Today, I will give you a little background on how Sempo.ca came to life.

After 2 consecutive years attending the SEMPO Global Committee General meeting during Search Engine Strategies in San José , I was somewhat disappointed to notice that they were few initiatives or committees within SEMPO, the Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization, to promote Search Marketing in Canada. As the ONLY Canadian present in that room that day, and I know who the Search Marketing leaders are in Canada, I could not believe that I would not meet either Andrew Goodman, Jim Hedger, Gord Hotchkiss, Ken Jurina or any other that I have learn from over the years in the multitude of sessions during SES & countless articles & blogs. I was dissapointed. And I am glad it did. Of course I started to ask some questions about where my mentors were and then I thought, maybe they are already too busy to get involve in this, so I have to start beating the drum and bring this to their attention. Thankfully, they listened.

After the SEMPO meeting, we head out to have a few more drinks, despite the fact that it was already late & I chat some more with Dana Todd about joining SEMPO & working at it. I felt inspired like I have never been and thrilled to realize that we share the same vision and the fierce determination to bring this forward. I am now part of the team, even more so than the organization that I belong to, that brought Search to life since its infancy, 10 years ago. For their accomplishment so far, I am extremely grateful to the founders of SEMPO and I would like to thank them from the bottom of my heart. Without them, I would not be here holding the flame and pass it on to you, fellow Canadians. That being said, SEMPO Canada will do everything it can to bring Search Marketing best practices in your business so that you can pass it on to others.

Alexandre Brabant