Tweeting to say “CONGRATULATIONS” to David Harry, aka theGypsy, is not enough to express my sentiment and excitement that his post, “SEO Higher Learning” on Huomah.com won a Semmy in the Search Tech category. I wanted to take a moment to share the value of his contributions to the SEO industry (and to my understanding of search).

2010 Search Tech Semmy Winner: David Harry

The above screenshot of the Semmy Winner page shares a snippet from the winning post. I highlighted the following which should be the core driver for every SEO:

“We should learn knowledge management and algorithms with the same verve we apply to playing in social media.”

Well said, David! Your work constantly reminds me that social media can be a distracting shiny object. Obviously, we know social signals are now a factor in the new social search; however, search remains primarily about knowledge management.

SEO Geeks Guide to Information Retrieval

The subtitle, “The SEO Geeks Guide to Information Retrieval,” summarizes the depth and breadth of this higher learning guide that educates by providing a slough of resources relating to the science of SEO.

SEOs is more than modifying meta tags and writing good descriptions with keyword-rich headlines and body copy, and gaining  inbound links. As David explains in his SEO Higher Learning post,

“… it seems logical that those working with (marketing to) search engines might want to know a thing or two about how they work.”

Understanding how search engines evaluate, process and rank content is the core of effective SEO. Research and algorithms are required study for anyone making a living by doing search engine optimization.

Heck, how does one effectively optimize if they don’t know the search engines?

SEO Dojo Community

It’s been over a year since theGypsy compiled this higher learning guide for SEO geeks. Since then, David Harry launched the SEO Dojo, a community for search professionals. If you are in this field, I highly recommend you consider one of the SEO Dojo Membership Plans. (This is not an affiliate link, which means I’m not getting any kickback for sharing.)

I was honored to be one of the initial band of SEO Gypsies on the trail, and I’ve been unable to fully participate during the past few months. One of my career lifestyle changes involves soaking up the content and increasing participation in the SEO Dojo. Our Friday chat sessions on Skype have been an insightful lifeline to me for a while now.

THANK YOU, David Harry, for your obsession with Information Retrieval, for sharing your insights, and for providing such a valuable contribution to the SEO industry. You well deserve the 2010 Semmy Award for Search Tech!

Thoughts about Optimizing Life: Dana Lookadoo

“SEO Higher Learning” by David Harry Wins Semmy

Yo! What’s up?

I’ve returned to the world of search marketing consulting under the banner of “Yo! Yo! SEO.”

Yo! Yo! SEO?

What does this crazy hip-hop rap name mean?

Yo! Yo! SEO Logo

“Yo! Yo! SEO” has multiple meanings:

1. You’re not On Your Own in SEO
   Many businesses are busy doing what they do best, their business. They are often on their own when understanding and planning their online marketing. I work alongside their team to help them understand the fast-changing world of SEO and how to implement a strategic approach to search marketing.
2. It’s Word-of-Mouth SEO, where search engine optimization engages with communities through conversational marketing.

• Yo! — Listen to what people are saying and how the competition is engaging.
• Yo! — Optimize your visibility in search engines, and engage in conversations.
• SEO — Create viral keyword-rich content that’s fun, easy-to-read and attracts visitors and links.

Yo! Yo! Can you feel the beat?

(I do need a rapper. Any suggestions? You’ll be highlighted on our YouTube channel.)

Returns? What about Blast Advanced Media?

I flash back at the numerous changes of the past year. There are no doubts and few regrets …

I revised work commitments and schedule in an effort to modify lifestyle, reduce stress, and optimize health. (Websites are not the only things that require strategic optimization.) I provided a sneak preview in my post “Goodbye Resolutions. Hello Lifestyle Change!” in which I shared my goals for 2010.

Color Guide

Below is a sneak peak at the colors that will guide Yo! Yo! SEO:

Yo! Yo! SEO Color Guide

The future is bright, even though it’s different from what I had originally planned.

I especially like this quote by Yue Fei,

Do not let time pass without accomplishing something. Otherwise you will regret it when your hair turns gray.

