--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Successful web design firm, Atlanta Marketing & Design, was like the proverbial plumber with the leaky faucet. The firm was so busy there was no time to create a company web site.

Last year owner Margaret Butler began to notice a trend of customers looking for help to maximize their web site’s visibility. Margaret began to research the issue and discovered that search engine optimization (SEO) was the solution for her clients. SEO is the process of editing a web site’s content and code to improve visibility within one or more search engines i.e. Google, Yahoo, and MSN Live. Many of the techniques for SEO should be considered at the design stage of a web site.

With this new awareness, Ms. Butler decided to learn SEO to better serve her clients. SEMPO Institute’s online and self-paced courses gave Margaret the ability to learn from the search marketing’s professional organization in a manner which was convenient and effective. Within a few months Margaret completed two courses, Insider’s Guide to Search Marketing and Advanced SEO, and has earned a Certificate of Completion for each course. “We love to see creative professionals such as designers and copy writers who know they affect search optimization,” states Terry Plank, Dean of SEMPO Institute. He continues, “taking our courses has proven to be a benefit to their careers and to their clients.”

Margaret’s discussion with prospective clients includes the impact design will have on web site’s visibility. Ms. Butler states, “I am told I got the web design jobs because of my knowledge of SEO and SEM.” This new knowledge helps Atlanta Marketing & Design stand out from competitors, win clients, and get their own site up.

About SEMPO Institute

SEMPO Institute is a non-profit, online career development organization, whose purpose is to educate and train professionals in the growing field of search engine marketing. Supported by SEMPO, SEMPO Institute’s courses are developed by experts in search marketing and then peer-reviewed for accuracy and best practices. Since its first course in January, 2007, SEMPO Institute has educated more than 700 individuals in search marketing. SEMPO Institute’s courses are available to SEMPO members and the general public. For more information, please visit www.sempoinstitute.com or call +1 (781) 876-6214.