The time is almost here for #FusionMEX

The 2012 Fusion Marketing Conference marks TopRank Online Marketing CEO Lee Odden’s second trip to Europe in less than one month!  The opportunity to have a presence both nationally and internationally has allowed our team to share our experience and expertise to a much broader audience.

Lee has been honored with presenting not one but two keynotes at this years conference.  If you’re looking for sessions to attend that will leave you with with actionable tips, tricks, and tactics these are two sessions you do not want to miss.

Where Will You Find Lee at #FusionMEX?

Thursday, May 3rd, 2012
3:15pm – 4:00pm
Digital Marketing Integration:  the Mix of Social, Search and Content

There has been an explosion of content created on the web and marketers are finding that many consumers are becoming overwhelmed.  Along, with too much information many companies have failed to properly integrate their SEO, Social Media, and Content Marketing strategies – which only leads to more confusion for customers.  In this session you will learn:

• An understanding of key content discovery, consumption, and sharing preference trends
• See how a content marketing strategy that integrates best SEO practices and social media tactics will help boost digital marketing effectiveness

Friday, May 4th, 2012
11:30am – 12:15pm
Setting up a Winning Customer-Centric Content Marketing Strategy

Improving your content marketing campaign doesn’t simply involve creating more content.  Instead, it’s about creating meaningful content targeted at a specific audience.

An effective content marketing strategy helps brands reach more people who are ready to buy, refer, and share.  This workshop provides the framework for an “optimize and socialize” approach to content marketing to attract and engage customers across the buying cycle.

Lee will also provide answers to questions many businesses ask including:

• Who are my customers?
• What do they care about?
• What content is needed to guide customers across the sales cycle – from attention to purchase to advocacy?

In his second keynote on May 4^th, Odden will help you answer these questions and others by helping you learn how to create a content marketing strategy focused more tightly on your customers.

Event Details

Fusion Marketing Conference
May 3 & May 4, 2012

Crown Plaza Hotel
Gerard le Grellelaan 10
2020 Antwerpen, Belgium

Register Now

Want to Learn More About Optimizing for Your Customers?

In a recent interview Lee Odden discusses his new book “Optimize” and why a customer centric approach to marketing is essential.

Order or reserve your copy of  ”Optimize” today!

On April 18, 2012 TopRank Online Marketing CEO Lee Odden will be presenting this holistic approach to optimization at the IonSearch conference in Leeds, UK.  In his presentation Odden will dive deeper into:

• Major shifts in consumer search and social trends
• Key opportunities to improve online marketing strategy and performance
• How to integrate customer-centric SEO with social media and content marketing
• Using this knowledge to attract, engage, and inspire more sales online

Event Details
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
9:05am-9:50am

Location

The Carriageworks
The Electric Press, 3 Millennium Square, Leeds, LS2 3AD

Register Now

Where can you learn more about an “Optimized” approach?

Lee’s new book “Optimize: How to Attract & Engage More Customers with Integrated SEO, Social Media & Content Marketing”, was written for search, marketing, social media, public relations, and communications professionals that are looking for a holistic way to include the convergence of search, social and content marketing to better attract, engage, and persuade customers online.  “Optimize” was published by Wiley and is available at multiple online retailers, and can be ordered via http://optimizebook.com

We hope to see many familiar faces at IonSearch next week.  If you’re interested in learning more please be sure to follow the conference buzz under #IonSearch on Twitter and look for updates from Lee Odden (@leeodden) and TopRank Online Marketing (@toprank) for those of you who don’t already follow us.

On April 10, 2012 Social Media Club Chicago (SMC Chicago) will be hosting an exclusive event based on Odden’s new book as well as his experience as a veteran online marketer.

What Will You Learn?

In an age of information ubiquity, consumers and technology have shifted the way we discover, consume and share information in amazing ways. Now more than ever, businesses have a tremendous opportunity to leverage the convergence of search, social media and content marketing to “optimize” brand messages and consumer experiences whether they happen on a social network or a search engine.

From 30,000 foot strategy to practical and actionable tactics, this presentation will provide attendees with a framework for optimizing their digital communications to better attract, engage and inspire communities to take action.

