Good Names to Know in the Search Industry

In looking back at how far ThinkSEM has come in just 2 short years, we were thinking how we got our start, how search continues to change and where we've learned information along the way. Here are a few names we like in the search industry.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

1. Rand Fishkin (SEOmoz)
   


• Rand got his start in Internet marketing in high school (in 1993, no less) building websites, then moved on to the search forums and online networks. Eventually he began contributing to the conversation and had enough content to start what is now known as SEOmoz, a website devoted to providing SEO advice, tips and tools to the search community and one of the most prominent sites in the field.
  
  

  Not only a CEO and founder, he frequently speaks at search conferences such as Search Engine Strategies (SES) conferences, as well as Search Marketing Expo (SMX) conferences, which he helped start. If you've attended events in the past but weren't sure which search nerd he was, he was the one wearing yellow pumas.

  Learn more about RandFish.
  

2. Aaron Wall (SEOBook)


• A search engine optimization expert and blogger, Aaron is CEO of SEOBook, a blog devoted to SEO training tips and tools. He also speaks frequently at SES and PubCon conferences.
  
  

  SEOBook has implemented many projects over the years, including a book, a meta search engine, a keyword research tool and an SEO Firefox plug-in we highly recommend.

  Learn more about Aaron.
  

3. Vanessa Fox (Nine By Blue)


• Best known for creating Google Webmaster Tools, Vanessa is also a search optimization expert, consultant, blogger, speaker at search industry events and founder of Nine By Blue, a marketing company. Events she regularly attends include SES, SMX, BlogHer and Web 2.0 Conference.
  
  

  Her latest blogging endeavor - Jane and Robot - revolves around advice for web developers to develop search-friendly sites.

  Learn more about Vanessa.

Link Building

1. Eric Ward (EricWard.com)


• Also referred to in the search world as "LinkMoses," Eric got his start with Internet marketing back in 1994, when he started NetPOST and URLwire. Of course, back then it was called "website promotion," not link building. Integral to the launch - and link building campaign - of Amazon.com, Eric has also helped other big-name companies get their online footing over the years.

Though he calls it 'content publicity,' the rest of us lump what he does under the broad term of link building. He continues to consult clients - some of them Fortune 500 companies - in best practices and also offers training.

Learn more about Eric.



2. Arnie Kuenn (Vertical Measures)


• Now the president of Vertical Measures - an Internet marketing company - Arnie started building companies back in the early '90s. He won awards for his technology company in 1993, then in 1999 he started MediaChoice, which ended up being purchased by Nielsen Media in '04.
  
  

  I saw this guy speak at SMX Advanced in Seattle; he has very impressive link building ideas.

  Learn more about Arnie.

Pay-per-Click (PPC)

1. Brad Geddes (bg Theory, LLC)


• Brad has too many qualifications and accomplishements to list here. His biggest achievements (according to ThinkSEM) are: becoming one of the first 100 Google Advertising Professionals; numerous yearly speaking engagements at search conferences; writing 2 books and editing a 3rd; starting bg Theory.



Learn more about Brad.





2. Craig Danuloff (ClickEquations)


• Craig began one of the first ecommerce software companies in 1994, built one of the first desktop publishing service bureaus, has authored books and speaks at search industry conferences.
  
  

  This guy is brilliant - I've seen him speak on 3 different PPC panels at SMX - and knows his stuff.

  Learn more about Craig.

Blogging

1. Ed Kohler (The Deets)


• Ed's a fellow Twin Cities resident who blogs about stuff. Thing is, he's very opinionated and while it can get him a lot of rebuttals and comments, we respect him for standing up for what he thinks is right. He never seems to be swayed other people's thoughts and keeps on blogging.



Learn more about Ed.

Local Search

1. David Mihm (Mihmorandum)


• While he also designs and builds sites for his clients, his main focus these days is local search. If you want to learn more about local search - what it is, how to optimize for it - David's your guy.



Learn more about David.

This list isn't all-inclusive by any means; just a few names in the industry we know about, have heard speak (or even met in person), respect and think others should know about.