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Search Influence Turns 10, Gives Away $10K to Local Business
This past Wednesday was National Make Your Dreams Come True Day. Three lucky people won the largest Powerball payout in the history of the world, an estimated $1.6 billion. While none of my co-workers have come forward with a winning ticket, we all were lucky enough to attend Search Influence’s 10-Year Anniversary Celebration here in our New Orleans office. And what a party it was.

More pics can be seen here.

Influencers, along with clients, city officials, family, and friends, enjoyed finger foods and adult beverages while reminiscing about how much we have accomplished in just 10 short years. A company timeline can be viewed here. It’s amazing that what began in a spare bedroom in Will and Angie Scott’s home after Hurricane Katrina has now grown to be the largest online marketing company on the Gulf Coast. Guess their idea of helping businesses succeed online had merit! Search Influence now employs 85 full-time employees in New Orleans and 150 contract writers. Not too shabby, huh?

Other highlights include the following:
- May 2007 – Search Influence hires its third employee, Amy Arnold. As the longest tenured employee, she has since logged over 17,850 hours toward SEO research.
- June 2010 – With 14 employees, Search Influence outgrows its home office and moves to new digs on Jackson Street.
- February 2011 – One of the biggest SEO changes occurs—Google’s Panda launch—and it is a big deal. It targeted high-quality sites, pushing them up to the top of search results. To date, Search Influence has helped its clients maneuver 22 major Google updates.
- June 2011 – Having outgrown the office space in just 12 months, Search Influence packs up and moves to Oak Street with 33 employees.
- August 2011 – Inc. magazine releases its 30th annual Inc. 500, an exclusive ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. Search Influence is included as an honoree on the prestigious list.
- June 2012 – Search Influence is named in the first ever Flyover 50, a list compiled by Five Elms Capital to highlight the 50 fastest-growing companies in the middle of the country. Only two New Orleans companies make the list.
- August 2012 – Search Influence becomes the Gulf Coast’s largest Google AdWords Certified Partner. Today, we have five Adwords-certified professionals on staff.
- December 2013 – Will and Angie Scott are included on the Silicon Bayou 100 list of the most influential leaders in Louisiana’s startup, entrepreneurial, tech, and digital communities.
- July 2014 – Search Influence moves from its beloved Oak Street office to the 13th floor of the Exchange Centre in the Central Business District. Our offices currently take up over 14,000 square feet.
- September 2014 – Search Influence is named one of the 12th annual Best Places to Work honorees by New Orleans City Business.
- August 2015 – Search Influence is chosen as one of 29 New Orleans-based startups named to the NOLA100, a group of companies leading the local entrepreneurship movement.
- October 2015 – The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC) and Fortune announce that Search Influence was selected for the 2015 Inner City 100, a list of the fastest-growing inner city businesses in the U.S. Search Influence ranked 51 overall on the list of 100 and was one of only two LA businesses.
To commemorate the event, Search Influence also gave away $10,000 worth of free online marketing services to one New Orleans-based business in our “Make Your Dreams Come True” 10K Giveaway. New Orleans Shotokan Academy won the contest by receiving the most number of votes via Search Influence’s Facebook page between December 28, 2015, and January 8, 2016. Other finalists included Jolie & Elizabeth, Red Stick Gutters, Offbeat Media, and Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana.

“We are happy to be celebrating 10 years in business and are thrilled that we can offer another small business the chance to grow,” said Will Scott, CEO and co-founder of Search Influence. “New Orleans Shotokan Academy will be able to redeem the $10,000 prize for online marketing services, including search engine optimization (SEO) and social media management,” he added.

According to New Orleans Shotokan Academy Owner Dimitri Papadopoulos, “This is a dream come true. Winning this contest will bring our program to new heights and give us opportunity to establish our company in the New Orleans community.”

I am looking forward to see what Will, Angie and the team will be able to accomplish in the next 10 years (2025—can you imagine what online marketing will look like?). For now, I am happy to be working at a place that values culture, celebrates milestones, and gives back to the community like Search Influence does. #WhoNeedsPowerball #DreamJob

Photo cutline: Search Influence, the largest online marketing company on the Gulf Coast, recently awarded $10,000 in online marketing services to New Orleans Shotokan Academy in its “Make Your Dreams Come True” $10K Giveaway. Pictured are New Orleans Councilman-At-Large Jason Williams, Search Influence COO and Co-Founder Angie Scott, Search Influence CEO and Co-Founder Will Scott, and New Orleans Shotokan Academy Owner Dimitri Papadopoulos.
January 15, 2016
Think Your Coworkers Have Cool Hobbies? Check Out These Interesting Influencers!