Key Takeaways:

• Learn the importance of creating customer segments and buyer personas
• Optimize your content for all stages in the buying cycle
• Different content ideas for multiple platforms

Event Details

Tuesday, April 10, 2012
5:30pm-7:00pm (CST)

Location:
ITA/TechNexus
200 S. Wacker Dr.
15th Floor
Chicago, IL 60606

Register Now

We hope to see you all at SMC Chicago’s event next week in Chicago.  Also, keep an eye out for tweets from TopRank Online Marketing CEO Lee Odden (@leeodden) and TopRank Online Marketing (@toprank).

On April 2nd, 2012 at PRSA’s Annual Digital Impact conference in New York TopRank CEO Lee Odden will be presenting a session on “Content Marketing & Public Relations: Optimize & Socialize to Persuade Your Audience to Act.” This session will teach you how to use marketing best practices to create a strategy that inspires your audience to share, purchase from, and recommend your brand online.  Other key tactics that will be discussed include:

• Developing personas for your target audience
• Instruction on researching social topics and keywords
• Discover tips for leverage your social networks to create strong relationships and promote your content

This isn’t Lee’s first time speaking at a PRSA conference.  Check out this video’s from last year’s PRSA International conference in Orlando, FL where he discusses ways to reach your consumers and integrate your social media strategy.

We hope to see you all at the PRSA Digital Impact Conference next week in New York.  Be sure to follow the conference buzz on twitter and if you’re interested in learning more about specific sessions be sure to visit the Program page on the PRSA website.  TopRank CEO Lee Odden and Jolina Pettice will be interacting and and tweeting at the event @LeeOdden and @TopRank for those of you who do not already follow us.

As always Odden’s presentation will be flush with high level consultative advice as well as practical and tactical tips to point you in the right direction.  If you’re interested in learning about how to avoid losing all the SEO value in your website during a redesign or change of content management system (and much more) you can’t afford to miss this premiere industry event.

At this year’s SES London Odden will be co-presenting a session titled “Site Redesign?  Don’t Forget SEO Migration!” and will bring his broad online marketer expertise as moderator of three session:  “Social Media Solutions on a Budget”, “Developing a Video Optimisation and Marketing Campaign”, and “Duplicate Content and Multiple Site Issues.” Want to learn more?

SES London 2012

Tuesday, February 21, 2012
3:30pm-4:30pm (GMT)
Site Redesign?  Don’t Forget SEO Migration!

Presenters
Lee Odden, TopRank Online Marketing CEO and author of “Optimize”
Russell O’Sullivan, Healthspan Digital Marketing Manager

While the planning, creation, and implementation of a new website design or content management system (CMS) can be exciting many companies do not consider how this change can affect their search engine visibility.  This session will provide a best practices approach for anyone looking to implement a new:

• Website Design
• Content Management System
• Aggregation of Multiple Websites

Odden’s presentation will provide insights into SEO migration issues involving both technical SEO and content marketing considerations.

Of course this isn’t Lee’s first time speaking at SES London. Watch this “scoop” video interview with Google’s Adam Lasnik where he discusses how to avoid issues with rich media and duplicate content penalties in 2008. Note his reference to proper Author attribution which is even more important today:

Wednesday, February 22, 2012
9:30am-10:30am (GMT)
Social Media Solutions on a Budget

Moderator: Lee Odden, TopRank Online Marketing CEO and author of “Optimize”

Presenters
Andrew Girdwood, bigmouthmedia Media Innovations Director
Paul Madden, Automica Limited Owner
Marcus Tober, SearchMetrics Inc. CTO

Social Media Marketing is an industry that is so quickly evolving businesses large and small can become easily overwhelmed.  No matter the size of your organization there is a way for you to become and remain social media relevant.  Starting this process does not have to involve a large investment as their are a multitude of free or low-cost tools at your disposal.  By implementing some of these resources you can begin generating new business, create awareness, and engage your target audience via social media.

Thursday, February 23, 2012
12:45pm-1:45pm (GMT)
Developing a Video Optimisation and Marketing Campaign

Moderator: Lee Odden, TopRank Online Marketing CEO and author of “Optimize”

Presenters
Massimo Burgio, Global Search Interactive Founder & Chief Strategist
Greg Jarboe, SEO-PR President & Co-Founder

What makes a successful video marketing campaign?  While breaking into video production and marketing can be a daunting task you don’t have to blend an iPhone or sit on a horse backwards pitching shower gel to have a successful video marketing campaign.  This session will share case studies of successful video marketing campaigns, specific advanced optimisation tactics, and YouTube networking advice aimed at taking your next video marketing projects to a higher level.

