NEW YORK, NY - April 27, 2009 - Hitwise(r) , an Experian company, today announced plans to measure Internet usage in Canada. Hitwise will report on 85,000 Web sites across more than 160 industry categories based on the Internet activity of 100,000 Canadian Internet users from all provinces and territories. The Hitwise Canadian data sample comes from partnerships with Internet service providers and opt-in panels.

“In order to grow and protect market share, businesses must have sound data to base decisions on,” said Chris Maher, president of Hitwise. “Hitwise provides the most timely and comprehensive intelligence about Internet usage and will now help marketers better understand the specifics of the Canadian market. And as in all our markets, Hitwise clients will receive the service and support they need to go beyond the data, take action and generate immediate return.”

The Canadian service will provide clients with data on Web sites traffic rankings, Clickstream, search terms and demographic segmentation. Clients also will have access to additional tools to create custom categories, search term portfolios and customized dashboards.

Follow Hitwise Canada on Twitter.

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Mark your calendar! The main event of the year in Search Engine Marketing: Search Engine Strategies (SES) Toronto is coming back again soon on June 8-9 2009. I will be there representing SEMPO Canada along with all representatives of the Canadian Search Marketing Industry. For those who may not know, Search Engine Strategies is the premier event about Search Marketing (SEM) technologies and tactics and we are proud to have this show coming to Canada once a year. Organized by two of the world’s leading search authorities, SES Toronto Conference Chairman, Andrew Goodman and SES Global Content Director, Kevin Ryan, this show can help you learn:

* How search engines list Web sites for free and through paid placements;
* How to get free “organic” traffic by building a site that pleases search engines and your visitors;
* How to efficiently purchase listings guaranteed to rank your company at the top of search engine results;
* How to calculate the ROI of your search marketing efforts by tracking your visitors from the time they hit your site until they buy? and get tips on improving conversion if they don’t;
* How to build links that generate traffic to your Web site, and how to avoid the penalties of “spamming” the search engines;
* What’s coming next in the constantly evolving world of Web search, and how you can profit from those changes.

Search Engine Strategies Toronto 2009 will be held on June 8-9, 2009 at Metro Convention Centre, 255 Front Street West, Toronto (Ontario).

For more information on SES Toronto, please visit the SES Toronto Conference website.

Acquisio Search PPC Management Software is now officially the proud sponsor of SEMPO Canada, which will be present at Search Engine Strategies in Toronto.

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SEMPO Canada will be at SES Toronto in June, and all SEMPO members receive a 20% discount. Here is some more info about SES Toronto.

SES Toronto is returning for its 6th year, with a program designed to appeal to intermediate and seasoned marketers looking to advance their SEM and SEO skills.  This year’s line-up features the new “Geek Track” sessions, which take the conversations to the next level on advanced topics, the year’s biggest trends, and the future of search. Tara Hunt, author of “The Whuffie Factor”, and Co-Founder/Chief Marketing Officer for the Citizen Agency, will also be joining this year’s SES Toronto conference as the keynote speaker.

Register now and use the code 20SEMPO to receive a 20% discount off the current online registration price.  Book Prior to April 17th and save $370 CAD off the regular registration rate.

View the entire conference program by visiting our Agenda Overview.

Expect to Find:
* Advanced program topics on hot button search engine marketing issues like mobile search, video optimization, and paid search advertising.
* Extreme makeover site clinics, which have returned to SES Toronto, giving you one-on-one feedback to your specific SEM issues.
* Unique networking opportunities with fellow marketers and search engine industry professionals.
* Access to the thought-provoking speakers who are developing and tracking search’s next direction, and who know the ins-and-outs of search engine marketing.

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WAKEFIELD, Mass., April 8, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)—Online advertisers are embracing new marketing platforms and showing an increasing willingness to pay more for targeted reach through behavioral targeting and local search, and to expand marketing channels through video and mobile search, according to the data findings of the 2008 State of the Market survey of advertisers and agencies by the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), http://www.sempo.org.

Social media also continues to build market share as more than 40% of advertiser respondents report they are using in-house marketers to actively promote their brand on social media. Of respondents using social media, Facebook is the leader: more than four out of five advertisers are using Facebook to promote their brand.

SEMPO previously reported that survey findings project 2009 SEM spending to rise to $14.7 billion, with long term spending to reach $26.1 billion in 2013. SEMPO’s detailed online survey by Radar Research was completed by 890 search engine advertisers and SEM agencies and administered via IntelliSurvey, Inc. The executive summary is available to the public online at http://www.SEMPO.org.

“When you look at long term growth of the search marketing sector, it is evident new forces such as mobile advertising and contextual video ads will fuel increased online ad spend. These forces are still in the early stages but clearly the consumer is embracing these new channels with enthusiasm,” notes Sara Holoubek, SEMPO president and corporate strategy consultant.

Here are key survey findings on trends:

Behavioral Targeting:
Respondents are overwhelmingly interested in behavioral targeting opportunities: 75% say they would pay more for clicks targeted to in-market consumers. There is also significant interest in demographic targeting such as age and gender. Advertisers, on average, would pay 10 percent more for demographic targeting and daypart targeting, and 13 percent more for behavioral search targeting. Two in five advertisers said they are not currently targeting or retargeting searchers but plan to in the next 12 months.