As the largest online marketing firm on the Gulf Coast, Search Influence has attracted an eclectic group of employees with an array of talents. While our clients know our team members as talented online marketing experts, our Influencers’ talents extend beyond the friendly confines of our 13th-floor office. Since January is National Hobby Month, I spoke with a few Influencers about their hobbies outside of work.

Influencer: Shaye

Department: Production

Hobby: Drawing and art are some of Shaye’s most notable hobbies. Recently, Shaye showcased at the New Orleans Comic and Zine festival and sold works at a local pop up shop called<100, which aims to promote gender wage equality.

Quote from Shaye: “I started out just doodling on everything. You should see my meeting notes. All my friends and family have been incredibly supportive of my art. My partner bought me a graphics tablet this year, and everything took off from there. I still can’t believe I was able to showcase next to so many amazing artists at NOCAZ and at <100.”

Influencer: Meaghan

Department: Production

Hobby: Meaghan has been swing dancing for roughly five years and has learned all the major swing dance types, including lindy, balboa, blues, and solo jazz, which she believes is her best dance. Meaghan has also done a bunch of other partner dances like the waltz, foxtrot, and tango, as well as the salsa and cha cha.

Quote from Meaghan: “Sometimes dancing feels more natural than walking. The music comes on, and it’s automatic and instinctual. When you dance with a partner, you end up sharing that with another person. So then it’s like nothing exists except your connection and the music, and there’s nothing that makes me feel more alive, or more human in a way.”

Influencer: Maggie

Department: Account Management

Hobby: Maggie plays in a cornhole league with a number of her Search Influence coworkers! Search Influence prides itself on a collaborative team environment, so it’s no surprise that Maggie and her coworkers form one of the most imposing cornhole squads you’ll see in the Crescent City.

Quote from Maggie: “We all have a great time cheering each other on, and competing against each other too! It’s a great way for us to relax after work, especially since cornhole is a leisurely and (mostly) no contact sport.”

Influencer: Serena

Department: Account Management

Hobby: Serena plays roller derby for the Big Easy Rollergirls AllStars, New Orleans’ premier women’s flat track league. Serena is all business in the office and on the track, so if you come at her, you better come correct.

Quote from Serena: “I love playing roller derby because it makes you part of a community that promotes more than just being athletic (but that helps too!). I’ve skated alongside so many amazing women from many backgrounds over the last six years, and roller derby teaches you not only about teamwork but about yourself. It’s about empowering women to be real, strong and revolutionary–on skates and off! Come see the Big Easy Rollergirls skate at the Lakefront Arena in 2016!”

Influencer: Gabrielle

Department: Account Management

Hobby: In her spare time, Gabrielle is an avid runner. She recently ran the St. Jude Marathon and asked her fellow Influencers to support the cause. Thanks to her team’s support, Gabrielle raised $330 for a worthy cause. Around race season, Gabrielle participates with her coworkers in SI Running Club to train for 10Ks and half marathons. They even have team shirts, too!

Want to be part of our dynamic and talented workforce? If you can visualize yourself as a member of the Search Influence team, check out our current openings for your chance to shine!

January 7, 2016
This Is How We Do It! Search Influence Works Hard and Plays Hard

When I was hired at Search Influence, I knew I could look forward to an exciting company culture. Having watched movies such as The Internship and The Social Network, I was excited to be a part of a tech company with a cool culture and quirky traditions. I envisioned seeing my co-workers sitting on bouncy balls at their desks, cool art on vibrantly colored walls, and a super friendly team-environment—and that’s exactly what I got!

My first week, I learned more about SEO than I thought was possible, and it was awesome! Before I knew it, it was 5pm on Friday. I was getting ready to leave when I heard it: “This is how we do it. It’s Friday night, and I feel alright!” began roaring across the entire office.

If you stick around after Montell, the Account Management department keeps the after-party going with tunes from DJ Bene. Every Friday afternoon, Gabrielle Benedetto, a four-year veteran of the AM team, transforms into DJ Bene. Everyone at Search Influence knows Gabrielle for her charismatic personality and witty comments, which makes her not only an invaluable member of our team, but also an excellent DJ! Being a new member of the team, I wanted to find out how it all started, so I interviewed the DJ herself, and here is what she had to say:

How did you think of the idea of “DJ Bene’s 5 @ 5?” How long has this tradition been going on?

