Get a Clear Picture of Compensation Trend in 2009: Check Out SEMPO In House SEO Compensation Global Survey!

SEMPO, a global non-profit organization for serving SEM industry and marketing professionals is launching its 2nd Annual in-house SEM salary survey. Are SEM professionals facing the economic storm in better way then other sectors, or if the crisis have a severe impact on compensation for search engine marketers? The survey questionnaire includes all the most talked about questions in the industry.

You don't have to be a member of SEMPO to participate in the survey, as it is open to all in-house search engine marketing professionals, no matter if they work in organic/ or paid search positions. The survey will run till February 20 and the result is expected to be announced in March. SEMPO has said that all the responses will be kept anonymous.

Duane Forrester, co-chair, SEMPO's in-house SEM committee and Senior Manager – SEO, Mircosoft said, “Search engine marketing is no longer the wild west, as it was four years ago. The companies are now getting more particular about hiring SEM professionals, but we still believe that online marketing is a healthy job sector. Results of the new survey will give us insights of hiring trend within organizations and the effect that economic changes have had on compensation”.

Forrester also said that SEMPO is encouraging all in-house search engine marketers to participate in this survey, as it is the best method of getting a clear picture of changes in the compensation trend and what more could be expected in this sector in 2009.

The entire data to be collected by survey would include salary ranges in SEM jobs from entry to executive level, variations in salary structure as per geographic markets, changes in the SEM staffing level, SEM budgets and compensation beyond salaries like bonuses, perks and other benefits.

The 1st Annual in-house Salary Survey of SEMPO showed that SEMs were receiving good salaries in comparison to their experience, but the salaries between $100K to $200K still required 5 to 7 years of experience. The survey also disclosed that one-third of the SEMs have a monthly budget of more than $200,000, which exceeds the expected level.

Forrester said that 2009 is definitely going to have a different hiring climate, with fewer high level jobs and more low level openings. This will give an opportunity to entry level professionals to prove their worth. More sound training will be given to freshers, which will add to their professional experience. Those who want to build their career in the SEM industry, must take the full advantage of the year and gain as much skills as they can.

SEMPO is representing 850 members and thousand others in more than 30 countries to provide a better foundation for industry growth, build stronger relationship, provide education and promote the entire SEM industry. The 2nd annual survey conducted by the organization is surely going to gauge the effect of economic slowdown on SEMs and will act as a deciding factor to built strategies for many companies.

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