Jonathon Colman

Jonathon Colman

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Internet Marketing

Location
Greater Seattle Area
Industry
Online Media

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Jonathon Colman's Overview

Current
  • Internet Marketing Program Manager, Natural Search Engine Optimization (SEO) at REI
Past

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Education
  • University of Washington
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Michigan Technological University
Recommendations

29 people have recommended Jonathon

Connections

500+ connections

Jonathon Colman's Summary

I help people find what they're looking for. Whether it's through search engine optimization (SEO), paid search engine marketing (SEM), social media or web analytics, I find great joy in helping people find theirs.

For more than a decade, I've designed, developed, promoted, and advertised web content for large corporations and nonprofits, including REI, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, and IBM.

My leadership, innovation, and Internet marketing strategy earned The Nature Conservancy two Webby Awards for "Best Charitable Organizations / Nonprofit Web Site" in the 13th Annual Webby Awards, including a "People's Voice" Webby Award.

I'm an acclaimed and sought-after public speaker at national conferences covering the leading edge of search engine optimization, social media, and Internet Marketing. My past speaking engagements include SMX Advanced, the American Marketing Association, the NTEN National Technology Conference, the IA Summit, the National Press Club in Washington, DC and other major venues.

In the fall of 2011, I entered the University of Washington's Information School (a.k.a., the "iSchool") to pursue a master's degree in information management. Previously, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Burkina Faso, West Africa, during which I lived in a small village performing rural health development work including education and infrastructure/capacity-building.

A runner, cyclist, treehugger, EcoGeek, and self-acknowledged coffee snob, you can find me in Seattle, Washington with my wife, the glass artist Marja Huhta.

Jonathon Colman's Experience

Internet Marketing Program Manager, Natural Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

REI

Privately Held; 5001-10,000 employees; Retail industry

2008 – Present (4 years) Kent, Washington

● Develop strategy and oversee execution for all aspects of REI’s natural/organic search engine optimization program, the largest Internet Marketing program at REI
● Drive millions of qualified traffic sessions and e-commerce transactions with robust year-over-year growth by advocating for engaging, accessible user experiences across the sales funnel
● Manage a large budget, plan expenditures and test efforts while measuring results to determine ROI
● Identify emerging opportunities and set requirements for content and feature development
● Lead two cross-divisional, customer-centric, and solution-oriented working groups focused on natural search business growth

Associate Director, Digital Marketing

The Nature Conservancy

Nonprofit; 1001-5000 employees; Nonprofit Organization Management industry

August 2004 – November 2008 (4 years 4 months) Arlington, Virginia

● Lead worldwide strategic web marketing, promotion, management and production efforts, garnering two Webby Awards, including a People’s Choice Webby Award (awarded in 2009)
● Directed strategy and implement tactics for search engine optimization (SEO) and paid search engine marketing (SEM) initiatives, driving millions of dollars in donations for conservation projects
● Created The Nature Conservancy's online community using social media, raising nearly $300,000 in donations on Facebook alone
● Measure, analyze and report back on the success of strategic web marketing projects and campaigns
● Developed strategy for foundational technology projects including implementation of new enterprise web content management system, robust web analytics platform and web site redesign
● Managed and developed direct reports while coordinating vendor and partner relationships

Fellow, Barbara Thomas Fellowship Program

The Nature Conservancy

Nonprofit; 1001-5000 employees; Nonprofit Organization Management industry

February 2008 – May 2008 (4 months) Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

● Developed web marketing infrastructure and fundraising capacity for Australian conservation nonprofits, including work in web strategy development, SEO, paid advertising, web analytics, and social media
● Created and facilitated an interactive three-day workshop focused on web marketing strategy, tactics, planning and ROI
● Consulted directly with the Conservancy's conservation nonprofit partners throughout Australia to create and/or enhance their web marketing programs and online fundraising strategies

User Interface Architect

New Target Internet Design and Development, Inc.

Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Internet industry

March 2004 – August 2004 (6 months) Alexandria, Virginia

● Created design and/or redesign concepts for web sites based on client specifications
● Produced dynamic web sites, creating all code (HTML, CSS and JS), graphics, and interactive effects
● Implemented content management systems for news, calendar, interactive forms, and text management
● Researched keywords and implement SEO best practices for client web sites

Web Communications and Content Manager

Conservation International

Nonprofit; 501-1000 employees; Nonprofit Organization Management industry

March 2003 – March 2004 (1 year 1 month) Washington, DC

● Developed strategy and communications plan for web site focused on conservation practitioners
● Maintained standards and promoted suite of web sites with distributed, international content developers
● Launched and enhanced usability of dynamic scientific data-sharing portal
● Designed accessible, web standards-compliant XHTML interfaces for web content and CD-ROMs

Web and Publications Designer

Great Lakes Commission

Nonprofit; 11-50 employees; Environmental Services industry

April 2001 – May 2003 (2 years 2 months) Ann Arbor, Michigan

● Redesigned web site, information architecture to enhance appearance, behavior and ease-of-use
● Researched and promoted breaking news for the region on the web site to encourage repeat visitors and "sticky" user experience
● Created and managed dynamic PHP e-commerce web sites and MySQL databases
● Designed print publications and marketing collateral including annual report, business cards, and legislative advocacy reports

Peace Corps Volunteer: Community Health Development

Peace Corps

Government Agency; 5001-10,000 employees; International Affairs industry

June 1999 – November 2000 (1 year 6 months) Kaya, Burkina Faso, West Africa

● Lived as an active member of a remote village community, speaking two local languages while conducting development activities
● Helped diverse village communities assess health needs, learn how to avoid endemic disease
● Brought external resources from NGOs and government into local village areas lacking infrastructure
● Trained new Peace Corps volunteers in French, cross-cultural adaptation, mountain bike maintenance

Lead Information Developer, Groupware

IBM

Public Company; 10,001+ employees; IBM; Information Technology and Services industry

June 1997 – May 1999 (2 years) Rochester, Minnesota

● Created new manual for publication on network file system and Java framework
● Updated and revised existing manuals on integrated file system and Java framework
● Documented and structured TCP/IP, Java, and file system information articles
● Wrote and edited printed books and online help for business users and administrators

Jonathon Colman's Projects

  • SEO Audit for Organic Optimization Tactics

    • January 2009 to March 2009
    Team Members: Jonathon Colman

    Evaluate on-site content, back-end configuration, technical infrastructure, social graph, external link profile, and competitive landscape to determine strengths, weaknesses, and next steps in organic search optimization to drive search engine visibility, clicks, and traffic. This effort yielded 3+ years-worth of organic search projects and enhancements.

Jonathon Colman's Test Scores

  • GRE

    • November 2010
    • Score: 600

    ● Verbal Reasoning score: 600
    ● Quantitative Reasoning score: 600
    ● Analytical Writing score: 5.5

Jonathon Colman's Courses

  • MS, Information Management

    University of Washington

    • Design Methods for Interaction and Systems (IMT540)
    • Enterprise Information Systems Analysis and Design (IMT541)
    • Organization of Information Resources - Enterprise Taxonomy (IMT530)
    • Management of Information Organizations (IMT580)

  • Certification, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

    Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

    • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Usability (COMM6962)
    • Electronic Coaching Systems - Software Wizards (COMM6964)