GB: I have a motto to live by: “There is nothing in life a martini, music, and little bit of lipstick can’t fix.” During the summer of 2015, our team experienced a higher-than-average workload. Let me just brag about our account management team for a minute. They are amazing and some of the hardest-working people I know, and I’m honored and proud to call them my co-workers. Our average account manager handles up to 40 accounts, supports in training new employees, and is constantly looking for opportunities to improve our internal processes and system, all with a smile and phenomenal attitude. I should change my motto to “There is nothing in life a martini, music, little bit of lipstick, and an SI account manager can’t fix.” #yolo

Back to that heavy workload. I knew our team had a higher-than-normal stress level, but naturally they didn’t complain. In an effort to boost morale and end the week on a high note, I so proudly launched DJ Bene’s 5 @ 5 Challenge.

DJ Bene (d/j ben-ie): A personality that arrives at 935 Gravier at 5:04 after “This is How We Do It”

I can’t take credit for the roar of Montell Jordan. “This is How We Do It” has been playing at 5 o’clock longer than I have been at SI. But after Montell drops the mic, DJ Bene picks it up.

What is the purpose of The Challenge?

GB: The idea behind DJ Bene is simple and much like any other DJ request. Give me a good reason to play your favorite song. I, however, am so much nicer than those DJs at bars that would always tell me and my friends to stop spilling drinks and back away from the DJ booth. #rude

With over 35 account managers, everyone wanted to hear their favorite song after a busy workweek. But I wasn’t so much concerned with “What song do you want me to play?” but “What amazing thing did you do this week that deserves your song to be played?” I created a spreadsheet for everyone to drop in their request and give a reason why their song should be played. I would only pick five songs, so the reason better be good!

Just like that, I started spinning the tunes with a mini speaker connected to my laptop. Congratulating team members on promotions, acknowledging members for going above and beyond, and welcoming new people to the team are just some of the requests we started to get. Some songs are themed to complement the reason (for example, “I’m So Proud of You” by Drake was requested to congratulate employees on a promotion) and others are just to hear their favorite band (i.e. anything 1D). And just like that, DJ Bene was born.

GB: The challenge has been a hit so far! Any Friday that I’m out of town and can’t DJ, the speaker is passed around to fellow team member to keep the beat.

DJ Bene’s 5 @ 5 Challenge has been a really enjoyable part of working at Search Influence. I love being a part of a company that not only works hard, but also plays hard!

Image Credits:

Montell GIF

December 17, 2015
The CHARGED Culture: Kudos, Core Values, and Our Collaborative Workplace

My six months at Search Influence have been exciting to say the least. On my first day, I really had no idea of what to expect. I was so nervous about being the new person and fitting in, and on top of that, I knew very little about SEO. What if I had no idea of what anyone was talking about? Well, I soon found out that my new coworkers are some of the most genuine, hardworking people I’ve ever met. This was a big transition for me, but my team has made it incredibly easy. From my first day, I knew I picked the right company to be a part of. Here’s why:

Company Values

Once a quarter, we have a company meeting, which I love, because although we work pretty closely with each other, it’s not very often that the entire company is in one room. This is a time when we all get together and enjoy some really great presentations on industry updates, talk about company news, recognize some extra special kudos, and so much more. The last meeting was a couple of weeks ago, and in honor of our tenth anniversary, newly defined company values were introduced to the team: Collaborative, Hungry, Agile, Reliable, Genuine, Effective, and Dedicated. Together, the seven core values make up the word “CHARGED,” and I couldn’t have said it any better. I personally experience these values in my co-workers every day, from the friendly greetings and smiling faces in the morning to the constant dedication I see to both our clients and each other as a team.

Stories from My Charged Co-workers

To get to the core values that were chosen, a group of people from different departments in the company got together and shared their own personal experiences at SI. Some of these stories were also shared with everyone at the last company meeting. They were all happy, and some were even emotional. Since these stories came from the more seasoned influencers, I thought it would be interesting to see what some of the newer additions like myself had to say.

“I think what makes SI different from other companies is that we’re all young, hungry, and ready to learn. We’re working in such a niche and growing industry, and there’s always something new for us to learn or start practicing. We’re also very client-oriented, constantly looking for something new to give our clients and really dedicating our time to them.”

Jordan Smith, Account Manager

“You come into work knowing that everyone has your back. The entire team is so collaborative, and I know I can count on my co-workers!”

Mallory Richardson, Account Manager

Kudos!

Not only does everyone have your back, but we like to recognize when someone does anything to make our day better. At the meeting, new Kudos cards (we used index cards before) were introduced: one for each value, and one for “just being you.” We definitely didn’t hesitate to use them! Whether it’s as small as sending your first client email or as big as completing a three-month project, your efforts never go unnoticed! I was especially impressed with this because I’ve never had coworkers who are so collaborative and supportive of each other. There might be almost 100 of us, but it definitely doesn’t feel like it!

