I made the executive decision today that having titles like CEO, CTO, Project Manager, etc. really doesn't serve us well. It inaccurately describe the jobs that we do and creates executive level distinctions that aren't entirely functional in a small business environment. Thus, I'll be taking a cue from my girlfriend, who was hired at Cranium with the job title "Princess Leia Organiza" (she's responsible for a lot of organizational management) and developing more creative titles for the folks at SEOmoz.
Besides which, it's not healthy to take yourself too seriously. I can't wait to see the looks from business card receipients :)
- Mighty Moz
- Duchess of Data
- Linkasaurus Rebex
- Lord of the Bling
- The Am-moz-on
- Queen of the Link-Age
- Sher-link Holmes
- Web 2-point-SEO
- Chief 2.0 Officer
- Codeius Maximus
- The Matt in the Hat
- Code-manche
- The Code Ranger
- CSS Sorcerer
- The Wizard of Moz
- Chief Cook / Head Bottlewasher
- East Coast Engineer
- Math & Physics Hub
- Head of Jersey Operations
We badly need some more ideas... Please help!
I agree Rand... I think most the people who will actually be dealing with this would be in "marketing" and in turn more creative. While they have a title handed down by the corporate lexicon of wit from above, like "Assistant to the Vice President of Online Marketing," I think they will be secretly coveting your autonomy to be called Chief Link Herder or Rank Reaper... wait, maybe that was Jagger... :-)
Second, as “CEO” of this business, using a vague title like “Professional” comes in handy to dodge tough questions sometimes. "I'll have to talk to upper management... it might be out of my hands." To which every client inevitably sighs and feels your plight while you consider what to do for them.
I think that this is a fun thing.... I cracked up when I saw one of my friends had answered "huh?" on a form requesting job title. However, I very strongly agree with Dave about keeping some of the standard biz cards that will be passed out to old farts like me. I only see upside on this for a fraction of your potential clients - and I can see some of the old farts flinching when they look at the cards.
Do you think that it will get you much buzz with your "dream clients"?
I do - I think the "right" clients will be the ones who smile and ask about it. I might do something like
Rand Fishkin The Wizard of Moz (aka CEO)
just to help offset problems :)
I think is great not to take these things too seriously. I am pretty sick of being 'VP of Marketing' or 'Director of Operations' yawn yawn yawn - I'd way rather be Han SEO-lo. I am always tempted to write:
Jason Bailey The F*cking Boss
But some people just wouldn't get it. I think you should NOT wimp out and put (aka CEO) - takes the fun out of it. Something that is clearly jovial, pokes fun at the whole Executive Title game and is inoffensive/broad enough that we'll all find it funny as would the CEO of a 400MM company.
I like 'Head Cook and Chief Bottle Washer' and have used that one myself. I also like 'Hard Working Schlep' or 'All Around Nice Guy' works to.
Rand Fishkin Barn Raiser SEOmoz.org
That works...
webmaster of the univerise .. BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL
web developer-skeletor
ghengis kan-onical
web 2.hobo
simply: "emperor"
czar-develop'ar
henry the 8th.0
corporate rant facilitator
lead truffle-shuffle specialist
seoboz matt-sumoto (boss matsumoto - kill bill reference)
there is no job title, only zuul
I just came across this and wanted to say, I love these.
Now I just wish I could figure out one for me - other than SeoOldFart - which Danny says he has already registered.
You definitely need to come up with some good ones for Jane. I will start with a few: Queen of the Kiwis, Moz Mermaid.
Curtis
I was an executive vice president. Always wanted to be either Shortstop, linebacker, or power forward.
you really can't be the Chief Yahoo...or maybe you can.
So many good titles....so much creativity.
BTW, keep some cards with standard titles for the old and stuffy.
Dave
I like Si's "head of jersey operations" - too many episodes of the sopranos perhaps...
I think this is a great idea. It will definitely add some 'fun' to your brand. I used to work for a company and my title was 'senior web dude', the CEO's title was 'Top Dawg' and the president went by 'Pack Leader'.
Definitely go with 'The Wizard of Moz', I like that one a lot.
A couple of titles for no one in particular:
Qualified Linkbait Latent and Semantic Moz Prose (but pronounced mose) Pro Moz (same) Directory Champion I Ride Scooters Board of dir Bored of dirs Professional I'm Ordering Words At 404 For Hire 302 For Hire Structured Navigational Menu Advocate School of Hard Moz Dance Instructor Fish Finder Keeper of the Beeper Site Mapper Draw Moz Title Slinger Ranking Massager
Ok, creative juices have been squeezed. Hmm...looks like I ended up with 1 or 2 decent ones I might just use myself.
Good luck, Jason
roadies - you rock! "302 for hire" and Keeper of the Beeper are awesome... :)
Mos Def (that man is an actor, singer, writer, poet, rapper) Moz Def (that man is a linker, writer, optimizer, coder, scrapper)
Just some random stuff: - Mess-e-oh-oz - Web2.comMander - moz.Organizer - Han SEO-lo - The mozster under the bed - mozster and commander
Han SEO-lo! Anything else is just...less. :)
I dare you to add "The Wizard of Moz" to your business card. LOL :-)
I'm gonna do it - can't think of a compelling reason not to...
Imagine that you just happen to run into the CEO of *INSERT COMPANY NAME* at a hotel bar, this could have been the start of a chain of events that lead you to secure a multi million dollar contract. However once you presented yourself as Rand Fishkin, The Wizard of Moz it never came to be.