TOP SEO consultant from Toronto, Canada.

About Emanuel Petrescu

SEO consultant from
Toronto, Canada.

Three photographs of Emanuel Petrescu working, speaking, and consulting

At a glance

Here’s a short summary of who I am and what I do:

01 — Work, ventures & leadership

Businesses & ventures

  • Founder - 1307 Digital - Full stack custom solution digital marketing agency
  • Founder - How About Some Marketing? - a community hub for marketers to get better at their marketing
  • How About Some Marketing? founder - a community hub about marketing
  • Founder - Forrest Hill Chronicles - a local source of information for the neighbourhood I live in.
  • Co-Founder of Immigrant Success Canada - a coaching program for newcomers for a successful and happy life in Canda

Publishing & education

  • Newsletter
  • Monthly webinars
  • Book (currently writing)
  • Podcast (TBA)
  • Co Host - Curious Pundits Podcast - bits of everything
  • SEO Audit Complete Course - A Masterclass for 2023 and beyond - Udemy course about Search Engine Optimisation Audits

Community leadership

  • Toastmaster
  • Public Relations Manager for Toastmasters District 60​ (2022-2023)
  • Former Webmaster (2021-2022) for Toastmasters District 60
  • Former VP of PR for Danforth-Pape Toastmasters Club
  • Former web/IT manager for Toastmasters District 123
  • Co-Host of the Immigrant Success Canada’s podcast
  • Public Relations Manager for Toastmasters District 60

Current work

  • Digital Marketing Manager at 1Click Heating & Cooling​
  • I Am NOT Just Doing My Job!

Beyond client work

Here are some personal projects I’m working on or am part of:

01

Independent publishing

  • moviesformysoul.com – a blog where I (sometimes) write about movies
  • homerecordingstudio.ca – a blog about home recording (audio)
02

Writing & community

  • Immigrant Writer Association member
  • Former Marketing Manager and Operations Manager
  • Former Board Member for Immigrant Writers Association
  • Contributor and published author
03

Public speaking & leadership

  • Toastmasters District 60
  • Public Relations Manager 2022-2023
  • Webmaster 2021-2022
  • Danforth-Pape Toastmasters Club 2020-2024

Before my current job, I worked for a marketing and publishing agency for almost four years. Before coming to Canada, I spent three more years at Kantar WPP in the tv monitoring department. I like to tell people that my job was to watch tv all day – which is true to an extent – and get paid for doing so. I was also a DJ (more than 300 live gigs) and managed a recording studio and a record label.

I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, and I’m always enrolled in an online course.

I watch (too many) movies and series – but I’ve slowed down since 2023. I listen to music (all music), read and sometimes… write. I’ve written a chapter for the Grow Together anthology that got published (so I guess I’m also a published author).

I’m subscribed to Esquire and have been since 2008, and one of my dreams is to publish an article there. The other two magazines I’m subscribed to are Maisonneuve and Canada’s History.

Emanuel Petrescu beside a Constantin Brâncuși sculpture

A longer description of Emanuel Petrescu

Hi, I’m Emanuel, and I’m a passionate SEO specialist and digital marketer. More than ten years ago, I discovered my passion for marketing when I managed my recording studio and record label. I started the studio while I was in high school, and since then, it has become my full-time entrepreneurial business. I was on a budget (read close to no budget), which compelled me to learn the skills necessary to succeed and promote my music and brand.

Back then, the resources were limited and not available in my native language, and most of them did not apply to that market. However, I managed to learn PR techniques and write proper press releases. I also mastered the skills to develop and maintain relationships with key industry people.

I became highly efficient using industry-specific software (Steinberg Cubase, Acid, Reason for recording and music production, and Vegas Pro for video production).

A friend (and later, my brother-in-law) installed WordPress and showed me how to use it alongside Google Analytics. I learned about SEO and how it can help me get exposure for my artists. I learned the URL, titles, meta descriptions, keyword density, links, etc.

I also had a Joomla website for my recording studio, and by applying the technics I learned, I was number one for the term “recording studio” for more than three years. I guess I should be happy that I had no budget to hire a company to do all this for me.

Using all available channels, I was able to take advantage of the emerging revolutionary tools, which are now called social media. I have successfully produced music videos with millions of views. I toured in more than 250 live shows as a supporting DJ and also performed at festivals.

While managing artists, I was in charge of negotiating contracts, tours, and promotional appearances.

The skills I acquired aided me with consultancy referrals for insurance companies. In my role, I set their presence online, from building the website to implementing digital marketing strategies (SEO, blogging, social media, and later, a form of what we call today podcasting, etc.).

All those skills enabled me to reach their business goals successfully.

In 2017, I immigrated to Canada and started working full-time exclusively as a digital marketing consultant.

I am an avid learner, and I take a passion for everything I do. I experiment with new tools each month, such as CRMs, social media management systems, design, sharing, email marketing communication, time management, and project management apps.

