To many internet marketers going back many years, Ken Giddens was a true inspiration.

On Sunday, October 30th, he passed away after an illness. This is a very sad time for those of us who had the good fortune to know Ken.

I say good fortune, not just because of Ken’s wonderful personality and great sense of humor. But because for many of us, Ken indeed improved our fortunes with his unselfish teaching of his always cutting edge marketing ideas about internet marketing.

Ken was one of the first true internet marketers, having designed and built some of the very first web sites for companies like Netscape and Hallmark.

Never content to just design nice looking web sites, Ken always wanted to know more about why people do what they do on the web. Why do they buy from one site and not another. What makes them click away or stay and shop.

Ken was a real online conversion expert, but he also knew more about SEO than practically anyone else I knew. On the humorous side, he is the only person I know what was actually asked to leave Google’s offices and escorted out by security. A very funny story as Ken tells it about driving down to visit Google back in the day to ask why one of his web sites had been de-listed.

He was a constant hypothesizer and experimenter. A deep thinker about Search and one of my favorite people to discuss the latest techniques for SEO.

Ken knew more about traffic and conversion than practically anyone, and his natural curiosity led him to learn more and more over the years. And his totally unselfish nature and love of teaching led to share his knowledge with eager students everywhere.

Ken was always one of the most popular, riveting speakers wherever internet marketers gather to learn. At our Apprentice Boot Camp in Atlanta in June, I’ll never forget when Ken made us “turn off the cameras” to hear the latest marketing secret that he had discovered.

At both of my last live workshops, the events would not have been the same without Ken’s presence. His expertise was always invaluable and his quick wit and sense of humor made all the difference.

I first met Ken in Dallas, Texas at a conference. Once we discovered a mutual interest in e-commerce, Ken spent the next two hours sharing his lifetime of practical knowledge with me. It was a one-way conversation and I’ll always appreciate his insights and willingness to share what he knew.

Ken was a big supporter of Greyhound Rescue projects and training dogs to help disabled people. His family asks that in lieu of flowers, anyone who is interested can make a donation in Ken’s honor to either http://www.assistancedog.org or http://www.goldengreyhounds.com.

Our condolences to his family, including Meg who will be carrying on his work.

As internet marketers, our community has lost a great one.

As human beings, many of us have lost a wonderful friend.

Please consider donating to Ken’s favorite and very worthwhile organizations in his honor.

http://www.assistancedog.org
http://www.goldengreyhounds.com