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SES NYC - 3 Women Spotlighted at Search Engine Strategies

By Li Evans

As SES attendees, we've had the delight of having Marissa Meyer of Google keynote, but before that, I can't readily remember when a woman was really a spotlight at any sort of search conference.  My how things have changed!

Next week at SES New York City, not one, not two, but three women have been "spotlighted".  How's that for progress?  I think that says a lot for how this industry really respects women and is going beyond "gender lines".

The three women are Kendall Allen, Erica Schmidt and Lyndsay Menzies.  These three women are playing key roles in both the companies they work for and it's great to see them getting the spotlight shined in their direction.

So what do we know about these three great online marketers?

Kendall Allen is the Managing Director at Incognito Digital.  During the three years preceding her joining the team at Incognito Digital – Allen presided over regional Client Services operations for two Search Engine Marketing firms, first as founding executive team member at Fathom and then industry pioneer, iCrossing. It is during these years that Allen met the founding partners Gray and Hoydich of Incognito Digital, collaborating to serve the marketing needs of VOOM HDTV.

With critical periods of her career spent in the SF Bay Area and now on the East Coast in New York, Allen has consulted with, launched and staffed engagement teams against the digital marketing efforts of marketers including Ask Jeeves, SF Examiner, Chandon, Intel, Intuit, VOOM, American Express, Fairmont Hotels, McGraw-Hill and Colgate-Palmolive. Allen now has teamed with her partner, Elizabeth Bleser, to truly evolve the agency Incognito Digital and the brands it serves.

Erica Schmidt is Global Director of Search for Isobar.  Erica is primarily responsible for helping Isobar search agencies across the globe increase their revenues from search engine marketing, and she assists Isobar agencies in launching iProspect-branded search engine marketing practices. Schmidt also ensures that each agency is delivering their services according to the best practices developed at iProspect in the U.S. Prior to joining Isobar, Schmidt was client services director at iProspect, responsible for overseeing a number of client-facing search teams, and focused her attention on delivering superior strategies and proactive account management to iProspect’s clients.

A polished speaker, Schmidt has presented at various conferences around the globe, including Search Engine Strategies. She has also authored articles for industry publications, including Pharmaceutical Executive   Magazine and Direct Magazine.

Lyndsay Menzies is Managing Director of Big Mouth Media. At bigmouth since 1999, and with 100 bigmouths under her watchful eye, Lyndsay's remit can be summed up as 'Responsible for developing and keeping the happiest clients and teams in the industry', whilst growing bigmouthmedia UK into the clear leader in its field.

Lyndsay heads up the 3 UK offices, as well as the NY office. Bigmouthmedia has the highest client and staff retention in the industry, and is a 2007 FT 'Best Place to Work'. A real 'people person', Lyndsay is a pioneer in integration of search within marketing strategy, offering a no-bull, can-do attitude crucial for the success of her clients in a fast-changing medium.

I found her bio on the Big Mouth Media site really funny too (this company certainly has a sense of humor!):

Bigmouthmedia's much loved Managing Director. Complete workaholic. Once went to have her wisdom teeth taken out over lunch and went straight back to work. Finalist in "Scotland's Most Eligible", when asked what her unique fact was, Lyndsay disclosed that she once spent 12 hours in the back of a truck in Cambodia with a dead pig... like we said, she's been working very hard.

Wow, these are some really impressive resumes aren't they?  All three of these women are "take charge and get it done" and that attitude has propelled them to the top of not only their companies but this industry as well. 

I got curious as to why SES & Kevin Ryan selected to highlight not just one, but three women and asked him these questions:

Li:  Kevin, could you tell me why you have them featured?
Kevin Ryan:  They are incredibly talented people that possess thought leadership characteristics along with and “feet on the ground” knowledge.

Li:  What’s their role for this conference (SES NYC)? 
Kevin Ryan:  Women at SES take on a number of roles. From Orion panels to day one’s strategic thought leadership to our week-long tactical sessions. We have a number of nationalities represented and they represent multiple levels in the companies they represent.

