Inbound Marketing is not simple. But I’ve been fascinated by it since 2007, when I made my first foray into it as an inbound web designer with my company, http://extremetech.com/

Then, I became curious about what drives this activity. How does it inform bottom-line performance of many well-known brands? How do Inbound Marketing tactics shape sales? What is the marketing outcome formula to optimize for success?

My experience quickly convinced me that the two programs are intricately connected and that I needed to dive into the details of these forays into the world of web design and interaction. It was challenging for me, as an SEO and SEM veteran, to build the right ecosystem for Inbound Marketing. Working as an inbound marketer brought new insight and insights to SEO and SEM.

My Career Path

Before I was a leading member of the web design community in South Florida, I’d always harbored an interest in the visual part of web design. And even before I became an SEO and SEM professional, I spent most of my development career playing in web development.

After years of inbound marketer expertise, I now lead SEO in my team at http://extremetech.com/

Raised in Sarasota, Florida, I moved to the Palm Beach area when I was twelve and completed my undergrad studies at Florida State University. After earning my degree in Electrical Engineering, I spent some time working in sales before becoming an entrepreneur.

SEO in Perspective

I consider myself an SEO and SEM expert with years of experience. I’ve built search engine optimization (SEO) processes for companies of all sizes. Over the years, I’ve taken a keen interest in the elements involved in delivering product, brand and communication content to the attention of the internet user. How to capture their attention? Where to display information on the web, which the user is looking for? How do you automate the process and use simple forms to generate steady click-throughs and conversion?

When I was at my online marketing company, I met some inbound marketers. Their marketing techniques were interesting, from the tactics to their use of social networks to influence the user’s path to purchase. I discussed how they did it in terms of their strategies, thinking they might be qualified for a research project or fellowship at my company. But their buzz words didn’t connect for me. I found their strategies difficult to explain and implement, and they didn’t reflect the growth of SEO in my field over the past few years.

They discussed email, feedback and “funny” sites, but I didn’t understand what they were doing with content or how they created interactive forms. I wondered if they had strong SEO strategies that directed attention and information where the action and conversion would happen.

I stopped after they asked if they would like to get a free SEO web designer consulting package.

Then, a month ago, I applied for an Inbound Marketing Fellowship for International Data Group (IDG), looking for people with deep design and marketing experience. I have nothing against SEO in my life, and I knew and admired the impact SEO had on the web, but the Inbound Marketing Fellowship seemed like a good avenue for me to explore Inbound Marketing concepts in the context of an ever-changing web.

Now that I’ve answered the Inbound Marketing Fellowship Open Questions, I’ll write about it at http://extremetech.com/