8 Years in the SEO/SEM Industry, More to Learn

Yes, you hear it right! Just completed 8 years in the SEO/SEM industry and it has been long run since the day I started my career. As I try to walk down memory lane, I find it hard to believe that I have taken such a long journey. Be it a salary constraint or even getting pissed off with my boss, I managed to stick to the same profession and never ever thought of changing it for a single moment. Trust me the journey was not that easy as it seems. Even in my wildest dreams I never imagined that I will take up online marketing as my profession. But yes it’s a reality and I take this opportunity to quickly pen down all my thoughts that I have acquired during the last 8 years.

It all started in the year 2002, when I joined 123greetings.com, as a Search Engine Optimizer. I was a fresher during that time and was totally a novice in terms of SEO skills. Gradually, I managed to develop the theoretical skills and started practical implementation while playing with a popular keyword “ecards”. This was the first keyword I targeted as I entered in the online world. I spent 4 years working for the same ecard industry. It was a great learning experience. But soon I realized that I am doing injustice to my 4 years of SEO knowledge by confining myself to a single industry.

April, 2006 is when the new opportunity to work on multiple industries with a good pay package came along and I did not miss the chance to grab it gleefully. I joined DigitalAvenues.com and took up the new challenge to rank websites of various niches at the top of major search engines like Google, Yahoo! and Bing. It was a great journey during which I managed to rank websites high on various topics in the search engine rankings. But the key lesson learnt while working with multiple clients is that you have to handle clients tactfully as they are impatient. They do not know and do not want to know anything about SEO and are also not willing to give you too much time to increase their website’s ranking. It is up to us how we convince them with our report, preparation, and presentation skills.

While working at Digital Avenues, I got the opportunity to work with some of the finest talents in the field of online marketing that were available at Kolkata. I do not need to think twice in saying that the SEO team that Digital Avenues had from the year 2006 to 2008 was the best and the best team to work with. But things changed drastically from 2008 end when we were asked to work under someone who self-claimed himself as “Guru of SEO”. Thereafter, things went haywire and within a year, the entire team (including the “Guru of SEO”) was sacked. I think the self claimed “Guru of SEO” has to understand the famous quote by H.E. Luccock, “No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it”.

After going through a tough time, things changed in the year 2009, August, when I finally managed to attach myself with a big brand. Yes! I got an offer from Lexmark International (India) Pvt. Ltd to join as an Web Analytics specialist. Oh boy ! The opportunity was too big for me as I was working in a very small setup. While the recruitment process at Lexmark was on, I also got interview calls from HP Bangalore (the rival company). You can call it mere coincidence or pure luck. However, since Lexmark made the offer first, so I am there today. I was never a brand fanatic but sometimes it makes one’s life easier in answering questions to people who are interested in knowing where I work as they can easily acknowledge the company without raising their eyebrows.

Life has changed to a certain extent while working at Lexmark. Job responsibilities have changed in comparison to Digital Avenues. Here I have the opportunity to work with some of best analytical tools that I had always dreamt of. To me this is a new knowledge avenue where I have to work hard to excel more in the field of analytics. So for all aspiring internet-savvy who are interested in taking up SEO as a profession, this is simple advice for you. Try to have patience, read more, work hard, and take one step at a time. Eventually, you will find that your perseverance has been paid.

During my 8 years of professional journey, there were few good and bad times. But amongst all the unavoidable hiccups, the most important thing that happened to my life is when I met my life partner. After a year and half of courtship, we finally got married in 2009. For me, life has changed a bit but it is bound to change once you are ready to take up additional responsibilities, both at work and at home.

Finally, I would like to thank all my ex-colleagues, friends, family members who have helped in my work and from whom I have learnt a lot. It would not have been possible without their support. Wishing you all best of luck in your own profession and wish me luck to accomplish some of my unfulfilled dreams in the SEO world.

Adobe to Acquire Omniture for $1.8 Billion

Omniture has announced yesterday through their press release that Adobe Systems Inc. is going to buy business software maker Omniture Inc. for $1.8 billion ($21.50 per share) on a fully diluted equity-value basis. It is going to be a smart move that Adobe has taken as it is going to add more values that Adobe is delivering to its customers.