Li:  Why were they chosen?
Kevin Ryan:  SES does not discriminate or select speakers on the basis of race, creed, gender, social media platform usage or socio-search engine alignment. Sincerely, the selection process was very simple; they were the most qualified candidates. 

Kudos to Kendall, Erica & Lyndsay, and thanks to Kevin Ryan for selecting to spotlight them at SES New York!

Women of Internet Marketing Series - So What's Going to Happen

By Li Evans

Before I jump into what's going to happen to the Women of Internet Marketing Series, I want to take a few moments and thank all of you who emailed, messaged and spoke to me directly.  All of your encouragement and support is very much appreciated by me.  I had been feeling very jaded, very skeptical and didn't want that to influence my decision to end the series if it had come to that.  All of you had wonderful words of encouragement, insight, support and true enlightenment for me, and for that I'll be forever thankful.

I feel at this point I need to set a few things out there to the audience so you can understand where the decision to have a survey came from.  I mentioned that I'm dealing with family issues and since some where along the line "some" were skeptical of this I'll explain. 

Specifically, my father has a tumor in his esophagus which is cancerous and needs to be removed.  For anyone who's dealt with a family member with cancer, it's a scary thing - a lot of wait and see, but also a lot of urgency.  When you deal with that, and then you get insults about a series you do - not for yourself, but to highlight other people and their accomplishments, and those insults and negative comments are mean spirited and really rather rude, it makes you want to take a step back and think.  It makes you wonder, "Is that the majority opinion?  If it is, why should I bother with all this on my plate?"

Women of Internet Marketing Series - Last Chance to Take the Survey

By Li Evans

Just an FYI, if you thought about taking the survey and haven't yet, you have until 9 p.m. EST to let your feelings known on the Women of Internet Marketing Series.  The survey is pretty simple - 3 yes/no questions and two "optional" type - if you want to add some information questions.

If you like the series, or if you don't like the series.  If you like the questions, or you want to see different questions asked.  If you think the series should remain weekly or go bi-weekly and if you have a women to suggest to be interviewed.  Now's the Time to Speak Up!

Tick... Tock. :)

Women of Internet Marketing Series - Will The Show Go On? It's All Up To You!

By Li Evans

Sometimes we all can get to a point in life where we wonder whether or not we should let a good thing end, change it to "revive" it or continue to push on.  I've found myself right in that spot with the Women of Internet Marketing Series, especially after a few rather "not so nice" comments have been thrown in this direction about it.

The last few weeks, I've also been dealing with some family issues that have taken precedent over moving on with more interviews.  Quite frankly, dealing with the issues with my family and then those comments, make me even wonder if I should continue interviewing more women each week?  Basically what it comes down too, is it worth dedicating the time into putting together each week, two interviews if I'm going to get grief/insults/sly remarks and have to deal with family issues on top of it all?

However, please keep in mind, I'm not really one to let things get me down for too long.  I don't do this article series for me, I do it to allow you the audience to meet women from our industry that you might not have gotten to know otherwise.  I like shining the light and giving credit to these hard working, successful and always very gracious women because they deserve it.

So, my audience members of Search Marketing Gurus, I leave this decision, totally up to you, right now I don't feel I could make a fair judgment call (being stressed and a bit jaded can do that to ya!).  If you would like the show to go on  or to end, please take the time to take the Women of Internet Marketing survey.  I'll leave this survey up for one week (until 9 p.m. on 1/29/08) and report the results back next Wednesday.

Women of Internet Marketing Article Series

By Li Evans

Unfortunately today I won't be posting a set of interviews.  Due to back up from the holidays work wise, some family health issues I must contend with and also research into the political series I've been doing, the Women of Internet Marketing Articles won't be back until Wednesday January 23rd.

Due to a heavy travel month in February, there will only be 2 weeks for interviews that month.

Thanks for everyone tuning in, I'll have two great interviews lined up for January 23rd!

