advertising marketing tactics and best practices across current and emerging digital platforms.

Conference coordinators from the SES advertising marketing conference are preparing for the Midwest’s only search marketing conference and expo, taking place at the Chicago Hilton on December 8-11, 2008. SES Chicago (http://www.searchenginestrategies.com/chicago) will feature an intriguing lineup of sessions and new content covering search marketing, interactive advertising, social media and the best kept secrets in search. Led by the industry’s most notable visionaries, SES Chicago draws thousands of marketers each year, and boasts a 98 percent satisfaction rate from attendees.

This year, SES Chicago offers up-to-the-minute, practical information in over 60 sessions that marketers can use immediately to grow their businesses through search marketing and interactive advertising. Additionally, the interactive advertising conference is followed by a full-day of search engine training sessions. These thorough workshops take place in a small classroom setting, giving attendees the opportunity to work closely with instructors, who provide the practices, applications, and hands-on exposure needed to become – and remain – a top performer in the field.

SES Chicago attendees who stay one day or the entire week will walk away with the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful search engine marketer, and will enhance their professional know-how by keeping their marketing acumen up-to-date with the latest developments in search engine marketing and optimization.

For information on SES Chicago or to view the 2008 Chicago conference schedule, see http://searchenginestrategies.com/chicago.

About SES

Search Engine Strategies (SES) is the leading global conference series focused on search engine optimization and search engine marketing (SEM). SES, ClickZ, Search Engine Watch, and their associated conference series ClickZ Events are part of the Interactive group of Incisive Media.

About Incisive Media

Incisive Media is a leading global provider of specialized business news and information, in print, in person and online. The company’s principal markets include commercial real estate, financial services, legal services, marketing services and risk management. Incisive Media’s market-leading brands include Accountancy Age, Computing, Investment Week, Legal Week, Post, Real Estate Forum and The American Lawyer, in addition to ClickZ, Search Engine Watch and their associated conference series. For more information, visit www.incisivemedia.com.

CHICAGO – Search Engine Strategies (http://www.SearchEngineStrategies.com) educates tens of thousands of delegates each year. With more than 60 sessions designed for every skill level, SES Chicago 2008 provides the ultimate atmosphere for those seeking opportunities to grow their knowledge of SEO/SEM, network, further their career development and strengthen their business’s visibility online. The SES event takes place at the Chicago Hilton, December 8-12, 2008.

For those professionals new to search engine marketing, SES provides a lineup of introductory sessions that aim to cover the most basic tactics, answer questions, and provide insight on must-have SEO skills. New in this year’s agenda is the First Timer’s Guide to SES and SEM. This session will walk attendees through the “SES experience,” including the logistics, networking opportunities and special event details, thoroughly preparing participants for a whirlwind week. Additionally, this session will present a sneak peek to the Introduction to Search Engine Marketing session that will be held on Tuesday.

Additional sessions geared toward newbies include:

* Landing Page Testing & Tuning: This session looks at ways to test and tweak landing pages to convert visitors into buyers. The session is designed for those who are already familiar with how paid placement works.
* Link Building Basics: Discover how search engines rely on link analysis as an important component for rank web pages, and how building quality links appropriately will increase traffic to your site.
* SEO Tools: This session will outline the tools to help search marketers accomplish tasks including indexing, competitive analysis, site ranking, diagnosing and remedying problems, page level information, site level information, on-page optimization and much more.
* Social Media Optimization: Community-built web sites, Facebook, YouTube, Microsoft Tagspace, Wikipedia and new sites allowing content to be shared through “tagging” can be a great way to tap into links and search-driven traffic. Hear how-to’s and tips from search marketers who have discovered what works today and what to avoid.
* Search Advertising 101: Every major search engine offers a paid placement program. Learn what’s available in this session that is especially geared toward beginners, with details on programs from major providers and advice on how to succeed.
* Search Advertising Tools: In order to get a leg up on the competition, successful search engine marketers need to be armed with the latest tools of the trade. This session will explore a range of popular search engine advertising tools – both free basic tools and advanced paid offerings – along with some important features to be aware of.
* Site Clinic and Contextual Ads & Ad Sense Clinic: These interactive sessions take volunteers from the audience and examine their web sites live to provide general feedback about improving them to do better from Google AdSense and other contextual ad placements, and to gain more traffic from search engines.
* Ad Copy Continuity Clinic: Ad copy and landing page content must be in alignment with each other to ensure a smooth and profitable visitor experience. This clinic will examine actual ads and landing pages offered up by volunteers from the audience.

