Four Years, Six Lessons and One Grateful Goodbye

As many of my blog posts have been created to serve as a resource, I figured there was no need to abandon consistency, even in what will be my final post for FSC.

Yes, you read that correctly. After nearly 4 years of being part of this amazing journey known as FSC, come February 1, I will continue the evolution of my online marketing career in a new position on a new adventure at a new company.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to work alongside the ever-growing, and wildly talented team at FSC. I have learned so much from each of them, and enjoyed rediscovering a lot of what I had already learned through fresh eyes and new perspectives. I have had the chance to be part of something wonderful.

The clients that I have had the privilege of working for have made every day an adventure. Thank you for making me a part of your business, valuing my professional opinion and trusting me with your business, all for the sake of success.

As I pour through client documents, deliverables, process plans and checklists, I think back to how it has all evolved, and what I have learned from this leg of the journey, beyond technical lessons, but those gained as a person and a professional. Here are just a few nuggets:

Be a True Partner
Working with so many types of businesses it is impossible to know everything about all of them, but the more you understand what they have, what they sell and what the value is for their clients, the easier it is to provide thoughtful, useful direction – even if it doesn’t fall specifically within you scope of work.

Shut Up and Listen
That’s always been a tough one for me, but it has been a lifelong exercise to be a better listener, and I feel that is has made me a better person and professional because of it. Taking the time to stop and really hear what someone is saying without internally organizing your next idea is what sparks great ideas. This is a work in progress but remember that a thoughtful response or solution to someone’s rants or raves can be the bridge that builds trust.

Put Your Phone Down
Yeah, I’m talking to you! This goes with the previous lesson; how can you listen if you have your face in your phone texting, tweeting, and tagging while someone is trying to impart valuable information to you – especially if it is someone who is paying for your time. It can wait!

Learn from Your Mistakes
It’s what makes us human, it’s what keeps us striving to get it right, it’s what makes us or our ideas that much better. Recognizing your own shortcomings allows us to see those strengths in others, and to rely on them. There’s no room for wallowing; learn from mistakes and move on. You will be a better, stronger, smarter person for it.

Be a Resource
I have always preached to clients that providing resourceful content on their site is a valuable investment in their time from both an SEO standpoint as well as to Web visitors. Online relationships are no different than old fashioned networking. If you are a resource to someone by connecting them or providing them with valuable insight – do it!

Never Stop Learning and Sharing
The Internet is ever-evolving, so there is always something new to know. Because of that, the same can be said for whatever industry you work within. Even if the methods you use to create, build or sell haven’t seen change, consider that there are new ways to manage, promote and connect. Share your lessons and seek to learn from what others have been kind enough to contribute to the conversation. (Oh, and don’t forget to say “thanks.”)

There is definitely more that has and could be shared, but I’d rather take this opportunity to express my gratitude.

Thank you to my wonderful co-workers and friends at FSC. I will miss the silly Skype conversations, the uproar of laughter from the ridiculous discovery of the day, seeing your shining faces every morning as you file into the office, one by one, and of course working and learning alongside each and every one of you.

Thank you to the search team for geeking out with me, keeping me on my toes and teaching me something new every day.

Thank you to McKenzie Coco for asking the third and final ultimatum to make the move to FSC. It has been a hoot working to build the company to something that we could have never imagined, even then.

Thank you to the long list of clients who have come to rely on me and value my opinion, in matters often stretching well beyond the confines of the online realm. I leave you in more than capable hands to continue to rock your search and social efforts.

And finally, thank you to the followers and supporters that comprise the FSC community, who have allowed me to share through tweets, shares and blog posts.

See you around town and on the ‘interwebz’!

Adele Tiblier
Adele serves as FSC Interactive's Director of Interactive Strategy guiding all efforts in search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM or Paid Placement) as well as working with the social media team to ensure that campaigns are cohesive and technically sound. She has a professed love of all things Google, shoes and her kids (possibly in that order).

FSC Inter@ctive