Fortunately, I have only a little gray hair, but don’t be surprised if you see some hair highlights or extensions from the Yo! Yo! SEO color guide!

The new YoYoSEO.com will be live mid to late March 2010. Please stop by and shout out a “Yo!”

Thoughts about Optimizing Life: Dana Lookadoo

Yo! Yo! SEO Returns, Soon

Staring at the round file, I flashed back at the numerous changes of the past year. There are no doubts and few regrets …

Yes, I threw away my new business cards!

Yo! Yo! SEO?

Yo! Yo! SEO logo - New brand to represent Word-of-Mouth SEO

Yo! Yo! SEO was set to launch in September. I have been rebranding from Pixel Position for months … and months. Anyone who has started a business knows the amount of time that goes into developing a new brand – researching, forecasting, planning, strategizing, and creating. All of this while one is also consulting!

I wanted to create a brand that represented the key drivers for what it takes to be successful and to make money online, to help clients understand how Search Engine Optimization ties into Social Media. I moved from “Conversational SEO” to “Word-of-Mouth SEO.” I needed a brand to shout out why it’s important (imperative) to join the conversation! “Yo! Yo! SEO” was born!

• Yo! — Listen to what people are saying and how the competition is engaging.
• Yo! — Join the conversation. Optimize your presence in Search and Social Media.
• SEO — Create engaging content that’s fun, easy-to-read and attracts visitors and links.

The cards were printed in time for a soft launch at Search Engine Strategies San Jose:

So why did I throw away my business cards? I’m getting to that …

Working Solo

I’ve been fortunate (and unfortunate) to have turned away numerous potential contracts the past few years. Call it “limited bandwidth!” Working solo, you have to ensure you provide quality service to a few clients by not taking on too many.

I had a very dynamic team when I ran a Web agency, uniquefocus, inc, in Monterey. There were few projects we turned away. We stayed on top of technology and marketing. Each of us were  passionate about our work. Energy flowed in project meetings. I’ve missed that contagious excitement of team collaboration.

• The advantages of working solo are many – flexibility, home office, no office politics, no commute. If you are disciplined and do good work, it pays off well.
• Some disadvantages are that you have to do it all – sales, accounting, administration, project management, planning and … doing the work.

I have been repeatedly thought and said,

“I need a team!”

I wrote a post about SEO & cycling and how one must be able to ride solo. The following comment by Will Hanke hit hard. I realized I can never win a big race without a team.

I’d like to also mention that even though we (both SEOs and cyclists) love to ride alone, we still need a solid team behind us …

All of these team members help us attain the podium/rankings.

Paradigm Shift

On Friday, August 14, I attended MarketingExperiments’ live Landing Page Optimization Certification course in San Jose with my friend, Maria Pergolino. Maria shared her thought process and recent decision to move from consultant to employee at Marketo. She moved across country from Philadelphia to San Francisco for the opportunity to be part of a team. The desire to be part of something bigger than what she could do on her own was an key factor.

I salivated to also be part of a team with drive and vision.

Enter … Kayden Kelly

Kayden Kelly, CEO of Blast Advanced Media

Kayden Kelly spoke at SES San Jose and is CEO of Blast Advanced Media. Kayden is also a cyclist who understands the importance of successful team work - on and off the bike. We met via Twitter a few months back and tried to cross paths at SES but didn’t get a chance among the 5,000 attendees.

Little did I know that about the same time Maria and I were talking about the importance of team work, Kayden had left a phone message asking me to consider joining his team!

The paradigm shift began.

I threw away my business cards on October 1 when I joined Blast as VP, Online Marketing Director.

Blast Advanced Media

Blast Advanced Media has been in the Sacramento area for 10 years. Blast started as a Web design studio and specializes in A/B Testing & Multivariate Testing, usability and analytics, and ecommerce design and development.

Guess it’s time to get new business cards, again! This time, for good!

Thoughts about Optimizing Life: Dana Lookadoo

I Threw Away My Business Cards!