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Search Engine Marketing Made Easier

Sr. VP, Customer Marketing & Experience, American Express OPEN Recent Posts

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June 28, 2010

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“I would like to know more about Search ...”

KIM HARRIS

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For any size of business, small or large, search engine marketing (SEM) can be a complex challenge. There are a number of choices that need to be made up front, such as choosing the appropriate keywords and search engines for your business, before even getting into how to track and improve upon your results. While larger companies may have the resources to hire – internally or externally – professional SEM assistance, many small business owners may not. So, they manage SEM on their own.

To help make SEM easier and more effective for small businesses, American Express OPEN introduces SearchManager, an online solution that consolidates, simplifies, and manages campaigns across multiple search and pay-per-click ad networks. SearchManager provides you with keyword recommendations and editing, conversion tracking, and reporting – tools that can help you make faster, better informed decisions about campaigns. With these tools – plus available expert assistance, SearchManager can help make your SEM efforts more productive, more profitable. 

Why is American Express OPEN offering SearchManager? Because we’re committed to helping you find ways to manage and grow your businesses. Whether it’s more efficient invoicing and collections through AcceptPay, comparing insurance premiums through InsuranceEdge, or more effective search marketing through SearchManager, we’re looking toward solutions that can save you time on those tasks so you have more time for those things that will help grow your business. 

I’m interested in hearing what you think about SearchManager, as well as other ideas you may have. Are you currently doing SEM or other forms of online marketing? Does SearchManager make SEM more attractive to you? Are there other features or solutions that could help?

What do you think?

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  • KIM HARRIS 10 months ago

    KIM HARRIS

    I would like to know more about Search Manager. I am looking forward to any information that you can provide. Thanks

  • SUSAN ROTH 1 year 9 months and 21 days ago

    SUSAN ROTH

    Mary Ann,Judith just contacted me via email, and we are going to try and schedule a call this week. Stay tuned.Best, Susan

  • Mary Ann Reilly 1 year 10 months and 2 days ago

    Mary Ann Reilly

    Kara and Susan - thank you both for your insights. Susan, thank you for the email, as well. We're definitely interested in learning more about your experience, so look for an e-mail response soon.

  • SUSAN ROTH 1 year 10 months and 11 days ago

    SUSAN ROTH

    We’ve found great value in the fact that Hubspot has streamlined the SEO and SEM process by putting everything under one roof. Their diagnostic tools not only offer support when analyzing and optimizing company web pages but also provide ways to compare and contrast your site--key words, in-bound links, industry ranking--with your competitors. All in all very helpful information to have.

  • SUZANNE VARA 1 year 10 months and 11 days ago

    SUZANNE VARA

    Mary AnnI think the biggest challenge here will be that so many have steered away from or have never delved into PPC. We hear and see so many utilzing organic and getting real results. Understanding that the 2 are very different, but if a company is able to get a page 1 ranking and is in the top 5, they feel that they do not need PPC. I read and actually wrote a blog about the new SearchManager. I thikn it is a great idea however with the buzz being on social media and that combined with an organic optimization platform, I think for now that some small biz will continue to shy away from PPC. I believe that only 29% of small businesses are engaging in PPC. That is a low number considering how many small businesses there are. Then again, despite only being a percent or two, the numbers for clicks on google are decreasing. Bing is making some great strides and their PPC numbers are impressive, I just see a bit of a slow road to get businessess on board - esp when they have the social media "expert" rushing in trying to sell them on that. I think it seems like a great product.

  • Mary Ann Reilly 1 year 10 months and 19 days ago

    Mary Ann Reilly

    Susan- I appreciate your comment. With the new solutions we're rolling out, one of the things we're looking at is how can we make it easier for small business owners to manage across various tools they use. I'd like to hear more about your experience if you have time. Feel free to e-mail me at maryann@openforum.com.

  • SUSAN ROTH 1 year 10 months and 23 days ago

    SUSAN ROTH

    Mary Ann,My name is Susan Roth, and I am the president of Trims Unlimited, Inc. (“Trims”): a longstanding American Express Platinum card holder, an active Open member, the subject of an Open profile and a soon-to-be focus of your “Booming” ad campaign. My company recently signed up with a company called Hubspot to manage our search engine optimization. Basically, Hubspot enables small enterprises like ours consolidate and refine SEO efforts. I believe they are just getting up to speed on SEM. While they seem to have provided a comprehensive, informed service (the jury is still out on the ROI), I would much rather manage all of my company's web activity through one trusted portal that includes on-line business networking as well. Just a thought.Best, Susan Roth/President

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