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Power Profile: Marketing Pilgrim

August 4, 2007

Andy Beal’s first job was working at a gas station. Today, he’s an online marketing consultant and blogger. His Marketing Pilgrim blog consistently ranks around the top 10 on the Power 150 and while he’s closely in tune with his online side he’s definitely not a big fan of Second Life. Nope, Andy’s passionate about several other online marketing approaches, which he openly discusses in this Power Profile.

Andy recently took up fly-fishing and returned to Blackberry after a two year hiatus. And get this, his family actually reads his blog! Andy’s Power Profile is a glimpse at the man behind the Pilgrim. Enjoy.

How would you describe your blog to your family?
I don’t have to, they read it! In fact, that’s one way my family in England keep up with my life. Aside from that, I’d say that it’s a news site for internet marketers looking for insight and commentary of the latest web marketing news.

What blog post (of your own) are you most proud of and why?
My Beginners Guide to Online Reputation Monitoring. Not only was it satisfying to help others track and manage their reputation, it’s led to many business opportunities for me.

What blog post do you most regret publishing and why?
Any post where I’ve not completely checked the facts of the story. I take pride in the posts that I write, so realizing you’ve screwed-up is gut-wrenching.

What two blogs do you read most often?
TechCrunch and Pro Blogger

What two podcasts do you listen to most often?
Despite publishing my own podcast, I have to admit that I don’t actually listen to any. I do enjoy some video podcasts including GeekBrief TV and Ask a Ninja. Likewise, anything from Robert Scoble.

How many hours a week do you spend blogging?
At least 15-20.

What non-blog websites and publications do you read?
The Triangle Business Journal, Business Week, Inc, Business 2.0 and many, many print magazines.

What is your full time job?
Blogging and consulting with clients on search marketing, blogging and reputation management.

You’ve provided online marketing advice to thousands of companies - what is your greatest piece of online marketing advice?
Be radically transparent in all that you do. Engage your customers, engage the search engines, and engage social networks. Let them have as much access to your company as possible - whether by Google, Digg, Facebook or Flickr. The more content you share, the more chances you have for that content to reach the masses.

Without considering strategy and client, which online marketing tactics do you prefer or recommend most? Which ones do you recommend least?
Do something buzz-worthy. Whether it’s a video to launch a new product or a great blog widget that’s highly useful, viral marketing is something that can be implemented at a low cost and reaps huge rewards. Look for opportunities to give something away and don’t look at it as lost revenue. Instead, consider it a marketing expense.
Least recommended? Did I mention Second Life? Seriously, the least recommended tactic is the one you feel least comfortable deploying. Just because everyone else is having success with blogs, that doesn’t mean you have to launch one. If you use channels that get you excited, you’ll be more likely to make them a success.

Hmmm, no, you didn’t mention Second Life. What are your real thoughts on Second Life?
There’s no questioning that Second Life has a huge following and is highly successful. That said, it’s not a place I would recommend clients rush to join. While there are lots of companies that are testing Second Life marketing campaigns, there are many other social networks that have larger numbers and easier access. I for one have never set foot in Second Life - the first life is far more interesting!

In your opinion, what are the five most important internet marketing tools (from 5 being most important to 1 being least):
5. Digg
4. Stumbleupon
3. RSS feeds
2. Reddit
1. LinkedIn

Why did you rank them that way?
You can get a lot of quick burst - and long term - traffic from Digg, Stumbleupon and Reddit. More so if you’re creating viral content that appeals to their audience. RSS feeds aren’t just for blogs. Any content you regularly update should have an RSS feed. For example, I check REI.com’s “deal of the day”, via RSS. LinkedIn is more for those occasions that you need to call in a favor or need the advice of those in your network.

As an SEO expert, what is your best tip(s) for those of us who need a little search engine boost?
Get quality links to point to your site using relevant keywords in the anchor text. You can overcome a lot of other SEO inadequacies if you have strong backlinks. Another vital tip, ensure you have unique, keyword relevant Title Tags on each page you want to rank well.

