Part of what I love about conferences is meeting new In-House SEOs because we often have a lot in common when it comes to challenges with implementing SEO for a large, very complex, multi-national web site.

When I first started this job at HP about a year and a half ago I longed to meet an In-House SEO who would share with me the secret to being a successful SEO for such a large site or at a minimum just to commiserate with me about the frequent challenges. While HP.com isn’t finished implementing best practices for SEO, I look back at the last year and a half and am encouraged by the amount of progress we’ve been able to make in the area. I still welcome and truly enjoy the conversations with other In-House SEOs but I’ve become less desperate for validation that what I’m doing is going to make a difference because I’ve seen my efforts really start to gain traction and respect within and outside of HP.

When I have a chance to network or participate on a panel such as Big SEO at SES NY, it seems like many of the same questions are asked about how to manage SEO for such a large company. I’ve thought I ought to put in writing - some of the best practices to employ - and refer back to that often when asked how I manage a global program like this.

Well, I had the chance, or should I say the incentive, recently to do just that when I had a opportunity to visit with Jessica Bowman, Director of SEO at Business.com and independent consultant, about my role at HP.

Jessica published an article with some great questions I hear frequently so if you’re interested in reading my responses you can do so by reading her May 11 SEM In-House Spotlight : Hewlett-Packard’s In-House SEO. Also, Jessica spotlights an In-House search marketing professional frequently for Search Engine Journal so anyone who finds themself where I was a while ago looking for tips, ideas and collaboration can go to her articles to hear what other In-House SEOs and SEMs have to say.