January 22, 2008

Website Re-Do Nearly Complete

Not that basing a website around a blog platform is something new or groundbreaking, but it's not something I have done before. I decided to use Blogger as my major content management system, with a customized template and style-set. The reasons behind this are mainly ease of use, search engine friendliness, and deployment speed. The transformation from my previous test setup to this took less than three days, with the full look and feel carried over.

In the past I have been particularly happy with the speed at which Blogger posts show up in Google's Universal Search pages. This is one example of using a third party off-site solution which can be later integrated into a site for SEO purposes. I'm especially looking forward to pushing the limits of what a Blogger-based website can be.

January 21, 2008

My Resume

Also available for download: resume.pdf resume.doc

SEO, SEM, WEB CONSULTANT
Solutions-oriented specialist with a broad skill-set and notable experience in planning, analysis, and implementation of web technologies in direct support of business objectives. Strengths in written and verbal communications, for both internal and consumer oriented mediums.

EXPERIENCE
MARKETING: BENTLEY MINNEAPOLIS, MASERATI OF MINNEAPOLIS & MORRIE'S MAZDA - 2002-present
  • Primary functions: SEO, SEM, web content production, web design, web analytics, photography, traditional media advertising, print design, e-mail marketing, R&D.
  • Secondary: Events coordination, sales, sales support, general IT support, and videography.
  • www.maseratiofminneapolis.com - Oversaw development of database and back-end tools (inventory management, feed creation, eBay integration) Optimized for SEO, content production, routine maintenance. (Version 2.0 under development)
  • maseratiofminneapolis.blogspot.com - maseratiofminneapolis.com/blog/ Selected platform, migrated from blogspot hosted server to publishing within Maserati of Minneapolis website, produced all content.
  • www.youtube.com/profile?user=maseratiofmpls - Created video channel and content
  • mazdagear.com - Oversaw all aspects of site from concept to current day, except inventory and order fulfillment. Launched August, 06 - 2006 sales $12,000; 2007 $125,000; 2008 YTD $151,000+ (as of 8/13/08)
  • mazdagear.com metrics - average daily visitors Jan '08: 200 - July '08: 420+. YTD Bounce rate <15%,>11 pages per visit, 3:50 average time on site
  • bentleyminneapolis.com (under development - to be built on maseratiofminneapolis.com V2.0 framework with shared SQL inventory database)

CONSULTANT \ INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR - 2001-present
  • doyouknowwhoiam.com (concept, design)
  • Peacock Groove bikes (studio product photography)
  • KJurek Couture (studio and runway fashion photography, web, marketing)
  • Amanda Christine Designs (studio and runway fashion photography)
  • 360House.com (on-location virtual tour photography)
  • 3 additional projects under confidentiality agreements (concept, business, web, marketing)
SKILLS
  • Platforms: Windows 95,98,2K,XP; Mac OS X (10.4.x,10.5.x), Linux (Suse, RedHat, Ubuntu), Embedded (Palm, unix variants)
  • Hardware: Intel \ AMD based desktops and servers, Apple based desktops, iPhone, Palm
  • Servers: Apache, MySQL, PHP4, PHP5, Bind, DHCP
  • Languages: (X)HTML, PHP, CSS, XML (RSS, Sitemap, Google Base, ADF, custom schemas), limited javascript, asp
  • Software: Adobe Design Suite (Acrobat, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere) Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook) (and open source compatibles - Open Office, Google Office, Linux variants)
  • SEO\SEM specific: (all white-hat \ best practices) Blogs, Forums, Google’s tools (Adwords, Analytics, Apps, Base, Sitemaps & Webmaster tools, membership in many Beta programs), Widgetbox, eBay, YouTube (use and video production), Blogger, Wikis, Podcasts, DIGG, Del.icio.us, social platforms.
  • PPC: AdWords (budgets exceeding $50k/year), Overture, targeted banner purchases
  • E-Mail Marketing: html multimedia e-mail, non-tracked, personal response

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