I’ve joined Google

A couple of months ago, I became a Googler.  Since my boss—Matt Cutts—has already so kindly introduced me on his blog, I feel this is probably a good time to say a few words about my new job 😀

The short version:  I’m honored, humbled, a bit nervous, and yes, very happy.  As a lifelong geek who’s been excited about search and Google in particular for many years, it’s hugely fascinating to be experiencing new adventures from the “inside.”

Okay, now for the longer version!


What I’m doing at Google

My main focus is on broadening communications between Google and Webmasters… learning as much as I can from both Matt and the Webmasters he chats with so amiably and then building upon this rapport.  Or, more colloquially, as it’s been joked around the office, my uber-challenging goal is to become a “MiniMatt.”  Though a colleague did note that a MiniMatt sounds like a scary cross between a convenience store and a diminutive vaccum cleaner.  Hmm.

You’ll find me hanging out at Webmaster conferences and various geek gatherings, occasional replying to Google-related blog or forum posts, tackling some Webmaster-related e-mails, and undoubtedly popping up in other random places.

I’ll also be a “Webmaster Advocate” inside the Googleplex.  I’ve seen firsthand that tons of folks here already eagerly read and appreciate Google- and search-related comments throughout the Web; I’ll be doing what I can to expedite concerns, bug reports, and other feedback to the right colleagues.

I’m coming into this job with a lot of knowledge about search, Google, and communications, but I know I have a lot to learn and also much trust to earn.

What my new job means for my blog

I’m not sure yet.  For the time being, I’m going to generally maintain a separation between the personal and work spheres of my life.  This means that you’re likely to be disappointed if you subscribe to BLADAM expecting to read lots of juicy Googly tidbits.

With that said, though, I do admire Robert, Jeremy, and, of course, my boss Matt and recognize that their work-related blogversations have very often educated, engaged, and entertained thousands.  So perhaps I’ll come up with a middle ground here—occasionally sharing my enthusiasm, useful Google tips, amusing Google observations, and so on—while avoiding topics likely to make my colleagues annoyed or uncomfortable.

“So I have a question about my site…”

Please, not here.  I’m enjoying tackling general and specific Webmaster issues every day at work… and my teammates and I are really, truly committed to opening up new channels of communication (like our Sitemaps tools and active Sitemaps GoogleGroup, for instance, plus MUCH more to come!).  But everyone needs a break from work now and then, so please respect my personal space here on the Web.  Thanks!

With that said, I know that Matt got some outstanding feedback on Google Communications, and so I’d be nuts if I didn’t also invite you to share your Google Communication ideas below.  I’d also love to hear from you about your favorite bloggers who masterfully juggle work and non-work topics on their blogs; I could use some more role models in case I decide to go that route eventually :-D.

*  *  *

Anyway… to you faithful BLADAM readers who’ve stuck with me during all my bloggily dry and/or boring spells, thank you.  To you new readers, welcome!  It’s a pleasure to have you here, and—as always—I look forward to your comments.  Now I’m heading offline to go celebrate my birthday weekend! 😀

100 comments

  3. Welcome aboard Matt … yea, you are going to have to come up with something besides MiniMatt … and we already have “Cuttlets” … so what will you call your Google Groupies?!?  😉

    Reply

  5. Ooh, I can be your role model, both bloggish and in general.  You know you want to be a scrawny yet uber-sexy ballerina.  Or there’s always Mitzi for you to emulate.  Though I think you already do a pretty good job at being a pet-seeking attention whore…  Or maybe you’re more into being Ozzie.  How do you feel about sitting on slugs?

    Reply

  14. For purely personal reasons, I do a search on Google several times per day for the search term: safelists. The #1 natural result does not contain the term anywhere on the page, in the domain, in the title, in the description … nowhere! How is this possible?

