By now, most of you heard the news that Danny Sullivan is stepping away from covering the search industry after 21 years of devoted service to our industry. He told me the news several months ago and I'll be honest, I was sad but not totally surprised. It is a tough industry to cover and he did so with the utmost class, attention and detail over those 20 plus years. Most only last a couple years in this industry and move on.
He is referred to as the father of the search industry, for sure the search marketing industry. There are countless people in this industry and beyond that are only in this industry because of Danny. It is hard to explain how instrumental he has been to so many people. He was the first real journalist in the search space, he wrote the first detailed guide on how search engines work, he started the first real search engine news site, conference, industry events and more. He is a pioneer for the space and no one has come close to what Danny has done here.
Heck, he had Google's co-founders present at his conference when Google was a nobody.
Danny and I started working together about 12 years ago. I have not respected anyone as much as I respected him throughout the past 12 years in this industry. His clarity in technical topics and the way he conveys them in his writing is unmatched. I'm jealous of his writing skills and his connection to how search works. I honestly cannot imagine the search industry without him. Which makes me sad but excited to see what is next.
Here is a photo from one of the SES events back in 2006 after we started working together:
He mentored me for the past 12 years in so many ways. We spent countless hours back and forth on instant messenger discussing Google and search engines changes. How and what we should cover. Why it is important. How to help the search industry through the changes. That conversation moved to Slack over the past couple years. And now it moves to a pure high level advisory role.
When we moved from SEW to SEL in 2006, he asked if I want to join. It was a no brainer and I was honored to have been asked. Since then we (mostly Danny) took Search Engine Land and made it into the single authority on the search marketing space, after Danny did so with Search Engine Watch prior. SEW was his baby, but he made SEL his baby and now he is leaving his baby in his team's hands.
Danny explained:
After 21 years running sites about digital and search marketing & covering the space, it's time for a change. I'm taking a break. What's next - no, I don't know! Maybe some general consumer tech writing in the future. Maybe some writing about TV and film science fiction, which I love. Definitely some time off in the short term.I will be staying on as an advisor to Third Door Media, the company I cofounded and which publishes Search Engine Land, Marketing Land, MarTech Today and produces our Search Marketing Expo SMX & MarTech Conference conferences. TDM has been more than a company, it's been like a second family - and I know theyβre all set to keep succeeding going forward.
Here are some tweets from the industry about this news:
Well said and same for me. Except just 9 years for me. But what a change in career, life, etc. https://t.co/2gYxeflVrj
β Matt McGee (@mattmcgee) June 26, 2017
When @dannysullivan first hired me 22 yrs ago, I had no idea how much my career trajectory would be impacted. It's been an honor & pleasureπ https://t.co/ieqCL4E4Jz
β MichelleRobbins (@MichelleRobbins) June 26, 2017
Happysad that @dannysullivan is stepping back from search news day-to-day. Few people have his historical perspective and insight. https://t.co/mUDuh3MbuY
β Matt Cutts (@mattcutts) June 27, 2017
Thanks for everything, and especially for inviting me along for the fantastic ride. It's been a great couple of decades. SlΓ‘inte!
β Chris Sherman (@CJSherman) June 26, 2017
And insane to think Iβve been working with @dannysullivan for ~12 years. You made me so much better at so many things. Thank you. https://t.co/xwXxWwQUwh
β Barry Schwartz (@rustybrick) June 26, 2017
My 18yrs of search w/ @dannysullivan 1999-found SEW/ 2001-spoke at SES/2004-joined SEW & launched forums/2009-now @SEngineland @SMX π₯ friend pic.twitter.com/0vxqhVxry0
β Elisabeth Osmeloski (@elisabethos) June 27, 2017
I can't thank @dannysullivan enough for everything >> Danny Sullivan: My new role as advisor for Third Door Media https://t.co/jRVzMNbxV6
β Ginny Marvin (@GinnyMarvin) June 26, 2017
So grateful to be be part of the @sengineland & @Marketingland team. It has been an honor & delight working w/ @dannysullivan. https://t.co/VW3hLvXNPP
β amy gesenhues (@amygesenhues) June 26, 2017
Congratulations to maybe the original Google reporter, @dannysullivan. Cheers on a great career so far.
β Jack Nicas (@jacknicas) June 27, 2017
Everyone has an @dannysullivan story. Here's mine https://t.co/ddacPfwH2v (With photo of Danny in my U2/@atu2 world in 2011!) pic.twitter.com/UqLt2k4BG4
β Matt McGee (@mattmcgee) June 27, 2017
Congrats, Danny.