Organized and hosted by search authority Kevin Ryan, SES Chicago delivers real-time actionable information you need to grow your business. SES beginners will quickly learn how to maximize the search engine marketing and search engine optimization opportunities to ensure they are well-versed of the latest search developments and solutions in this area.

To register for the conference and pay the early bird rate of $1,795 by November 21, visit www.searchenginestrategies.com/chicago/registration-details.html. SES Chicago Expo-only passes are free in advance.

For more information on SES Chicago and other shows in the series, see http://searchenginestrategies.com/chicago.

About SES

Search Engine Strategies (SES) is the leading global conference series focused on search engine optimization and search engine marketing (SEM). SES, ClickZ, Search Engine Watch, and their associated conference series ClickZ Events are part of the Interactive group of Incisive Media.

About Incisive Media

Incisive Media is a leading global provider of specialized business news and information, in print, in person and online. The company’s principal markets include commercial real estate, financial services, legal services, marketing services and risk management. Incisive Media’s market-leading brands include Accountancy Age, Computing, Investment Week, Legal Week, Post, Real Estate Forum and The American Lawyer, in addition to ClickZ, Search Engine Watch and their associated conference series. For more information, visit www.incisivemedia.com.

CHICAGO – Search Engine Strategies (http://www.SearchEngineStrategies.com) returns to Chicago this year with an exciting line up of popular sessions and new content at SES Chicago 2008. The SES event, taking place at the Chicago Hilton, December 8th – 12th, draws not only a large Chicago and Midwestern crowd, but also delegates from across the country and the world, as 30 countries were represented last year.

Opening the show with the first of three keynotes will be Lawrence Lessig, who is Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and founder of the school’s Center for Internet and Society. Lessig focuses on the intersection of law, internet and technology, particularly as it relates to copyright.

Second in the keynote lineup will be CEO and co-founder of Omniture, Josh James. Josh is passionate about helping organizations worldwide leverage the internet and the on-demand services business model to increase revenues and customer loyalty and maintain a competitive edge. Under Josh’s leadership, Omniture has evolved from a groundbreaking idea into one of the fastest-growing publicly traded software companies with more than 4,700 customers across 75 countries and over 1,100 employees.

The SES conference’s third keynote will be Bill Tancer, General Manager, Global Research with Hitwise. In his role, Bill provides cutting-edge research and insight into online consumer behavior and the application of online competitive intelligence. Bill’s analysis of the online landscape has been quoted extensively in the press and he authors a weekly online column for TIME, “The Science of Search.” He was also named Television Week’s “12 to Watch” for 2008 and is currently on the advisory board for the PEW Internet and American Life Project.

SES newbies and alumni alike will quickly learn how to maximize the search engine marketing and search engine optimization opportunities to ensure they are well-versed of the latest search developments and solutions in this area. Organized and hosted by world-renowned search authority Kevin Ryan, SES Chicago delivers real-time actionable information you need to grow your business. Additionally, Search Engine Strategies Chicago grants access to the Midwest’s most comprehensive gathering of search engine marketing and optimization-related providers, partners and affiliates.

“Our intent in bringing Professor Lessig, Mr. James and Mr. Tancer here is to rejuvenate the industry’s thinking,” said Kevin Ryan, Chairman of the SES Advisory Board. “The search industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds, and in a time of economic uncertainty, we must continue to take chances. But, in doing so, our audience needs to hear from these individuals to truly value search’s place amongst other internet disciplines.”

To register for the conference and pay the early bird rate of $1,795 by November 21, visit www.searchenginestrategies.com/chicago/registration-details.html. SES Chicago Expo-only passes are free in advance.

