SEO and Internet Marketing Background Information
I still don't know why but there's just something about the Internet that I'm unconsciously drawn to. Though I'm sure it mostly has something to do with my appreciation for what it really is and what it means to all of our futures, there is something else that I assume only those who share the addiction can understand. In any case, for this reason, I've immersed myself in it and continue to learn as much as I can on a daily basis.
In 2005, I graduated from California State University, Monterey Bay with a B.S. in Business Administration. In my last year I developed and launched a fully operational ecommerce business in the online eyewear space which I maintained for a year or so after graduation. When I realized this venture would never succeed until I knew how to take advantage of search engines (and considering my extremely tight budget at the time), I decided to seek out a more stable career path while maintaining the business, "on the side." It was then I took a position as a Leasing Consultant for a very highly-reputed company in Southern California called, The Irvine Company. I went through all of the motions: real estate license, sales training, etc. etc. but when it all boiled down, it just wasn't me.
So I began pondering again the notion of pursuing my desire to do something web-related. Mind you at this point I had already closed down the ecommerce site and really had no documented professional experience that would be considered, "web-related," so in other words and to say the least, I was a bit confused. I put a resume together anyway, called some recruiters, and banged down some doors. To my shocking surprise, someone replied and wanted to interview me for the position of "Website Marketing Specialist." Even more to my surprise, I found out that I actually knew a thing or two about search engines and the company wanted to give me a job. So my career was born. I took the position and learned a lot about SEO as a service as well as how to communicate with clients about it. In just eight months, I found myself at a level of experience that enabled me to compete for positions of a much higher responsibility level.
In August 2007, I landed a job at an interactive agency in Santa Ana called Argus Interactive. At Argus I was responsible for managing all client and internal SEO activities. This was a huge step in my career as an SEO. I was now making real decisions, developing big-budget strategies, and doing everything I had read about in the trade rags. Less than two months following my acceptance of the role, the company was acquired by a larger advertising agency called DGWB Advertising and Communications and life got even more interesting. I was now managing all SEO activities for the largest independent advertising ageny in Southern California. To say the least, I learned a lot and as a result have become a better SEO, marketer, and all around professional in general.
