Ben Gerstein

Current

• Founder & CEO at Confidential Interactive Ad Agency

Past

• Co-Founder at skillbit, Inc.
• Co-Founder, Marketing & Business Development at SocialMixr, Inc.
• VP of Marketing at Private Social Network

• Senior Search Marketing Manager at Search Engine Optimization Inc.
• Interactive Media & Search Engine Marketing Consultant at Confidential (Self-employed)
• Interactive Media Analyst at Laredo Group Consulting
• Interactive Media Strategist at MindShare/mOne (Neo@OgilvyOne)

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Education

• California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Recommended

8 people have recommended Ben

Connections

189 connections

Industry

Online Media

Websites

• Twitter
• Facebook

Ben Gerstein’s Summary

Digital Media Strategist and Social Media Executive with broad experience in traditional, interactive, search and social media. I help clients leverage SEM/SEO, social networks, online video, email, rich media, blogs, viral marketing, virtual communities, in-game advertising and mobile marketing to reach and engage their target audience online while continually optimizing return on investment.

Ben Gerstein’s Specialties:

Business strategy, business development, marketing strategy, branding, media research, email marketing, social media marketing, search engine marketing, search engine optimization, paid search marketing, online media planning & buying, interactive media sales, ad monetization, web design & development, landing page optimization, in-game advertising, and widget development.

Ben Gerstein’s Experience

• Founder & CEO

  Confidential Interactive Ad Agency

  (Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)

  September 2007 — Present (1 year 11 months)

  From startups to leading brand advertisers, we can help you develop and implement best-in-class online media strategies to create and optimize your online advertising campaigns. We provide a variety of creative, technical and marketing services to achieve and exceed your online marketing goals.

• Co-Founder

  skillbit, Inc.

  (Internet industry)

  January 2008 — March 2009 (1 year 3 months)

  You work with incredible, talented people. Do you know the knowledge, skills, tools, and resources your people have?
  
  Use skillbit to address your talent and skill sharing needs and unlock the hidden potential of your employees. skillbit captures the knowledge, talent, and skills of your team, enabling you to discover quickly the depth and breadth of your team. Access this information in a fast, fun and flexible way with skillbit!

• Co-Founder, Marketing & Business Development

  SocialMixr, Inc.

  (Online Media industry)

  December 2007 — December 2008 (1 year 1 month)

  SocialMixr is a social gaming platform company, blending three core functions - development, operations, and monetization - into a comprehensive services package for game developers to build, manage, and grow their social applications.

• VP of Marketing

  Private Social Network

  (Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Entertainment industry)

  August 2007 — January 2008 (6 months)

• Senior Search Marketing Manager

  Search Engine Optimization Inc.

  (Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Online Media industry)

  July 2006 — August 2007 (1 year 2 months)

  Responsibilities Include:
  ● Planning, developing and executing best-in-class search engine marketing campaigns and strategies for Fortune 500 firms.
  ● Managing enterprise paid search (PPC) budgets ranging from $5,000 to $300,000 per month.
  ● Providing web analytics consulting & training services to our client base.
  ● Creating landing page strategy & managing ongoing conversion optimization.
  ● Developing processes and best practices to maximize client success and increase efficiency.
  ● Dedicated account management, client service, and pitching new business.
  ● Developing strategic partnerships with search engine reps and vendors to bring added-value to our client's campaigns.
  ● Promoted from Paid Search Marketing Manager to Sr. Search Marketing Manager within three months
  ● Rocketed best-in-class conferencing firm's conversion rate by 2300% while decreasing CPA by 92% through innovative strategies and emerging technologies.

• Interactive Media & Search Engine Marketing Consultant

  Confidential (Self-employed)

  (Self-Employed; Online Media industry)

  October 2003 — August 2006 (2 years 11 months)

• Interactive Media Analyst

  Laredo Group Consulting

  (Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Online Media industry)

  January 2006 — April 2006 (4 months)

  Laredo Group is the world’s leading interactive media and search engine marketing training & consulting firm, providing training and consulting services to agencies, marketers, and publishers including Adweek, American Express, Disney, E! Online, Entertainment Weekly, eBay, Gillette, GlaxoSmithKline, Merrill Lynch, MSN, NBC, TimeWarner, Verizon, BBDO, Carat, JWT, McCann-Erickson, MediaVest, Ogilvy & Mather, Starcom, Wieden & Kennedy, and Young & Rubicam.

• Interactive Media Strategist

  MindShare/mOne (Neo@OgilvyOne)

  (Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; WPPGY; Online Media industry)

  July 2005 — September 2005 (3 months)

  Developed Traditional and Online Media Plans for high-profile accounts including 20th Century Fox, AM/PM, Boost Mobile, THQ Games, Bandai and TV Guide.

Additional Information

Ben Gerstein’s Websites:

• Twitter
• Facebook

Ben Gerstein’s Groups:

Search Engine Marketing Professional Organization (SEMPO), American Marketing Association (AMA), International Internet Marketing Association (IIMA), Multicultural Advertising Training Program, Los Angeles Ad Club, Standard & Poor's Society of Industry Leaders, CSU Advanced Marketing Advisory Board, Startup Weekend

•    LinkedSEO
•    Revedia Group - Internet Retailer, Interactive Media, Online Brand Marketing Professionals Only.
•    Search Marketing Salon
•    Social Media Marketing Mavens

Ben Gerstein’s Honors:

Honors:
● Standard & Poor's Industry Leader - Advise institutional investors on industry issues in the following industries: web 2.0, online media, search engine marketing, advertising and interactive marketing services.
● Cal State University Advanced Marketing Advisory Board - Advise on new certification programs, Marketing MBA course content and marketing curriculum development for the California State University system.

Media Training Certification by Laredo Group:
● Planning & Buying of Internet Media
● Search Engine Marketing
● Emerging Digital Media
● Intelligent Selling of Internet Advertising

Paid Search Certifications:
● Google Advertising Professional
● Yahoo Ambassador

Company Achievement Awards:
● Certificate of Excellence in Recognition of Outstanding Contributions to PPC Management 2006 by the CEO of Search Engine Optimization Inc.