Wow, tough choice...

Listed Alphabetically:

John Andrews
Rand Fishkin
Todd Malicoat
Danny Sullivan
Aaron Wall

If you'd asked me tomorrow, I'd might answer differently and I'm omitting at least two dozen worthy folks.

posted June 29, 2008

Matt Cutts
Rand Fishkin
Andy Jenkins
Ed Dale
#1 Dan Raine (under the radar)

posted June 30, 2008

It's not easy to create a list of the top 5 search marketing gurus because there's a lot of great folks out there. However, if I were to narrow it down to provide a round, even view of search marketing (because it has so many facets), I would choose:

- Danny Sullivan (expert in search marketing news)
- Greg Boser (expert in guerilla search marketing)
- Gord Hotchkiss (expert in search marketing research)
- Eric Ward (expert in link building)
- Andrew Goodman (expert in pay per click)

*Note: I excluded Matt Cutts because he's a Google software engineer, not an SEM guru, but he's definitely someone you would want to interview.

posted June 30, 2008

Interesting question, I have been in search for a while now and met search marketing managers from Amazon to Expedia to Blue Nile to University of Phoenix to you name it, in all watched over $100M in PPC spend when I was at Google and think in all fairness to the above mentioned luminaries that none of them are the best. The best ones you don't know, never heard of and most likely they are more than happy about this. It's kind of like saying that Obama, McCain et al are TRULY the best people to run the country, they just arent. The best people don't want the spotlight but have all the skills and more, they fly low on the radar and stay out of the mainstream, go to Pubcon in Vegas and you will meet one or two, I guarantee it.

posted July 1, 2008

Having been in the "search engine marketing" industry myself since 1996, I would say that choosing the "top five search marketing gurus today" would be tough. I certainly wouldn't call Matt Cutts or John Battelle a "search marketing guru".

There are dozens of "search marketing gurus" that we all have never heard of (most of best ones want to remain anonymous) that I would recommend. There's a big difference between being the most visible search marketing guru and someone who actually practices search engine marketing every single day--and is successful at it.

If I had to choose a few names, these would be on my list, not necessarily in any order:
Bruce Clay
John Andrews
Rand Fishkin
Mark Jackson
Todd Malicoat
Brett Tabke
Greg Boser
Aaron Wall
Jill Whalen
Todd Friesen
Christine Churchill

I could go on and on naming dozens of names. I would like to point out, though, that it's important to understand that although the Search Marketing industry itself is fairly new, it now has its specialists. Like others have pointed out, some are great PPC gurus while others know organic search engine optimization, and others are great at building links.

It's important to note this designation because for a company to be successful marketing their business online it takes many different "experts" in PPC, in Organic Search, and in Social Media Marketing,

posted July 1, 2008

Definitely a lot of names going round again and again in those lists, however I would probably add a couple of names to that list

- Jerry West
- Jon Myers
- Bill Slawski

posted July 2, 2008

It may not be the most popular answer to this question and it may not fit with your definition of “gurus”, but I am going to have to agree with my friend, Dan Sundgren. The best are out there grinding every day in the search salt mines, using his or her craft to make money for actual, live businesses or non-profits. Be sure to ask each potential guru, “Could you give me examples of search marketing campaigns that you have personally hand managed and what were the results? What did you do in managing those campaigns that sets you apart from others?” Gurus tend to not only be recognized leaders or teachers, but the very best practitioners as well.

I would add that the best are also not just search marketing experts, but just plain old marketing experts who happen to focus on search as part of an overall marketing mix, not just a standalone discipline. Search is just one vehicle of many that relies upon the same principles as all prior and probably all future communication channels. True marketing gurus can apply their “guru-ness” to many channels & vehicles, not just learn as much as he/she can about one and then pontificate back out about it and look really smart ;-).

posted July 2, 2008

I'm with Kent in nominating myself!

Jacqui, you already have a list of great names. Looking at the speaker rosters for the SES, PubCon and SMX shows ought to give you even more names.

It looks like local folks didn't make the list. By local, I mean those who pay attention to marketing within a single area, not marketers who only have a local business. My thought for some top names in that area are Andrew Shotland, Greg Sterling and Matt McGee.

I think, though, the best answer to your question is "Who is ranked highest on the Big Three search engines for the query 'search marketers' or 'SEM' or 'SEO'"

There are so many more that come to mind -- I can literally think of dozens more in social media marketing, linking and usability as it relates to conversion. More names off the top of my head that I didn't see here: Jennifer Laycock, Brian Chappell, Jen Slegg, Justin Sanger, Brad Geddes, (did I mention me?), Michael Gray, Andy Beal (especially for reputation management), Brian Gilley, Jonathan Mendez (great research), oh heck, I know I'm leaving tons of people off.

I would head to the engines and then to the speaker lists at SMX, SES and the other big shows.

posted July 2, 2008

I would have to agree with Mr. Sundgren and Mr. Cooper. Many of the best SEM folks are not the self promoted industry mavens that you see at all of the shows. The ability to charm a crowd of eager online marketing managers does not an expert make.

Like others, several of the experts listed in other people's responses are not search engine marketers at all. They are however, as with the case of Matt Cutts, powerful industry insiders.

I also agree with Mr. Cooper's assertation that the best SEMs started out as expert marketers in general. There is stiil way to much fanfare, hooha and 'magic' associated with this industry when all it takes is an understanding of general marketing principles and applying them to a direct marketing channel.

I have found it pretty refreshing to see that Mike Grehan (an SEO specialist) is increasingly bullish about utilizing core marketing best practices and applying them to the search channel. The Wild West days are coming to a close and those SEMs that really have the "M" part of the equation down will be winners.

posted July 2, 2008

My answer would be Brad Fallon.

And my question to the posters that have listed name is are those people making significant incomes in web marketing -- that is the proof in the pudding. Brad does.

Interesting also is that if you do a search for "SEO expert" you will see him in the number one spot. He is co-founder of Stompernet and owns SEO Research as well.

posted July 3, 2008