Sphinn - Search Marketer Rob Snell Testifies Before Congress

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Search Marketer Rob Snell Testifies Before Congress

Went Hot: June 25, 2008 - 7:35 am
Posted By: robgarner 110 days ago
Topic Type: News Story (Jump to http://searchengineland.com)
Category: Search Marketing

Rob Snell tells his incredible story of how he was asked to testify in a congressional hearing on the impact of the Internet on small business.

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from Winooski 109 days ago #

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C'mon Rob, I can't believe you didn't call this post "Mr. Snell Goes to Washington". [;-)]

A very interesting story from a guy with beau coups experience. I appreciate the preview of what Rob Snell will be saying over in the Rayburn Building, as well as hearing about some of the logistical details (You have to bring 75 copies of your testimony? On your own freakin' dime?!?)

The only thing I saw that could have used some tweaking prior to testifying:

"Buying paid search ads insures you control your advertising message, and you're not at the mercy of shifting search engine ranking algorithms."

I dunno, maybe everyone knows what that means by now, but I seem to hear them thinking, "Hah? What's an algorithm?"

Otherwise, a really strong effort. My favorite quote:

"Bigger retailers cannot compete when we go head to head, product to product. They sell too many things."

Here's looking forward to Mr. Snell's follow-up post.

from Jill 109 days ago #

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Whoo-hoo! And I remember when Rob was just a hick from Mississippi who drew pictures in his notebook.

Way to go, Rob!

from lyndseo 109 days ago #

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Kudos to you my friend!!

Hey Jill... Rob still is a hick from Mississippi who draws pictures in his SPAM notebook ;)

from MattCutts 109 days ago #

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Wow. Rob, you're a much better writer than me. Good luck storming the Congress! :)

from robsnell 109 days ago #

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@Winooski Thanks, man! Just got in to DC. Yeah, your tax dollars at work, right? :) I was going to put together a ton of support material from old blog posts and book stuff, but 75 copies of 10 pages was a ream and half of paper and it was HEAVY for carry-on duty. Maybe next time when I have more than a couple days notice. More soon!

@Jill -- Thanks, Jill! This should be fun. Right now they're having trouble finding an interpreter who speaks my particular dialect AND proper English AND who won't inject a "damn yankee" into every other sentence... :P

@lyndseo -- Uh... Darlin? Hicks don't need SPAM when there's a possum or a raccoon in every holler and bayou...

@mattcutts -- Aw, man. Thanks, cousin!

And, uh, you know lyndseo's kidding right? I think she has me confused with that apprentice guy or someone...

from robsnell 109 days ago #

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this speaks for itself

Cincinnati, OH
New York, NY
Starkville, MS
New York, NY
New York, NY

just found this on the http://www.house.gov/smbiz/democrats/hearings/hearing-6-25-08-ads/hearing%20witnesses.html

House Committee on Small Business
Subcommittee on Regulations, Health Care and Trade
Hearing on the Impact of Online Advertising on Small Firms
10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Room 1539 Longworth HOB

WITNESS LIST

Mr. Tim Carter
Founder
Askthebuilder.com
Cincinnati, OH

Mr. Paul Sanar
Founder & CEO
SkyFacet.com
New York, NY

Mr. Rob Snell
Co-owner
GunDogSupply.com
Starkville, MS

Mr. Randall Rothenberg
President & CEO
Interactive Advertising Bureau
New York, NY

Mr. Richard Lent
Founder and CEO
AgencyNet
New York, NY

from Mel66 109 days ago #

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Very cool!! Good luck tomorrow!

from tonyp 108 days ago #

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Excellent story and much thanks from another "hick" from Mississippi.

from johnandrews 107 days ago #

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I enjoyed reading that so much I am considering buying the Dummies book.

Interesting how the Yahoo! lobbyist could choose who appeared before congress... perhaps indirectly, but successfully nonetheless.

Also interesting to think about ... what if YOU had been asked to appear before Congress on an issue of interest to the American business people? There is NO WAY I could have ever met the practical requirements... short notice travel, preparations.... yet the selection bias is all but ignored in the "big picture" of congressional hearings.

I loved the ending statement "Thank goodness I own a copy shop...so I get a discount on my printing and have 24 hour access."

Are they still calling this industry "search"? It is clearly comprehensive now...

from robsnell 107 days ago #

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Howdy, all. Testifying in front of Congress went well. It was a BLAST! I didn't think it would be so much fun, but the Congressmen on the panel seemed to get where we were coming from. I'm a little short on sleep, so I'm about to crash, but I promise much more details sooner than not. ZZZ -- Rob Snell

Here's the URL of the testimony on the YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=62E82221047648AC

PS Thanks for ALL the support, emails, texts, tweets, link love, etc.