Thursday, February 23, 2012
3:30pm-4:30pm (GMT)
Duplicate Content and Multiple Site Issues

Moderator: Lee Odden, TopRank Online Marketing CEO and author of “Optimize”

Presenters
Samuel Crocker, OMD SEO Associate Director
Ralph Tegtmeier, Fantomaster

The fear of creating duplicate content and being penalized by search engines is in the mind of many marketers today.  This session will take a look at various options that are available to you and answer questions such as:

• If you run mirror sites, will search engines ban you?
• What happens if you syndicate content through RSS and feeds?
• With other sites be considered the “real” site and rob you of a rightful place in search results?

Event Details
SES London
February 20-24, 2012

The Queen Elizabeth II
Conference Centre
Broad Sanctuary, London

Register Now

Below is a video interview from SES London in 2001 with Bas van den Beld from State of Search blog and  Lee that discusses personalized search and Lee’s lack of confidence at the time about social search as a stand alone method of consumer discovery. He discusses a more holistic approach towards consumer information discovery, consumption and sharing and recommends optimizing for that – vs. soley for search or just social media.

We hope to see you all at SES London next week.  Be sure to follow the conference buzz on Twitter under the hashtag: #SESLondon.  If you’re interested in learning more about the specific sessions be sure to visit the Agenda page on the SES London website. TopRank CEO Lee Odden will be Tweeting, and interacting at the event and can be found on Twitter at @LeeOdden for those of you who don’t already follow him.

At this years conference TopRank CEO Lee Odden will be giving a solo presentation titled “Optimize This: Integrating Social, SEO, & Content” and co-presenting a session titled “The Convergence of Search, Social, & Content Marketing”.  Want to learn more?

Online Marketing Summit 2012

Tuesday, February 7, 2012
11:45 AM – 12:30 PM – Optimize This: Integrating Social, SEO, & Content
Location: Sapphire H
Solo Presentation by: Lee Odden, TopRank Online Marketing CEO and author of “Optimize”

Lee Odden is a firm believer that If it can be searched it can be optimized and that it’s far more valuable to optimize for customers before keywords.  This session will provide principles and best practices for attracting and engaging more customers through an “Optimize and Socialize” approach to Content Marketing. You’ll learn:

• Strategies for integrating content marketing with SEO and social media across the enterprise
• Develop customer persona-driven content that attracts, engages and inspires action
• Killer creative content ideas for websites, blogging, social media and re-purposed content

As the online marketplace evolves and becomes increasingly competitive, marketers around the world are searching for advantages that can increase their efficiencies, and improve the performance of online marketing efforts.  Many companies are implementing Content Marketing, SEO and Social Media programs but few are integrating them or coordinating optimized and socialized content across the organization. This session will provide a valuable perspective, roadmap and tactical mix for integrating Content Marketing, SEO and Social Media in ways that you can implement today.

Event Details
OMS San Diego
February 6-10, 2012

Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1 Park Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101

More Info & Register
(Use Discount code TOPRANK10 and save 10%)

SES Accelerator

Tuesday, February 9, 2012
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM – The Convergence of Search, Social, & Content Marketing
Location: Sapphire I
Presenters
Lee Odden, TopRank Online Marketing CEO and author of  “Optimize”
Arnie Kuenn, Vertical Measures President and author of “Accelerate”

What makes great content?  Content does not become great until your audience finds it, reads it, and shares it.  Curious to know what you can do to increase your odds of being found in both Search and Social Media?  This session featuring Lee Odden and Arnie Kuenn will present an approach to content optimization that emphasizes the convergence of Search, Social Media and Content.  Lee and Arnie will provide step-by-step advice and examples that can be applied by an organization of any size to increase relevant website and social media traffic.

Event Details
SES Search & Social Accelerator
February 9, 2012

Hilton San Diego Bayfront
1 Park Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92101

More Info & Register
(Use Discount code TOPRANK10 and save 10%)

We hope to see you all at the Online Marketing Summit and SES Accelerator in San Diego next week.  Be sure to follow the conference buzz on Twitter under the hashtag: #OMS12.  If you’re interested in learning more about the specific sessions or workshops be sure to visit the Schedule page on the OMS website or the Agenda on the SES Accelerator site.

TopRank will be live blogging, Tweeting and networking at the event of course and can find us on Twitter at: @LeeOdden or @AZeckman.

