For small businesses, the biggest challenge in search marketing is often figuring out how to do it, where to learn what you need to know, and separating good advice from bad. For search marketing firms, the biggest challenge is usually not finding clients – it’s finding trained staff to hire.

Fortunately, three separate and credible entities are launching training and certification courses for search marketers – whether you’re in-house or at an agency. The newcomers to the field are:

• SEMPO Institute (from the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization), which will launch in January 2007.

• The DMA’s Search Engine Marketing Certification (from the Direct Marketing Association)

• Search Engine College’s Certification Pathways (from Kalena Jordan)

Of course, search marketing training and certification is not unknown – these new ventures join veteran educators:

• Search Engine Workshops (from Robin Nobles and John Alexander)

• Bruce Clay’s SEO and PPC training courses (among other Internet Marketing training options)

• Dan Thies’ search marketing training, coaching and books

Now, no matter what your budget, timing or needs, it should be easy to find training to get you or your staff up to speed quickly.