I was floored this morning when I discovered just how huge the WordTracker interview has become. I woke up to several emails, direct messages, Facebook messages, and even a post to my Facebook wall of the link to the story.

I feel very fortunate to work at a company like Tribune at this time. Most would think I’m crazy to stay at a bankrupt company in an industry that has serious concerns of its survival. But what those people wouldn’t know is the culture of change that Tribune has instilled into every aspect of the organization. It’s that spirit of change and dedication to truly wanting (and admittedly, needing) to make a change that is so compelling for me. So despite the crap that’s being written about Tribune lately, the management team is doing a fine job getting the mindset shift completed in order to obtain survival.

Despite the WordTracker article’s title, this is clearly not something ‘I’ did but ‘we’ did (but I love the keyword loaded title, so I’d stick with it). I truly have an amazing team over here at Tribune. Sure, none of them necessarily report to me, but they are still part of the SEO team. From the technology experts, to the newsrooms, to the broadcast anchors . . . all a fantastic group. It’s damn cool when you can say that your personal life and business life fully overlap because the people you work with are also the same people you want to have as your closest and dearest friends. Some of which seem to become family.

Furthermore, the Search industry is one that I have the utmost respect for. It’s pretty amazing when you can be a part of an industry where you can meet with people a few times a year and yet still truly consider them to be friends. The level of support, in not only business, but personal situations as well is unmatched in any other industry I’ve seen or heard of. When I tell people about how forgiving, open, understanding, and fun the Search industry is, I see the envy on their faces and their lust to be a part of it as well.

It’s this passion for a company that wants to change coupled with an industry that I’ve grown to love as a whole and as individuals that keeps me focused on the goal of finding success however I can. Sure, sometimes it takes pulling the pin of a grenade and launching it into a room full of team members to get it done, but that’s normal–and part of the fun. So far, we managed to fix the problem before the grenade explodes and we all have a few laughs about it later (often at a bar, Cub’s game, or even with a shot of alcohol at someone’s cubicle). Even in the industry we toss grenades at one another and it causes some issues but we usually get over them quickly and never have an issue sitting down with someone at a bar for a drink or two.

For those of you that know me, you know that I’m not the corporate type. I’m not the guy that obsesses over the latest ways to use voice inflection in a speech to capture an audience or reads the latest book from some Search icon to be in the know. I’m just me. That guy that has a blast at conferences, uses Twitter way too damn much, shoots the shit with Googlers more than trying to pick their brains on the latest algo tweak, and forgets at times that his own choice of being ultra open isn’t necessarily for everyone (i.e. the thousands of pics I have of industry folks on Flickr, and the videos of some I posted for a short time).

So, though the write up on WordTracker about how “Brent D Payne increased Tribune sites’ monthly visits by a cool 20 million” may highlight some of the things I did, it’s about the team of people both inside and outside of Tribune that choose to listen to me, support me, and teach me that make it possible. None of them have to make that choice–but yet they do and I thank them/you for that.

I’m very impressed with Rachelle’s ability to find such nice things to say about me. I think it’s a testimony of what a quality journalist can do. If she can make me look professional . . . damn she must be good!

Enjoy the article and realize that Payne does have something in that head of his other than smart ass comments, wacky tweets, and a sponge for alcohol. LOL

P.S. Love the ‘bald SEO‘ anchor . . . nice touch!

Now I have some more work to do . . .