Adobe’s acquisition of Omniture furthers its mission to revolutionize the way the world engages with ideas and information. Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen called the move a "game changer" for the company.

"Adobe customers are looking to us for solutions to deliver engaging experiences and more effectively monetize their content and applications online," Narayen said in the press release announcing the deal.

The two companies said the deal is expected to close during Adobe's fourth quarter and is subject to government approvals. Omniture will become a new unit within Adobe, with Omniture CEO Josh James continuing to lead the business as an Adobe senior vice president. Adobe said the deal should add to earnings in fiscal 2010.

Omniture shares soared 25 percent to $21.74 in after-hours trading, while Adobe shares slid 4.5 percent to $34.06. The deal would be Adobe's second-largest acquisition after its $3.4 billion purchase of Macromedia in December 2005.

By combining Adobe’s content creation tools and ubiquitous clients with Omniture’s Web analytics, measurement and optimization technologies, Adobe will be well positioned to deliver solutions that can transform the future of engaging experiences and e-commerce across all digital content, platforms and devices.

First Hand-On Experience with Omniture SiteCatalyst Hitbox

To me for the last few years, it has been always Google Analytics which I dealt with for viewing web analytics report, both for my official clients as well as for my personal blogs. But things have changed and it changed really well to add its value to my career. For the last few weeks, it is only Omniture SiteCatalyst Hitbox that I am referring to and viewing all the extensive reports it does provide. Trust me, it's an amazing experience and I am really getting more enthusiastic to explore more of it.

Thanks God, I finally managed to come out of the shell (Google Analytics) as I did not get any chance to work with some other superior web analytical tools. Now everyday I am learning more of Omniture Hitbox and if thing goes on like this, I will be having an in-depth knowledge for the same.

I will be writing more of it so that you guys can have a better understanding of it in case you are not using this web analytic tool. May be it will motivate or give some sort of confidence to work with this tool. I know it is expensive but everything that is of superior quality, does not come cheap.

But I am still fond of Google Analytics and will continue using it for my personal blog as I have a long attachment with it and love every bit of it without any doubt. Thanks to Google for giving us a chance to have a hand-on experience with such a brilliant tool and that too free of cost.

My Journey Begins at Lexmark International

Last 2 months, I had a tough time as I had made up my mind to change my current job. I have also decided to spend more time in blogging as you might have seen that I am not so fond of updating my blog on regular basis. So, I thought of giving it a shot once I get selected in a new company.

I started updating my CV on all the popular job sites like naukri.com, monsterindia.com and thetimesjobs.com. While doing so I ended up looking into 3 job posts that really gave me some hope that I might get selected if things go well. One was a job ad from HP (Hewlett Packard) and the other two was from Lexmark International and TCS (Tata Consultancy Services). All 3 of them are looking for Web Analytics Specialist. Without giving a second thought, I ended up applying to all 3 of them. (So, guys who are into SEO World and think that all the big daddy's are not into Web Marketing, then you are wrong. So gear up and look for the right opportunity.)

Finally after a week or so, I started getting calls both from HP and Lexmark. I did clear first round of interview at both the companies. But after second round of interview, I did not hear anything back from HP :( . But I did manage to clear Lexmark interview and I was asked to come to their office for the 3rd and 4th round. And after successfully clearing all the interviews, I have been selected as a Global Web Analytics Specialist (cheers :)).

I was a bit excited and I am still excited to think that I am now associated with a big brand. I always wanted to work for a big company which I eventually managed to do it. And the bonus point is that I don't have to relocate to some other state as the posting is in Kolkata itself. Also it takes only 20-25 minutes drive from my home to reach my new office which is located at DLF Building, Rajarhat.

While writing this post, I will be completing my 1st week at Lexmark. I had a wonderful 1st week out here. I met here with my old friends who are an employee of Lexmark now, as well as came across some fine colleagues who are very very helpful. I am happy as well as confident that I will be able to learn something new and will try to deliver some outstanding work.

As I started blogging again, I will ensure that I do that on regular basis and keep writing posts on various topics (of course SEO being the first choice). So see you soon with a new post.