Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Ryan Johnson

Chicago,IL

Summary

Strong SEO leader and analytical problem-solver with talents for team building, leading and motivating, and developing excellent customer relations. Frequently published writer in major search journals.


Proficient pitching, developing and implementing complete technical and content search strategies to B2B and B2C clients, from small non-profits to Fortune 500 brands, helping clients achieve huge increases in traffic and conversions.


Dedicated to self-growth, continuous processes improvement and building up employee abilities to enhance engagement and boost performance.

Overview

17
17
years of professional experience

Work History

Associate Director of Search/Search Lead

Critical Mass
04.2019 - Current
  • In second-highest leadership position in international agency, developed and implemented SEO and content strategies for major clients including Meta, US Army and BMW that have helped clients grow search traffic and conversions by triple-digit percentages year-over-year.
  • Primary SEO lead for new and continuing business development projects, including millions of dollars of new SEO business per year.
  • Improved overall team efficiency through development of company-wide SEO procedures for account management and developing junior talent. Created hiring and promotion rubrics, building a department standard for hiring and developing talent.
  • Managed large, cross-functional teams (content, web development, search, paid search) for multiple large-scale projects, successfully completing each on time.
  • Promoted from Search Lead in 2022

Associate Director of SEO

Reprise
08.2018 - 03.2019
  • Managed all Chicago SEO operations for international digital agency including more than $5 million in annual business.
  • Oversaw millions of dollars in new business development and revenue growth with clients including ALDI, Stericycle, Shred-it and Community Coffee.
  • Primary strategist, account manager and business developer for international clients.
  • Managed, mentored and developed young search professionals. Trained client staff on search and content principles to help create organizations of experts.
  • Developed successful content strategies for clients and trained client staff to enact strategy.

Senior SEO Manager

Ricoh USA
12.2016 - 07.2018
  • Designed and implemented enterprise SEO strategy, which includes content strategy, technical development, linking strategy, content distribution, international SEO site development and site consolidation.
  • Built brand’s SEO strategy and department from the ground up. This includes establishing keywords, competitive analysis, developing KPIs, technical improvements, personnel training (writers, developers, content strategists, business development, social media, PR teams) and a new content strategy.
  • In first year of strategy, brand saw 271% increase in organic traffic to product pages and 65% average increase in organic conversions.

SEO Manager

DigitasLBi
09.2015 - 11.2016
  • Managed SEO team of analysts
  • Produced new business pitches that netted more than $2 million in new work.
  • Delivered measurable SEO and content strategy success for multiple fortune 500 clients including Emerson, Accenture, MillerCoors, Sprint and Transunion.
  • Increased existing SEO scope by 40% in 2016 by demonstrating success to clients.
  • 2016 speaker at South by Southwest Interactive conference conducting an SEO workshop.

Director of Content Optimization/SEO Manager

Imagination Publishing
05.2013 - 11.2015
  • Served as in-house expert, teaching magazine writers to plan content for the web and to optimize appropriately.
  • Delivered successful SEO strategies for Fortune 500 clients including Wells Fargo and Lowe's.
  • Produced company's first-ever SEO guidelines for new websites. Company's own website rose from unranked to #1 in Google search for "content marketing agency".
  • Contributed to new client pitches that brought in more than $4 million over two years.


Web Content Administrator

DePaul University
09.2010 - 04.2013
  • Introduced digital marketing strategy that achieved more than 700% boost in visitors to Newsline website and 80% boost to president’s website.
  • Introduced and managed email marketing program and social media outreach program that rapidly increased web traffic and newsletter email signups.
  • Awarded 2012 Publicity Club of Chicago Golden Trumpet Award for web strategy.
  • Delivered and executed marketing program for newly introduced app that resulted in more than half of students downloading app in first week of release.

Marketing Communications Manager

Midtown Athletic Clubs
08.2006 - 08.2010

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Education

Illinois State University
Normal, IL

Master of Arts - Advertising And Public Relations

DePaul University

Skills

  • SEO Strategy, Implementation, Analysis and Reporting
  • New Business Development
  • Client Management and Consulting
  • Strategic Planning, Budgeting and Resource Allocation
  • Team Leadership and Development
  • Employee Coaching and Mentoring
  • Technical Implementation of SEO Initiatives
  • Social Media and Video Search Strategies
  • SEO/SEM Integration
  • Content Strategy and Implementation

Timeline

Associate Director of Search/Search Lead

Critical Mass
04.2019 - Current

Associate Director of SEO

Reprise
08.2018 - 03.2019

Senior SEO Manager

Ricoh USA
12.2016 - 07.2018

SEO Manager

DigitasLBi
09.2015 - 11.2016

Director of Content Optimization/SEO Manager

Imagination Publishing
05.2013 - 11.2015

Web Content Administrator

DePaul University
09.2010 - 04.2013

Marketing Communications Manager

Midtown Athletic Clubs
08.2006 - 08.2010

Bachelor of Arts - Education

Illinois State University

Master of Arts - Advertising And Public Relations

DePaul University

Similar Profiles

CREATE PROFILE
Ryan Johnson