December 7, 2015
You’ve Gotta Be Kitten Me: Uber Delivers Cute Cats to the Search Influence Office

Apparently, looking at photos of cute animals while at work not only makes you happier, but it also increases your productivity. Like most companies, Search Influence encourages employees to be productive. So on National Cat Day (October 29), when we learned Uber was delivering kittens for just $30, we HAD to do it—for productivity reasons, of course. The money was donated to The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

#Uberkittens

My Productivity Status: Went from high to medium as I became more excited about kittens and less about doing work.

The kittens arrived at the office. Naturally, they were the cutest things to walk through the office doors (sorry, fellow employees). Four kittens took over the City Park conference room: Leonardo, Sadie, Rocket, and Luna jumped, climbed, cuddled, and scratched employees as we took turns hanging out with them.

My Productivity Status: Went from medium to low as I began Googling the Louisiana SPCA to learn more, too excited at the thought of a new kitten.

Meet Ralph

The following Saturday, Halloween, I went to the SPCA just to take a look. Five minutes later, I fell in love with every animal in the building. I decided I could only have one. Since it was Halloween, I decided to take home a two-month-old black kitten who I named Ralph. Ralph is playful, sleepy, soft, and cuddly.

From now on, I’m going to stick to looking at cute photos of Ralph at work to increase my productivity levels: clearly, having animals roam around the office can be a bit distracting for me.

Thank you to Uber, the SPCA, and Search Influence for giving me the best kitten!

December 1, 2015
Tech Talent Times Two: New Influencers Join the Team

Our talented troop is growing at Search Influence. Meet the two new Influencers who are joining our online marketing team.

Hannah Selser – Junior Account Associate

Hannah grew up in New Orleans and recently graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University, where she got her bachelor’s degree in marketing with a concentration in advertising and integrated marketing communications. Before Search Influence, she worked at PJ’s Coffee for six years as a barista and special events coordinator. When she’s not working, she’s spending time with her friends and family or doing just about anything outdoors!

London Fougerousse – Junior Online Advertising Assistant

Originally from Baton Rouge, LA, London graduated from Louisiana State University in May 2014 with a B.A. in English and a B.S. in psychology. She will be finishing her final semester in the English M.A. program at Tulane University this fall. With a book always on hand, she’d be more than happy to give you a suggestion for your summer reading list. A writer on the side, London is obsessed with sharing her love of HBO, Wes Anderson movies, southern cooking, and fancy baking.

Welcome, Hannah and London! It’s great to have you on the team.

Interested in becoming the next great Influencer? Check out our jobs page.

May 21, 2015
Optimize Your Commute: Influencers Caught Ridin’ Sweaty

At Search Influence, biking to work is not a passing fad (and that’s not just because this is how our CEO Will Scott gets to work). Search Influence riders braved rainy weather conditions last week to ride in support of the 2015 NOLA Bike to Work Week, finishing among the top businesses citywide along the way.

Bike Easy’s 2015 Nola Bike to Work Week included a total of 35 New Orleans businesses participating, with more than 1,015 trips logged over the course of the eight-day challenge, according to Bike Easy.

Out of the 35 participating workplaces, Search Influence placed in the top five for two of the three pillars of the challenge. Though the team was small, we came in third place for the total number of trips our riders logged as well as fourth for the most new riders (first-time participants in NOLA Bike to Work Week).

For many members of the SI family, biking extends far beyond just one week a year—it is the way they commute to work daily. Some ride from Mid City, Central City, and Treme, while others come from as far as the Ninth Ward to get to the CBD. Influencer Mattie Kenny said her favorite part about biking to work is “connecting with my environment while I have ‘me time.’”

NOLA Bike to Work Week is one of many events throughout the year put on by Bike Easy, whose mission is to “make bicycle riding in New Orleans easy, safe, and fun.” To find out more about what Bike Easy is and how to get involved, you can check out its website here.

April 30, 2015
Champions in the Field: SI Finishes Strong at its Spring Team-Building Event

Three-legged race. Water balloon toss. Potato sack race. Search Influence. What do all of these have in common? The first ever Search Influence Field Day!

This quarter’s team-building event was planned by the Partner Accounts Department, and they did not disappoint. Taking it back to our school days, Influencers were divided into teams and competed against each other in various events. Field Day was held at the beautiful City Park on Friday, March 20.

The Events

There were a total of seven events that the teams had to participate in.

To start off the relay, the first event was the shoe switch race. People participating in this event had to take their shoes off and put them in a pile with the other teams’ shoes. At the start of the race, participants had to run to the pile, put on and tie their shoes, and then run back to the start to tag the next person.

