SearchReturn (I-Search) References & Testimonials

Search Engine News & Information With Detlev Johnson

Handpicked Search Industry Headlines And Posts

How We All Connected In The SEO World

A big welcome back to you detlev. Now that you've resurrected the I-Search mailing list that was your claim to fame. People know you as the longtime moderator of that mailing list, and you're back, and out doing it again.

I just got my first issue (SearchReturn #005: Microsoft AOL) and lots of good stuff in it already. It's just kind of nice, we had things start off with mailing lists, that's how we all connected in the SEO world. It really was off of mailing lists.

I'm sure you remember at the first Search Engine Strategies show, all these people who read I-Search were walking around going: "are you so-and-so?" and "are you so-and-so?". We didn't really have search forums and stuff like that.

Email is not dead, and people are still talking search that way.
Danny Sullivan
Search Engine Watch
Transcript of WebmasterRadio.fm's SearchCast Oct 11 (mp3)

Boasts The Best Moderator Anywhere

I have read the entire archive and it looks like things are pretty much the same. This list still boasts the best moderator anywhere, and I'm not just saying that to be nice. During SES Toronto I was discussing the early days of SEO with Jim Hedger and told him how much I missed I-Search.
Terry Van Horne
SEO Pros

A Delightful Balance Between Silent Supervision And Direct Contributions

One way of keeping up with new SEO trends, developments, and techniques is to listen to the experts. Which is fine, if you have time to trawl though dozens of sites and newsletters looking for the latest news and advice. Try I-Search.

When you look at a discussion list you want positive answers to four questions: Is the quality and depth of participation high? Is the moderator up to the task? Do questions get answered? Do they cover the topics of importance? For I-Search the answers are yes, yes, often and, well, yes.

Moderator Detlev Johnson strikes a delightful balance between silent supervision and direct contributions. He'll often throw another perspective on a post, or gently correct or expand on a comment or suggestion, but he doesn't ride roughshod over proceedings like other star moderators might want to.

Most questions, even those asked by beginners, do get answered; the answer failure rate is no higher than in the typical list. As for topics, well, they're pretty well all there; submission guidelines, page design guidelines, copywriting, cloaking, linking strategies, log file analysis, software opinions, and more. There are full archives, so take a look. But set aside plenty of time - I got caught up in the discussions and lost the entire afternoon.

What is truly great about I-Search is that it's honest and ethical, though without being too prissy about open debate. Detlev's attitude is clearly a 'play fair by the search engines and they'll play fair by you' one.

It's not just about finding out what works, but also what doesn't. When it comes to search engines, using the wrong tactics isn't just a matter of wasting a few working hours: it can mean your site getting banned from search results. Which in web terms is like not being listed in the telephone directory - not something you really want to happen.

Some of the discussions can get quite technical, too technical perhaps for many folks (me included). But persevere if you feel that way too - there's plenty of good stuff for all levels of interest and expertise.
Mark Brownlow
I-Search Digest Review

Sign Up Now

If you don't already subscribe, sign up now, it's the only newsletter that I actually manage to read all the way through each time it shows up.
Jennifer Laycock
Small Business Brief

First Generation SEO

In terms of generations, I think we're into a third if not fourth generation at this point. I'll put myself in the first generation. When I first starting covering SEO and search in 1996, there weren't many others. Webmaster T was out there, John Heard I think was doing stuff for Planet Ocean at that point, Northern Web had a now defunct set of search engine tips and maybe Fredrick Marckini had his ebook going that year.

Not long after that, maybe it was 1997, we had the I-Search mailing list get going I think. Detlev Johnson certainly made a name for himself in moderating it, as did Marshall Simmonds. Shari Thurow was a regular participant who grew through that. Cat Seda the same. I think both Jill Whalen and Heather Lloyd Martin were also active participants, but certainly when they kicked off their RankWrite newsletter, that helped grow their stature. And Chris Sherman in his pre-SEW days was plugging away over at the Mining Co/About.com.

All of those people, I'd lump them all in first gen.
Danny Sullivan
Search Engine Watch Blog

Famed I-Search Mailing List

If you've read about search marketing in general, you've come across Detlev Johnson's name. Former moderator of the famed I-Search mailing list, Detlev jumped back into the world of search mailing lists by launching SearchReturn last year. Detlev's now coming aboard here to help give Barry Schwartz and I a hand on those occasions when we both need to be away, as well as continuing to fill in for me occasionally on the Daily SearchCast.
Danny Sullivan
Search Engine Watch

Relax with Detlev Johnson

As it was in its earlier incarnation, SearchReturn's format offers a sane, intelligent, pleasant reading experience. Discussions are broken up into sections and each one has its own email address that allows subscribers to respond directly to a specific discussion topic.

Detlev also picks out news items and presents an opportunity to discuss them. This moderated list avoids the pitfalls of larger forums, such as endless threads, banter and personal attacks. In SearchReturn, as it was in I-Search, there's an air of professionalism and respect that has made the return of the digest a much-welcomed industry resource.
Kim Krause
Search Engine Roundtable

I-Search Newsletter Finally Lives Again

The old I-Search newsletter was the best moderated, best edited, and the best attended search marketing newsletter/discussion list that I had ever seen.