Looking for some interesting things to do while you’re in San Diego?  I found this great list of “25 Fun & Free Things to Do in San Diego.”  Also, I don’t know if there are any other “Top Chef” fans out there but I have heard a lot of great things about Chef Brain Malarkey’s restaurant Searsucker and it’s less than a mile from the conference.  Hope to see you all there!

This year TopRank CEO Lee Odden will be moderating a session on “SEO Competitive Analysis” and will be speaking at two sessions on “The Convergence of Search, Social, and Content Marketing” as well as “Content Marketing Optimization.”  Here’s the lineup!

Wednesday, November 16
11:15am-12:15pm – The Convergence of Search, Social, and Content Marketing

The Google Panda update just made great content critical. Social media is grabbing all the headlines. Search gets more powerful every year. But how do they all play together? How do you increase your odds of being found both in search and social media? How will you consistently create content your audience will enjoy? Join this panel as they provide case studies and walk you through a step-by-step approach that any organization can follow to grow their business online.

Moderator:
Anne F. Kennedy, SES Advisory Board, International Search Strategist, Beyond Ink USA

Speakers:
Lee Odden, SES Advisory Board & CEO, TopRank Online Marketing
Aaron Kahlow, Chairman & Founder, Online Marketing Summit
Arnie Kuenn, President, Vertical Measures

Wednesday, November 16
12:15pm-1:15pm - Meet the Experts: Roundtable Forum

Join the ALL NEW “Meet the Experts Roundtable Forum” at SES Chicago where attendees will have a unique opportunity to learn, network and share information with peers and leading industry specialists. Each roundtable discussion focuses on different key topics and features 2 experts.  TopRank’s Lee Odden will be participating in the Content Marketing & SEO discussion so be sure to watch for the table with that sign to ask him your questions.

Thursday, November 17
12:15-1:15pm – SEO Competitive Analysis

Competitive Analysis is one of the most important and informative components of an SEO strategy. Your competitors are a wealth of free information. From determining which links are providing your competitors with the most value, to deciphering what their most profitable keywords are, with the right systems in place you’ll be able to capitalize on their mistakes and learn from their successes.

This session will cover:

• On-site competitive analysis: Analyzing the structure of your competitors websites, the keywords they are targeting and how they are optimizing their content.
• Off-site competitive analysis: Analyzing how they are participating in key social networks, what their link building strategy is and which content has performed the best/worst for them.
• Competitor monitoring: What types of trends should you be on the lookout for? What tools are best for keeping track of what your competitors are doing?

Moderator:
Lee Odden, SES Advisory Board & CEO, TopRank Online Marketing

Speakers:
Chris Boggs, Director, SEO, Rosetta
Jin Han, Director of Online Media & Search, Compete Inc.

1:30-2:30pm – Content Marketing Optimization

The core of any search or social media marketing program centers on content. Digital assets, rich media, web pages, MS Office and PDF docs as well as content created and shared by consumers all offer opportunities for optimization. If it can be searched, it can be optimized!

Online marketing is increasingly competitive and brand marketers world-wide are seeking real advantages that will improve the efficiency and impact of their Social Media and SEO efforts. This session provides unique insight into content based optimization strategies and processes as well as tactics for sourcing, creation and promotion of optimized content on the social web.

Solo presentation by:
Lee Odden, SES Advisory Board & CEO, TopRank Online Marketing

Event Details
SES Chicago
November 14-18, 2011

Hyatt Regency
151 E. Wacker Dr.
Chicago, IL 60601

Register Now

If you’re looking for some additional sessions to attend be sure to read our post on: Grab Your Jacket – The Windy City Blows In Big Talent For SES Chicago 2011 for 6 Internet marketing sessions you wont want to miss.

We hope to see all of you at SES Chicago in a couple weeks. Be sure to follow the conference buzz on twitter under hashtags #SESconf and #SESchi. Check out SES Chicago’s information page for a full schedule of sessions and training. TopRank will also be live blogging and tweeting at the event @toprank and @leeodden,for those of you who don’t already follow us.

We’re sure when many people think of the food in Chicago deep dish pizza and ChicagoDog’s come to mind.   Do not fear!  We recently stumbled across a stunning visual gallery of reviews on 15 new restaurants in Chicago. Get your mind ready and your tastebuds optimized for a great experience at SES Chicago.

