Danny Sullivan | |
|---|---|
 Danny Sullivan in 2005 | |
| Born | (1965-09-26)26 September 1965 (age 60) Newport Beach,California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of California, Irvine |
| Occupations | Technologist, Journalist |
| Known for | Founder of Search Engine Land and Maximized Online |
| Spouse | Lorna Harris (m. ?) |
| Children | 2 |
Danny Sullivan is an American technologist, journalist,[1] and entrepreneur. He is the founder ofSearch Engine Watch in 1997, one of the earliest online publications aboutsearch engine marketing. He also launchedSearch Engine Strategies, one of the earliest search marketing trade shows. After selling both companies in 2006, he co-foundedSearch Engine Land, another search marketing publication. In 2017, he joinedGoogle as an adviser at the search division of the company.
He has been credited with popularizing the term "search engine marketing" and has been described as the father of the search engine marketing industry.[2]
Sullivan was born in 1965 and raised in California. He graduated from theUniversity of California, Irvine, and was a reporter for theLos Angeles Times and theOrange County Register.[3][4] He helped found Maximized Online with programmerKen Spreitzer. Later he married Lorna Harris, and lived for several years inChitterne, a small village in England. They have two sons.[3] The family moved toNewport Beach, California. Sullivan popularized the termSearch Engine Marketing in an article on Search Engine Watch[5] although he does not take credit for coining the term.[6]
Sullivan was the chief content officer at Third Door Media, and co-foundedSearch Engine Land, an industry publication that covers news and information aboutsearch engines, search marketing,SEO andSEM topics. Third Door Media also producesMarketing Land, a sister website that covers broaderdigital marketing topics includingsocial media,display advertising,email marketing,analytics, mobile, and marketing technology.Search Engine Land andMarketing Land are owned by Third Door Media, of which Danny Sullivan was partner and chief content officer. He retired from his position as chief content officer at Third Door Media in June 2017.[2]
In October 2017, Sullivan announced that he would be joiningGoogle as an adviser at its search division. He is Google's public Search Liaison, who helps people better understand search and helps Google better hear public feedback.[7]
Sullivan startedSearch Engine Watch in June 1997 after he posted research about search engines, calledA Webmaster's Guide To Search Engines, in April 1996.Search Engine Watch was a website with tips on how to get goodsearch engine results. Shortly after beginning in November that year, he sold it for an undisclosed amount to MecklerMedia (nowJupitermedia). He stayed on to maintain the site, and be the editor-in-chief. In 2006, it was sold toIncisive Media for $43 million.Search Engine Watch was considered byMatt Cutts ofGoogle as "must reading", and Tim Mayer ofYahoo! as the "most authoritative source on search".[3]
He also staged theSearch Engine Strategies conference six times each year, attracting 1,500 to 6,000 attendees each time.[3] On 29 August 2006, Sullivan announced he would be leavingSearch Engine Watch on 30 November 2006. He later came to an agreement with Jupitermedia to continue participating in SES through 2007.[8][9]
In 2006 Sullivan foundedSearch Engine Land with Chris Sherman.[10] Search Engine Land is anews website that coverssearch engine marketing andsearch engine optimization. It which shares information aboutkeyword research, trends in search marketing (SEM), paid search advertising (PPC) and search engine optimization (SEO) as well as analysis, advice, tips, tactics and how-to guides for search marketing.[11]Search Engine Land stories have been cited numerous times by other media outlets.[12][13][14]
Search Engine Land and otherThird Door Media brands were acquired bySemrush in October, 2024.[15][16]