Greg Jarboe is the co-founder and CEO of SEO-PR , which combines search engine optimization and public relations to increase brand awareness, drive traffic to web sites, generate leads, and sell products directly online. He is a frequent speaker at Search Engine Strategies and other industry conferences. Jarboe is also the editor of SEO-PR's News Blog in addition to writing for ISEDB.com . There's just too much to see at SES Chicago and, with five conference session held concurrently over four days, there's no possible way to see everything.And, don't forget to carve out some time to visit the show floor on Tuesday, Dec. 5, or Wednesday, Dec. 6.
So, what can you do to prepare for this week's Search Engine Strategies?
You can click on the SES Chicago conference at a glance and read the descriptions of each of the 75 sessions.Then click on exhibitors and read the descriptions of each of the 64 sponsors and exhibitors.
Or, you can look over my recommendations below.I've been attending Search Engine Strategies conferences since 2002 and I've gone to an average of five SES events a year – in Chicago, New York, San Jose, Toronto, and London – for the past several years.
Based on my knowledge, experience and bias (I think organic search engine optimization deserves a bigger share of more budgets), here is the SEO-PR Guide to Search Engine Strategies Chicago 2006:
On Monday, Dec. 4, I'd strongly recommend attending the Multimedia Track.With Google's acquisition of YouTube for $1.65 million, video search is now "prime time."So, you will want to attend Video Search Optimization from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., Meet The Video Search Engines from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and Podcast & Audio Search Optimization from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m.Then, despite my bias, I'd recommend going to the ClickZ Forum: Advertising in Social Media from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. – because it's not your father's advertising.
On Tuesday, Dec. 5, I'd strongly recommend getting up early to attend the Keynote Conversation with Jason McCabe Calacanis from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m.This is his first and only public appearance since his recent departure from Netscape.Then, I'd recommend attending all four sessions in the Advanced Organic Track.This includes Bulk Submit 2.0 from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m., Duplicate Content & Multiple Site Issues from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m., Bot Obedience Course from 3:00 to 4:15 p.m., and Beyond the Single Site Mentality from 4:30 to 5:45 p.m.
On Wednesday, Dec. 6, I'd recommend attending the Social Search Track.This includes Social Search Overview from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m., SMO: Social Media Optimization from 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Reputation Monitoring & Management from 2:00 to 3:15 p.m., and Blog & Feed Search SEO from 3:45 to 5:00 p.m.Then, I'd strongly recommend attending Danny Sullivan's Keynote: Search In 2006 from 5:15 to 5:45 p.m., followed by the Evening Forum with Danny Sullivan from 5:45 to 6:30 p.m.The founder of Search Engine Watch, Danny's leaving as a result of contract issues to start Search Engine Land.
On Thursday, Dec. 7, I'd recommend attending the Organic Track.This includes Meet the Crawlers from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m., Search Engine Q&A on Links from 10:45 a.m. to noon, and the Organic Listings Forum from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m.
Wait, wait, there's more!
On Friday, Dec. 8, there are four half-day classes and one full-day SES Search Training Classes at the Hilton Chicago.(There is an additional cost to register for training.)I'll be conducting the Press Release SEO Workshop from 8:00 a.m. to noon.Then, I'd recommend attending the Blog & Feed Search SEO Workshop from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
That's a pretty packed schedule.Does it leave any time to get to the show floor?
As a matter of fact, Incisive Interactive Marketing LLC – which incorporates Search Engine Watch, the ClickZ Network, and their associated events series including Search Engine Strategies – has scheduled several opportunities to see exhibitors without missing sessions.This includes 5 slots on Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 9:45 to 10:15 a.m., from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m., from 4:15 to 4:30 p.m., and from 5:45 to 7:00 p.m.It also includes 3 slots on Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 10:15 to 11:00 a.m., from 12:15 to 2:00 p.m., and from 3:15 to 3:45 p.m.
Plus there are special events, including a SEMPO meeting on Monday, Dec. 4, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., a Yahoo! Search Marketing lunchtime panel about "Project Panama" on Tuesday, Dec. 5, from noon to 1:00 p.m., and CIMA's Second Annual Charity Holiday Party on Wednesday, Dec. 6, from 7:00 p.m. to midnight.
All this is what makes going to the Search Engine Strategies Chicago 2006 seem like you're going to a toy store a couple of weeks before Christmas.But, if you know in advance what you're looking for, you won't get crushed trying to find it at the last minute.