Ten Questions with Andre Jensen
2 Comments Published by Jen on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 10/25/2007.
1. You market search engines, or something like that right? Tell us about your job - what do you do?
I'm not sure what my actual title is anymore but some go by Search Strategist. I strategize online marketing campaigns to help web sites achieve their full potential in the search engine results pages. How’s that for a one liner? Or - I help web sites get into the search engine results for targeted keyword phrases that their potential visitors/customers are searching for in order to turn those search engine users into paying customers. Wow, that’s pretty lame eh?
I have worked for some of the top SEO / SEM agencies. I started off at Multimedia Marketing Group (MMG) which is now Outrider. After MMG and the dot bust, I moved into a small company called Marketleap (you may have used their free tools at www.marketleap.com) which was acquired by Digital Impact (an email marketing firm). 6 months later, Acxiom purchased Digital Impact.
Currently I am an independent contractor offering an outsourcing solution to SEO/SEM agencies that are having difficulty finding employees with search experience.
2. Where did you grow up?
Born in Beaverton, raised in Portland, grew up in the Army. I’ve been in Bend for 10 years.
3. Tell me about the best meal you ever had... and the worst!
I’m spoiled when it comes to food these days. I love the stuff. Trying to pin point the best meal is difficult but I think one of the best has to have been the day I perfected my baby back ribs. I’ve grilled for a long time and have had a smoker for a couple years. This past summer I smoked the best ribs ever and perfected my dry rub recipe. Honestly, for being dry ribs (without sauce) I have never had their equal.
Worst meal - Either my first meal of Basic Training in the US Infantry or the 3284 meals over the next three years. I think it’s a tie.
4. What was your first job?
I've worked odd jobs while I was a lad but my first job that the government knew about was working as a dishwasher at Holiday Park Plaza near Lloyd Center in Portland. It was a huge retirement home one block from home. Oh man, the dentures I found in someone's split pea soup that I had the responsibility of rinsing off and returning... maybe it was the very next meal I had that night that was my worst ever.
5. What were some of the crazy fads you remember, and which was your favorite?
Accessories! I always thought it was funny how many accessories the ladies would have from the jelly bracelets to the friendship keychains on their stone washed jean jackets. Growing up I never was big on fads. We didn't have much money so I was always wearing my older brother's handbydowns. Mostly toughskins pants.
My mom was aJazzercise Dancercise instructor... GREAT FAD!
6. Why are you a member of COWPU?
I remember writing to Jen as to why SEO/SEM was not in the description of COWPU and if it was ok for me to sit in on a meeting. I was really curious to hear how programmers and IT types discuss issues they have with web sites. In my field, I have to talk/deal with IT peeps, programmers, and wed developers all the time. Having this opportunity to bounce ideas off of and get information on how difficult certain things are is great for my understanding of that side.
7. What's your favorite thing about teaching?
Teaching Search Engine Strategies at COCC has been great for me. I used to have a huge fear of public speaking. So bad that in school I would turn in the written portion including the speech but I would refuse to actually speak. I would take the F on the speaking every time. Contacting COCC to teach was a way to force me to get over my fear as well as show the company I was working for that there was more to me.
Plus it gave us an opportunity to scope out any potential employees... a technique I still use for referring people to companies like Global Strategies or Acxiom Digital.
8. What is the most important thing you have learned?
Ever - 'Pay attention to detail' was beaten into me in the service and it has helped me throughout my career.
About teaching – Sloooow Doooown! I am pretty passionate about SES and helping local business owners to optimize their sites that I get to talking way too fast sometimes. I think I'm doing better these days.
9. What books are you reading?
Honestly, I don't read books. I have a copy of Gusto in the bathroom... does that count?
10. What advice would you give to a classroom of second graders?
Boogers are bad for you, playing video games can be a career, when you grow up – don't TP my house, it's never too soon to get your blog started (andrejr.com), wash your hands - alot.
Interviews of COWPU members are posted periodically (read: when Jen feels like doing it). Have an interesting question for a COWPU member? Want to be the subject of one of Jen's interviews? Join the group or come to a meeting... and tell Jen!