If all the old gang once again participates I am sure SearchReturn will quickly gain the same level of respect and surpass the volume of subscribers of I-Search.

You've only missed one issue as of today, so go to www.searchreturn.com and subscribe today. If you are interested in search engine marketing and the best discussions with useful information, this will be the place.
Chris Nielsen
NielsenTech

I-Search Reborn as SearchReturn

If you're in the search marketing business, you've undoubtedly heard of Detlev. He's known as one of the top technical SEO experts and has been a moderator at Search Engine Strategies conferences since forever, and has been active in organizations like the Search Engine Marketing Council, previously part of AIM and now the DMA, and was previously moderator of the critically acclaimed I-Search.

Now he's starting a new search engine discussion group called SearchReturn. Subscribe to SearchReturn. I have no doubt SearchReturn will be as valuable or more a resource for search marketing as I-Search was and am very much looking forward to it.
Lee Odden
TopRank

Glorious Memories

Hi Detlev. Just re-found this via Danny's SEW Update. Oh man, glorious memories of reading the I-Search Digest first in 97 (98?) and trying to talk to peeps about 'what the eff's going on', etc. So, very sweet to be back in your toybox, hope it's as good for you as I anticipate it will be for me. Big cheers from Adelaide Australia.
Michael Zerman
Zerman.net

I-Search Was Always My Favorite

First let me say welcome back to discussion Detlev! I-Search was always my favorite and I missed the great discussion topics. I've missed this type of search engine forum and I wish you continuing success with it!
Mike Banks Valentine
RealitySEO

A Great Email Discussion Digest

One of the downfalls of the rise in discussion forums and blogs was the demise of a great email discussion digest. I-Search, which brought the industry group commentary moderated by Marshall Simmonds and then Detlev Johnson has returned as the SearchReturn Digest. The free subscription-based emails are sent twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) and are sure to be [chock]-full of search marketing goodness. There have only been three issues sent so far, but you can check out the format by viewing the archives.
Jennifer Laycock
Seach Engine Guide

A Regular Hangout

SES moderator Detlev Johnson has resurrected the twice-weekely moderated discussion list that was once one of the few sources of regular interaction for the search marketing community back in the early days. The long-lost I-Search discussion list, originaly moderated by Marshall Simmonds, predated most search forums, and was a regular hangout for most of us back then.

Detlev's new mailing list is named, appropriately enough, SearchReturn, and it has all the familiar trappings of I-Search. One of the nicest aspects of the list is that it's carefully moderated by Detlev, so you only get on-topic, thoughtful posts in the twice-weekly mailings.
Chris Sherman
Search Engine Watch

Old-School Look And Feel

I also like SearchReturn, with its old-school look and feel, and the intelligent posts (thus far). So for the few and the proud, the diehard SEM fanatics who have intelligent thoughts but don't usually share them... I recommend SearchReturn. Great job Detlev, it's looking like happy days are here again!
Andrew Goodman
Traffick

Check It Out

Many of my fellow SEO experts were kind enough to provide interviews and case studies, like Danny Sullivan, Detlev Johnson (if you haven't seen Detlev's SearchReturn newsletter, check it out) Jim Banks, Greg Boser and Andy Mindel from Wordtracker. I am very grateful to those guys - their help was invaluable!
Heather Lloyd-Martin
Successworks Intl.

An Asset For All

When Detlev told me about SearchReturn, I was only too happy to jump on the bandwagon and sign up immediately. Having a newsletter of this caliber and Detlev as it's Moderator will be an asset for all involved in search marketing. I am glad to see he's back in the saddle and editing once again.
Debra O'Neil-Mastaler
Alliance-Link

It is so great that you have resurrected I-Search

It is so great that you have resurrected I-Search as the industry desperately needs forums like this moderated by experts who actually know what they are talking about. There are a lot of opinions out there about what the spiders want and I am just relieved knowing we have this forum to actually find out. So, thanks a lot!
Kelly Blazes
Kuma Interactive

Fantastic Resource

Detlev, I'm glad you've revived your version of I-Search. It's a fantastic resource and I always look forward to reading it.
Jeff Hinds
LaGarde-StoreFront

SEO Pioneer & Champion Bloke

I had the pleasure of taking Detlev Johnson out to lunch this afternoon in Byron Bay. We had a great time speaking with him late last week while attending the Search Summit conference in Sydney and when he said he was spending a week on the Gold Coast we new his trip wouldn't be complete without a beer at the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay.

It was an extremely enjoyable afternoon of cold beer, good food and great conversation.

If you get the get the opportunity to buy him a beer and enjoy talking search marketing you definitely can't go wrong.
David Beck
eMedia Worx

Before I knew it, it was my turn to speak

After lunch, the butterflies started. I was to deliver a formal presentation during the Link Building Basics session, along with Greg Boser of WebGuerrilla.com and Mike Grehan of Smart Interactive. Detlev Johnson of PositionTech and SearchReturn was moderating, and he quickly put me at ease.
Chris Boggs

"SES moderator Detlev Johnson has resurrected the twice-weekely moderated discussion list that was once one of the few sources of regular interaction for the search marketing community back in the early days." -Chris Sherman

SearchReturn readers get carefully selected search engine news and information, actionable marketing tips and expert advice with site owner Detlev Johnson.