For more information on SES Chicago and other shows in the series, see http://searchenginestrategies.com/chicago.

bout Incisive Interactive Marketing LLC — A Division of Incisive Media PLC

Incisive Media PLC is a specialist business information provider, based in the UK with offices in North America, Hong Kong, India and Mainland China. The company’s activities are currently built around ten core industry sectors – mortgages; marketing services; financial technology; retail investment; capital markets; risk management; insurance; legal services; private equity and photography. Information is provided via a wide range of channels–in print, in person and online. Funds advised by Apax Partners, a leading global private equity group, recently completed the successful de-listing of Incisive Media from the London Stock Exchange alongside the existing management.

Incisive Interactive Marketing LLC is the marketing services division of the company and incorporates leading websites Search Engine Watch, the ClickZ Network and their associated events series including Search Engine Strategies. These properties were acquired in 2005.

CHICAGO – Search Engine Strategies, the Midwest’s only search marketing conference and expo, celebrates its 10th year in the Windy City later this fall. Returning to Chicago on December 8-11, 2008, at the Chicago Hilton, SES Chicago (http://www.searchenginestrategies.com/chicago) will feature an intriguing lineup of sessions and new content. A “recession special” of $600 off is in place for all who register by September 26, 2008.

This year’s event will explore hot topics such as search around the world, search advertising, universal and blended search, viral campaigns, social media optimization, plus geo-targeting and the best kept secrets in search. Led by the industry’s most notable visionaries, SES Chicago draws thousands of marketers each year, and boasts a 98 percent satisfaction rate from attendees.

Organized and hosted by search authority Kevin Ryan, SES Chicago offers up-to-the-minute, practical information that marketers can use immediately to grow their businesses through search. Seasoned practitioners and search newcomers alike will benefit from more than 60 engaging sessions geared toward attendees of all learning levels – beginners, intermediate-level marketers, and advanced professionals. The research, expertise and tactics presented by top search experts and the search engines themselves will arm attendees with actionable information they can apply to their business immediately upon leaving.

As the industry evolves exponentially, SES Chicago aims to capture the most current educational needs of attendees by incorporating fresh and exclusive content. Multiple keynotes and Orion panels add to the learning opportunity by providing attendees with insights from industry luminaries, often from outside the search realm, who bestow a well-rounded vision of search’s role in today’s marketing spectrum.

SES Chicago is followed by a full-day of search engine training sessions. These thorough workshops take place in a small classroom setting, giving attendees the opportunity to work closely with instructors, who provide the practices, applications, and hands-on exposure needed to become – and remain – a top performer in the field. In the end, attendees will not only walk away with the knowledge and skills needed to be a successful search engine marketer, but will also enhance their professional know-how by keeping their marketing acumen sharp and in tune with the latest developments in search engine marketing and optimization.

“Whether you’re looking to get organic traffic, explore the best free and paid placements, calculate the ROI of your search efforts, or be the first to hear about what’s coming next in the ever-changing world of search, SES Chicago is the place to be,” said Kevin Ryan, Vice President of Global Content for Search Engine Strategies, an Incisive Media property. “This year’s conference will be no exception, with an impressive array of renowned speakers and a stimulating educational environment.”

For more information on SES Chicago and other shows in the series, see http://searchenginestrategies.com/chicago.

About Incisive Interactive Marketing LLC — A Division of Incisive Media PLC

Incisive Media PLC is a specialist business information provider, based in the UK with offices in North America, Hong Kong, India and Mainland China. The company’s activities are currently built around ten core industry sectors – mortgages; marketing services; financial technology; retail investment; capital markets; risk management; insurance; legal services; private equity and photography. Information is provided via a wide range of channels–in print, in person and online. Funds advised by Apax Partners, a leading global private equity group, recently completed the successful de-listing of Incisive Media from the London Stock Exchange alongside the existing management.

Incisive Interactive Marketing LLC is the marketing services division of the company and incorporates leading websites Search Engine Watch, the ClickZ Network and their associated events series including Search Engine Strategies. These properties were acquired in 2005.