Best Wishes, Search Engine Watch!

[dannysullivan]

Today's my last day as editor in chief of Search Engine Watch. I've got a post up (http://blog.searchenginewatch.com/blog/061130-083037) on the Search Engine Watch Blog that explains a bit more about my departure. Elisabeth will be doing her own post shortly on the future of the site.

I just wanted to thank publicly the moderators over there that have built the forums up into an incredible resource. I gave them a private thanks and goodbye earlier, but there can never be enough praise for them.

Similarly, I wanted to thank the entire community for having built this forum up from literally nothing into a warm, comfortable and informative place where people can talk about search. It's been an amazing achievement, and one that I expect to continue to support by taking part in discussions as I can and certainly linking over to anything good over here from my new site at Search Engine Land.

[egain]

Said it before, but good luck with the new venture Danny.

Seems a good setup, from all I've heard thus far

[soloseo]

Thanks for your hard work and insight, I look forward to what's ahead over at SE land. :)

[toprank]

Hey Danny, hopefully you won't be a complete stranger to the SEW forums. Perhaps you'll be starting a new forum over at Search Engine Land? Best Regards and see you next week.

[badboybart]

A sad day for SEW, looking forward to Search Engine Land!

Good luck Danny, thanks to you and this community I have a passion for SEO that bores the socks of most people...but we love it! :cool:

[Elisabeth]

Jumping in as early as I can today - though I was already dreading this post, and this day - I figure it's better just to get it done and over with, and go back to bed - after literally being up all night sick to my stomach over it...

(just kidding, apparently matthew & I have some food poisoning- NOT FUN!)

In any case, I won't cloud this post with the gory details.

This post is for Danny as much as it is for the future of SEW. Danny knows just how much I personally respect him, and that I, as well as nearly every other SEO out there owe and truly appreciate him for helping create this industry and our careers.

I started reading SEW back in 1999, when I started down this path, and later, in 2001 began speaking at SES conferences. In 2004, danny asked me to launch the SEW forums and oversee the community here, which as he said, is in our minds, a solid crew of folks from many different experience levels and points of view - something fair and relatively unbiased, which is what we set out to do.

Then, in April of 2006, I yet again, couldn't say no to Danny when he offered me my current job of Search Engine Watch's Managing Editor, taking on more responsiblities on the site. And I have also taken on more of a role at several SES events, and have a part in organizing some of those, namely the localized SEW Live! Networking (http://www.searchenginestrategies.com/sewlive/dallas07/index.html) events. I am looking foward to all of the 2007 events in which I still get to work alongside Danny Sullivan and Chris Sherman.

So, as this day brings mixed emotions for me - sad, because I do thoroughly enjoy working alongside the esteemed Danny Sullivan, and of course, in an ideal world, he would be staying here. But let's be honest - 10 years at the same job can leave anyone wanting more, or rather - something different, that's part of life, and I respect Danny for doing what's right for him. So in the end, I can do nothing but wish my friend and colleague the best, because he has to do what is right for him, and I and know that this isn't really goodbye.

For me, staying at Search Engine Watch is about honoring all of Danny's (and Chris Shermans') hard work and dedication for the industry. To walk away from that, I felt was the wrong thing to do, when more than anything, the site needs to main true to its mission of bringing news, information and issues in search marketing to the public that clearly is hungry for all the digestable content it can stomach. (ok, another bad reference to my food poisoning:)

But more seriously, I've always felt that SEW and Danny Sullivan shaped the way I view the industry, looking at all sides of an issue and points of view, fairly and with a balanced view before I develop an informed opinion, and if I have any power to share that with others, well, that is my personal and professional mission for the near future.

This industry has always thrived on the sharing of information and co-opetition, so I'll continue to support SEL and the crew over there, as I consider all of them friends and colleagues that have well earned my respect. I look at this as an opportunity for other known and respected members of the community to step up (and some will be) - and continue on their good work with their own passion and knowledge. And I do expect to see Danny et al around these parts from time to time, as they all know they are more than welcome.

This brand and community has a clear place in this industry, and I think that while much speculation has been made about the future of SEW, everyone must also realize how relevant it will remain. The community has the chance to embrace that, and furthermore, be a part of the evolution of SEW, and make of it what you want out of an industry digest. Like Danny, I'm always open to constructive criticisms,and listening to suggestions from the community.

We all need to look at this as an opportunity to take into consideration all of the past efforts and take the next step to adapt in this industry which moves at lightspeed.

with love and best wishes for everyone,
elisabeth

[IgorMordkovich]

Danny ... I know we (people) get attached to things I mean SEW is your baby and yet even though it can be hard ... we do need to move on and create new (better) things. You're doing just that.

With time you'll look at SEW as a step that took you to something bigger and better. I truly hope so.

Owners of SEW ......... hmm .... I feel bad for them as they just lost their best "horses" that moved this thing. Very soon they'll understand this.

Once again ... good luck.

Igor Mordkovich (NOT the owner of the marketing magazine)

[bhartzer]

I wish you all the best. You've got a great loyal following and I'm sure you'll continue to be very successful in everything you continue to do, Danny.

[David Temple]

Danny, thanks for your contributions not only SEW over the years but to the entire industry. I've always been a Sullivanite and will continue to follow you into Search Engine Land. Here's wishing you many more years of leading the world of search!

[Chris_D]

Everything I try to write ends up sounding like a eulogy!!

