This ‘about Ben McKay’ page needs re-working, along with a handful of other jobs on the site, but here goes…

Firstly, it’s always great when people get in touch, so please feel free to contact me to say hello, expand your social media networks or of course request advice on SEO / search marketing.

About Ben McKay, in brief

• I’m one of the organisers of SAScon – a not-for-profit search, analytics and social conference.
• I help to promote and organise the monthly Manchester SEO meet-ups on LinkedIn.
• Find me, Ben McKay on Search Engine Journal – a monthly column discussing search biz.
• I write a monthly post for SEO Scoop – talking mostly about the UK search industry.
• I’m conversational on Twitter – say hello!
• One of the SEO Director’s from Mediaedge:cia that founded the MEC SEO Academy.
• I love writing guest blog posts (e.g. SEO industry accreditation and representation at DaveN’s blog) but although I get pretty busy, make sure you at least ask!  ;)

Marketing

Ben McKay has worked in a variety of more ‘traditional’ marketing roles since 2001, making his success in search marketing very much orientated around the marketing goals of the websites that he works with. Search engine optimisation is therefore never treated as a tick-box exercise.

Graduating out of Nottingham Business School with an in-company degree studying Business Management BA (Hons), whilst working as a Marketing Executive for a medium-sized travel company. Here, I managed both offline and online marketing activities for the company.

Search Engine Optimisation / Marketing

Various Marketing Management roles have refined project management skills leading me into freelance SEO consulting with the right skills.

Throughout recent years I have worked more specifically in search engine optimisation, building experience with respected developer, Ben Hunt, and design agency Scratch Media, of whom I still work on multiple SEO projects today.

In recent years, I have also worked on web development and search marketing projects with design agencies Bourn Design in Manchester (of whom I blogged for regularly too) and Corporate Web Design Agency, greensplash.

And now, I am currently an SEO Manager for global communications agency, Mediaedge:cia in Manchester, part of GroupM / WPP group.

I continually work hard to build credibility and professionalism into my online marketing efforts, including online marketing awards with the Chartered Institute of Marketing, ongoing involvement in industry and social media sites.

My Rise to Fame

Other celebrity friends include: Stephen Fry (he ,or, more likely his PA, direct mailed me via Twitter), I have 3 emails from the drummer from band, The Longcut, after trying to book them in for a small festival on a Cheshire farm, I worked for John Caudwell, I met Bobby George the world champion darts player once, I lived with Ben Simpson who played for Ports Vale FC, I once saw David Beckham shopping in Selfridges in the Trafford Center, and many more.  So, although I mix in these ‘elite’ circles I keep myself grounded with the odd game of crochet with the Queen now and then.

Avid Reader and Researcher

I’m an obsessive reader on anything search engine marketing related…certainly a genuine interest. I live and breathe search marketing, taking time out each today to keep up to speed with improving tools, analytical techniques, search technology and IR geek-bits, and broader online marketing channels.

Out of the Office

I play the odd game of rugby union for my local rugby team, Lymm RUFC. I’m often out seeing new bands and acts around Manchester, trying desperately to hang on to my youth, and I love to travel, with an ever growing list of places I intend to see…next stop: Krakow, Poland, Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Scotland, mountain biking in the South of France!  A project still on the back burner: recruit SEO…maybe you want to get involved?

Music, music and music. I lay down the gauntlet to anyone who thinks they have a bigger collection of CDs than me!  Can you believe I work in this cutting-edge online field and I hang on to the sentimental notion of collecting CD’s?!  Weird.

You might also want to check out these guys for online Press Releases. But you probably don’t want to stop by any of these websites, including a possible future Manchester social media (or freelance social media) site, a possible social media profile for me, Ben McKay, a possible help site to hire an SEO, or future Cheshire SEO site too!