Calling all Search Superstars!

Searching for Searchlight Award Winners

Now that the holidays are behind us, we can all start to focus on the next seasonal reality…awards season. It seems that just about every industry now has their own awards showcase (when it’s not getting cancelled due to the writers’ strike).

So why should all of us in the search world be left out in the cold? Well, I’m happy to announce that our time has come. On February 12, we’ll be holding the 3rd Annual Yahoo! Searchlight Award showcase in New York City. If you haven’t been to it in the past, it’s a must-attend event. You’ll get to hear the insights and strategies behind four of the best search marketing campaigns from 2007. One winner will be crowned the 2008 Searchlight Award winner. (Previous winners include Avenue A/Razorfish and RPA.)

You’ll also hear a great keynote from one of the most digitally savvy and forward-thinking agency minds. Rob Norman, CEO of Group M Interaction, will kick us off with his thoughts on what’s hot in 2008 and beyond. Rob is as witty as he is brilliant, so we’re really excited to have him this year.

We also have four great panelists who will be helping the audience decide who deserves the award. The panel will question the presenters, offering their own insights and providing their own analysis of the work.

Our panelists include the following:
Abbey Klaassen - Digital Editor, Advertising Age
Kevin Ryan - Global Content Director, Search Engine Strategies
Greg Sterling - Founding Principal, Sterling Market Intelligence
Brian Morrissey - Senior Reporter, Adweek

Greg and Brian have been with us since we kicked off the Searchlight Awards and we warmly welcome them back. We are also excited to have Abbey Klaasen and the inimitable Kevin Ryan join us for the first time as panelists.

Do you have a campaign from 2007 that you’d like to submit for consideration? Would you like to see your agency featured in a full-page print advertisement in one of the trade publications? Do you want the glory and exclusivity to boast that you are the best of the best? (Yes, yes and yes, of course.)

If so, I would like to personally invite you to submit your campaign at http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/searchlightaward/. (You can also use this link to register to attend the awards.)

We look forward to seeing you in New York to help us decide who will win the 2008 Searchlight Award. In the meantime, we hope your 2008 brings marketing success to you and all of your colleagues.

—Ron Belanger, VP, Agency Development