SES San Jose 2009: Eli Goodman, ComScore Interview

Eli Goodman, comScoreExternal measurement tools enable us to track the relative success of our marketing efforts with those of our competitors.  As most internal measurement tools are closed and often more guarded than Fort Knox, external analysis can be extremely helpful to put our metrics in context.  comScore offers a vast array of online measurement tools, combining the best of panel-based data collection and on-page tagging.  Eli Goodman is a 10 year veteran in technology and marketing and leads comScore’s Search division.  He sat down to talk to us at Search Engine Strategies San Jose 2009, after delivering an eye-opening presentation entitled “Where to next?”

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Day 2: No longer a newbie, still a female and keeping her clothes on

Having gone down the rabbit hole last night as well, I wasn’t surprised the first session was a bit of a snoozer in terms of attendance. Even with a promising session title: “Igniting Viral Campaigns: From Links to Generated Content”, the absenteeism was sharply felt, just like the fricking cold air cutting through the entire venue. Good thing I picked up an “I’m with Stupid” Shirt from StupidSEO.com to keep from slipping into hypothermia.

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SES San Jose 2009 Day 2 Recap: Google, Google, and more Google.

Day two started right where Day one left off, with tons of more informative sessions.  Unfortunately, we only have two people from PPC-Advice.com covering the conference, which means we can only cover 2 of a possible 5 simultaneous tracks, hopefully next year we can get more people to come along.

Speaking of next year, the organizers of the show have already scheduled next year’s Silicon Valley show for outside of the valley, but within the bay Area.  Next year, SES will be coming from San Francisco, and no one could be happier about that than me.  Apparently, organizers, sponsors, speakers, and the engines themselves have all agreed – San Jose is hard to get to, has zero night-life, and is about the same distance from the major engine’s HQ’s in the valley.  Sweeeeeet.

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SearchBash 2009 was amazing! Not ONLY because of the nakedness

Despite Google pulling back their rumored $2M Google Dance budget for 2009, SES San Jose attendees showed up in throngs (and thongs) to SearchBash 2009, hosted by WebmasterRadio.FM.  And what a bizarre party it was, complete with official “Alice in Wonderland” theme, beachballs, naked women in body paint, and free-flowing open bar to boot.  Judging by all the tired faces and subdued enthusiasm this morning, it looks like the party was a great success.

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SES San Jose 2009: A look back at Day 1: from the perspective of a female newbie

Feeling fresh, alert and green coming off of EST and attending my first SES conference, I was met with a sluggish start to SES. This means low energy attendees, no freebies as was advertised from previous years’ attendees and worse of all, no brekkie! Even the coffee was weak. Those who needed more of a jolt had to make a trek to the Starbucks in the hotel next door or feed themselves with the $10 dollar fruit plate from the adjacent hotel.

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SES San Jose 2009 Day 1 Recap: Clay Shirky, Analytics, Conversion and more, oh my!

Given the recent economic downturn and attendance numbers in a downward spiral over the past year or so, turnout for SES San Jose, the granddaddy of all online marketing shows, was surprisingly optimistic.  Not only are all major search engines, agencies, and tool providers on hand for the festivities, experts from all walks of marketing disciplines are presenting on their specialties.  It’s the perfect storm, in the perfect weather, at the perfect time for optimizing online marketing.

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Yahoo Web Analytics, more choice equals more better

Yahoo Web AnalyticsI dropped the ball on this one, it’s been over a year since Yahoo acquired IndexTools but with all the Microhoo/Yagoog/Yahbing/Binghoo news between then and now, I admit that I took my eye off Yahoo Web Analytics.  Thankfully, enough folks remained on the IndexTools/Yahoo Web Analytics team, and I was able to get my hands on membership.  With the rumors going around about how Google pimps their own Search conversion/goal attribution, it’s nice to know there’s more choice out there.

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