Burkan Bur
With over 20 years of experience in digital marketing and agency work, I’ve led projects for major clients like Amazon, Hilton, Doordash, OWN, SC Johnson, Sharp Healthcare, Intel, American Express, and Experian.
As the Managing Director and Head of SEO at The Ad Firm, my role involves leading client relationships, managing project deliverables, and expanding accounts to provide an exceptional customer experience. I’m responsible for setting strategic direction in various aspects of digital marketing, including SEO, content marketing, digital PR, social networking, and keeping up with the latest trends and algorithm changes.
What I like most about my role
I love collaborating with businesses to help them achieve their sales goals. My role allows me to work closely with my team, focusing on mentoring, training, and running a department that promotes efficiency and value. I enjoy the challenge of communicating complex strategies to technical teams and executives alike, ensuring that everyone is aligned toward our common goals.
Additionally, I take pride in effectively bridging communication between technical development teams and top-level executives, including CMOs and CEOs, which is crucial for cohesive strategy and execution across all levels.
Past Work Experience
Starting my career as a programmer and developer, I have a unique perspective combining technical expertise and strategic acumen. I hold an MBA from Bilgi University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Istanbul, and proud to have started and taught the first-ever SEO and analytics courses at UCSD.Â
My extensive experience includes leading and developing teams. I’ve been in this industry since the early days of Internet marketing, witnessing its evolution and the emergence of new trends firsthand.
Certifications:
- Business Management in Marketing, UCSD
- Web Development, UCSD
- Project Management, UCSD
- Google AdWords certification, Google
- Google Analytics certification, Google
- Advanced Search Engine Strategies, Search Engine Workshops
Hobbies outside work
Outside of my professional life, I’m an avid world traveler, martial artist, basketball player, and dancer. These activities not only keep me physically active but also foster a sense of creativity and balance in my life.
Articles Written by Burkan Bur
Mobile-First Design Is Critical for Local SEO: Capturing Customers On-The-Go
If you want more people to find your business online, your website needs to work well on the devices where most of your customers are, on their phones. These days, most local searches happen when
Google Search Console for Local SEO: Setting It Up to Unlock City-Level Insights
If you want more people in your city to find your business online, understanding how you appear in Google search results is essential. That’s precisely what Google Search Console (GSC) helps you do, and the
Local SEO at Scale: Building a Strategy That Grows with Every Location
If you run a business with multiple locations, you already know how much more complicated marketing can get. Each area has its own unique customers, competition, and challenges, and your online presence should reflect that.
Local SEO Landing Pages That Convert: 5 Tips to Turn Visits into Customers
It’s frustrating when you’re getting traffic but not seeing results. You’ve invested in local SEO, optimized your Google Business profile, and maybe even launched a few campaigns, but the visitors you attract just don’t take
Geo-Targeted Blog Posts That Rank: How to Create Content Google Loves in Each City
If you’ve been struggling to get eyes on your content in specific cities, you’re not alone. Even the most helpful blogs can get buried in search results when they aren’t tailored to a location, and
No Cold Emails: 5 Creative Ways to Earn Local Backlinks (That Actually Work)
If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably heard that backlinks help your site show up higher in local search results. What you might not often hear is how exhausting and ineffective cold outreach can
Turning Customer Stories into Local SEO Gold
Getting found online isn’t just about keywords or technical tweaks anymore. If you’re like most businesses, you might be struggling with standing out in local search results despite offering excellent services. You’ve collected positive customer
What Are Local SEO Citations? (And Why They Matter for Your Business)
When people search for a business like yours, Google doesn’t just rely on your website; it checks if your business name, address, and phone number show up consistently across the internet. That’s where local SEO
AI SEO for Franchise Businesses: Keeping Local and Corporate Pages in Sync
Franchise SEO isn’t only about scaling, it’s about alignment. Each local branch needs visibility within its community, while the parent brand must maintain consistency across the board. However, juggling both can feel like running two
7 Overlooked Google Business Profile Settings That Can Boost Your Ranking
Most businesses today understand that having a Google Business Profile is essential. But many still struggle with visibility despite being listed. They may have filled out the basics, added a few photos, and left it
E-commerce SEO for AI: Tips for Optimizing ChatGPT Shopping Results
Getting your products seen is tougher than ever. Many e-commerce brands invest heavily in SEO, yet still find their listings buried, especially on AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT and other conversational tools. As more consumers rely
The Ultimate Guide to Local SEO
Having trouble showing up in search results when people in your area search for a product or service? Many business owners face the same issue: watching competitors appear on Google Maps while their businesses remain