About the Founder
Hi. I’m Elgé (sounds like L.J.) Premeau aka The eMarketing Strategist. I’ve had a rather circuitous route to becoming an internet marketing consultant. If you were my client, I’d recommend writing your professional bio in reverse chronological order but since we’re having a chat, I’ll start at the beginning.
I Am Proud to Be Geek Spawn.
I was born and raised in the California Bay Area. My parents worked for semi-conductor companies before they were called “High Tech.” I witnessed the Internet Bubble first hand and learned that “We will levitate our way to profitability!” is not a business plan.
Working with “Crazy” People Is Awesome Experience
I have a Bachelors Degree and most of a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology. I’ve worked with hyper active grade schoolers, suicidal teens and schizophrenic adults. And to think I feared my experience was impertinent when I became an Executive Assistant! Little did I realize it was the best training possible. Among other profound lessons, this experience taught me that everybody has their own unique learning style and it is my job to figure out what that is and accommodate it.
Why Internet Marketing?
While working in the high tech industry, I worked with some of the most successful entrepreneurs and global companies of the last 50 years. Previous employers include Interval Research, an R&D think tank funded by Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft), Philips Electric, and a startup later purchased by Microsoft. Along the way, I learned a lot about what to do and what NOT to do to create a successful business.
I started my online business as a virtual assistant in 2001 and quickly realized that what my clients needed most was help marketing their business online. I then taught myself the technologies that enable me to build search engine friendly websites, get websites to rank well, set up newsletters and blogs and automate every process I can. When it comes to copywriting, I will always be a student of the art. I’ve often said I want to be a writer when I grow up and I really believe copywriting is an art that must always be studied and never gets mastered.
The Geek Doesn’t Fall Far from the Tree
Since eMarketing is a rapidly evolving field, I spend hours every week educating myself on the latest internet marketing technologies, tools, programs and fads. I strive to stay ahead of the curve so that when my clients call me up asking questions like:
- Do I need to start a blog?
- Should I sign up for LinkedIn?
- What the heck is Twitter?
I can either say “Yes. Go for it.” or “No. That’s a waste of time.”
I Don’t Drink the Internet Marketing Kool-Aid Either
I’m a business owner too and I tend to take a “prove it to me” approach each time a new internet marketing “must do” technology comes along. Unlike other internet marketers, I spend almost as much time talking my clients out of doing things rather than telling them to jump on the latest internet marketing bandwagon.
It’s hard to spend more than 15 minutes online without someone trying to sell you something they claim will make you money in your sleep. My clients know they are welcome to call me and I will give them the real deal. Just as in the rest of life, in internet marketing if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. But! If you know how a technology fits into your overall strategy and have realistic goals it can be a valuable tool.
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.
Throughout this site you will see reference to “we.” It is not possible to be an expert in everything so I have made it a point to network with web designers, graphic designers, database programmers and copywriters who are passionate about what they do. That way I can bring in specialists when it becomes apparent that their expertise is needed. Because I know what they do and what they need to know about a project, I can make sure to use their time as efficiently as possible.
I am always looking to make new connections with people and companies with complimentary skills. If you or someone you know is looking to create strategic alliances, give me a call or shoot me an email. I’d love to connect.
On a Personal Note
I live in gorgeous Portland, Oregon with my fiancee and our two dogs Tia and Savannah. If I’m not working, I’m at the dog park, in the garden or knitting. If it’s a Wednesday in Winter, I’m probably skiing Mt. Hood. I also love to read and experiment in the kitchen. It’s a quiet life but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