I'm not sure what my actual title is anymore but some go by Search Strategist. I strategize online marketing campaigns to help web sites achieve their full potential in the search engine results pages. How’s that for a one liner? Or - I help web sites get into the search engine results for targeted keyword phrases that their potential visitors/customers are searching for in order to turn those search engine users into paying customers. Wow, that’s pretty lame eh?
I have worked for some of the top SEO / SEM agencies. I started off at Multimedia Marketing Group (MMG) which is now Outrider. After MMG and the dot bust, I moved into a small company called Marketleap (you may have used their free tools at www.marketleap.com) which was acquired by Digital Impact (an email marketing firm). 6 months later, Acxiom purchased Digital Impact.
Currently I am an independent contractor offering an outsourcing solution to SEO/SEM agencies that are having difficulty finding employees with search experience.
2. Where did you grow up?
Born in Beaverton, raised in Portland, grew up in the Army. I’ve been in Bend for 10 years.
3. Tell me about the best meal you ever had... and the worst!
I’m spoiled when it comes to food these days. I love the stuff. Trying to pin point the best meal is difficult but I think one of the best has to have been the day I perfected my baby back ribs. I’ve grilled for a long time and have had a smoker for a couple years. This past summer I smoked the best ribs ever and perfected my dry rub recipe. Honestly, for being dry ribs (without sauce) I have never had their equal.
Worst meal - Either my first meal of Basic Training in the US Infantry or the 3284 meals over the next three years. I think it’s a tie.
4. What was your first job?
I've worked odd jobs while I was a lad but my first job that the government knew about was working as a dishwasher at Holiday Park Plaza near Lloyd Center in Portland. It was a huge retirement home one block from home. Oh man, the dentures I found in someone's split pea soup that I had the responsibility of rinsing off and returning... maybe it was the very next meal I had that night that was my worst ever.
5. What were some of the crazy fads you remember, and which was your favorite?
Accessories! I always thought it was funny how many accessories the ladies would have from the jelly bracelets to the friendship keychains on their stone washed jean jackets. Growing up I never was big on fads. We didn't have much money so I was always wearing my older brother's handbydowns. Mostly toughskins pants.
My mom was a
6. Why are you a member of COWPU?
I remember writing to Jen as to why SEO/SEM was not in the description of COWPU and if it was ok for me to sit in on a meeting. I was really curious to hear how programmers and IT types discuss issues they have with web sites. In my field, I have to talk/deal with IT peeps, programmers, and wed developers all the time. Having this opportunity to bounce ideas off of and get information on how difficult certain things are is great for my understanding of that side.
7. What's your favorite thing about teaching?
Teaching Search Engine Strategies at COCC has been great for me. I used to have a huge fear of public speaking. So bad that in school I would turn in the written portion including the speech but I would refuse to actually speak. I would take the F on the speaking every time. Contacting COCC to teach was a way to force me to get over my fear as well as show the company I was working for that there was more to me.
Plus it gave us an opportunity to scope out any potential employees... a technique I still use for referring people to companies like Global Strategies or Acxiom Digital.
8. What is the most important thing you have learned?
Ever - 'Pay attention to detail' was beaten into me in the service and it has helped me throughout my career.
About teaching – Sloooow Doooown! I am pretty passionate about SES and helping local business owners to optimize their sites that I get to talking way too fast sometimes. I think I'm doing better these days.
9. What books are you reading?
Honestly, I don't read books. I have a copy of Gusto in the bathroom... does that count?
10. What advice would you give to a classroom of second graders?
Boogers are bad for you, playing video games can be a career, when you grow up – don't TP my house, it's never too soon to get your blog started (andrejr.com), wash your hands - alot.
Interviews of COWPU members are posted periodically (read: when Jen feels like doing it). Have an interesting question for a COWPU member? Want to be the subject of one of Jen's interviews? Join the group or come to a meeting... and tell Jen!
Labels: interviews
I think we're going to be needing that dry rub recipe! :)
Maybe DK, maybe.
I forgot to mention the last book I read was Building Wealth in a Paycheck to Paycheck World.
And my mom was a DANCERCISE instructor, not Jazzercise.