Two posts in the same week? Shut up...

Got a little more time on my hands now so I thought I'd revisit the world...as it is these days. A lot's been going on lately; at work, in the industry, at home...you name it. Never a dull moment, as they say.

As I mentioned before, our new site's front-end is almost ready to go and Ron and I both (along with the other LinkWorthers, too, I'm sure) are itchin' to get it up. Ron's been busting his ass to help Dustin get it all together so they can move it to our staging server and start putting in all the back-end stuff. Our site is friggin' huge, so there's literally TONS of shit that has to be done in order to pull this off seamlessly.

Have I mentioned that I'm happy to be the sales guy and not the technical force behind LinkWorth? Well, I'm telling you now.

Ron's a workaholic by nature anyway, but the guy is probably putting in 18 hours a day right now. God love him, but I hope for his sake we can get this taken care of sooner than later. Once it goes to the programmers, from what I understand, it's off his plate. I'm pretty much useless when it comes to this. I do what I can to help when I can, but it's all really minor stuff. Sorry dudes!

I've been working on a couple projects myself...stuff that we'll roll out once our new site is rockin'. One of the things I'm most excited about is our SEO consulting service that will tie in to our Managed Account "life-cycle," for lack of a better word. Consulting is a new focus that I'm thrilled about and I've mapped out a pretty cool approach that will keep our clients involved and in the know...with proper expectations set, which can be a big problem in this gig if you're not careful. People need to know what they can honestly expect. If not, they get skittish (understandably) and want to bail out of fear or uncertainty. My job is to make sure that doesn't happen. I'm still blown away by our client retention rate (in a good way) and this should really build on that.

We're doing some fun things on the new site, too. The "Our Team" page, is a good example. Ron and I split the office in half and wrote profiles for everyone. It was a lot of fun and since we're taking these kids on the road with us to all the upcoming conferences (beginning with SES San Jose), hopefully people will give 'em some shit about how they're represented! Good times.

We leave for Seattle in a couple weeks for SMX and I can't wait for this trip. Not only does one of my best friends in the universe live there and the city itself kicks ass, but I'm looking forward to spending a few minutes with some people that I met VERY briefly in New York: Rand Fishkin and Neil Patel, to name a couple. I shot 'em both an email and they seemed open enough to it, so hopefully that'll work out. Even more importantly, we're going to get to spend some time with Partners and Advertisers that we've never met in person. (Todd, I SO can't wait to meet you, bro! ACCT ID 11??? You're OLD SCHOOL, my friend.) The sessions seem pretty cool, too, for a change. Not the same ole redundant shit. Er, at least that's how it's being presented and I'm diggin' that.

What else? Hmm....let me think. I mean, there is something on my mind, I think. Well, there was. Was there?

This blog sucks...but I told you it would.

No blog can survive when there's a 4 year lapse between posts; which explains this blog to a tee.

Good news for me? This S.O.B. is free through blogspot. (Google: I hate you, but I love you.)

There is so much to talk about right now and I'm so jazzed about so many things that it's almost nonsensical to talk about it so randomly. But, it's in my nature so I'm gonna give it shot.

LinkWorth 2.0 - I don't know if anyone has been reading the headlines lately, but we've had some massive press release attention because of several new product launches. It's been absolutely killer....loads of new inquiries/advertisers/partners sign up with us in anticipation of our new roll-outs. Our long-overdue rebirth is finally almost here.

The interface is head and shoulders better than what we've ever had because it compliments all of our new stuff. It looks very cool. And it's really functional, easy to navigate, and all that stuff. Word on the street is we're taking it live THIS FRIDAY! COME ON WITH IT!

Anyway, that's all I've got for now. Out of sheer guilt I had to post something....anything....today.

SES New York 2007

Monday
Ron and I arrived in NYC on Monday night (4/9) and although we really wanted to attend the charity event sponsored by TLA & BOTW, we couldn't. I think we made it to the Hilton some time around 9:30 or so...thanks to "Antonio: the 1983 Town Car hustler." After a long flight and the beating that was Laguardia airport, we decided it best to just grab a bite at the hotel and call it an early night. Smart call...this was gonna be a long week.

Tuesday
After a quick workout, we went down to get some grub and check in at the show. After being disconnected repeatedly at the not-so-hot spot that was set up as a wifi lounge, we blew off trying to communicate our people at the office and decided it was show time. Umm...yeah. We quickly found out the Tuesday was a "session only" day and the exhibit hall was still just being set up. Seriously? Well, there's that. Wait, hold on a sec....we've got nothing scheduled for the rest of the day and we're in New York? SWEET. Things are looking up!

I called one of our long-time clients (who lives in NYC) asked if he could meet us out later for some dinner and drinks and we made plans to hook up at 8pm. It was now about 1:00pm. 7 hours, huh? Cool, we've got some time to kill. So we walked around Manhattan for awhile until the executive decision was made to duck in to a really cool bar called Faces & Names. This would be our home for the next 5 hours until we had to meet Jeff at Smith & Wollensky.

