about pittfall

pitfall –noun
• An intellectual error that traps a researcher, perhaps forever.
• An unforeseen or unexpected or surprising difficulty.
• An unapparent source of trouble or danger; a hidden hazard.

-Synonyms – See trap

Search Engine Optimization is littered with real pitfalls that can send your website into the depths beyond the first page of the SERPs (search engine results pages). You can employ tactics to artificially inflate your rankings, however, for longevity you need a balanced holistic approach to the user and to the search engines.

SEOpittfall.com has been written to help you recognize the opportunities as they become apparent and miss the “pitfalls.” SEOpittfall is also interactive, I am a real person with feelings, but I discuss the topics of SEO, SEM (search engine marketing), SMO (social media optimization), UCD (user centered design) plus others and how they can affect your SERPs.

More information about Stephen Pitts (aka pittfall)
I have been an SEO for a private travel company for over 4 years with great success. During this period of time, we developed and built a niche travel directory and search engine. Currently, they are expanding our reach around the globe. Many of the challenges that I have faced in my professional experience have given me insight into the process of building, managing and maintaining search engine rankings and search marketing optimization. I want to be perfectly honest, I have made mistakes and will probably make more in the future. But I want to help others with their quest by sharing information with others to improve their websites with a focus on their visitors and improve their rankings.

I served in the United States Marine Corps, 1993 – 1997 and left as a Non-Commissioned Officer to continue my education. I am a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

I have moved from the Blogger platform. My old blog was Build a Better Website.

I enjoy learning and sharing information to others in an effort to build relevant, content driven websites with the user in mind.

Update – March 2008:
I have left the in-house SEO realm and have become a member of a very dynamic agency and become a team member of the Search Practice at Brulant in Cleveland, Ohio. I look forward to career development beyond a single vertical and expand on my experience and expertise. My wife, daughter and I will be in the process of transitioning our household to the Cleveland area over the next few weeks/months. I look forward to learning and engaging others on this blog in the coming months. This is a very unique opportunity to work with some very valued individuals in the Search industry. I have the pleasure of working with and learning from Chris Boggs and Paul Elliott, both of which I respect and look up to.

In July 2008, Brulant was acquired by Rosetta and has been recognized (again) as one of the Top 20 Search Marketing Agencies in North America.

Update April 2009
Rosetta has been named by AdAge as the Top Digital Agency and the 9th overall.

Update August 2009
Rosetta has been awarded “Most Effective Use of Web Analytics” in the Search Engine Watch Awards 2009.

This is a very exciting time in my life, for me, my career and my family.

Accomplishments:
Rosetta SEO Craft Lead and Currents Contributor
SEMCLE+ Advisory Board Member
Search Marketing Blogs – TopRank Online Marketing
Syndicated by WebProNews
Syndicated by iEntry
AdAge Power150
Select posts distributed on BusinessWeek.com
Google AdWords Qualified Individual
Quoted in Digiday

pittfall is Stephen Pitts

Please Note: All posts and content are the thoughts and opinions of Stephen Pitts and are not a representation of my employer, clients or even my friends. To put it simply, my writing is a reflection of me and these posts, comments and such are not sponsored or opinions of my employer, it’s affiliates or their clients. I don’t discuss clients, or competitors for that matter, so if you are trying to find out confidential information, good luck, it won’t be located here.

Thanks!