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Nationwide Pulse Survey Shows Majority of Firms Have SEM/SEO Programs

BOCA RATON, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/22/2006 -- A nationwide survey recently conducted by industry leader MoreVisibility shows that a majority of firms now have search engine marketing (SEM) and search engine optimization (SEO) programs in place. However, a significant number of respondents said they are still challenged in terms of arriving at a successful SEM/SEO program.

More than 400 firms from a vast cross section of industries and professions responded to the e-mail survey.

"SEM/SEO are becoming more and more a part of mainstream marketing activities as 64% of respondents said they currently have an SEM program in place while 59% said they have an ongoing SEO program," said Andrew Wetzler, president of MoreVisibility. "However, the survey did reveal there are still many challenges to such programs as some marketers struggle with certain issues such as return on investment, tracking, expertise and costs which we believe is a result of the relative newness of the two disciplines."

MoreVisibility CEO Dennis Pushkin, who headed up the team that conducted the survey, said that just over 30% of respondents reported having an SEO program for one to two years while 24% report having a program for more than four years.

In SEM, 31% report having a program for one to two years while just nine percent report a program that is four or more years old.

According to the survey there was no real consensus when it came to measuring results with visits, leads, sales and brand awareness coming out on top with just 12% of the responses.

Apparently keeping the company Web site up to date is a priority for most firms, 64% of the respondents indicated they've updated their Web site within the last year while only 12% indicated they have never updated their site.

There were 459 responses to the survey and the highlights include:

--  64% of companies reported they have an SEM campaign in place
      --  46% of respondents noted they were satisfied with their results
--  17% have been engaged in SEM for 2-4 years

--  59% of companies reported they have an SEO initiative in place
      --  43% of respondents noted they were satisfied with their results
--  24% of respondents have been engaged in SEO for 4 or more years

--  49% of companies reported that they are utilizing some type of
    Analytics program
      --  Of this group, 60% of respondents noted that they are adjusting
          their campaigns based on Analytics data
--  68% of respondents have updated their Web sites within the past 2 years

Founded in 1999, MoreVisibility is one of the world's leading Search Engine Marketing and Search Engine Optimization firms, having helped hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies and small businesses increase qualified traffic to their Web sites. MoreVisibility is a 2005 INC. 500 Company, a Google Certified Company, a Yahoo Ambassador and a member of the MSN Search Council. MoreVisibility boasts high client retention through a team of more than 30 senior professionals that deliver superior performance and measurable results. Notable clients served include The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Sony, The Mayo Clinic, Mrs. Fields Cookies and Clemson University. MoreVisibility is a privately held company based in Boca Raton, Fla. and can be found on the Web at http://www.MoreVisibility.com.

Contact:
Peter Nasca
(312) 421-0723

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