6 Reasons You Should Take the SEMPO State of Search Survey

“Would you like to take this survey?”

If you’re asking me from outside of Whole Foods: No.

If you’re @SEMPOGlobal and it’s the annual State of Search survey: Yes!

The State of Search survey is open to anyone who considers themselves a digital marketer (no SEMPO membership required) from now through November 15, 2013. I took it and you should too. To take the survey, head to SEMPO.org to participate in the re-envisioned 2013 State of Search survey.

If you need convincing, here are five reasons why I always participate in the State of Search survey, and why you might consider participating this year:

(Disclaimer: Let it be known that I am not a SEMPO member, but Bruce Clay is on the SEMPO board. That said, his SEMPO prestige does not affect my reasons for endorsing the SOS survey.)

1) Get access to the data for free!

The most recent SEMPO surveys are only available to members, and to those who participated in the survey. In other words, you must complete the survey to be given free access to the in-depth report, which SEMPO says would otherwise cost $695.

2) The data supplied in the report is top of the line (and I like to be a part of the process).

The annual State of Search survey analyzes in detail how digital marketers are allocating budgets and reacting to paid, social, email, mobile, and organic marketing trends and technology shifts. The result is a thorough market valuation report that reveals where the industry is, where it’s come from, and — based on the reported actions and predictions of the participants — where it’s going.

This survey is a great big-picture resource that can help digital marketers gain a better understanding of both the challenges and the opportunities that are right under their noses.

For example, in the 2012 survey respondents pointed to ROI reporting and cross-departmental integration as two problem areas that could use improvement. It will be interesting to see whether the problems expressed in last year’s survey are still prominent, or if they’ve been replaced (with or without resolution) by fresh ailments in 2013. (To read more about what the Bruce Clay team was able to glean from the 2012 report, revisit our blog post “A Look into the State of Search Marketing 2012.”)

3) All answers given are kept strictly confidential and presented only in aggregate form.

4) It’s my civic duty as a search marketer to help paint the most accurate industry landscape possible.

In order to present a true-to-life landscape of the search marketing industry the survey needs to take into consideration real answers from real digital marketers — like you and me. So, if you want your ailments, achievements and general input to be represented, you need to show up and represent yourself!

5) It doesn’t take very long.

The survey has five sections with an average of eight questions per section. There’s no essay portion and you won’t be graded.

6) Win an iPad!

By completing the survey you will be automatically entered to win a new iPad 3, courtesy of @SEMPOglobal. (Who doesn’t want a new iPad…?)

To take the 9th annual State of Search survey be sure to visit the Current State of Search Survey portion of SEMPO.org between now and November 15, 2013.

You may also be interested in checking out the results of the 2013 SEMPO and ClickZ Salary Survey, which is now available for SEMPO members or survey participants to download at SEMPO.org.