In a previous interview, you said “SEO is going to evolve, becoming a mixture of optimization, viral marketing, buzz generation and public relations.” Can you expand on this thought? Also, to me, buzz generation is synonymous with viral marketing and PR, so how do you define and differentiate buzz generation?
See what I mean? You’ve already combined buzz marketing with viral marketing and public relations, but they all have subtle differences. The key is that the lines have blurred between all of them. You can’t call yourself a practitioner of any of these, without also knowing the inner workings of the other skills. For example, if you issue a press release it better be search engine optimized and your message had better have the legs to go “viral.” Additionally, you also need to make sure it’s social media enabled - with links to Digg, bookmarking sites and social networks.

Have you launched anything viral? Results?
Apart from blog posts that go viral, the Search Marketing Scholarship contest is my most successful. Not only has it established the site as a place that discovers and educates those new to search marketing, but it has resulted in lots of great content (from the entries) and lots of links to the site.

What cell phone do you use? Who is your service provider? How would you rate them?
Just got the new Verizon Blackberry 8830. I’d been away from a BB for two years and forgot how great it is to use.

What kind of computer/set-up do you run at home?
I use a laptop so I can take my work home. It’s a Sony Vaio, with all the bells.

Favorite food to eat (or beverage to drink) while you blog?
I must have coffee in the morning, or else nothing gets blogged. If I can add a Dunkin Donut or bagel and cream cheese, then that’s a plus!

What one thing would you change about your blog if you had the time?
The CSS layout. My designer did a great job, but as a search marketer, I wish the code was different, but it’s too much of an overhaul at this stage.

What is your favorite blog plugin?
Related posts. When someone reads a post, we show them five others that are related. It works so well at linking to relevant posts.

What other hobbies do you have?
Blogging. Oh, and hiking, traveling and I just took up fly-fishing.

What famous person do you most look like?
When I was a few pounds lighter, people used to think I was Donny Osmond.

What is the greatest threat facing the marketing industry?
Marketers who don’t evolve with new channels and technology will find themselves going without dinner.

What was your first job?
Worked at a gas station.

What kind of car do you drive?
Lincoln Aviator.

Has blogging made you gain weight? How much?
Yup! Forget the freshman-15, there’s the blogger’s belly.

Tell us about your 15 seconds of fame.
Still working on it, though being on CNBC was very cool.

How has the Power 150 helped you/your blog?
It’s nice to be recognized for all of the hard work put into Marketing Pilgrim.

What would you do with $3 million dollars?
Pay off my house, build one in the mountains of North Carolina, take a trip around the world, then put the remainder into a retirement fund and get back to blogging.

With a heavy load of public speaking, you’ve traveled to many places. Any favorite destinations?
I love Sydney, Australia - it’s one of my favorite cities in the world! My all time favorite destination is Hawaii, so I was excited to speak at a conference there a few weeks back.

WHAT QUESTIONS WOULD YOU LIKE ASKED OF THE BLOGGERS ON THE POWER 150? EMAIL OR COMMENT WITH YOUR SUGGESTIONS. THANKS.

Filed Under Blogging, Marketing, Power Profiles, Public Relations, Social Media, Strategies+Tactics, Technology

Comments

5 Responses to “Power Profile: Marketing Pilgrim”

Power Profile: Marketing Pilgrim | Easy Marketing Blog on August 4th, 2007 10:10 pm

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University Update - Asthma - Power Profile: Marketing Pilgrim on August 4th, 2007 11:50 pm

[...] West Nile Virus Contact the Webmaster Link to Article verizon Power Profile: Marketing Pilgrim » Posted at Todd And - The Power To Connect on Saturday, August 04, 2007 Power Profile: Marketing Pilgrim 04-Aug-07 [ bealheader.jpg] Andy Beal’s first job was working at a gas station. Today, he’s an online marketing consultant and blogger. His Marketing Pilgrim blog consistently ranks in the top 10 on the Power 150 and while he’s closely in tune with his online side he’s definitely not a big fan of Second Life View Original Article » [...]

Pilgrim’s Picks for August 6 on August 6th, 2007 9:45 am

[...] I’ve answered some questions for Todd And. Discover my first job and thoughts on Second Life. [...]

Power Profile: Marketing Pilgrim on November 3rd, 2007 2:12 am

[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]

Fishing In Key West on February 23rd, 2008 6:22 pm

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