Hands-On Labs Strengthen Web Skills at 2008 Annual Conference for Catalog & Multichannel Merchants (ACCM)

April 24, 2008 — Transcendentalist writer Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “All life is an experiment.” But few of life’s experiments offer a chance at an absolute solution. Enter the Website Usability and Search Engine Marketing Labs at the 25th Annual Conference for Catalog & Multichannel Merchants (ACCM). Co-produced by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and Multichannel Merchant, ACCM will take place May 19-22 at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, FL.

“Bring in your website problem and our experts will help solve it,” said Angela Eastin, group show director, Penton Media. “From search position woes to site navigability, these laboratories offer proven cures. Even if a company already has a great website that has a fabulous search ranking, those businesses can also learn how to transcend to extraordinary — with the help of our ACCM experts.”

Website Usability Labs

That website isn’t working so well? Need to know why? Both business-to-business and business-to-consumer marketers will have the opportunity to watch, during one of six sessions, as an attendee attempts to navigate a website. Experts leading the labs will take it from there, diagnosing the problems and finding the formulas for success.

Attendees will learn how customers experience their websites and then improve on that experience on Monday, May 19, and Tuesday, May 20. Website Usability Labs will be run by Amy Africa, President and Chief Imagina-8-tion Officer, Eight by Eight, and the Tuesday afternoon labs will be run by Ken Burke, Chairman and Founder, MarketLive. The websites to be reviewed include:

Monday, May 19 — Amy Africa

· 8:15 to 9:30 a.m. — World's Finest Chocolate, www.worldsfinestchocolate.com; Burgers Smokehouse, www.Smokehouse.com.

· 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. — Paper Direct, www.paperdirect.com; PCI Education, www.pcieducation.com.

Tuesday, May 20 — Amy Africa

· 10 to 10:55 a.m. — Aerosoles, www.aerosoles.com; Petsolutions, www.petsolutions.com.

· 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. — Health Care Logistics, www.GMPgifts.com; Athletica, Inc., www.teamcheer.com.

Tuesday, May 20 — Ken Burke

· 2 to 2:55 p.m. — Orient Expressed Imports, Inc., www.orientexpressed.com; Timberline Interactive, Inc., www.LakeChamplainChocolates.com.

· 3 to 4 p.m. — Becker’s School Supplies, www.shopbecker.com; Hamleys, www.hamleys.com.

Search Engine Marketing Labs

What do a widget manufacturer from Milwaukee and a grass skirt seller from Oahu have in common? Both could immensely benefit from search engine marketing know-how. Whether esoteric businesses or household names, all companies can learn how to improve their search positions during ACCM’s Search Engine Marketing Labs.

Lab leaders will guide attendees on how to optimize their sites and pay-per-click campaigns for the best search positions. Using these tools, delegates will soon find high ROIs rolling in. ACCM’s Search Engine Marketing Labs will be available at the following times:

Tuesday, May 20, 10 a.m. to noon

Lab Leaders:

· Heather Lloyd-Martin, CEO, SuccessWorks International

· Matt Bailey, Owner, SiteLogic Marketing

· Detlev Johnson, Owner, SearchReturn

· Stephan Spencer, President, Netconcepts

Wednesday, May 21, 10 a.m. to noon

Lab Leaders:

· Heather Lloyd-Martin, CEO, SuccessWorks International

· Jessica Bowman, SEMInHouse.com

· Detlev Johnson, Owner, SearchReturn

· Kevin Lee, Co-founder and Executive Chairman, Did-it.com

Wednesday, May 21, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

Lab Leaders:

· Heather Lloyd-Martin, CEO, SuccessWorks International

· Jessica Bowman, SEMInHouse.com

· Detlev Johnson, Owner, SearchReturn

For additional information about ACCM 2008 or to register, please visit www.accmshow.com.

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