January 2015 - SEM Hot Seat

In our 2015 SEM “Hot Seat”, attendees can choose to submit their website ahead of time for a chance to be reviewed by our panel of experts. Our amazing panelists cover a wide range of specialties and each will share their analysis and make actionable recommendations.

No matter the site, there’s absolutely no issue that can’t be resolved in what promises to be an educational and entertaining evening. Learn insights about how to make your own website better from watching the reviews of other sites.
As usual, we are having the event on the second Tuesday of the month, with a half hour of networking, then an hour long presentation, and then another half hour of networking.

Great Door Prizes

Bring your business cards, because we’ll be holding a a door prize drawings for a free pass to SearchFest 2015, an All Access Pass to SMX West, and a pair of passes to the AMA Trail Blazers event and game on Feb. 11.

(If you’re already registered for SearchFest 2015 and win, then the free pass will apply to the 2016 conference.)

Date and Time

Tuesday, January 13th, 2015
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.Hot seat starts at 5:30pm

Hot Seat Expert Panel

Scott Hendison

Scott’s career in search started in the late 1990’s, as the owner of a computer & software store. He offered computer repair service and sold software online until 2002, when he began marketing for other businesses. In 2004 he founded Search Commander, Inc., started attending and speaking at various conferences, and eventually became one of the founding board members of SEMpdx.

Michael Cottam

Michael Cottam’s deep technology experience — programming for IBM, STEP Technology and ProCom — makes him a unique search engine optimization (SEO) expert. He consults specifically for larger organizations that pull their website content from internal databases or content management systems (CMS). Rather than simply editing what already exists within a website, Michael offers tweaks to the organization’s internal CMS to increase SEO — bridging the gap between online marketing and website architecture teams.

Kevin Getch

Kevin Getch is the Founder and Director of Digital Strategy at Webfor, a full-service digital marketing agency providing search engine optimization, social media marketing, website and logo design. He works with small and medium size businesses to develop and implement successful integrated online marketing strategies and has helped 100’s of businesses improve their online presence through a solid focus on local SEO best practices.

Mike Arnesen

Mike’s career began in web development and, after developing a love affair with SEO, moved into search marketing full time in 2007. Today, Mike is proudly obsessed with SEO, structured data, and web geekery in general. In addition to serving as the Director of Analytics & Optimization at SwellPath, Mike is a frequent blogger and conference speaker (appearing at MozCon, SMX, State of Search, and, of course, SEMpdx). His responsibilities on the board focus on bringing local search marketers though-provoking and actionable monthly seminars.

Submitting Your Site

During the process of purchasing your ticket, answer the question at the bottom of the registration form to submit a domain, and tell us what you want to know about your site. Want a basic on-page audit of your site? Great. Want an analysis of a competitor? Sounds fun!

We can’t use all of them, but we’ll find some good stuff to make this entertaining. If anyone is in attendance that wants to awkwardly object to their site being put on the hot seat by someone else, then they must have a business card or proof of ownership and we’ll decline the domain.

Location

BridgePort Brew Pub’s Heritage Room — see map
1313 NW Marshall Street
Portland, OR 97209

Parking & Transit

There is street parking available around the venue ($1.60/hour until 7PM), a pay lot across the street in the Safeway building (enter on 14th), and several pay lots 2-3 blocks away, under the 405 freeway. 2 hours of free street parking is available anywhere west of the 405. Streetcar stops are 1 block north or south, and the nearest bus stop is 6 blocks away on NW 14th & Glisan (route 77).