Local Search:
Almost a third of respondents has tried locally targeted search ads and thinks “it works great.” About a third (34%) had tried locally targeted search and thought “it works okay.” More than three out of five marketers (62%) are willing to pay a premium of 1%-5% for local targeting, up from two in five advertisers last year. Beyond that, one in five claim they are willing to pay between 6%-10% premiums, dropping from one-third in 2007.

Google and Yahoo Dominate Local Search:
Google AdWords Local Targeting has solidified its lead as the most popular local search advertising program, used by 80% of advertiser respondents. Some 56% of advertisers reported using Yahoo! Search’s Local Match paid placement program.

Video Search:
Some 54% of respondents said they would be interested in contextually targeted advertising attached to video search results. Two in five advertiser respondents claim they want to pay the same for video search as they’re currently paying for traditional search. Among advertisers who report the willingness to pay a premium for video, most prefer to pay 20% or less as a premium.

Mobile Search:
Respondents are also warming up to mobile: some 48% said they would be interested in contextually targeted advertising delivered to mobile search users. Almost two in five advertiser respondents claim they want to pay the same for mobile search as they’re currently paying for traditional search. Among advertisers who report the willingness to pay a premium for mobile search, they show an unwillingness to pay more than 30% premium.

Social Media:
Among advertisers doing social media marketing, more than four out of five are using Facebook to promote their brand. Digg is the second most popular social media site, with more than two-thirds of advertisers using it. Del.icio.us, StumbleUpon, Reddit and Technorati round out the most popular sites to promote brands.

“Online advertisers are redefining the touchpoints which extend search and keyword targeting, all of which provide additional opportunities to reach the consumer. We know that consumers don’t look exclusively to search engines for information; while they are communicating they are also gathering information,” says Kevin Lee, SEMPO board of directors member and Chairman & CEO / Co-Founder, Didit.

About the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO)
SEMPO is a global non-profit organization serving the search engine marketing industry and marketing professionals engaged in it. Its purpose is to provide a foundation for industry growth through building stronger relationships, fostering awareness, providing education, promoting the industry, generating research, and creating a better understanding of search and its role in marketing.

Representing thousands in over 30 countries, SEMPO has more than 850 members. It represents the common interests of companies and consultants worldwide and provides them with a voice in the marketplace. SEMPO’s education and outreach initiatives are funded in part by Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google, Superpages.com, ABC Search, SMX and Search Engine Strategies. For more information, or to join the organization, please visit http://www.SEMPO.org.

The Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2228

About Radar Research
Radar Research is a Los Angeles-based research and consulting firm aimed at the nexus of media, technology, culture and commerce. It was founded by two former Jupiter Research analysts, Marissa Gluck and Aram Sinnreich. Radar conducts research on behalf of both corporate clients and non-profit organizations, such as DoubleClick, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Nielsen//Netratings, the Online Publishers Association and The Norman Lear Center. For more information, please visit http://www.radarresearch.com.

CONTACT: Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization, Greg Jarboe, 978 549-9537,

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Francouver.ca changes its name for Frogcouver.ca

Press Release
Vancouver April 1, 2009. In order to better fulfill the expectations of Vancouver’s francophiles, francouver.ca is proud to announce an official name change to frogcouver.ca.  The new name comes with a new logo and company name. You can check it out on the new website: frogcouver.ca. The official launch party will be held at 8:00 pm on Thursday, April 2 at 104-2181 W 38th Avenue in Vancouver.  The launch party will feature maple taffy on snow while chef Normand “Jumpy” Auclair will present his latest gastronomic creation: the frogs legs poutine.  To mark the organization’s new colors and orientation, frogcouver.ca asks that guests wear something green.  The organizers are also requesting that all members return their francouver.ca T-shirts; these will be replaced promptly with new design T-shirts.  To further support the new orientation, members are also asked to change their pictures and avatars on the site with a picture where they will be wearing a frog costume.

On November 8, 2008, francouver.ca was officially launch.  Its goal was to network Vancouver’s francophone and francophile community through a large number of fascinating activities.  After 5 months, this goal has been very successfully achieved amongst francophones: over 300 new members have joined and francouver.ca has the highest Google rating of all the French websites in Vancouver.  However, Anglophone francophiles were slow to respond.  Alex Brabant, one of the co-founders of the site and director of web and promotion development and activities, ordered a market study of francophiles in greater Vancouver.  This study showed that a name change was necessary.  It turns out that francophiles are not interested in fascinating activities; instead, they prefer cultural and intellectual stimulation.  Moreover, despite its political incorrectness, this study showed that francophiles were much more receptive to the new frogcouver.ca name than they were to francouver.ca.  The new orientation will also be reflected in frogcouver.ca partys.  Instead of partys held in French, with popular French music and cheap beer, the new partys will be multicultural events featuring internationally recognized Canadian artists such as Diana Krall, Nellie Furtado, Barenaked Ladies, Kashtin and Céline Dion.  The French repertoire will henceforth be limited to the French Canadian folklore and will feature artists such as La Bottine Souriante and Le Vent du Nord.  According to Mario Beaudoin, director of cultural activities at frogcouver.ca, the new orientation “should reach a target audience that is much more sophisticated and demanding of our artistic direction while remaining relevant to our original public, the one that made our partys the hottest partys in town”.  Finally, the official hockey team will change its name from Le National to Les Frogs.  The official jerseys will also be changed and will take on the colors of the former hockey team that represented the French network of the Vancouver CBC (Radio-Canada).

For additional information on the name and orientation changes, please contact Alex “Ribbit” Brabant () or Mario “Kermit” Beaudoin ().

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