The SES Conference in Chicago, a prominent event focused on search engine marketing, SEO, paid search, and emerging digital trends, ran annually for several years in the mid-to-late 2000s and into the early 2010s. Historical records show editions such as SES Chicago 2006, 2007 (December 3-7), 2008 (December 8-12 at the Hilton Chicago), 2009 (December 7-10), and continuing into at least 2011 and 2012, with the 2011 event noted for strong attendance and the 2012 edition held in November. These conferences were highly regarded for their educational sessions, keynotes from industry leaders, and networking opportunities in the evolving world of search and social media marketing.
SES Conference Topics in Chicago
The main topics that were commonly featured at the SES Conferences in Chicago (primarily from the mid-2000s to 2012):
- Keyword research and optimization;
- Advanced SEO techniques;
- Link building strategies (including post-Penguin recovery);
- Paid search (PPC) management, bidding tactics, and campaigns (Google & Bing);
- Performance analytics and measurement;
- Usability and conversion rate optimization;
- Mobile marketing;
- Content optimization and strategy;
- Competitive intelligence and spy-vs-spy tactics;
- Social media promotion and integration;
- Demand generation via platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook ads;
- B2B social media strategies;
- Integrated marketing (paid, owned, and earned media);
- Future of search trends (e.g., big data, emerging platforms like Pinterest);
- Email engagement and e-commerce strategies.
These topics evolved over time, with later events (especially 2011–2012) placing greater emphasis on adapting to Google algorithm updates, holistic digital approaches, and the blending of search with social media.