Handing Over The Keys To The Blog
I’m just going to get to it.
After lots of soul searching, heartfelt conversations with friends, and intense debate between Swat, Jack and myself, I’m making the very difficult personal decision to leave Bruce Clay, Inc. and move back to the East Coast just in time to see it obliterated with snow and become a totally unbearable place to live. Or, said simpler, this will be my last week working at and blogging for Bruce Clay, Inc.
Truthfully, I can’t begin to express how much I’m going to miss everyone here (except Susan*). The entire Bruce Clay, Inc. organization has been great to me over the past two and a half years and I couldn’t have hoped to have been adopted by a better group of people. People who have helped me to grow, stood by me through personal roller coasters, and given me a voice in an industry that I love. And even though I’ll be moving on, I will miss them all dearly and will continue to value the wisdom and strong SEO background they have imparted on me.
The fact that I’m leaving is also why last week’s post thanking our readers was so important to me. Jim Hedger had no way of knowing the circumstances when he suggested it, but I am glad that I had the opportunity to say “thanks” before the news of my departure was made public. It greatly reduced the amount of snot that wound up on my sleeve.
I’m leaving, but obviously the blog will live on. In my absence, you’ll see a tag team of Bruce Clay faces (some old, some new) taking over the blogging reins while they transition and eventually adopt someone new to carry on the nonsense I’ve helped start here. I have full faith that in a few weeks they’ll be able to scrub the Lisa off this thing and make it an even better place for search marketers to hang out.
If you have any desire to be our new blogger/social media person, please send Susan your resume and let her know. I hear she’s very excited about the idea of getting someone new to abuse, torture and send for coffee.
And with that, it’s time to get back to business. We won’t be allowing any emo here on the blog, so don’t even try it.
*Okay, that’s not even a little bit true. I may just miss Susan most of all.
Wow, Lisa. No emo here, but just a note of thanks for your writing here and good luck with your next gig!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 10:51Wow! Big life changes.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 10:51While I’m sad for Susan, I am happy for us on the East Coast… you can get to hang with us!
I feel the need for a East Coast Women’s meetup now!
Lisa-
Blessings on your new venture! I know this was a hard decision. But hard decisions lead to new wonderful opportunities!
And, hey, we can still banter on Twitter…
Right?
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 10:54Congrats on the move, best of luck moving forward.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 10:55I had a feeling this was happening after I read your “why I love the readers” post. I’ll definitely miss coming here and reading what you have to say Lisa. This blog will *not* be the same without you. What are your new career plans?
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 10:55Congrats on your big change, Lisa. I hope to see you blogging the search space again wherever you land
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 10:58With all of that snow – and no sun and beach – you’ll have more time to blog, right?
~Carrie
I’m sure many people will wish you well, but it’s not a real good bye, I mean, you’ll still be around the Internet, just in a different capacity!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:00Lisa,
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:00We will miss you and your entertaining voice! I wish the best for you as you move back to the east coast.
Lisa,
Good luck to both you and those still working on this blog.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:00Lisa, you are the voice of BC. You will be missed here. Best of luck in your future plans.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:01It will be great to have you on the east coast!
Big move Lisa, I can only imagine it means congratulations for the new place you’re going to. Looking forward to seeing where that is to continue reading The Lisa goodness.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:03I’m surprised, but change can definitely be a good thing. Good luck in your future adventures Lisa!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:05Lisa,
Thanks for making this blog interesting and thought provoking.
May you find happiness in your future.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:07You’re not headed back to Long Island, are you? If so, I must immediately argue against this decision and demand that you go ask for your job back. Winter on Long Island – well, you know how it is. So cold. So lonely.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:07But it’s good to gain another east coaster in SEO!
Wow. Does that mean you’re going to visit?
Best of luck on this huge move!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:09Am sorry to see you go! Have enjoyed reading all of your posts and just wanted to let you know you will be missed. Hope you keep in touch with all of us; best of luck!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:12Very surprising to me. You were a great voice and I’m sure Bruce and others will miss you.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:14Hey Lisa, best of luck with the move. I hope it’s everything you imagined it to be. I can’t imagine going back to the East Coast after living out West as long as I have, but then again I wasn’t born there
I’m excited for you!!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:19“Jim Hedger had no way of knowing the circumstances when he suggested it…” Wow. That’s an understatement Lisa. I was floored by the announcement.
As Glen said, “… change can definitely be a good thing.” I hope the change is good for you and for the fine folks at Bruce Clay.
