This is a very rare rant … I almost never do so, but have been so inspired by the actions of a few narrow minded and misguided individuals who propose to speak for the masses when questions about Stumbleupon are asked.

For those of you who know me, I’ve become an avid stumbler. I absolutely love Stumbleupon. Where I used to sit on the couch and watch History and Discovery Channels late at night, I have now at least partially replaced that time with time spent Stumbling and Digging. I want to be clear too … I’m not stumbling just anything and everything. I’m a quality kinda guy, rather than quantity. I’ve been fortunate to have some great submissions over time, and I’m getting better weekly at knowing where to find more. There is absolutely NOTHING questionable about my SU profile … it is spotless!

Today is not only the final day of 2007; it marks the end of my 6th month in SEM. While that’s not a major milestone by any means, today’s symbolic end of the year has made me pause and reflect upon my beginning, the challenges I faced and the people who helped me overcome them.

It quickly became evident that a thank you must go out to each of you. You’ve become mentors, encourager’s and virtual colleagues. You see, after the comfort of 10+ years in traditional media, the lead up to my first day on the job had me nervous. There was the usual first day jitters and uncertainty that a career change brings, but I also knew that I had a massive learning curve ahead.

Credit : ObiAkpere

The Zen Art of Search Engine Marketing

2007 has been a phenomenal year for the Search Marketing industry complete with PageRank drama, Google penalities, profitable business and the profilic rise of social media. Some have made Sphinn, Digg and Stumbleupon their second home, while others have forayed into even more advanced greyhat and blackhat seo techniques. But, what of 2008? If you’re already a good SEM then it’s time to get better, and if you’re just starting out in the search marketing industry, its time you got your act together in order to play with the big boys of search. Here are ten ways to grow as a SEM in 2008 and consequently empower your business acumen and boost productivity and profitability.

Not sure whether I’ve said this before or not … but I love Stumbleupon. Obviously I love it as an internet marketer (and to all of you Stumbleupon Vigilantes … I merely submit good content. I don’t try to game the system. Just look at my submissions profile before you become judge, jury, and executioner!), but I’m talking here about loving it as an individual. Rather than sit and watch television in the evenings now after the kids goto bed, I find myself at the computer often, stumbling to beat the band. I’ve heard and seen others with this affliction too; Shana at Social Desire, Dave from Huomah, and our very own Tom Tsinas to name but a few.

As we approach the end of 2007, I just wanted to send a thank you to the entire Search Engine People readers. I wish you all a joyous, prosperous and healthy 2008!

Throughout my first year in SEO, I have witnessed a community that is inclusive, supportive and has a tremendous amount of pride in the work they do. I’ve equally enjoyed sharing with each of you my observations and perspectives and your responses and personal blogs.

The next two weeks I’ll have a lighter blog post schedule, however I’ll be back to the regular daily schedule on Monday January 7th with my “by the numbers” look at propeller.

That reflective time of the year is approaching. Is here.

"The best <insert keyphrase> of 2007", "20 Apps That Changed My Life in 2007", "8 2008 Predictions" — and this post.

Let me raise a toast to the people whom most influenced me in 2007: my wife, my daughters, my mother.

Together, without fail, they put the things we do, the things you and I work on, in perspective.

When I’m alight with buzz because blogs do this, everybody on Twitter talks about that, Facebook just burped, Google PageRank slammed, Ask did weird, 54% of people online <insert whatever it is they do more or less> — they are my reality check.

Greed is good but a little common sense is even better.

While cyber Monday and online holiday shopping have every marketing manager wringing hands in anticipation, too often, I find one of the biggest mistakes a marketing department or company can make happens at this time of year.

Changing campaigns or web sites.

December is absolutely, positively the worst time of year to do this and for so many different reasons.

Why risk your business?

In the modern world of business, it is useless to be a creative original thinker unless you can also sell what you create. Management cannot be expected to recognize a good idea unless it is presented to them by a good salesman.

~ David M. Ogilvy

Account Managers (AM) today have varied backgrounds, possess different characteristics, and have their own philosophies regarding how to manage a base of business. Account Managers are critical to future success for any company, particularly SEO’s, because the industry is further ahead of the client’s ability to truly understand what we do and how we do it. Quality SEO AM are accountable, enthusiastic and possess a fine balance of technical knowledge, marketing savvy, passion for the client, and a positive hard working attitude.

Most people think of SEO as a technical role. While CSS, PHP and other programming skills are invaluable to SEO, I tend to think of SEO more as Marketing with technical requirements. More often than not, the marketing part of an SEO’s job is overlooked.

#5 Writing Body Content for the Search Engines

Writing for the web can be pretty challenging. You often have many different audiences to appease: your Potential Customer, Shareholders and Investors, and of course, the Search Engines. Each of these have different objectives and can require a significantly different language and tone.

Like many Canadians I’ve spent Sunday and Monday shovelling snow. Heaps of snow. Mountains of snow. And while doing so I couldn’t help but think how much of SEO is like shovelling snow.

It Takes Teamwork

Doing this stuff right takes time. Looking at a site, checking it, changing it. Promoting it, building it out. Building relations with other sites and people that count to expand the network the site is in. Reporting. Talking with the client. Monitoring. Squashing issues before they mushroom into problems. Safe guarding the best interest of the client.