Social Search Networking

Full disclosure! This post completely violates the laws of link baiting, enticing industry leaders and bloggers to come to SEO’Brien just to see how/why I’ve linked to them; so to you I say! “hey there”
I’m not doing that intentionally but had such a fantastic time with the folks at the Search Engine Strategies, WebmasterRadio party at Vivid, that I thought a list of the who’s who might be valuable to some.

First the back story: Search Engine Strategies San Jose wrapped up just a couple of weeks ago. I was there with an award winning booth trying to keep up with the rapid pace of growth at my day job. The conference was good but I can’t comment on the sessions, as I’ve done in the past, having I never left the floor for anything other than the little bit of fun offered by Google and WebmasterRadio.

These are, in my humble opinion, great folks that I had a chance to reconnect with whom you should know.

1. I caught Top Ranked Blogger Lee Odden only in passing and can say only as much of Search Engine People’s Jeff Quipp but both have exceptional perspective on the industry and insights on opportunity that are worth a read.
2. Validating for me that Kevin Bacon is probably less than 6 degrees away, I had some fun with Loren Baker at Vivid, in the progress discovering mutual admiration for one of the most brilliant minds in comparison shopping. Loren is editor of Search Engine Journal with as great a pulse on everything in the industry as anyone.
3. Performics is still, in my mind, one of the most forward thinking search vendors with which you can… no, should, work. More so, through their brief experience with Google and now, as a division of Publicis. Julia Hardin, who I saw for just a brief few moments, is a great contact on the west coast and the folks in Chicago are at least worth having a discussion with as you consider options and opportunities. With direct access to the brilliance of Denuo, the tactical work of ZenithOptimedia, the pencils of Leo Burnett, and the strategic direction and implementation available through Performics, you’ve got one of the few truly significant online media organizations. (editors note: Paul O’Brien neither works with or for nor holds a stake in Publicis or its subsidiaries) (wait, I take that back, I might some day so let’s make sure this is noted as of 9/5/2008) (in case you’re curious… PUBGY.PK) (I love that ticker symbol! It sounds like the name of a private detective or something, “They call me Pugby, PK”)
4. Daron Babin and Matt Nederlanden were exceptional hosts, both socially and professionally, having thrown a spectacular party and putting me on the air a couple times. WebmasterRadio is really doing exceptional work should you want podcasts or other audio updates. The advantage they often hold is the real-time insight to conferences, letting those that can’t make a show benefit from the next best thing.
5. The work Daya Baran and Reshma Kumar are doing with WebGuild Silicon Valley continues to impress me with their own voice, accompanied by 3rd party reports and posts. They do a great job of presenting story briefs from the homepage, giving you a quick snapshot of leading stories, and they do all this while holding down impressive side gigs and participating in or running a good number of industry events. (hmmm….)
6. Justin Sanger. What can I say? The man can dance, he can probably sing, and play guitar while drumming with his toes. He founds companies, takes on moguls, and generally looks good doing it with an expertise right up my alley.
7. SEM Scholar David Temple has a great set of photos from the party. He was doing some tattoo related, photo comparison, look-a-like contest that I didn’t quite grasp. My good friend Matt was sucked into the enthusiasm and now I’ve seen more of him than I care to admit.

Is that all you might ask? Of course not. The list goes on but this post is getting long, my carpel tunnel severe, and, with the drinks Daron was pouring while trapeze artists gyrated overhead, my memory a little hazy.