This is Jan Rencke switching into lurking mode....

... and signing off as moderator for Europe.

[rencke]

Five weeks ago I co-founded and became CEO of a travel company, which is about to take over a 70.000 guests per year hotel packaging operation in Stockholm. It became clear that two of my three jobs would have to go and moderating WebmasterWorld is one of them. This is a sad fact, but on the other hand I feel that the particular mapping job I set out to do has in fact been done, so the decision is logical.

Enormous ground has been covered during the last year. When I started, hardly anything was known about European search engines on a European scale, only on a national level. Today, hundreds of members have contributed tidbits of information to such a degree, that WebmasterWorld's European forum contains the most comprehensive information on the European SE scene, found anywhere on the web. It is completely unique and I want to thank all of you who have made this possible.

The fruit of our joint labor is summed up in The European SEO strategy primer [webmasterworld.com], which I believe will be useful for at least a year, maybe two, with only smaller updates. This winter, it will be used for a full scale experiment with sites in 13 languages for my new company.

Our new moderators heini and Rumbas have settled in well and have a firm grip over the rather daunting job of moderating a major discussion forum. I wish you both the best of luck and know that you will continue to do well here. I'll look in maybe once a week and see if there is anything I can do to help. If anyone wants to draw my attention to anything urgently, dont sticky-mail me, use the mailaddress in my profile.

Thank you very much. Merci, grazie, danke, tack, kiitos, spasiba.

[pete]

Thanks Jan and good luck!

[Tor]

I`m so impressed with the work you have done here in the European Forum. Good luck with your Travel Venture! You know the travel industry so well and I`m therefore confident that your new company will be a success.

Tor

[caine]

Jan,

Wish you the best with the company, and congratulate you on the information and the passion that you put into the euro forum, and i am sure your contributions will be missed.

cheers

Caine

[wolfy]

Thanks for all and
Good Luck !!!

In Italian we say "in bocca al lupo" and you have to reply : "crepi il lupo"
byez

[oLeon]

Vielen Dank, Jan!

Thanks a lot for your excellent job you did here. I think we all Žll miss you.

[jatar_k]

thanks rencke,
my short time hear has been brightened by your wisdom.

merci et bonne chance

[angiolo]

Hi Rencke!

Congratulation for you new job. I am sad that you will not contribute to WmW as usual, but life is life.

I was luky that I had the oppurtunity to meet you in London at the WmW Pub conference!

Your suggestions were so precious! I learnt a lot.

I am proud I received the "horse" that is now on my desk. I hope that you will attend the next WmW pub conference!

[henki]

God luck Jan, weŽll surely miss your talent and engergy.

[Damian]

Sorry to see you go Jan. Good luck !

[engine]

It was a pleasure to converse with you, Jan.

Enjoy your new role and keep in touch.

[paynt]

"The only thing you take with you when you're gone is what you leave behind."
-John Allston

That obviously means you will enter your new world rich in the wealth of knowledge you have blessed us with.

[msgraph]

Gracias Sr. Rencke!

Good luck with your venture!

Thanks for all the really REALLY good info you posted! It will help me take any spare traffic you guys have in that part of the woods. ;)

....man i wish i could have gotten one of those horses :(

[ettore]

Thanks for all the great job you did here Jan !

Good luck in your new project and please come back often to share with us your knowledge.

[rencke]

Thank you all for the many kind words. Makes me think I should quit more often. :)
- Jan