If you’re an internet marketing professional looking for the latest in industry trends, practical tools, and tips for executing on your own PPC or SEO strategy, then ad:tech New York is an event that you should not miss.  We are pleased to announce that TopRank CEO Lee Odden will be following in the footsteps of Melanie Mitchell, SVP of Search at Digitas, and serving as the Marketing Master for three sessions at the next ad:tech conference.

When asked about serving as a Marketing Master at Ad:Tech New York, Odden had this to say: “It is an honor to be selected to program the Search Marketing track at such an important conference as ad:tech.  We are privileged to have a great team of presenters from some of the top brand marketers around including Intel, REI, Volkswagen and Salesforce.com.  Attendees will gain practical insight about integrated Paid Search as well as SEO that they can put in practice the same day.”

Odden will serve as the Marketing Master for sessions on “Integrating Search with the Rest of Your marketing From Web Optimization to Strategies for Killer Keywords and More”, “Cases and Best Practices for Maximizing SEO-Managing and Monitoring, Stellar Copywriting and Beyond.” and the “Search Marketing Expo Theater Presentation” with 5-7 Search Marketing vendors.

Interested In A Sneak Peak?

Session #1
Integrating Paid Search with the Rest of Your marketing From Web Optimization to Strategies for Killer Keywords and More

Thursday, 11/10/2011, 10:15 am – 11:15 am, Performance Track, Room 13, Hall 1E, Level 1, Javits Center

How can search engine marketers optimize their online marketing approach and paid advertising to account for an ever changing landscape?  Digital marketers must take a proactive approach to develop new and innovative strategies for engaging their consumers.

Key Takeaways

Chris Brogan & Lee Odden on a panel at BlogWorld - Photo credit: (CC) Brian Solis, www.briansolis.com and bub.blicio.us.

Where do you go when you’re throwing around the idea of purchasing a new product for yourself or making a business investment in a solution?  It’s safe to assume that the majority of people would say that is a no brainer.  You go online!  A recent study shows that over 44% of B2B marketers are utilizing blogs as a marketing channel.

How can you make sure your blog stands out in a sea of content online?  TopRank CEO Lee Odden will  provide insight into using your blog as an engagement tool for your audience.   Odden’s presentation “Optimize and Socialize You Way to Better Blogging” will emphasize the importance of combining both an optimized and a social element to boost your traffic and increase your reach while providing scalable and engaging information that audiences can apply to their own business.

Key takeaways may include:

• Plan your way into an infinite number of compelling and relevant content ideas that boost search traffic & engage readers
• Create campaigns that incorporate blog content with other marketing tactics for extended search & social visibility
• Promote blog content that inspires social sharing, link building and search traffic

If you would like to learn more about SEO, Social Media, and Search events and information be sure to subscribe to our newsroom feed.  Also, be sure to follow us on twitter @toprank or become a fan of Online Marketing Blog on Facebook for more information.

The future of public relations relies heavily on interacting with individuals and companies online.  Building awareness and  brand recognition is only the first step.   What are you doing to make your news content and brand story easily found and talked about online?  In order to reach journalists, analysts, bloggers and influentials on the web, it’s essential that Public Relations and Communications professionals understand the role search and social media play with influencing information discovery, consumption and sharing.

At the annual PRSA International Conference on October 17th, TopRank Online Marketing CEO Lee Odden will provide Public Relations and Corporate Communications professionals with an exciting new roadmap to help “Optimize and Socialize” news content for better discovery through search and social media.

Odden’s presentation, “Advance Your Digital PR Skills With Social Media Optimization”,  will share compelling reasons why search and social fit within a digital PR mix as well as specific search engine optimization tips for the types of social media websites often used by PR and Media Relations professionals including: SEO for blogs, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Flickr and YouTube.

Key takeaways from Odden’s Social Media Optimization presentation include:

• Understand how listening/monitoring can reveal high value SEO keywords and social topics
• 4 keys to building a successful social  and SEO strategy
• How to leverage social media marketing tools to create, promote and measure optimized social content

For a preview of what Odden has in store for you be sure to catch his blog post from earlier this year on the importance of SEO and Social for Public Relations.

Event Details

PRSA 2011 International Conference

Advance Your SEO Skills With Social Media Optimization
Monday, October 17^th, 2011 - 11:30am
Plazzo Salon E

JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes
4040 Central Florida Pkwy
Orlando, FL 32837

Register to attend PSRA’s 2011 International Conference.

If you’re interested in learning more about the latest SEO and social media events be sure to subscribe to our newsroom feed.  Also be sure to follow us on twitter @toprank or become a fan of  Online Marketing Blog on Facebook for more information.

