UK search engine marketing trade association in the making

(October 23 2004) UK Search engine marketing professionals are planning the formulation of a UK based trade association.

The proposed Search Marketing Association UK (SMA-UK) will work to inform the marketplace of the benefits of search marketing. Another job for the new association will be giving its members an industry voice.

Barry Lloyd of search marketing firm MakeMeTop is acting Chairman of the group. Commenting on the reason for a new UK based association he says:

"The UK search engine market is currently the second largest in the World outside the United States. After looking at the way trade associations are being developed internationally it has became apparent that the UK should have its own association for this growing sector, set up in a manner to reflect the specific way that both businesses and trade associations operate in the UK and other parts of Europe."

The people involved in the process of forming this new organization are obviously aware of the controversies surrounding The Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization, so the Chairman and Deputy Chairman were elected by a secret ballot, single transferable voting system monitored by the Electoral Reform Society.

"We intend all elections will be held in the same manner in the future, with early elections from the full membership to be held as a matter of urgency" says Barry Lloyd. However, this time around the votes were cast by the 10 members of the working group

The working group sees it as a priority to develop a strong membership base. Andy Atkins-Kruger explains: "Now we have an embryonic organization, a set of objectives and a direction - we need more professionals to come and support our already enthusiastic group to help make the association successful."

Among the many objectives the working group has already identified are:

• To be a central representative body to put the views of search engine marketing companies and professional consultants to Government departments and agencies, Parliament, the European Commission and Parliament and other relevant organizations.
• To be a research and statistical centre, to aggregate and publish statistics, and to provide analysis on search engine marketing and other relevant market information.
• To be a technical centre, providing commentary, guidance and advice on all legal and other regulatory developments of relevance to search engine marketing.
• To provide a forum for the exchange of non-competitive information.
• To promote the search engine marketing industry.
• To assist in representing search engine marketing professionals and companies with suppliers to the industry.
• To promote best business practice guidelines for dealing with clients of search engine marketing services.
• To promote the development of education and training for search marketing professionals.
• To promote and support affiliations with other international search marketing trade organizations that have similar objectives to the SMA-UK.

In their recent press release, the working group invites colleges from all areas of the search engine marketing sector including, practitioners, agencies, vendors and media companies to contribute their thoughts and ideas for the process ahead. Anyone interested can Contact Barry Lloyd.

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