Women of Internet Marketing Wednesdays Part 31

By Li Evans

I hope you've gotten all your stockings hung by the chimney with care, because that holiday that brings that jolly old elf is right around the corner.  Santa was nice to me a little early this year, he gifted me with the two wonderful interviews I'm about to share with you tonight! 

But before I get to what Santa left for me to share, I need to do a little housekeeping - the Women of Internet Marketing Series will be on a two week hiatus.  Due to the holiday and some family issues I must attend to, we'll be taking a break, but will return in full force Wednesday January 9th, 2008 for our first interview of the new year.

For edition 31 I bring you two women from two entirely different spectrums of the online universe.  One woman I've come to greatly admire and respect, not just for our love of a TV Hero who wields "Mr. Pointy" (hey now, get your mind out of the gutter!), but for her pure love of this industry.  Our other great lady immediately impressed me when I sat in on her presentation at Philadelphia's Podcamp, she's a whiz at podcasting in her spare time and a usability professional for her day job.  Tonight, let me introduce you to Vanessa Fox and Jen Yuan.

Women of Internet Marketing Wednesdays Part 30: 1 Year Birthday!

By Li Evans

Welcome back to the 30th edition of the Women of Internet Marketing Series!  After a week's hiatus, I'm back with two lovely and talented women I'd love for all of you to get to know a little more about.  However first, I'd just like to say, thank you to all of you and to all the women from the past year whom I have gotten the chance to know and interview. 

This week mark's the 1 year "birthday" of this series!  Our very first set of interviews started off with Kim Krause Berg and Rebbecca Kelly one year ago today.

Now lets get to learning about both of our featured women.  Today I have one woman who writes for a rather popular search marketing blog, while the other runs a rather successful web design business.  One of these women has been around quite a while, but until now for the most part, has only been known in the forums, the other woman has just jumped into search marketing just over 2 years ago, and has made a great name for herself since joining the ranks.  Today let me introduce you to Jordan McCollum and Risa Borsykowsky.

Anne Kennedy Talks About SES Chicago

By Li Evans

While here in Los Angeles at SES Local: ILM 07, I got the chance to speak with Anne Kennedy of Beyond Ink about SES Chicago Search Strategy Event and what's new and upcoming for the conference.  Anne also has an announcement of her own, so watch the video interview and enjoy!

* Had a little technical difficulty here, video should be full length and working!!  (double checked from out in the airport here at LAX, and it seems to be working just ok)

If you'd like to contribute to what Anne announced in the video, shoot an email to smg *A*T* searchmarketinggurus.com

Women of Internet Marketing Wednesdays Part 29

By Li Evans

Surprise!  I have edition 29 for you today, as I stated earlier, I wasn't quite sure if I'd be able to bring an edition of the Women of Internet Marketing series to you today, but it worked out that I have been able too.  Please remember though, next Wednesday we won't have an edition due to my travel schedule.

So while I'm out here in sunny Los Angeles at SES Local, I've taken the time to put together an edition that shines the light on two women who, although don't have direct day to day involvement in PPC campaigns, or changing Title Tags on websites, they both have significant contributions in industries that directory affect ours.  One works for a search engine, the other is a public relations guru.  Today let me introduce you to Karen Wickre and Kami Watson Huyse.

Women of Internet Marketing Wednesdays - Part 28

By Li Evans

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!  Just in time for the holiday, I'm bringing you the 28th edition of the Women of Internet Marketing series.  This series spotlights the women of the Online Marketing Industry and their great accomplishments.  From SEO's to Affiliate Marketers, from Online PR gurus to PPC Mavens, we try to pull women from all areas of the industry so you can learn a bit more about them.

This week I have a treat, both women might not be as well know as some of our previous women, but through a referral and through a chance meeting during an interview, I was introduced to both of these very talented women.  Both are actually from my great state of Pennsylvania, but they live on opposite sides of PA (it's is a little wide!).  One of our women is quite experienced in Affiliate Marketing while the other is an accomplished SEO.  Today, let me introduce you to Martine Quinn and Michelle Sharp.