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MarketingSherpa Guide Reveals 38% Growth in SEM

September 28, 2007 Comments (1)

Manoj Jasra

MarketingSherpa today released the fourth annual edition of its Search Marketing Benchmark Guide, http://www.sherpastore.com/Search-Marketing-Benchmark-2008.html

The guide reveals the latest findings of MarketingSherpa's extensive survey in June and July 2007 of 2,475 marketers who conduct or supervise search marketing for their own companies.

Among the highlights found in the 273-page guide:

The search marketing industry is still expanding rapidly - as much as 31% in the United States and 39% globally for 2007. This year-over-year growth will slow in time. Still, search budgets are increasing by double-digit percentages for many marketers, although we're hearing feedback that many of those increases are in anticipation of rising prices, not a desire to extend their search engine marketing (SEM) reach.
The allure to bring SEM in-house is growing stronger for many marketers, although the number of organizations getting outside help actually increased over the past 12 months. However, it's becoming more common to use outsourced assistance as part, not all, of the overall SEM effort.
More emphasis on natural search has put pressure on many marketers to improve their own sites, while smaller companies are feeling the pinch in paid search/keyword price inflation. Click fraud is still a concern, but marketers don't seem as worried about it this year. That's probably more a function of media attention (or the lack thereof compared to last year) rather than any real change in the phenomenon itself.

I was also able to get some first hand insight from the Director of Research at MarketingSherpa, Stefan Tornquist. Listen to our conversation below:

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Manoj Jasra is currently a Sr. Analyst at Shaw Communications Inc. Prior to Shaw, Manoj was the Director of Technology and Sr. Strategist at Enquiro Search Solutions. He has been in the Search Marketing Industry since 2002, since then, his learning in marketing and business strategies as they relate to online has led him to become an expert in Search Marketing/Web Analytics, providing consultation and implementation strategies for clients. Manoj frequently writes in his blog about the latest in the Web Analytics and SEM Industry.

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Manoj Jasra has been in the search marketing industry since 2002 with Enquiro Search Solutions, where his technical background in programming and software made him a key member in the development of several proprietary industry tools.

Since then, his learning in marketing and business strategies as they relate to online has led him to become a resident expert on Search Marketing/Web Analytics.

Manoj also authors the blog, Web Analytics World, which features Manoj's insight on the Search Marketing and Web Analytics Industry.

Enquiro offers a complete solution for your business needs - everything from Organic SEM & SEO to managing your Sponsored SEM strategies (PPC). Enquiro also provides in-house research to help you build stronger Search Engine Marketing relationships through usability resolutions with your target market - leveraging technology to bridge the disconnect between intent and lead.

However, more than anything else, Enquiro knows the value of having a robust analytics solution to track and measure success.

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MarketingSherpa Guide Reveals 38% Growth in SEM

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