‘Optimize’: A discussion with marketing expert Lee Odden

Lee Odden on stage (Courtesy of ionSearch via Creative Commons)

How to achieve an ‘optimized state of mind’

Idon’t do a lot of book reviews because I don’t like to skim books. I really read them, and that takes time.

However, one book I couldn’t put down was Lee Odden‘s Optimize, which he graciously sent me earlier this year (disclosure: I received a free copy of the book but was not even asked to write a review). I was so excited when it arrived that I immediately started thumbing through it.

Yup, that’s a photo of my copy of the book, with all those little flags, and sticky thingummies.

It’s just a terrific book – not just about SEO (search engine optimization) but much more about getting into an “optimized state of mind.” That is “where you integrate social principles and a community element into content marketing – and to which you naturally apply good SEO principles – to grow a business that flourishes through attraction and engagement.”

And if you’re going to stay competitive in today’s marketplace – forget about excelling, it takes so much to just stay abreast – you have to be able to do this. Ideally, you’ll start to do it better and better.

Since I met Lee at the 2008 PRSA International Conference, I’ve been blown away by not just how smart he is but how kind and generous he is with his time and expertise. I’ve emailed him so many times with random questions, and he’s always found the time to answer me — and he is way busier than I am. He is one of the top SEO PR experts of our day.

Talking ‘Optimize’ with Lee Odden

A while back Lee took time out from his hectic schedule to chat with me about the book.

The video clocks in at around 11:36 minutes, but I do think it will be well worth your time. Among other matters, Lee discusses:

• What constitutes an optimized state of mind, and which business functions need to be in that mindset
• Optimizing B2B v. B2C communications
• How to keep prospects moving through the sales funnel
• How to stay competitive in the world of search

… and much, much more!

Here’s the video (click here if, for some reason, the video doesn’t show up below):

Good stuff, right?

I don’t often urge people to run out and buy a particular book, but Lee’s book is one of the few that I’ve been recommending for just that particular aerobic activity.

This would be a terrific gift for anyone who wants to learn more about how communication should work today, who wants to learn more about SEO itself from one of the leaders in the field, and who knows success doesn’t just happen. Go grab Optimize as soon as you can.

Republished from Shonali’s Waxing Unlyrical blog. Shonali Burke, a partner in Socialmedia.biz, specializes in measurable social PR for corporations and nonprofits. Contact Shonali via email or follow her on Twitter and Google Plus.