Interesting commentary on SEMPO

http://www.e-consultancy.com/newsfeatures/156922/who-needs-sempo.html

Some snippets:

"SEMPO has approved a $1,500 per week stipend to Ms Coll. This amounts to a salary of $78,000, to fund a part time effort from someone who already has a full time job running a SEM business. Some might ask whether this attractive salary such could have been used to bring on board an executive experienced in building trade associations."

"a few months ago, I succumbed and joined at the lowest level for $299.

After parting with my cash I waited patiently for my welcome pack and my newsletter and frequent pinging about events and happening stuff and... Not a sausage."

"I have a suggestion that I'd like to put to the entire board: Why don't you honourably take the plaudits for your excellent work in forming a steering group (which you have been) to gain the first wave of membership, and then resign your positions?"

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Curious to hear the thoughts of others from the board. This is also being discussed on most other major forums and in quite a few blogs. Do we have any SEMPO members here? If so, what prompted you to join and are you happy you did so? If not, why haven't you joined?

I choose not to join because I didn't believe in the way the organization was setup. With no ethical requirements for membership, it's basically a "buy your way in" kind of organization. I don't feel that an organization that is looking to legitimize SEM can allow members that practice optimization methods that contribute to the problems of SEM.

I'm also convinced that the way to get SEM more notice and more marketing dollars is through the grassroots efforts of one-man shops and small SEO firms that are actually out there in the trenches educating the business owners in their areas.

Anyone else have thoughts?

I've been following this like a hawk. I'm a professional UK based SEO and I often find myself asking, "What does SEMPO do for us?" (Without checking, I think we're a member).

The timing is interesting too - with recent focus on improving the industry's image, what can be done about and who can do it. This story, which is spreading quickly, certainly wouldn't encourage support for SEMPO.

I've seen much caution from smaller SEOs for anything like more regulation, a written down code of ethics or any "public voice" from the larger agencies. SEMPO really does seem to be in a rock-hard place situation now.

The DFW Search Engine Marketing Association tried to be a "local chapter" of SEMPO but Barbara wouldn't have it. Said she wasn't ready for local chapters.

That's one problem that I have with SEMPO in general. To be a useful association, you need to meet monthly and get things done locally, not meet a few times each year like SEMPO does.

The DFWSEM organization has gotten a lot done as a local organization.

I never had much interest in SEMPO. When all this hoopla started on usual forums, I had to take a look myself.

SEMPO has stated they exist to promote a broader undertanding of SEO/SEM. When I looked at their archives of articles and case studies, I think they are fulfilling this duty.

The only glaring dissapointment was they have not posted a Terms of Service Agreement on their membership sign up page. They do show what levels of membership are available. But nothing about agreements.

I'm still waiting to understand what the benefit of joining is. Basically, what's in it for me? Over a year now and I still don't know "why" I should join.

Is SEMPO an organization thats really more about itself than its members?

Seems to be a way to raise the profile of the founders, while doing nothing for the members.

I haven't found anyone at grass-roots level who has a good word to say about them, yet.

Christine Churchill has just published her story about SEMPO. Interesting reading here:
http://www.e-marketing-news.co.uk/sempo.html