Marketing Pilgrim

8 Responses to “iProspect Tops List of Best SEM Firms, iCrossing Largest”

1. Johannes Says:
   December 5th, 2006 at 2:34 pm

   icrossing includes media numbers in their revenues - gross profits, not net.

2. Jake Says:
   December 10th, 2006 at 10:11 pm

   As long as all the revenue numbers are comparable, it should not matter if media is included.

   As a former iCrossing employee, I am not surprised that they are the largest SEM in terms of revenue - that has been management’s goal for years.

   I got my hands on the report though and they definitely did not do as well as some other firms, including Impaqt (best in analytics) and Reprise Media (paid search winner). In fact, iCrossing came in last for paid search, probably why they bought Newgate.

3. Richard P. Srery Says:
   December 15th, 2006 at 4:23 pm

   Actually the other did not include media revenue so in truth the numbers are a bit skewed. I too am a former employee, a Senior Director and I for one do not believe the numbers. I was there and saw no new business come in, no new SOW’s or IO’s so where is the money coming from? Oh wait, are they counting money for work they have not even booked? Say it isn’t so…. The truth is iCrossing like many other companies who are trying to look good will do whatever is needed to make them look larger than life. If not for the money invested by Oak, they would still be an up and coming SEM company. I think they will succeed once they get rid of the executives that “lack vision” These would be the folks in charge of operations, and the linier thinkers. Revenue is great but quality of service is key. Don Scales came in talking that great talk but in my opinion has failed to walk the walk time and time again. Sure he has brought on many loyalists from his past? Paraphrasing the infamous words of Janet Jackson “What have they done for iCrossing lately”? Nothing frankly. Well they have increased the expenditures. Now that is great operating practices. Lower revenue, increase expenses.

4. Richard P. Srery Says:
   December 15th, 2006 at 4:42 pm

   Now why would you buy a company who only has strong numbers in the fourth quarter? Newgate’s clients are all retail based so one could easily see that the Q4 numbers would be strong and the remainder of the year would be rather flat. Now I am not an economist but the math is pretty easy here.

   As the recent Forrester report executive summary by Shar VanBoskirk stated. “iCrossing’s executive vision lacks the focus needed to boost the vendor into the Leader category.” This is because they have people like Margaret Luciano-Williams who is an HR person running operational disciplines like Project Management.
   Now I totally understand what Shar was saying when she stated that iCrossing’s executive vision lacks the focus needed to boost the vendor into the leader category. The keyword in that quote is “Vendor”. Until iCrossing gets it they will never be the “Partner” rather they will always be the “Vendor”

5. Jeo Cunkle Says:
   January 17th, 2007 at 1:42 pm

   Im my opinon it sounds like Richard P. Srery is a jackass that is just bitter for losing his job. I used to work with him and know he treaded on thin ice all the time.

6. Richard P. Srery Says:
   January 17th, 2007 at 4:00 pm

   Bitterness no, disappointment and a feeling of being mislead and lied to yes. In any event I have long since gotten over it and iCrossing and have moved on with both my life and career. What I do find interesting however, is that you feel the need to hide your true identity while making your negative assertions and inflammatory remarks regarding me. If it appeared that I was “treading on thin ice” it was only because I was trying to affect change in a place that fought it every time. It is never easy to implement new ideas, especially ones that impact how one carries out one’s job. The fact remains that while I was at iCrossing I did far more good for the benefit of both the Project Management department as well as other departments I worked with than prior to my being there. I left with my head held high knowing I had a positive impact on many of my former colleges and subordinates and for that I will never be bitter. Quite the contrary, I enjoyed my time at iCrossing and for the most part the people I worked with including those I did not see eye to eye with as well. If you had actually read my positing you would have seen that I was more concerned with both the path of the company was heading, and the people and experience of those leading it. I was also very concerned that many good, high valued people were being passed over or simply pushed away in favor of people who had little or no experience in the type of business iCrossing is in and it certainly appeared that there was special considerations being given to others, newer people from other agencies who had little or no SEM/SEO experience. In any event it is only my opinion and in no way did my statements resort to name calling as did yours. I do find it interesting that only a week or so after receiving a letter from iCrossing counsel insisting that I stop my postings, and stated that my comments may be defaming and exposing proprietary business secrets (interesting since I was not a part of any “proprietary secrets”) that your comment shows up, especially since my comments are dated back on the 15th of December. In any event I have moved on and so should you. Best of luck to you and, iCrossing.

7. Someone Who Knows Says:
   January 19th, 2007 at 12:20 pm

   I know and worked with Richard P. Srery at iCrossing and he is far from a Jackass. Richard P. Srery is one of the most deicated, hard working business men I know and frankly I was sad to see him go.

   Richard P. Srery redefinded the Project Management Department into a first class organization, and iCrossing was fortunate to have him while they did.

8. Someone who knows as well Says:
   March 5th, 2007 at 8:46 pm

   He was a worthless 100k Salary that never did much work, except run his mouth.