That is, who are Utah’s top 5 SEO professionals as rated by their peers? This is merely an informal survey, but if you’re an SEO professional here in the state of Utah, then who are the other five SEO professionals (other than yourself) who you think are on top of the game or are next year’s rising SEO stars? Feel free to post a list of names, names and companies, or even names, companies, and your explanation of why you think these individuals have what it takes when it comes to SEO. I’ll start with my own list, although I have to admit I only know those people who make themselves publicly visible, and there may be some SEO geniuses behind the scenes whom I’ve never heard of.
In no particular order…
1. Jordan Kasteler – Search and Social
2. Dave Bascom – SEO.com
3. Eric Morgan – Twelve Horses
Well, now you see why I’m creating this post. I can only come up with three, given that I just don’t know the Utah SEO community all that well. That is, I know everybody’s name, but I don’t know whether they’re any good or not, and that’s the problem I’m trying to get started on resolving here.
I think the biggest problem here is many of us don’t *actually* know if someone is good or not. We just know who is good at promoting their name/company. I know a couple who are really good, yet some probably have no idea that they do SEO or any form of internet marketing.
I’m calling them good because the dollars they make say so.
MWI – Josh Steimle
Red Olive Design – Ryan Moeller
I would have to add Josh Steimle of MWI. We used them for our company website and, while we are a custom web development company, he gave us direction that we would have never come up with on our own.
Flattery will get you nowhere, Jason
Thanks Josh, I am flattered. However, I agree with a few others in that you should have put yourself on that list too, don’t be so humble all the time
I hear great things about Josh Steimle and know Eric Morgan and his work. Both definitely deserve spots.
Alex McArthur of OrangeSoda deserves a nomination. Anyone who knows him and his SEO knowledge/ability knows he’s one of the top in Utah.
Very true, Alex McArthur is very good too!
Very thought provoking stuff. There are so many factors to consider – target industry, experience, amount of gray hair (probably the most important), results, etc. I personally think it’s too complicated to rank a top five. But, I could come up with a list of 10 or so that are all solid IMO. Along with others already mentioned (Ryan Moeller is the only person mentioned I don’t know) I’d probably add…
Adam Sorensen
Bryan Phelps
Chris Bennett
Michael Eagar
Vince Blackham
Jordan Lebaron
…all of which are lacking in the gray hair factor.
PREPARE FOR RANDOM TANGENT -
I’m not calling out any Utah SEOs, but the industry itself seems to hand out honorary degrees to anyone that spends half their day in self promotion. I think many would be shocked to find out how many of the SEO Rockstars out there live in their parents basement. Like @russpage mentioned many of the best are focused more on building their business rather than making a name or engaging the community. Glad that few, if any, Utah SEOs are that way – rant over.
I can personally vouch for Eric Morgan & Ryan Moeller(totally unbiased). The rest I only have a google search relationship with.
A few other possible nominees for this list:
Preston Wily
Rob Cuppett
John Jonas
btw – I’ve heard rumblings of a new SEM/SEO org starting up in Salt Lake soon. Then we can all meet up and talk search like the geeks we are.
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