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Tag: 97204

Meet: SEMpdx Searchfest 2008 is March 10

Just like developers’ language- and framework-specific gatherings, there are other tangential practices and events that can play an important role for Web startups, blogs, and the like, here in Portland.

One of those tangential practices is search-engine marketing (SEM). And Portland is one of the leading cities for professionals who are exploring and extending the white-hat techniques of this oft-maligned marketing communications practice.

So, it makes sense that Portland also plays host to one of the premiere national events for SEM, SEMpdx Searchfest.

This year’s event, SEMpdx Searchfest 2008, to be held March 10 at the Oregon Zoo, will consist of:

[A] full-day search engine marketing conference featuring multiple learning sessions and expert panels to help you leverage search engine marketing (SEM) in your organization. Whether you are an SEM professional, work in an advertising agency or part of an in-house marketing department, SearchFest 2008 will connect you with the leading thinkers and practioners in SEM today.

I’ve also been advised that the event has taken a decidedly strategic turn, designed to help folks understand the benefits of adopting—and strategies for incorporating—search engine marketing into the broader strategies for the business.

Sound interesting? You’re can still get the early-bird discount if you register before March 1. And if you want an additional discount of $40, the Silicon Florist is happy to comply:

How to get the discount:

  1. Register for SearchFest at http://www.searchfest.org
  2. Enter the code SEMBD in the “Coupons/Gift Certificates” text box and click “Add.” (This is at step 3 of the shopping cart)
  3. Enjoy your day at SearchFest

For more information, visit SEMpdx. Interested in attending? Or, take the opportunity to register for SEMpdx Searchfest 2008.

Jive Software nearly doubles customer base in 2007

I knew Portland-based Jive Software was hot. I knew they were award winning. And I knew that they had taken an unassailable lead in the “Most Want Ads in the Portland Area” race.

But, even with all of this purported knowledge of mine, it’s always nice to have some numbers to back me up.

Today, Jive released some of those numbers for FY2007. And they’re impressive, to say the least:

  • Nearly 800 new customers
  • 325% increase in annual sales
  • 15% of the Fortune 500 use a Jive product

Jive attributes its continued success to businesses’ growing need for “a better way to work,” highlighting that the collaborative nature of Jive’s products makes them a compelling platform for improving communications with a “proven, people-centric approach to collaboration.”

For more information on Jive’s numbers, read the press release. For more information on the company, visit Jive.

(Hat tip Northwest Innovation)

Portland on Fire: Slow social networking

Some people get married and then push everyone else to get married. Some people do the same thing with having kids. Me? I submitted my Portland on Fire profile, and now I expect everyone else in town to do it, too.

What’s Portland on Fire? I’m glad you asked.

Portland On Fire is a daily discovery of PDX people. The site introduces you to a person in the Portland, Oregon (PDX), area every day. Reach out and connect. The site was created by Raven Zachary and launched on January 1st, 2008. Early profiles [focused] on individuals in the tech and creative arts communities in Portland, but there is no reason why it must stay focused in these areas. The talent pool in Portland is large and diverse, and this site hopes to make this fact evident.

Portland on Fire has been described as “slow social networking.” A profile a day. That’s not really too much to ask, is it?

And I have to admit, it’s really working for me. Here are some of the interesting folks that I’ve met (all virtually and some in person), thanks to Portland on Fire:

  • Jessica Neuman Beck
    Designer, writer, crafter, geek
  • Paul Bingman
    Web programmer, film junkie, railroad movie consultant
  • Ben Bradley
    Soon to be the former Captain Bradley
  • Larissa Brown
    Mommy, knitter, knit designer, author, artist, runner, friend
  • Bill Burcham
    Technologist, craftsman, inventor
  • Joel Burslem
    Founder of the Future of Real Estate Marketing blog
  • Jennifer Cloer
    Information junkie, wife, friend, sister, daughter, aunt and colleague
  • Mara Collins
    Mother, Wife, Philosopher, Blogger
  • Serena Davidson
    Free-Range People Photographer, Geek Magnet, Entreprenuer, Chocolate Fiend
  • Selena Deckelmann
    Sysadmin, Event Organizer, Chicken Keeper
  • Melissa Delzio
    Designer, Artist – can sing greek alphabet, has squeaky hicupps
  • Kurt Deutscher
    Chief Technology Evangelist, Portland Native, Jazz Drummer
  • Audrey Eschright
    Crafty geek
  • Daniel Etra
    Nourishing complexity + digging deep for real solutions
  • Sioux Fleming
    Technologist, computer threat security evangelist, avid camper, cat person
  • Dawn Foster
    Community Manager, Event Organizer, Blogger, Podcaster, Vegan, and Technology Enthusiast
  • Adrienne Fritze
    Mom, artist, social entrepreneur, risk taker, passion monger, creative freak
  • Lyza Danger Gardner
    Introspective, Inquisitive and Surly: Portland Native Eschews the Humdrum
  • Sarah Gilbert
    Finance blog editor, writer, photographer, knitter, mama
  • Mark Gross
    Linux kernel engineer, open source tinkerer, robot builder, intellectual wanderer
  • Hideshi Hamaguchi
    Concept creator, strategist + designer who cannot draw pictures
  • China Z. Hamilton
    Artist & world traveler turned advertising student
  • Sam Keen
    Coder, Event Organizer, Open Source Enthusiast, Geek
  • Justin Kistner
    Online marketing strategist, web designer, and Rock Band drummer
  • Sam Lawrence
    Chief Marketing Officer, Jive Software
  • Kent Lewis
    Search engine marketing guru, recovering entrepreneur and family guy
  • Steve Libbey
    Novelist, guitarist, personist
  • Melissa Lion
    Professional Writer: Fiction, Food and Sex
  • Jadene Mayla
    Plant-lover, artist, zombie movie fan, ecstatic dancer, and writer
  • Kathleen Mazzocco
    Independent public relations consultant
  • Aaron Meyers
    Level 1 Dad LFG PST
  • Todd Mintz
    Eclectic Search Engine Marketing / Internet Marketing Specialist
  • Wende Morgaine
    Educator. Connector. Innovator.
  • Steve Morris
    Entrepreneur, startup coach, hobbyist technologist, former DJ
  • Matt Navarre
    Relational database developer, guitar nut
  • Lynne Joy Nesbit
    Relentlessly curious, business owner, artist, psychotherapist, mother, feminist, believer
  • Chris O’Rourke
    Father, husband, geek and general nuisance to computer problems
  • Bram Pitoyo
    Account planner, creative researcher, brand strategist & most other things
  • Paige Saez
    Interaction designer who likes ubicomp, conceptual art, painting, digital anthropology
  • Craig Schwartz
    Entrepreneur, raconteur, agent provocateur, bon-vivant, gadfly, sapient primate
  • Eva Schweber
    Cat herder, baker, recipe whisperer and dairy goat herder (retired)
  • Urban Scout
    Post-apocalyptic anti hero… With a blog!
  • Greg Sorber
    A technical writer who is decidedly non-technical
  • Gary Walter
    Quintessential 5th gen Portlander on a road not taken
  • Amy Sample Ward
    Lover, blogger, activist, biker, dreamer, worrier, lover
  • Raven Zachary
    Technologist, open source industry analyst, event organizer
  • Nick Zolotko
    Star Wars nerd with a hint of normality

But, honestly, for as interesting as all of these folks are? I’d still like to meet you. So why don’t you head over and fill out a profile? I’m looking forward to reading about you, soon.

Portland Start-up Index: February 2008

As promised, Techvibes [Full disclosure: I contribute Portland articles to Techvibes] has released its monthly update to the Portland Start-up Index, which has now increased to 50 companies.

And that’s not all that has changed. Now, the index has some movement indicators, showing who was where and where they’ve gone—up or down.

New additions include Kongregate (didn’t realize they had a Portland office), Rocketbook, Iterasi [Full disclosure: Client of mine], Active Reload, WeoGeo (recently relocated from Florida), VocalNation.net, GoLife Mobile, and Worldwide Nest.

As far as movers go, ChoiceA, Lunarr, and MomHub saw the biggest upticks. As expected, number of folks were sent screaming down the list with the addition of the new companies.

The mixture of companies and products on the index are ranked by the average of their Alexa and Compete rankings.

Since each revision of the index replaces the previous one, I’ve captured the list, for posterity:

  1. AboutUs
  2. Discogs
  3. Kongregate
  4. MyOpenID
  5. Splashcast
  6. Earth Class Mail (now located in Seattle)
  7. Jive Software
  8. Sandy
  9. Gone Raw
  10. Cliq
  11. Stikkit
  12. NetworthIQ
  13. Grabbit
  14. Walker Tracker
  15. Pibb
  16. Attensa
  17. UrbanDrinks
  18. Rocketbook
  19. Iterasi
  20. Active Reload
  21. ChoiceA
  22. fmyi
  23. Lunarr
  24. GadgetTrak
  25. Iovation
  26. KnitMap
  27. WeoGeo
  28. FreeRange
  29. Picktastic
  30. Goboz
  31. Imindi
  32. Art Face Off
  33. MomHub
  34. Avnera
  35. VocalNation.net
  36. Box Populi
  37. Pheedo
  38. GoLife Mobile
  39. Workplace2go
  40. Techchex
  41. Kryptiq
  42. Jama Software
  43. Lumeno.us
  44. GoSeeTell
  45. Lightfleet
  46. Cendix
  47. Worldwide Nest
  48. YourList
  49. IDP Solutions
  50. Kumquat

For the complete listing, metrics, and movement indicators, please visit Techvibes.