MN Blogger Conference Audience

Minnesota Blogger Conference Sept. 10, 2011 – Photos courtesy Missy Berggren and Griff Wigley

Minnesota has a substantial blogging community dedicated to writing on a wide variety of topics including politics, food, sports, fashion, technology, communication –  the list goes on.  It comes naturally for this community to come together for some collaborative learning.  TopRank Online Marketing is a leader in leveraging blog marketing as a strategic focal point for social content development and customer engagement. Our internet marketing agency works with organizations large and small to maximize their presence online and convert that presence into sales or other business outcomes.

This year Allina Healthcare hosted the annual Minnesota Blogger Conference at Allina Commons, its administrative headquarters located in Minneapolis’ Midtown Exchange.  TopRank Online Marketing sponsored the event for a second time, along with Allina Healthcare and Kare11.  Their sponsorship allowed for over 200 attendees to join the conference and luncheon at no cost.  TopRank CEO Lee Odden gave the opening keynote presentation entitled Blogs to Riches – A Journey from Blogging Luddite to Successful Business.

Lee Odden at MN Blogger Conference

Odden engaged and entertained the audience in sharing the history of how TopRank came to be and how a passion for learning and blogging led the company to international recognition.  Odden then presented five lessons learned from using a blog to grow the business over the last seven years:

1. No plan is a plan to fail
2. Adapt and thrive
3. It’s not all about you
4. Ask and recognize, repeat
5. The end is near, let’s get started

The Minneapolis audience left the presentation blogging – no surprise there. The event enjoyed many mentions on several renowned blogs and websites including:

• 2011 MN Blogger Conference: a first-rate experience
• Live From Minnesota Blogger Conference
• Hard to Sum it Up — MN Blogger Conference
• Minnesota Blogger Conference 2011 Recap

In addition to blog posts, attendees are reflecting on the presentation via Twitter.  Their Tweets showcase just how well received the conference has been:

Twitter Discussion on MN Blogger Conference

Suffice it to say, the Minnesota Blogger Conference was a success.  TopRank is grateful for the opportunity to sponsor and appreciates the local Minnesota blogging community.  Thanks to Minnesota Blogger Conference organizers Arik Hanson, Missy Berggren and their team of experts for coordinating a fantastic conference.  We’re already excited for next year’s event.

If your business is interested in Online Marketing Consulting Services, please contact TopRank (1-877-872-6628) to have a discussion. For more insights from Odden, be sure to attend an upcoming TopRank speaking engagement:

• MarketingProfs Search Marketing School Webinar Sept. 19, 2011 – Modern SEO Strategy: Adapt or Die
• PRSA International Conference Oct. 17, 2011 – Social Media Optimization Workshop
• Ragan Webinar Oct. 19, 2011 – SEO and Social Media Best Practices that Boost Your Content and News Visibility

We look forward to seeing you there!

MarketingProfs University

In an ever-evolving age of interactive media, search marketers walk a tight rope.  Between paid and organic search, social media, optimization, search rankings and measuring success, it’s no surprise that this balancing act presents challenges.

MarketingProfs University is offering a 13-class course addressing popular questions on these topics to help search marketers find the perfect balance and be more effective in their careers.

Event details:
MarketingProfs University Search Marketing School
Modern SEO Strategy: Adapt or Die
Monday, Sept. 19, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Register and attend online classes live or access recordings

MarketingProfs University provides affordable, comprehensive online training across the disciplines that make up every business’ marketing mix. In addition to learning what businesses need to plan, build and measure successful marketing programs, course attendees have the opportunity to review best practices from peers, discover new tools and processes, and see what’s working in marketing today.  Search Marketing School is a live online presentation featuring several speakers throughout the day.

Any searchable content or media can also be optimized for better search engine performance.  For a business to stand out, it must implement a holistic, strategic and customer-centric approach to search engine optimization.  TopRank Online Marketing CEO Lee Odden and fellow search marketing experts including Maile Ohye of Google and Rand Fishkin of SEOMoz will be speaking on the art and science of search marketing.

Odden’s presentation will show attendees how an adaptable SEO strategy enlists the proper mix of content marketing, online public relations and social media to ensure that brand content shows up wherever customers are looking.  Odden will discuss how creating an SEO strategy is about understanding marketing strategy and how SEO fits in the scheme of your business, touching on:

• How SEO, social media and content create more opportunities for customer acquisition and engagement
• The seven-step process for holistic SEO using searcher personas, social keywords and social content for link promotion
• Best practices from B2B and B2C companies using this holistic approach as part of their online marketing strategy

Audience interaction will take place throughout the presentation via text-based chat.

