Yahoo reported its latest financial quarter and GROWTH in keyword search rose significantly. This post is not about analyzing Yahoo's numbers, but rather about Yahoo as a barometer of the Search Industry juggernaut. Clearly more and more traditional ad spending is moving to paid search and Yahoo is one of the big players.

The other great barometer of the health of the Search Industry is our Search Engine Strategies trade show taking place 29 February-3 March at the Hilton New York. I had written two days ago about the exhibit space being "sold out." We somehow managed to gain some more space and just yesterday alone sold another seven companies exhibit and promotional space. We now have 96 companies participating as exhibitors and sponsors (up from 68 last March) and paid exhibition footage has hit 12,600 square feet (up from 7,800 square feet last year). Another positive factor is that most companies signing up for the New York show are simultaneously booking space for the San Jose show taking place in August.

SES has even reached the stage in trade show growth in which a car (in this case a beautiful red Mini Cooper) is being given away to some lucky seminar attendee. The sponsor is recently launched Accoona.

With paid attendance figures growing at a record clip as well, SES New York should be the Internet marketing event of the Winter season. Do not miss it.