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SEMPO Institute Pilots New Class Hybrid Training Concept

One-Day, Intensive Search Engine Marketing Class Rolls Out At Bentley College, March 28, 2008

WAKEFIELD, Mass., March 6, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- SEMPO Institute, www.sempoinstitute.com, announced today it is premiering a new Institute service concept: hybrid training that couples its online courses with a one-day instructor-led class. Its objective is to help meet the demand of current and future search engine marketing professionals who prefer to begin their training in a more traditional classroom environment.

The pilot program, "Practical Search Marketing," will be first tested at Bentley College's Center for Marketing Technology (CMT), March 28, and will teach 5 of the 14 topics from SEMPO Institute's "Insider's Guide to Search Marketing," the Institute's initial course. Located in Waltham, Massachusetts, Bentley College is recognized as one of the leading business schools in the country and is ranked 7th in the nation by the Princeton Review for its state-of-the art campus facilities.

"At Bentley College's Center for Marketing Technology, we see a critical need for students and working professionals to learn more about the search engine marketing sector. Search is driving an increasing proportion of the U.S. economy and we feel the SEMPO Institute class will help our region's businesses to leverage this online marketing power," says Ian Cross, Director of the Center for Marketing Technology. Students taking the Practical Search Marketing class will receive a certificate and have access to the complete online version of Insider's Guide to Search Marketing. Upon finishing the full online course, they can receive a second certificate. They will also be able to join SEMPO Institute's LinkedIn network to communicate with fellow students. The class fee is $750 per person. Those interested can contact SEMPO Institute at 781-876-6214 or register online at sales@sempoinstitute.com.

Social Networking: Search Style

The one-day immersion classes are part of SEMPO Institute's expanding reach into communities where search is becoming of greater interest. One of the interesting trends is the growing proliferation of social networking groups forming around an interest in search. "SEMPO Institute is working with these groups to share information and to facilitate access to our SEMPO Institute classes. We see social networking as the right venue for connecting those with a need for professional training with our classes, which are created by the top search professionals working today," says Katie Donovan, SEMPO Institute Business Development Manager.

A case in point is the Cambridge, Massachusetts Meetup group, Cambridge Search Engine Optimization Meetup -- http://seo.meetup.com/50/. "Every day, someone new is entering into the search profession and the thirst for search knowledge is limitless," says David Matson, Cambridge SEO Meetup founder and owner of www.highsteppinsearches.com, a lawyer industry niche, SEO marketing firm. "In just two years, we grew from 2 members to 300 members." The Cambridge group's members range from online agencies to entrepreneurs putting up a new website.

"We recognize that search is a growing career opportunity and, in this somewhat uncertain economic time, search continues to be a bright light in terms of job demand and security. SEMPO Institute and our group have formed an alliance to advance education and to show our members the full impact of search marketing," says Matson. "We see SEMPO Institute's online classes as the best quality and most accessible learning venue for our busy members."

"New England is a microcosm of what is happening in search around the country, as these search social networking groups proliferate. We are connecting the dots for them, between interest and the need for a good educational foundation," says Donovan.

About SEMPO Institute

SEMPO Institute is a non-profit, online career development organization, whose purpose is to educate and train professionals in the growing field of search engine marketing. Supported by SEMPO, SEMPO Institute's courses are developed by experts in search marketing and then peer-reviewed for accuracy and best practices. Since its first course in January 2007, SEMPO Institute has educated more than 500 individuals in search marketing. SEMPO Institute's courses are available to SEMPO members and the general public. For more information, please visit www.sempoinstitute.com or call +1 (781) 876-6214.

About the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO)

SEMPO is a global non-profit organization serving the search engine marketing industry and marketing professionals engaged in it. Its purpose is to provide a foundation for industry growth through building stronger relationships, fostering awareness, providing education, promoting the industry, generating research, and creating a better understanding of search and its role in marketing. Representing thousands in over 30 countries, SEMPO has over 720 members. It represents the common interests of companies and consultants worldwide and provides them with a voice in the marketplace. SEMPO's education and outreach initiatives are sponsored in part by Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google, Superpages.com, SMX and Search Engine Strategies. For more information, or to join the organization, please visit http://www.SEMPO.org.

The Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=2228

CONTACT:  SEMPO Institute 
          Katie Donovan, Business Development Manager
          781-876-6214
          kdonovan@sempoinstitute.com 
 
          SEMPO
          Greg Jarboe
          978-549-9537
          pr@sempo.org