    Lou Smith
    SafeLists

    Reply

  15. A warm thank you for all the friendly welcome-comments!  Even to my wacky ballerina friend who really is as strange as she seems 😀

    Reply

  21. Hallo to everybody, me, too, read in the German magazine Stern 21/2006 this big article with many pics from Googleplex. It was very interesting to me and I did’t expect it as I could read there. Great!
    Bye, Michael

    Reply

  32. Excellent man ? well done. Working for Google has got to be one of the best things ever. What I mean, is they seem to be one of the best companies to work at by far. Much better than working at some corporate conglomerate that really never goes anywhere (why does the word microsoft come to mind?) Google seem to have their pulse on the net, and where things are actually going. MS and big companies like them just have too much beaurocracy.
    I’m hoping Google never gets ‘too big’ that the obvious passionate family atmosphere they seem to have dies away. Even big companies CAN still have that atmosphere, it all depends on leadership. Good going!

    Reply

  33. Wow!  Honestly, this is my first time to meet someone like you.  I?m more than glad that I found your blog and I can?t help but feel envious about your job. Don?t get me wrong.  I?m pretty sure a lot of people would kill just to get the same job as yours.

    Reply

  35. Congratulations Adam. I can see you are going to be seized of your new job! I for one am extremely happy that there is now more and brass hat embassy between Google and webmasters. Hope you get settled in nice and quick who knows? maybe one day you with effort be THE Googleguy! Heh heh.

    Reply

  36. Congrats Adam! While I wouldn?t want all the movement, but working for super geek Matt has to be a dream.

    Now you get to the specifics how Pagerank amen achievement and all the many other mean installations us un-plexed people will noway in all ages the scoop.

    I am pry for you!

    Reply

  39. Congratulations – a job effuse habitancy can only delirium tremens from alarm In the German dock Stern 21/2006 some months ago there was a big and powerfully interessting computer printout stag party bunch pics from Googleplex. Funny offices you underrate and all what drop anchor confide from a wellness-trip is included too in this limit. It?s fantastic

    Reply

  41. Working for Google has got to be one of the best things ever. What I mean, is they seem to be one of the best companies to work at by far. Much better than working at some corporate conglomerate that really never goes anywhere (why does the word microsoft come to mind?) Google seem to have their pulse on the net, and where things are actually going. MS and big companies like them just have too much beaurocracy.
    I?m hoping Google never gets ?too big? that the obvious passionate family atmosphere they seem to have dies away. Even big companies CAN still have that atmosphere, it all depends on leadership. Good going!

    Reply

  45. Hum, i would like to buy Google’s franchises, if Google comes in to real advertisement market.
    Though congratulations and great for the community, you may directly share google’s matter.

    Reply

  47. Oh man, i am really jealous – one of the best jobs around EVER! I wish you all the best and hope you will achive the “mini-matt” status soon :=)

    Reply

  49. Wow!  Great work, great boss, what more can you ask for?  I wonder how it feels to be working for Matt.  Is it hard?  Are you under pressure always?  With such a restless and excellent guy, do you still have time for fun?

    Reply

  52. Well, Adam, You are in Currently in Webmaster Support dept? Let me know your any community ID, so i can get suggestions from you,
    I think, one day Big G will hire me. Lol.

    Reply

  59. Still getting congratulations on your new job two years down the line and looks like you’ll be getting them until you retire. I bet you wish birthday presents worked the same way!

    Reply

  60. You entered the webmasters dream world. i bet you have the knowlage of it all and go gor a pint with Matt every now and then to chet about us humans 🙂

    Reply

  69. i am happy for you, you are part of the big corporation ruling the world of the Internet. Can you tell us if was difficult for you to get that position? Thanks.

    Reply

  76. The very good post
    the congratulations of this blog .. I will return several times
    to check the content!
    No more success!

    Reply

  94. hello Adam,
    all the best for your new job. Sounds interesting, and who does not 😀
    (would like some preferred shares of google …)

    Hope for you that you have a lot of success and spend a good time!

    Greetings

    Reply

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