Before there was a term called link building, heck, before there was "SEO" - Eric Ward was doing link building. There was a reason he was referred to as Link Moses, because he was the father of link building. Last night the search community learned of his sudden and untimely passing. He was only 58 years old, he has three children, a wife, a parent and a whole industry of peers who he has left behind.
He passed away on Monday, October 16, 2017 as per his obituary. The obituary talks about his family life but also his contributions to the industry:
Eric began his Internet Business 25 years ago. He developed, created and executed effective content linking and promotion strategies for over 1,000 websites. Some of his clients included Amazon.com, PBS.org, Disney.com, NBC sports, National Geographic and the U.S. Olympic Committee.Eric will be remembered for his major positive influence and contributions to the Internet Industry, and was affectionately known as "Link Moses" by his peers.
We have cited him here countless times and I have heard him speak dozens of times. Heck, I remember the first time he spoke, his presentation was an HTML document full of hyperlinks - which was obviously fitting.
This is such sad news and I hate to have to write it. It is just a shame and I hope he is able to read all the social posts of those in the industry that he meant so much to. I'll compile a list right below of tweets from the industry that I was able to find. If I missed any, please use the comments:
Eric Ward was legend, the link in link building. He knew was about the right connections. Taught many. Sad he's gone https://t.co/Le40AVb8PY
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) October 19, 2017
When I first asked for *volunteer* subscriptions when I started writing about search in 1996, @ericward was the first to send a check
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) October 19, 2017
When we started @sengineland Eric immediately said he wanted to write for us. Our first columnist & column, Link Week, where he shared.
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) October 19, 2017
You couldn't know Eric and not love him. I'm stunned and so deeply sad he's gone. He'd always been there, from the start.
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) October 19, 2017
Eric Ward was so old-of-the-old-school that the Chief Yahoo of Yahoo created a category for him & what he did https://t.co/UzpIbOKIpk
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) October 19, 2017
Eric was so old-of-the-old-school some guy named @JeffBezos hired him to help publicize something called @Amazon https://t.co/ZRe1EUTtsq
— Danny Sullivan (@dannysullivan) October 19, 2017
I never talked to Eric Ward very much, but i don't think I, or any of my IRL SEO friends, would be SEOs without him. What a bummer.
— Anthony Randall (@tonyxrandall) October 18, 2017
Crushed. Eric Ward was a true link building OG.
— Britney Muller (@BritneyMuller) October 19, 2017
Learned so much from Eric...he did a live video call just a few weeks ago and was so happy.
This is kinda breaking my brain. How can SEOs go on without Link Moses. :'(
— Cindy Krum (@Suzzicks) October 19, 2017
Somebody tell me this is a cruel joke. Did the SEO industry lose @ericward? https://t.co/bzqfuaLMfr
— Casey Markee (@MediaWyse) October 18, 2017
Never met Eric Ward, but he taught me a lot over the years. In his blogs and newsletters, he always came off a trusted mentor. Go in peace. https://t.co/IYKST20wwZ
— Cyrus (@CyrusShepard) October 18, 2017
This is tragic. Eric Ward was one of the best people in the search industry. He brought so much & will be so missed. https://t.co/xWdnOV7f36
— Dana DiTomaso (@danaditomaso) October 18, 2017
White, gray, black, or baseball - you have to tip your hat to #LinkMoses @ericward
— Don Rhoades (@TheGonzoSEO) October 19, 2017
#SEO industry lost a founding father- RIP @EricWard we'll miss u greatly-Glad we have a funny cameo memory: https://t.co/Hvm5I0JaIr https://t.co/NZw4BfFewM
— Elisabeth Osmeloski (@elisabethos) October 18, 2017
Sad to hear @ericward passed away. Influential link expert who taught me so much through blogs & newsletter "Link Moses". Will be missed.
— Euan Blair (@euan_blair) October 19, 2017
Sad day for the industry, losing one of the most brilliant minds in link building. You will be missed @ericward 😢 https://t.co/g62wxxvgqC
— Jason Acidre (@jasonacidre) October 18, 2017
SEO’s: Eric Ward passed. Eric was the true Link Moses, and will be missed greatly. His influence on me and the... https://t.co/hhlNMjhlHZ
— Jim Boykin (@jimboykin) October 18, 2017
Can't believe @ericward is gone. Stunned right now. RIP man.
— John Doherty (@dohertyjf) October 19, 2017
Oh no. I am so sad to hear that Eric Ward has passed away. I learned so much from him. https://t.co/2oNSdwleBZ
— Marie Haynes (@Marie_Haynes) October 18, 2017
So sad to hear this. Eric Ward was one of the most respected authorities and greatest contributors in our industry. He will be dearly missed
— Darren Shaw (@DarrenShaw_) October 19, 2017
RIP @ericward 😓, peace to your family, colleagues & all those bereaved.
— martyweintraub (@martyweintraub) October 19, 2017
Good bye LinkMoses, I grew to love you like a brother and will miss you. @ericward https://t.co/oLcPheFNJ7
— Matt LaClear (@MattLaClear) October 18, 2017
Stunned to hear about the passing of the amazing @ericward. The entire SEO industry is mourning today 😞
— Melanie Nathan (ツ) (@melanienathan) October 18, 2017
Really sad to hear about the passing of Eric Ward. RIP man.
— Paul Shapiro (@fighto) October 18, 2017
Heartbreaking. @ericward was one of my mentors in SEO. Had so many wonderful conversations with him over the years... https://t.co/LYzGrOcY2A
— Rand Fishkin (@randfish) October 18, 2017
Search community mourns loss of veteran link builder Eric Ward by @MichelleRobbins https://t.co/863cQzU9Xx
— Search Engine Land (@sengineland) October 19, 2017
So sorry to hear about Eric Ward. We went way back and I had an immense amount of respect for him.
— SEO-Theory.Com (@seo_theory) October 19, 2017
The SEO world has lost an absolute giant of the industry. Vale Eric Ward. You were old school before it was cool. @ericward #ericward
— Jaaved Khatree (@jaaved) October 19, 2017
So sad to hear about Eric Ward. He was an original in the Search Marketing industry. https://t.co/HsF5magmk0
— Lee Odden (@leeodden) October 19, 2017
https://t.co/VMgmNvBaB8 should be preserved or acquired in some way. Also, if anyone is shady enough to start duplicating the content ...
— lorenbaker (@lorenbaker) October 19, 2017
So stunned and sad to hear about the passing of @ericward. An SEO legend...he was one of the first people that we showed BuzzStream to.
— Paul May (@paulmay) October 19, 2017
Eric Ward taught so many. He will be greatly missed. An SEO legend.
— Sarah Bird (@SarahBird) October 19, 2017
In Memoriam: Link Building Pioneer Eric Ward Has Died - @MrDannyGoodwin https://t.co/3qPKRljJN1 pic.twitter.com/b7ssqVpbHr
— SearchEngineJournal® (@sejournal) October 19, 2017
With the deepest respect to his legacy, family and contributions to our industry - you will be missed Eric.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