The next event was the three-legged race. Influencers partnered up, were tied together at the knee, and raced to the finish line to then tag the next person to move on to the next event.

The third, and “coolest” (pun intended) event was the water balloon toss. No one could move on from this event before completing five tosses of water balloons with their partner, getting farther and farther away from each other.

Afterward, the teams could move on to the spoon balance. Eggs were put on a spoon, placed in the team member’s mouth, and balanced as they walked to the finish line of this event. If your egg fell, you had to start over!

Next was trivia. Team captains asked their team members questions about the company, SEO, and even Will Scott himself! Once the team answered 15 questions correctly, they could move on to the final event!

This event was for every member of the team. After lining up, they had to pass a beach ball over and under each person. The team that finished first won the Search Influence Field Day!

The Aftermath

After a long and hard fight, the gold team took the win. Search Influence Field Day, of course, ended with great food, drinks, and team-building fun.

Photo credit:
Mary Silva Photography

March 31, 2015
Influencer Spotlight: Sarah Lustberg

After growing up in New Orleans and graduating from McGehee, Sarah Lustberg got her degree in Public Communication from American University in Washington, DC, and promptly moved to NYC to pursue a career in PR – along with just about every other twenty-something in the world. After working for the Time Inc. Lifestyle Group (think Southern Living, Real Simple and Cooking Light), Sarah moved back home to New Orleans with her husband Casey and her dog Mario.

How long have you been working at SI?

Just started on October 7!

As a Junior Account Associate, what do you find yourself doing at work on an average day?

Since I’m still in training, it really depends on what I’ve most recently learned. You can find me doing anything from editing articles to researching keywords to scheduling Facebook posts for clients.

What is your favorite thing about working at SI?

I love that everyone in the office is so young! Also nice is the fact that I can wear leggings to work…

Tell us a little more about your life in NOLA. In your free time, what do you do for fun around here?

Since I moved away in 2006 and only returned a few months ago, I’ve been having lots of fun rediscovering all the cool things that there are to do around this city. From restaurants to music venues to bars, there’s always something exciting going on. When I’m not at work, you can usually find me out with friends stalking the Taceaux Loceaux truck.

If you could identify yourself with one neighborhood in NOLA which would it be and why?

This is a tough one! I’ve lived all over the place (Uptown, Old Metairie, Metairie, West Bank) but I have to say that the Warehouse District is my favorite these days. There’s just so much going on!

November 1, 2013
Dungeons & Dragons: An Inspirational, Creative Team-Building Exercise

The path before five adventuring comrades follows the dark tunnels of an ancient ruin. With only a torch to share among them, and their wits and reflexes, they must avoid traps, goblins, disease-ridden rats, and other unknown horrors that they would never expect to find. But at the end of this adventure, should they succeed in overcoming their obstacles, is a treasure trove of gold and jewels, and a single item that might protect them in the coming months. Will they succeed? In a campaign of Dungeons and Dragons, that is up to the creativity of the player and the roll of the dice.

Search Influence employees at a weekly DnD game.

Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) is a Tabletop Role-Playing Game (RPG) that allows for a group of people to fall into a largely unknown and dangerous fantasy realm as characters other than themselves.

So why talk about an RPG within a blog for an SEO company? That’s because the game itself is a way to give employees, and their supervisors, a chance to have fun, separate themselves from reality for a little while, and create a level of teamwork and adaptability.

In many ways, this is a great opportunity for like-minded (or open-minded) coworkers to come together and experience a kind of adventure that can span about as long as a career. There are even a few stories of DnD players that have outgrown their characters, but have continued the story with some of their children. The game develops a very strange, but professional and long-lasting, friendship and also supports a creative, and adaptable mindset. It also tends to make people more open with each other. If you can’t trust a friend that you fought side-by-side with against a mountain-horde of Trolls and Orcs, then who can you trust?

Various dice used for a DnD game

In order for a campaign to be successful, everything and everyone needs to come together to reach an eventual goal, survive, and then move on to the next stage of the adventure. Players team up and start to understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and figure out ways to support each other with their ongoing endeavors. The Storyteller, or Dungeon Master (DM), then provides goals in the form of quests, as well as obstacles and ways to reach each goal. Sometimes, very little information is given, and it’s up to the creativity and adaptability of the party to find an answer that perhaps even the DM never thought of.

Of course, Dungeons and Dragons isn’t the only RPG in existence, and it’s better to find a setting and a genre that everyone is interested in following. The important thing is the journey, and the times you work together to keep moving forward.

July 30, 2013