Best of luck on the East Coast. You’re an amazing writer. I hope to read your words again soon.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:31Thank you for all the posts while at BC. I truly enjoyed them. Good luck on the move.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:37Hey Lisa,
It was nice meeting you in June at SMX. Hopefully this way it’ll be easier to run into you! Best of luck.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:47Back to LI heh? Don’t forget your ice scraper. Time to relearn your local lingo too… sneakers, pie (for pizza), killa (for bitchen), and pissa (do they still say that?) The West Coast will miss you!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:50Best of luck Lisa…unless you are going to New England, then I’ll be so jealous I’ll have to hate you (and your cat).
I wish I had discovered you sooner.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:52Best of luck, Lisa! Lemme know if you ever need a ride around Long Beach again! ;D
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:53Barone!!!!! Holy $!$@#$ … I have no doubt that you’ll succeed in whatever comes next. You were one of the first to start sending links my way when I started blogging – I’ll always be grateful for that, but so much more for your friendship. God bless.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 11:54Wow. Wow. It took me most of the post to accept that you weren’t joking.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 12:01And I’m SO jealous of you moving to the East Coast. (I miss home!)
While they’ll find someone to take your job and that person will carry on the blog in a fabulous fashion, I’m sure, they won’t find someone to take your place. And of course we’ll miss you.
Thanks for the all the posts, Lisa and good luck on the East Coast. Embrace the new live awaiting you
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 12:11Best of luck with your new endeavours Lisa! Change can definitely be a good thing, and I hope we’ll see you blogging fairly soon.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 12:16PS: I hate the snow just as much you probably do.
Wow, that’s a big loss to BC. Seems like the perfect time to start TheLisa Blog. By the way, SS is looking for a recipe blogger;-)
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 12:16OMG!!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 12:31Now where are we all going to go to read funny, compelling and informative Blogs on life, the universe, and SEO-everything?
You did a GREAT job representing BC and the white hat SEO-ers everywhere! Good luck to you and I wish you success where you next end up!
So sad to hear that you are leaving. You are honestly one of my favorite bloggers. Wishing you the best for the future.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 12:34Thanks for all the posts Lisa, you’ll leave a big hole at the BC blog. Good luck in your next venture!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 12:42Good luck wherever you end up Lisa (hoping it won’t be too long before we get to find out where you’ll be next – their subscriber list will rocket!)
Thanks for all the great reads; the informative stuff but especially the wicked sense of humour you bring to it all will be a tough act for your successor here at BC to follow.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 12:54Good luck Lisa on your next venture. We will all miss reading your extremely funny and informative posts, but as with all the comments b/4 mine… we wish you the best.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 14:11Thanks Lisa for all the great content. You will be missed by us all.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 14:18Lisa – congrats on your decision and let me be (one of the first) to welcome you to the East Coast! If you are coming to NYC make sure to drop a line…
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 14:58Best of Luck!
Wow… certainly the end of an era! Here’s to the start of a great *new* chapter
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 15:17You have been a tremendous blogger, thank you for all your hard work, I’m sure you’ll be sorely missed at Bruce Clay. Best of luck wherever you land and remember to leave a forwarding URL!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 15:19Oh my goodness. Thank you guys for all the supportive comments, emails and DMs. They mean the world to me. I promise not to drop out of sight too badly. If all else fails, there’s Twitter, right?
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 15:35Wow!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 15:39I’ll say that again: wow!
Good luck Lisa. I look forward to seeing you blogging again soon–you’re always welcome to guest at Marketing Pilgrim.
I hate to say it, but you’re going to leave big boots to fill. I pretty much only read this blog because of you.
May your future be full of shiny blessing!
Can we kidnap Susan and bring her East too? Splitting up you two just feels so wrong.
Wherever you go next, please tell them they need you to blog. Ok, WE need you to blog.
Can I adopt you? (I’ll even take the cats.)
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 15:42Lisa, I wanted to congratulate you on your move and wish you all the best in the world because you sincerely do deserve it. For many of us here in the SEO realm, you have always been very special and appreciated. Not “short bus” special, but the real kind of special.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 17:18Please do keep blogging, even if its not work related. You’ve got talent in it and many people greatly enjoy what you have to say.
On a side note, if you get sick of the east coast, you’re always welcome to try Hawaii.
It is no secret how much I adore you. I think it is wicked yummy sweet that that you mentioned “*Okay, that’s not even a little bit true. I may just miss Susan most of all.”
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 18:46I heart you and I heart her too.