Content Marketing World 2011

While it’s important for business website content to be optimized for search engines, don’t forget that your customers are communicating and making purchasing decisions every day on social media and networking sites.  Unfortunately, few companies excel at incorporating both Search and Social Media Optimization in their content strategies.

On Sept. 6 – 9, Content Marketing World is hosting a lineup of over 50 presenters including elite B2B, B2C, small business and non-profit marketers and thought leaders speaking on using content marketing to drive and retain business.  One session will take a deep dive into content marketing for search and social.  This presentation is designed to equip content marketers with an effective process for any organization, large or small.

Event details:

Content Marketing World 2011
A Content Marketer’s Guide to Social Media and Search Strategy
Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011
2:00 p.m.
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
24 Public Square
Cleveland, OH 44113

Where content strategy makes content intentional through creation, concept and management, content marketing drives traffic and converts it to a sale or other desired outcome. Content Marketing World aims to showcase the successes and failures of brands around the world, equipping attendees with tangible ideas that can transform businesses into storytelling factories

TopRank Online Marketing CEO Lee Odden will present on how content marketers can use search and social media optimization in tandem to ensure that content is both findable and topically relevant to an increasingly social media savvy audience.  He will show attendees how applying both keyword research and what is known about the customer in developing an all-encompassing content plan drives success online.

DreamForce Cloud Computing Event on SEO

Historically, the social media aspects of selling have been controlled by marketers.  Sales people traditionally are kept out of the loop until after a new lead is generated.  In today’s business landscape, successful sales reps are taking control of emerging social technologies to bring in new leads and close deals more quickly, marking the onset of a new era in social selling.

On Aug. 31, Dreamforce ’11 will host a session on tips and techniques addressing how businesses can effectively adopt the integration of sales and social media as a new norm.

Event details:

Dreamforce ‘11
Social Sales Revolution: 7 Steps to Get Ahead
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Moscone Center
747 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103-3118

Dreamforce is an annual event that brings leaders in cloud computing together to collaborate, connect and inspire. Attendees will be exposed to ways that the latest cloud computing can help their businesses succeed through breakout sessions, hands-on training, networking events, keynote speakers, interactive demonstrations, in-depth discussions, technical training and more.

TopRank Online Marketing CEO Lee Odden joins a panel of Salesforce.com and Radian6 professionals at Dreamforce to discuss the 7 Steps to Get Ahead in the Social Sales Revolution, a new whitepaper published by Salesforce.com. Odden will discuss how sales reps can master the art of being useful to prospects in a way that inspires new business inquiries. He’ll share practical examples of companies (including TopRank client PRWeb) leveraging social channels like Facebook, Blogging and Twitter to develop a community and inspire interest in products and services.

Stay tuned to the TopRank Blog for a live blog session from Dreamforce ‘11.

The disciplines of search, social media and content marketing continue to intersect and often combine to create a powerful mix. Companies and individuals are creating competitive advantages as they adapt to shifts in technology and consumer behavior.  On Aug. 26, the monthly Social Media Breakfast Minneapolis/St. Paul (SMBMSP) will hone in on this integration.

Event details:
Social Media Breakfast Minneapolis/St. Paul
Friday, Aug. 26, 2011
8:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Cambria Suites Maple Grove
9655 Grove Circle North
Maple Grove, MN 55369

SMBMSP brings marketers, PR professionals, students, entrepreneurs, social media practitioners and enthusiasts together for a unique educational opportunity incorporating panel discussions, presentations, case studies, debates and breakout sessions.

This month’s SMBMSP featured speaker is Lee Odden, CEO of TopRank Online Marketing.  A veteran internet marketer, Odden has consulted for leading B2B companies.  He has frequently been cited for his search and social media marketing expertise by leading business publications including The Economist and Fortune Magazine.

Odden’s presentation will discuss how businesses have integrated Social Media, SEO and Content Marketing to increase sales and improve customer engagement. This session will provide practical examples of B2B and B2C companies overcoming the competition with an agile, customer-focused content marketing strategy that’s search engine optimized for the social web.

Stay tuned to the TopRank Blog for a live blog session from SMBMSP.