For the typical search engine guru, its almost a routine reading online marketing tips all over the web. From SEO tips, blogging strategies, PPC profits to the big boys in play like Google, Facebook, and Yahoo. Then they move on to their own sites and start applying a few things they’ve read. It’s all great knowing how to market and promote your products, services or information, but throughout the process of learning, we forget that we are actually moving forward because of other people. Other people in the same field or in other words, we’re “socializing”.

To stay at the top of our game, we have to associate with like minded people. Association is so important that I believe, even if you know absolutely everything on search engine marketing, you will still fail if you’re not constantly relating or conversing with those in the same industry. This applies to all areas including sport, school, work, friends not just marketing. The learning process is fairly rough since algorithms always change and new laws apply. Having the right minded people around you sharing similar principles and beliefs on SEM, is how you would progress further.

Here’s a few sites to get you started in the right frame of mind:

1/ Forums - Great place to mingle with others. Ask questions. Generally I find people are very helpful. Some great sites include Sphinn, Digital Point, and SE Round Table. I won’t mention a whole list cause you can find the popular ones in search engines.

2/ Social Networks - Facebook is a good place to start. Join a few SEO/PPC/affiliate/whatever groups and get to know people there.

3/ Article sites - A lot of Article directories have topics on search engine marketing and usually there are links placed in the bio of the author. If you like their articles, why not drop a quick email and tell them you loved their article? Add their contacts through Facebook, MSN, Yahoo messenger or whatever you have.

4/ Blogs - You might come across some really good blogs while doing research. You could write a guest post on for the site. I’m sure most webmasters would be more than happy to hear your thoughts and theories (providing that its a quality article of course).

5/ Offline - Just because its online marketing you don’t have to stick your head in there 24/7. Go to conferences like SMX or any other local search engine meeting groups, expos, and seminars. One thing I’ve even done is call up outsourcing companies at my current job to hear their thoughts.

More brains are always better than one. The power of association can motivate and push you further with your personal or company websites. There’s always time to do the usual chores with SEO and PPC but also make the effort to expand your inner circle. Hang around the best in your industry and you’ll eventually be a part of that group. Hang around bums and you’ll always be one.