:)

Thanks for everything Danny. Thanks for your insights, the opportunity to speak at SES Sydney back in 2002, and the opportunity to work with you as a Mod here for the past 2 1/2 years. But mostly - thanks for the calm, even handed consideration and understanding you always give to any topic or issue.

Best regards
Chris

[AdWordsRep]

Danny, thanks for your contributions not only SEW over the years but to the entire industry. Exactly what I had intended to say. Funny I should chose this moment to post.

Danny, thank you for all you have done - for all of us. It must be very satisfying to be such a huge contributor to something so important. I am speaking here of both SEW and the industry as a whole.

Thank you - and rest assured I'll be paying close attention to what you do and say, as always.

AWR

[Brian M]

Hi Danny,

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all that you have done for the search industry. I look forward to seeing you over at Search Engine Land, and have already subscribed to the RSS feed.

You are the best!!!

Brian M

[joeduck]

Danny - Very glad I finally got to meet you at the WMW PubCon and like many in the crazy internet biz I'm really looking forward to the insight and reporting you and the new gang will provide over at Search Engine Land.
Thank you, good luck, and see you ... online.

[fulton savage]

Cheers, Danny. We'll continue to support you and your efforts regardless of where they can be found.

[Jonathan Mendez]

Danny is the Thomas Paine of our industry and just as Common Sense provided a platform to share ideas about political revolution Danny & SEW provides fertile ground for sharing ideas about the great technological revolution of our time, search.

Ironically some, including Wired Magazine have called for Thomas Paine to be the patron saint of the the Internet. If there is to be a patron saint of Search it is clearly Danny Sullivan.

[Woz]

Thanks Danny! Onwards and Upwards.

[kid disco]

All the best to you, Mr. Sullivan. I am eagerly looking forward to what you have in store for us. :D

[cre8pc]

Elisabeth, you lead one of the largest SEO/SEM forums out there. There are few forums that can claim to be managed by a woman. Danny leaves it in your good, caring hands, and I thank you both for that.

Kim Krause Berg
Cre8asiteforums

[dsarathy]

Hi Danny,

You are our inspiration for us here at Search Engine Watch. Thanks for all your efforts towards the community. And best wishes for your new venture – Search Engine Land !

We really enjoy your association. And would like to continue it.

D Sarathy.
RankQuest

[glenn]

"Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be."--Marsha Petrie Sue :eek:

[bill]

Best wishes with the new direction you'll be taking! :)

[sem4u]

Thank's for all your contribitions to SEW over the years and good luck with your new venture! :)

[creativecraig]

You made SEW what it is today - but your only a new web address away :)

Craig

[smconline]

It’s been great reading your newsletters through the years. Your generosity in sharing your search engine knowledge has allowed internet search fans (like my self) to grow and prosper in this space.

I look forward to following your advocacy efforts in your next endeavor!

[Golgotha]

Best of luck to you Danny, but, this isn't goodbye, you're just getting a new address. We'll see you again real soon.

[Black_Knight]

All that could be said of Danny has no need to be said at all. Even as this thread began to wish SEW well, it has already become far more of a list of 'me too' posts about subscribing to SEL. There's no question about the amount of loyalty, respect, and gratitude we all have for Danny's work over the past decade.

So I'll spend this post on wishing the best to those who remain here and walk in the biggest and deepest footprints in the search industry. I'm not going to tell you it will be easy. Elisabeth, all the best to you and the others.



[Edited with reminder to self: Elisabeth isn't spelled with a 'z']

[Logan]

Regarding the me toos, I'll happilly throw mine on the pile of thank yous

As said, the best to all and the future opportunities

[Elisabeth]

All that could be said of Danny has no need to be said at all. Even as this thread began to wish SEW well, it has already become far more of a list of 'me too' posts about subscribing to SEL. There's no question about the amount of loyalty, respect, and gratitude we all have for Danny's work over the past decade.

So I'll spend this post on wishing the best to those who remain here and walk in the biggest and deepest footprints in the search industry. I'm not going to tell you it will be easy. Elisabeth, all the best to you and the others.



[Edited with reminder to self: Elisabeth isn't spelled with a 'z']

thanks, Ammon:)

[Jeff Hinds]

Thank you for all you've done providing great search engine news and information showing how content is king and being the true King of Content (http://www.searchengineland.com) for the search engine community. We wish you well and we all know you will have a huge following as you rule the new kingdom at http://www.searchengineland.com

[WaterGuy]

You don't know me, but I'd follow you anywhere, even Search Engine Land (http://www.SearchEngineLand.com). You've been a guiding light and inspiration to the engines and SEO professionals. Good luck in your new adventure!

[David Dalka]

Best of luck in everything your attempt Danny! Talk to you soon.

[Carlos Chacón]

Thank you Mr. Sullivan, I’ve been following you since SES 2003 in San Jose, CA.
I love the industry as you do too, and I know that you will follow the news doesn’t matter the direction you take.

It has been a great experience to meet people like you… with passion in every step you take.

Saludos ;)

[mocgiit]

It's funny that people make it seem like your gone for good. I will just come visit you at your new location. :)

[Jeff Martin]

Thank you for giving so much Danny and thank you for helping to create a wonderful network so that search marketing pros and new folk can learn and share with each other.

[abbottsys]

... from my new site at Search Engine Land.
All the best for the future. With just 5% of the worldwide ad market, online advertising is still only at the beginning, so I believe 2007 will be a landmark year. Search Engine Land? I'm googling it now :)