β Walt Mossberg (@waltmossberg) June 27, 2017
Thank you @dannysullivan for everything you've done in SEO, for giving me opportunities and for just being awesome. Enjoy your next steps. pic.twitter.com/1w35lcAZ6e
β lorenbaker (@lorenbaker) June 27, 2017
Good luck @dannysullivan! You have worked incredibly hard all these years.
β Baruch Labunski (@Baruch_Labunski) June 27, 2017
All the best! pic.twitter.com/7a0gqYaq5n
@dannysullivan - And, thank you for your years of hard work and contributions to the search industry. It won't be the same without you sir!
β BrianHarnish (@BrianHarnish) June 27, 2017
Just saw the @dannysullivan news. There's not a single person in search who can't trace the lineage of learning their craft back to him.
β Rae Dolan (@sugarrae) June 27, 2017
Good luck @dannysullivan! Looking forward to seeing the wonderful projects you come up with next.
β Donna Wares (@DonnaWares) June 27, 2017
Congrats! Great work over the years, DoM had a subscription to SE Watch back in 2002 or so. Indispensable as I tried to figure out search.
β Matt Rosoff (@MattRosoff) June 27, 2017
When I started covering tech, @dannysullivan was one of my north stars. Hard working, fair minded, and relentless. Cheers on a great run https://t.co/dW7ceE6IJE
β Casey Newton (@CaseyNewton) June 27, 2017
The amazing @dannysullivan inspired countless publishersβhe shaped the search industry as much he wrote about it. Excited what's is next! https://t.co/A9QV1zUT0v
β Brian Roemmele (@BrianRoemmele) June 27, 2017
Danny is the 1st blogger I remember. His willingness to wonk out inspired me to go deep wherever I saw the future https://t.co/io7jjgIVnq gg
β Josh Constine (@JoshConstine) June 27, 2017
Congrats & thank you for all the years you put in for "us". I'm so here for you exploring Science Fiction on TV
β Natasha Robinson (@natasharobinson) June 27, 2017
Congratulations on taking another step in your journey. Whatever is next, you will do amazing things.
β Alan Bleiweiss (@AlanBleiweiss) June 26, 2017
Congratulations for all you have achieved in your role...way beyond just covering digital. I'm glad you will still be active on Twitter.
β David Clinch (@DavidClinchNews) June 26, 2017
@dannysullivan it's been awesome "working" with you! Thinking you should add aimlessly wandering around cities to your new agenda ;)
β Mona Elesseily (@webmona) June 27, 2017
Dude, you are one of my favs. Well deserved, Danny.
β Jason Howell (@jasonhowell) June 27, 2017
Congrats on all you've built and looking forward to what comes next!
β Paul Haahr (@haahr) June 26, 2017
Hello Danny, I've been reading you for 17 years, now I have a seo agency of 19 people in π«π· And that is a little thanks to you :-) !
β WAM-RΓ©fΓ©rencement (@wamref) June 26, 2017
Congrats @dannysullivan. End of an era. No farewell tour like in sports? https://t.co/7eaENXgvjD
β Steve Rubel (@steverubel) June 26, 2017
Congrats Danny and thank you for all your many years of hard work covering the search space.. enjoy your time off!
β Jennifer Slegg (@jenstar) June 26, 2017
Thank you for everything you've made for this industry. Looking forward to seeing you at SMX again.
β Tomoyuki Sugao(θ ε°ΎζΊδΉ) (@TomoyukiSugao) June 26, 2017
Hereβs to new things for @dannysullivan completing his mission to boldly go where no search marketer had gone before https://t.co/3XMz8Hwn4W
— Mark Traphagen (@marktraphagen) June 28, 2017
Danny Sullivan Was My Life Line, Literally https://t.co/reIZW8dzar Danny Sullivan has no idea the role he played in my life.@dannysullivan
— Kim Krause Berg (@kim_cre8pc) June 28, 2017
1996, Bend, Oregon, @dannysullivan teaching @mdsimmonds team SEO and man we're way too old. Congrats Danny, unmatched 20+ years in search.
β Adam Audette (@audette) June 26, 2017
The GodFather of Search @dannysullivan I enjoyed The Daily SearchCast, speaking at SES and SMX. He taught me the ways of the SEO world. https://t.co/4oNoofETjt
β Marshall Simmonds (@mdsimmonds) June 26, 2017
@dannysullivan I'll miss you.π’But wish you good luck.πhttps://t.co/Xwu1dn7ngo
β Kenichi Suzuki; ι΄ζ¨θ¬δΈ (@suzukik) June 26, 2017
Congrats man. Hope this means some good Daggle rants this summer!
β Dan Frommer (@fromedome) June 26, 2017
Way to go, Danny! You've done wonderful things.
β Quentin Hardy (@qhardy) June 26, 2017
Big congrats @dannysullivan !!!!!