Certification & Awards

Google Skillshop

Current Google certifications

Issuer-verified credentials with current validity dates.

Google Analytics Individual Qualification certificate awarded to Emanuel Petrescu
Active

Google Analytics Individual Qualification

Issued by Google Skillshop

Issued
Expires
Verify credential
Google Ads Display Certification awarded to Emanuel Petrescu
Active

Google Ads Display Certification

Issued by Google Skillshop

Issued
Expires
Verify credential
Google Ads Video Certification awarded to Emanuel Petrescu
Active

Google Ads Video Certification

Issued by Google Skillshop

Issued
Expires
Verify credential
AI-powered Shopping ads certification awarded to Emanuel Petrescu
Active

AI-powered Shopping ads certification

Issued by Google Skillshop

Issued
Expires
Verify credential
Google Ads Apps Certification awarded to Emanuel Petrescu
Active

Google Ads Apps Certification

Issued by Google Skillshop

Issued
Expires
Verify credential
Google Ads Search Certification awarded to Emanuel Petrescu
Active

Google Ads Search Certification

Issued by Google Skillshop

Issued
Expires
Verify credential

Emanuel P - Other Activities

Writing, newcomer support, and public speaking

Immigrant Writers Association books

Immigrant Writers Associations

In 2019 I learned about the Immigrant Writers Association after reading the first anthology they published. I soon became a member and contributed to the first anthology, Grow Together. For the next three years, I contributed to two more anthologies and served on the board of the same association for a short period. For almost three years, I was the marketing manager and the operations manager, responsible for promoting on social media association’s activities – including its members, preparing the launch of the anthologies, and other activities with fellow members.

It was an amazing experience, and I am still a member but not involved in the administration anymore, but this has opened a lot of opportunities for me, as I was present for many events and book fairs and made connections that led me to be one of the contributors who translated a play from the famous Canadian playwriter, Norm Foster.

Immigrant Success Canada

Immigrant Success Canada

In 2022 I was approached by a dear friend to be part of this project – the friend knew I was involved in the immigrant community and mentored and coached other newcomers to Canada – why not make it a business?

My partner and I are currently developing the educational modules for this coaching program for a successful and happy life in Canada. We also have a podcast where we interview other immigrants or discuss other “immigrant businesses.”

Long story short, this is the program I wish I had available when I came to Canada. Long-term success and happiness from two “experienced immigrants.”

Toastmasters

Toastmasters

I learned about Toastmasters around 2010 in Romania. It was always on my list to join, sometimes soon, when the planets will align. Apparently, they aligned nine years later in Canada, four months before the pandemic hit. I joined a club close to where I worked, and then, once everything moved online, I became more active.

In my first year, I ran for all the club officers’ roles available and won none. Next year, I could have won any role I would have run – but I chose to go as a VP of PR since I am a marketing guy. Some opportunities further arrived – and I said yes, so I helped build a website for a conference, took the website manager position, and after that the District 60 Public Relation manager – the highest leadership position I have in an organization.

Emanuel Petrescu speaking at an event

Testimonials

Very knowledgeable on SEO and other marketing techniques that boost company's visibility and builds trust. Responsive, professional service... highly recommended!

GABRIELA CASINEANU · JULY 29, 2021

Emanuel is a great digital marketer and i call him the SEO guru of the digital marketing lansdscape- if you need any help in Digital marketing Emanuel is the one for you!

RAJ NARAYANAN

Emanuel's expertise in the digital marketing space is amazing. He helped me with my SEO and social media campaigns. He was able to identify the right audience so we can serve them ads that delivered rezults. He also identified some keyword opportunities in my industry and helped me create relevant content, content that ranks on the first page and helped me get more business. I highly recommend his service!

MIHAI ION

Positive: Professionalism , Quality , Responsiveness , Value Emanuel is excellent and professional at what he does!

ORACLELIFE

Latest blog posts

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Timeline

July 13 · At around 5pm

Born in Bucharest, Romania, East Europe

On a hot summer day, on the same day as the great Julius Caesar, and as him, through a C-section.

The first Real Interaction with "The Internet"

Interaction with a search engine - Yahoo!

I took a course because until then, I was not really satisfied with the information available on "the internet." I was using #mirc chat groups, but that's it.

I saw others using a website called Yahoo! but never really knew what it did until I was enrolled in that course (funny enough, a future mayor of my city attended the same course).

That course changed everything!

First websites

Geocities and Front Page Express

I still believe I could have done more things back then with those platforms than I can do today with many popular ones. Those were also the first attempts at "blogging." A post meant you would change your entire site.

WordPress

The First WordPress website and introduction to SEO

I don't consider myself a web developer or a person that builds websites - I always ask for help, although I know a thing or two. But using WordPress was a gamechanger.

My Website

emanuelp.com launched

At least 15 years later, but who's counting? I always prioritize everything else before my own things. It's weird to recommend yourself as a digital marketer and not have your own website, right?