SMA-NA to form: creates SEMPO rift
January 10, 2005Ian McAnerin has resigned from the board at SEMPO, and come out with a rounded attack on its methods and memebership, declaring his intention to form the SMA-NA - the Search Marketing Association of North America.
This follows directly in the footsteps of other SEO/SEM organisations such as SMA-UK and SMA-EU, which were formed to address markets and marketing that the US SEM organisation, SEMPO, was clearly believed to have failed upon, as reported
In specific criticisms of SEMPO, Ian McAnerin claims in Search Marketing Association of North America - SMA-NA that SEMPO are focussed entirely on developing revenue rather than addressing the needs of the SEM business community:
I also discovered that although SEMPO is, in my opinion, fundamentally broken, there are a lot of very good people who joined it because it’s clear the industry needs a trade association.
The problem is that SEMPO is designed to cash in on big bucks sponsors and SEO firms. Key members have even stated that small SEO firms are “not their target audience”.
When resigned, during his conversation with SEMPO president, Barabara Coll, he writes:
Although the majority of the conversation was confidential, it was made very clear that SEMPO considers the SMA-NA to be a direct threat and a competitor for membership and sponsor dollars. Interesting that the SMA-UK and EU were not considered the same way. To me, that really confirmed the regional blinkers SEMPO wears. The concern about the money rather than the industry was also very interesting. Although it was mentioned that the industry would be better off with only one group (I agree BTW ;) ) this was mentioned in direct relation to funding.
She also repeatedly demanded the names of the others on the SMA-NA working group.
Criticism of SEMPO - the Search Engine Marketing Porfessionals Organisation - erupted last summer, when industry figure, Mike Grehan, publicly attacked SEMPO’s lack of industry action and secret payments to board members from the $250,000 accrued in subscription fees.