Site Announcement

I'm guessing that some of you will already have heard the news that a new trade association for those involved (or interested) in search engine marketing has launched in the UK.

The initial coverage revolves around the first official press release that the trade association (Search Marketing Association - UK) put out yesterday.
http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/041021-566a
http://www.clickz.com/news/article.php/3425291
http://www.cre8pc.com/blog/2004/10/search-...nmarketing.html
http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/showth...read.php?t=2336
http://www.highrankings.com/forum/index.ph...showtopic=10304


Obviously, I'm very excited about the opportunities that this can present, as there is certainly a need for an organization, despite some obvious mixed feelings about the efforts and offering of SEMPO, as several prior discussions have shown.

Both organizations promote the same broad goal - to support and promote the search marketing industry. There is certainly some common cause between the organizations, and yet while I always felt reservations about joining SEMPO, somehow I feel comfortable enough with the SMA-UK to not only sign up, but to have even put my name and efforts into helping it get started and giving whatever benefit of my experience I can.

It certainly has a different approach. Already, several communications channels have been opened, and more are already being set up. Not only that, but you'll notice that many of the working party are prominent forum members, who've been supporting the front-line SEM efforts of many people for many years. These are not unapproachable people, nor ones who talk and play an entirely different game from the people they hope to represent and support. It is much more the grass-roots foundation that one would expect of a group hoping to answer the grass-roots demand for a trade association.

The membership levels are simpler and fairer to my thinking (which to me was an essential requirement for any organization).

There's no advertising on their site, no sponsorship opportunities all over the website, and indeed, a heart-felt commitment to keep it that way.

There's a written constitution that is ratified by a democratically elected board long before anyone is allowed to even think of paying for membership.

The chairman would rather not have the role (but was elected to the role because we believe he's the best man for the job) which is something I've always believed was best.
(My perverse sensibilities say that if you have an election for any position of great responsibility, anyone who wants the role is probably guaranteed to be unfit/unsuitable for the task, and lacks the ability to understand the responsibilities and work involved. For any important and responsible task, the best person to elect is the one who doesn't want the task because they understand exactly how much work and responsibility is involved, and don't have any motive to abuse it. )

However, my thoughts don't matter that much right now (except in terms of how they might be presented within the working party). What matters now is your thoughts. How does this news strike you?