Andy Beal spotted an interesting study released by JupiterResearch that finds most in-house search marketers are distracted by a variety of other job tasks. DMNews.com has the full story and breaks down the job tasks of in house optimizers.

The study was sponsored by iProspect and found that most in-house optimizers have up to five other job functions in addition to their search marketing duties.

From the article:

58 percent of search marketers also handle Web site design, 57 percent handle e-mail advertising, 49 percent are responsible for marketing communications and 44 percent are involved in market research.

In addition, 26 percent of search professionals also handle IT functions, which means that search marketers most likely work for companies' information technology departments, rather than the marketing departments.

The article goes on to suggest that this could be a reflection of the limited number of individuals that are actually skilled search engine marketers, but that it's more likely a sign that most companies still don't properly value search engine marketing. The findings mesh with my own experience.

My first job as a search engine marketer was the result of a growing need to market the e-commerce web site of a company that I worked for. I'd been hired as an e-commerce manager to oversee the development of a new web site and ordering system for an international chemical company. While putting together the specs for the development, I first ran across the concept of search engine friendly design. My knowledge grew from there, but less than a fifth of my time was put toward search marketing. It wasn't long after that I left that company to pursue search marketing full time.

It's important to note that the multi-tasking that takes place in some companies isn't necessarily a bad thing. Having one individual responsible for search marketing, blog marketing and e-mail marketing might make sense, depending on the size of the web site and company. After all, search marketing ties in very closely with all other forms of online marketing. It also makes sense for a search marketer to be somewhat involved in things like web site design and usability issues, though again, it depends on the size and scope of the web site project.