I have a feeling that you will rock where ever you go
Congratulations! Is Mr. Lisa Barone relocating with you?
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 19:22Lisa – I loved your posts here at Bruce Clay. You will be missed. And I will be tracking you down to see if you are writing anything else that I can follow.
I love your style! It rocks!
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 19:24For as long as I can remember, Lisa, you’ve defined search industry blogging.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 22:06While other exceptional writers are in our space you have always written with a flow and style that no one else could touch. Your writing was the perfect way to infuse life to what I’d say is a pretty plain site design. That’s not a knock either… Bruce Clay’s blog remains one of the few that I refuse to read via RSS.
I’ll miss your honesty and values the most. Search writers often try too hard to please the masses, kiss up to the personalities or just write what’s safe for others to regurgitate. You’ve never seemed to be afraid to take an unfavorable stance and back it up with legitimate points.
I envy that actually.
You’re a writer, though, so I’m sure we’ll all have the chance to hear from you again. While I hope it’s in the confines of our tight knit community, I’d love to hear your take on so many other spaces too.
You’ll be missed, but I’m sure Susan, Virginia and the other writers will step up and carry on a great blog here for us all to enjoy.
Now… You’ve set the stage for one fantastic and final Friday Recap. You better deliver with more than just a few things you learned on BoingBoing this week. No pressure.
Hey Lisa, you’ve been an honest, authentic voice in the search world and I have an enormous amount of respect for you. Trust and credibility can be hard to come by on the net; it has to be earned over time. I’m not sure you realize just how much cred you have with so many people in the search community. All that and a great/entertaining writer to boot–that can be even harder to pull off, but you do it with style.
I wish you complete success and the best of luck in whatever comes next.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 22:21Lisa, I enjoyed reading your posts (esp Friday Recaps) and surely I’ll miss them here. I wish you the best on your future plans.
@ September 22nd, 2008 at 23:04Can’t believe you lasted this long in California – all that stupid sunshine and no snow!!!
@ September 23rd, 2008 at 08:45I have enjoyed your writing and insights into the community. I hope to see your writing elsewhere soon, and wish you the best!
Lisa, you will be greatly missed. I’m just hoping that where ever you end up going and whatever you end up doing, it involves you writing in a space that all us saddened geeks can visit and enjoy.
@ September 23rd, 2008 at 09:22Thanks for all the great blog posts and inside perspective! Good luck with your next endeavor.
@ September 23rd, 2008 at 09:26Lisa – Already said it on Twitter yesterday but I just took a look to see how many commented here. As you know, you’ve got some of the most respected people in the industry missing you already. I’m really happy to see they chimed in here. You have a special writing style that makes you unique. Be sure and take that with you. It’s why I read (and shared) the blog feed with many. Best of luck!
@ September 23rd, 2008 at 10:41OMG Lisa!
I’m going to miss your blogging – and can’t wait to learn what comes next from you!
HEY – Long Island – are you going back THERE? I moved “back” to Long Island so many times over the past fifteen years it eventually got to the point where I became nauseous just thinking about it. So for me, I eventually got THAT out of my system and pray that you will to eventually, (one Islander comiserating over slush and ice storms and bitter cold winters and rainy humid wet dreary summers – to another… )
Yet I also believe in following your heart’s calling wherever it takes you (hence my having driven across the entire US seven times, every time a relocation, not just a vacation…
Lisa – seriously – God bless and all the best!
@ September 23rd, 2008 at 17:04Power to The Lisa! Long may you run. I’ll miss you here. You’re the best live blogger the world has EVER known and probably ever will. Seriously, you are sick. In a good way, like ‘sick blog dude’. And you have a way with words that’s truly exceptional, you put yourself in every post and inject it with humor and an authentic voice. You stand apart!
@ September 23rd, 2008 at 19:30You are an amazing person and I’ll miss your musings. However I will be looking forward to you popping up somewhere on the interweb. Until then, take care and good luck!
@ September 23rd, 2008 at 20:27God bless you, young lady. We will all miss you.
@ September 23rd, 2008 at 21:48As Susan’s Mom says….so say I! We wish you much succuss and happiness.
@ September 25th, 2008 at 11:18(Susan’s Gram)
Best of luck Lisa! Although, I am chimming in here a little late, I have enjoyed reading your posts very much and look forward to reading more from you in the future!
)
@ October 25th, 2008 at 06:58Wow, I come back from holiday and now this?
Lisa, keep on spreading your wordsmith love in whatever you do, be it SEM related or not.
Kudos!
@ October 31st, 2008 at 04:33