β Cindy Krum (@Suzzicks) June 26, 2017
Congrats Danny! Thanks for the years of coverage on search - you'd be surprised how often your name comes up in Bing meetings
β Michael Schechter (@mikeschechter) June 26, 2017
I remember as an intern at NBC, pre-Snap, I was learning about search from reading his work.
β Salil Dalvi (@sd_so) June 26, 2017
Wow! Can't put into words how you helped my career through your writing, SMX, etc. Thank YOU & cheers to what's next! See you on Instagram π
β Casie Gillette (@Casieg) June 26, 2017
Thanks so much for all you've done @dannysullivan! You've been such an inspiration & had a profound impact on myself and so many others. π
β Greg Finn (@gregfinn) June 26, 2017
Well done, Danny :) thanks for all the excellent articles over the years.
β dan barker (@danbarker) June 26, 2017
Grateful for the opportunity to work with such a wonderful mentor, Thanks Danny! https://t.co/iMxBMPv27Q
β Monica Wright (@monicawright) June 26, 2017
One of the first signs that we were building something special at FeedBurner in '05 was when @dannysullivan started paying attention to us. https://t.co/YJw92bQ8BE
β Rick Klau (@rklau) June 27, 2017
You have been my SEO go-to for as many years as I've been in/around search. Went to SMX because you said to go. Thank you and all the best.
β Jess Joyce β (@jessjoyce) June 26, 2017
Congratulations @dannysullivan - a true industry pioneer! My new role as advisor for Third Door Media https://t.co/eRnqmDfgRb pic.twitter.com/aAAGJ8PbdF
β Lee Odden (@leeodden) June 26, 2017
Thank you, @dannysullivan for taking a chance on me many years ago. It was an honor & a pleasure to have had the opp to work with you @SMX.
β Akvile DeFazio (@AkvileDeFazio) June 26, 2017
Thanks for all you've done for the industry @dannysullivan. We'll miss you but know you won't be too far away. Enjoy much deserved time off! https://t.co/2JlAVwJAZ8
β Motoko Hunt (@motokohunt) June 26, 2017
Good luck with whatever comes next Danny. You've helped many people on this journey
β Will Critchlow (@willcritchlow) June 26, 2017
Best of luck, Danny! Thanks for all your support over the years! Can't wait to see what's next my friend.
β Matt Siltala (@Matt_Siltala) June 26, 2017
Good luck to @dannysullivan in the next chapter of his digital life. Not the end of an era, but a new chapter. May your redirect be a 301! https://t.co/bxAugm1YM9
β Louis Gray (@louisgray) June 26, 2017
Hey, try to stop by the booth again this year (1037). I'll save my congratulations for 'in-person.' :) #SDCC2017
β Casey Markee (@MediaWyse) June 26, 2017
So grateful to all you've done for this industry and community over the years Danny! Thanks for your candor and kindness. Excelsior!
β Sarah Bird (@SarahBird) June 26, 2017
Can't thank @dannysullivan enough for the inspiration & leadership in the short 2.5 years I've been at @thirddoormedia! Best wishes, Danny! https://t.co/IF5b2AtI1y
β Kyle Pouliot (@kyyuulle) June 26, 2017
Tfw you build such a kick ass company and legacy can downshift at 50-something. Congrats my friend!
β Martin Beck (@MartinBeck) June 26, 2017
Congrats man. Hope this means some good Daggle rants this summer!
β Dan Frommer (@fromedome) June 26, 2017
Take note: inspiring story of perseverance, grit, owning a niche & making digital-native journalism profitable & sustainable. https://t.co/x8hxxGliHG
β Alex Howard (@digiphile) June 26, 2017
Good luck to you, Danny. Your virtual mentorship, though you didn't know you were giving it, was invaluable during my early SEO days.
β Alysson (@Alysson) June 26, 2017
Congrats! You built something to be proud of. And I hope you keep writing... https://t.co/Ipjcc0eFyh
β Ryan Singel (@rsingel) June 26, 2017
You've made the internet a better place. Thanks for the good work you did and all the ways you helped me learn about search.
β Patrick Wagstrom (@pridkett) June 26, 2017
Dude- what it is with #SMX Advanced that sends long time SEO people out the door? 2 years ago it was Matt Cutts, now you? #GoodLuck #Thanks
β Rick Hardman (@rickhardman) June 26, 2017
Whatever you were going to post about search today, nobody cares.
β Lisa Barone (@LisaBarone) June 26, 2017
Congrats, @dannysullivan. You deserve it. https://t.co/TZ1O1AwCMv
There are so so many more on Facebook, forums and other social media.
Danny - thank you for everything you've done for the industry - huge respect.
Forum discussion WebmasterWorld.
