…well at least in Google’s eyes it does. Or more precisely Google Analytics.

It hasn’t been that long since Google acquired Urchin and so Google Analytics was born.

Well now the plethorea of pluggins available for the tool is extending beyond measuring the performance of search activity and a corporation’s web site performance. It’s reaching out into the social networks as well, with a variety of pluggins available like this Social Media Metrics Grease Monkey Plugin for Google Analytics.

Pretty cool stuff…

Sempo UK have launched a new survey (www.semposurveys.com) aimed at establishing what effect (if any) the credit crunch has had on the search marketing industry.

Is search a more reliable channel in an economic downturn?

Has budget been re-allocated from other media?

Only you can answer these questions, and you can do so by filling out the quick survey linked below.

UK Search engine marketing survey

The make-up of the new 2008 Board of Directors is finally out! This Board’s term will officially begin on March 12, 2008 and includes:

Chris Boggs
Jessica Bowman
Massimo Burgio
Bruce Clay
Dave Fall
Duane Forrester
Sara Holoubek
Gord Hotchkiss
Ron Jones
Kevin Lee
Jeffrey Pruitt
Dana Todd

Have you ever been frustrated at survey data that you don’t think represents you?

Are you interested in finding out the changes in online spending, the split between SEO and PPC or the growth of the industry?

Then take part in SEMPO’s 4th annual State of the Market Survey, who knows, you may even win an 8Gb iPod touch for your effort.

What’s more, encourage all your clients to fill out the survey as well - the more data, the more useful the research. Hurry though, the survey ends on February 1st 2008.

Take the survey here.

What better way to kick of a new blog with a bit of controversy?!?

Last month the IAB published their first code of conduct for the UK Search industry and received mixed responses from the search community.

It feels as though SEMPO should have an opinion on this but it’s more important that you, the members of the UK search community, to have a say. Do we need a code of conduct? Are their guidelines we should all be operating within or is it simply too early in the market’s development to be restraining it with regulation?

All comments welcome.