51 replies to this topic

[BrianR]

Irrespective of what views you hold re SEMPO, what saddens me is this: If SEMPO implodes messily, then the reputation of the SEO industry as a whole will get a little more tarnished - not what we need.

BrianR

[eklages]

Agreed.

it is a great opportunity mismanaged to the point of shame.

very true. does anyone believe there's hope for a turnaround?

[Jbrookins]

Personally, I've always had doubts about anything that springs up overnight. How do you stand in front of a group of people, laude an unproven entity as the messiah of the industry, and not feel ashamed? heh

It's not that SEMPO is bad or poorly managed, it's just that it's gotten all of this industry attention and I haven't figured out what it actually DOES yet...

[Jill]

The problem with calling for the board to resign is who will take their place?

It's hard enough to find volunteers in the first place. I am not sure if there is actually anyone else who'd even want the positions.

Would any of you?

[mcanerin]

I don't want to put words into Mike mouth, but what I got out of his suggestion was that the board would resign and then have to get re-elected, thus giving the membership a say in things.

You could end up with the exact same (or very similar) board, but now it's been put there by members.

Ian

[Scottie]

If I get Barb's salary, I'll run for office... It's not like they are all volunteers... and quite honestly, not much has gotten done except for organizing meetings at each SES conference and getting the website put up. And stumping for more members.

Am I missing any other duties?

[thejenn]

I'd volunteer my time if there were some major changes taking place in who gets to join, what is being promoted, etc... I just have many fundamental issues with the organization as its setup now, so I see no reason to throw my hard-earned $$ or support toward them.

What is really going to make a long-term difference for this industry is folks getting out in the trenches and helping build up knowledge and understanding of SEM. It's the folks like Jill, Brett, Kim, Danny and John and their staffs that VOLUNTEER tons of their time to running educational forums like this one. It's news sites like Search Engine Watch, Search Engine Guide, Search Engine Lowdown and a variety of others that publish stories and updates designed to educate not only the industry, but small business owners. It's the little one-man-band shops that spend time networking locally and educating businesses on the value of SEM.

THAT is what will give this industry legitimacy and clout...not a handful of already well-known people that collect a bunch of money and continue to do the same interviews and speaking engagements that they'd be doing anyway.

All I know is that there will be some interesting conversations going on at the networking events next week.

[Jill]

If I get Barb's salary, I'll run for office...

I will vote for you!

And I'll even vote for a raise. I think you should get at least 100k for that dirty job. You'll need a bullet proof vest, and those are expensive! Plus, how much does a thick skin cost?

[peter_d]

For 78K they can hire someone. That person should be independent, not an SEO who competes with the membership.

[qwerty]

That's assuming the rank and file membership agrees that someone should be hired, at any salary.

[SearchRank]

For 78K they can hire someone. That person should be independent, not an SEO who competes with the membership.

I agree! We have five clients who are trade associations. Four of them have their own salaried executive directors, none of which are in competition with any of the members. They direct the association and that is it. The fifth does not have an executive director but rather a volunteer president who is changed out every year.

Very good point, Peter.

[OldWelshGuy]

IMO you can't have a professional organisation run by Amateurs. (not calling Barb an amateur I mean on an amateur basis.

The head honcho should get paid, it make sit all official and ensures that the effort put in is equal to the amount of money drawn out at least!

[Jill]

And in other news...

Barbara C. Coll Named to BtoB's Who's Who 2004

The magazine said she is also one of the 100 individuals in business-to-business marketing who have helped to "establish the best practices in business marketing for their respective industries."

Gotta love it...

[OldWelshGuy]

Bucket please

It is stuff like this that makes me so glad that I left industry for the mellow ways of small business marketing

[Jill]

For the record, I posted that little snippet from the release because it is just so ironic. With the mission of SEMPO staying away from best practices and all...it just made me laugh!