  • B.S., magna cum laude, Scientific and Technical Communication

    Michigan Technological University

    • Advanced Composition (HU 327)
    • Ethics (HU 329)
    • Business Data Processing (BA 111)
    • Computer Applications in Communication (HU 244)
    • Technical & Scientific Writing (HU 333)
    • Theory & Practice of Tutoring (HU 460)
    • World Cultural Diversity (SS 151)
    • Graphic and Information Design (HU 245)
    • Philosophy (HU 253)
    • Rhetoric and Composition (HU 307)
    • Literacy Theory/Professional Practicum (HU 460)
    • Project Management - Technical Communication (HU 470)
    • Science, Society, and Technology (SS 161)
    • Grammer, Editing and Proofreading (HU 305)
    • Advanced Oral Communication (HU 409)
    • Advanced Scientific and Technical Writing (HU 433)
    • Philosophy of Technology (HU 359)
    • Risk Communication (HU 425)
    • Controlling Technology (SS 366)
    • Technological Change in Developing Societies (SS 371)
    • Logic (HU 250)
    • Digital Photography (HU 331)
    • Social Psychology (SS 382)
    • Social Toxicology (SS 450)

Jonathon Colman's Volunteer Experience & Causes

  • Volunteer Experience

    • Peace Corps Volunteer

      Peace Corps
      • Health
      June 1999 – November 2000 (1 year 6 months)

      ● Lived as an active member of a remote village community, speaking two local languages while conducting development activities
      ● Helped diverse village communities assess health needs, learn how to avoid endemic disease
      ● Brought external resources from NGOs and government into local village areas lacking infrastructure
      ● Trained new Peace Corps volunteers in French, cross-cultural adaptation, mountain bike maintenance

  • Volunteer Interests

    • Causes I care about:

      • Arts and Culture
      • Disaster and Humanitarian Relief
      • Education
      • Environment
      • Health
      • Human Rights
      • Poverty Alleviation
      • Science and Technology

    • Organizations I support:

      • The Nature Conservancy
      • Conservation International
      • National Wildlife Federation
      • Nonprofit Technology Network
      • DonorsChoose.org

Jonathon Colman's Education

University of Washington

MS, Information Management

2011 – 2013 (expected)

Frequent guest-lecturer on SEO, Internet Marketing, and Web Analytics.

Activities and Societies: ASIS&T, American Society for Information Science & Technology, AIMS, Association of Information Management Students, IAI, Information Architecture Institute, Infocamp

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Certification, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

1997 – 1998

● Concentration in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) with focus on graphical user interfaces
● Emphasis on user interface design, web development, usability and software wizards

Activities and Societies: Satellite learning sponsored by IBM-Rochester, MN

Michigan Technological University

B.S., magna cum laude, Scientific and Technical Communication

1993 – 1997

● Concentration in graphic design and information design
● 6-month internship with IBM; focus on information development, technical writing
● Dual minor in American literature and biology

Activities and Societies: MTU Writing Center, Society for Technical Communication, Troupe improv comedy ensemble, American College Theater Festival, Copper Country Gay and Lesbian Alliance, Dean's List, Center for Computer-Assisted Language Instruction (CCLI,) Summer Youth Programs, MTU News Room, WMTU 91.9FM

Jonathon Colman's Additional Information

Honors and Awards:

Awards:
● 2010 REI Anderson Award recipient - the Anderson Award is a peer-nominated award given to top-achieving employees each year: http://goo.gl/6UQQV
● 13th Annual Webby Awards for "Best Charitable Organizations/Nonprofit Web Site", including a People's Voice Webby Award: http://goo.gl/zuGqJ

Selected Media Citations:
● Fast Company: http://goo.gl/vaRMG
● Puget Sound Business Journal: http://goo.gl/onxP0
● ASAE/Center for Association Leadership: http://goo.gl/8MFL5
● The Wall Street Journal: http://goo.gl/MEVhE

Selected Interviews:
● Bruce Clay, Inc.: http://goo.gl/p30W2
● Beth Kanter: http://goo.gl/SlL8D
● Treehugger.com: http://goo.gl/6qtOu
● The Chronicle of Philanthropy: http://goo.gl/BPdCP

See a selection of conference presentations on SEO, social media, and Internet marketing at http://goo.gl/Znao4

Contact Jonathon for:

  • career opportunities
  • consulting offers
  • new ventures
  • job inquiries
  • expertise requests
  • business deals
  • reference requests
  • getting back in touch

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