One of the smartest things Eric has done, in my opinion, - selling the jobs on his new Job Board at WebAnalyticsDymystified.com.  First of all, it looks like the job posts are advertising revenue for his site.

"….

If your company is looking to hire experienced web analytics professionals, this is the place to advertise.  Eric T. Peterson's Web Analytics Demystified is frequented by more serious web analytics talent than any other site on the Internet!

Learn how to get your premium ad listed on Web Analytics Demystified

But that's the smallest part.  The larger part  - Eric Peterson can explain why these jobs are great in the first place.  

Believe it or not, that's not so easy to do, especially with the long laundry list of requirements and responsibilities attached to each position. 

It's easy to lose sight of the unique opportunities certain jobs have; because Eric has walked the walk and talks the talk, he's in a much better position to sell a position, see what's great about it, than an average agent - who usually has no idea what the job is really about or who would be the best fit for it.

Plus, Web Analytics Demystified attracts more hard core Web Analysts than almost any other site, except perhaps Avanish Kaushik's site, Occam's Razor.

The post Eric just did on the WebEX job is a perfect example:

"….As I work to drive interest in my new job board I have started taking the time to chat with companies posting jobs there, offering advice and learning more about the position they've advertised. Recently I had a chance to talk to Phillip Shipley, Manager of Web Development at WebEx, who is advertising for a Senior Web Analyst at WebEx Communications.

The position sounds like a good one for two major reasons:

1. WebEx is an international business and the senior analyst would be responsible for world-wide reporting.
2. Phillip says the position targets doing true data analysis more than half the time and they already have a junior analyst on staff to support day-to-day data reporting."

That statement, in bold, says that the position is senior - the analyst is going to be giving insight that leads to results (and more will be expected of that person) as opposed to running reports.

"…..I asked Phillip for an example of how data analysis was used at WebEx; without pause he provided an excellent answer in which the analysis both reached the company's CEO and created a significant increase in two key metrics for the company. I have to admit I was very impressed by what sounds like an organization that is hungry for an experienced analyst willing to make a difference in the organization."

To me, this kind of understanding, insight, if you will, is what it takes to identify good opportunities and match up the right people. 

I'll say it again (I'm fond of this point), the best analyst is a visionary - someone who "sees" possibilities.  It's also good being in the position to act on possibilities.