At about 7:45 it was time to stagger a few blocks to meet for dinner and food was definitely in order by then. We had an awesome dinner with one of the best waiters I've ever seen. (And I spent years in that biz...this dude was impressive.) My every request was met with an emphatic "DONE!" spoken in a thick New York City accent. Man, I need this guy on our sales team. Whatever, though, the night is young....it's time to do some drinkin.

Jeff took us on a tour of several local bars after dinner and I couldn't tell you the name of a single one of them. (**As a quick side note, Jeff is an old friend of ours who we used to work with in Dallas. I happened to cold call him a couple years ago and he's been with us ever since.) We stacked plenty of beers, whisky, and shots on top of each other for the rest of the night until we ended up at this one bar known for its peculiar draw: Boggle. Yes, the game with all the letters. You shake it up, turn the hour-glass upside down, and write as many words as you can find.

It's 3:30am, I've been drinking for more than 12 hours by now, and you want me to do what?

A couple of Jeff's friends had joined us, one of whom works for Google, ironically. So we played teams. This was short-lived because we all sucked. Understandably, right? Ron had bailed at the last bar and I was beginning to fade, too. So, I somehow managed to tell the cab driver where I was staying and he got me home safely. I assume, anyway.

Wednesday
I'll admit that I've felt better, but now was no time to be hungover or incapacitated. We had meetings to attend, people to see, an exhibit hall to peruse, and yes....this was our day to hit a session or two. (OK, it ended up being just one, but we all know that they can be somewhat redundant if you've gone to enough of these things.)

Our breakfast-turned-lunch meeting went well. A belly full of Reuben sandwich helped me rejoin the human race. It was time to visit the exhibit hall that had turned us away the day before. We visited with several folks for awhile, grabbed a pair of those cool magnets that ABC Search had, and went to our one session: How to Make Money From Contextual Ads.

We're not publishers, but we do sell contextual ads and it made sense to hear commentary on this subject from some of the power-hitters in the industry. Namely, Shoemoney and JenSense. I'd never seen them speak before and I quickly realized how much they knew their shit. I was especially impressed with Jeremy...who I'd be briefly introduced to later this evening. He's got a very cool, laid-back way about him and it's no secret that he's got a terrific head on his shoulders. Sharp cat, to say the least. I enjoyed his insight and even learned a trick or two.

Conference + over = Bridges. We were set to meet with Patrick Gavin at 6:30 and this was another conference highlight for me. I've met Patrick before and we've spoken several times by phone and email, but it was great being able to hang out with him for an hour or two. When I went to grab Patrick in the lobby bar, he was talking to Jeremy Shoemaker so I was able to at least shake his hand. I hope to spend more time with that guy at some point. We also met several members of the TLA crew and I've got to say, he's got a good group. Jay, Chris, Scott, and the others were all really cool and I'll look forward to seeing them again at another show down the road.

After those guys went out for dinner we realized we should probably eat again, too. So we went to the critically acclaimed Halal gyro stand at the corner of 53rd and 6th. All I can say is, "Wow." I'd never had a gyro and these bad-boys are really something special. Give me white and red sauce, brotha! It's hot, but daaaaaaaaaammmmmmmnnnn good. Now, back to the Hilton.

After a smoke, I was meandering back through the lobby and saw Rand Fishkin and Neil Patel. I know it's rude and all, but I had to briefly interrupt them to introduce myself. After years of lurking, you kinda feel like you know people. You don't...at all...but you know what I mean. It's like listening to local radio. After awhile it's like these guys are your friends yet you have no real reason to feel that way! Anyway, I wanted to mention that because I was really glad to meet those guys. And it was a great way to finish the day. Need sleep. See ya tomorrow.

Thursday
After dealing with a shit-storm at the office remotely for a few hours in the morning, we were finally able talk to everyone at the exhibit hall. New York has a weird set-up with the booths scattered throughout 3 different floors. From most accounts, this year was slower than years past. This was magnified by the fact that you had people dispersed in 3 different areas. But, I don't plan these things and I doubt you can find a place in NYC that can do it all on one floor anyway. But we talked to everyone and I look forward to cultivating some of these new relationships.

After what we considered to be a successful few days, Ron and I decided we'd go out tonight on our own. And since we're in a band here in Dallas, it made sense to go check out the local music scene. I forget exactly where we were, but we went to a couple clubs before making our way to The Lion's Den. We saw this one band that we instantly dug. They're called The Vanguard and their sound is very similar to one of the bands Ron plays in called Pull Eddy. It was bizarre how many similarities there were! After their set we started talking to these dudes and they were really cool. We bought 'em a couple beers (maybe a shot....I don't remember) and chatted awhile before moving on.

We wrapped it up at some point and headed back to our favorite gyro stand for a night-cap. What's funny about this is once we were back in our room, we both wanted another gyro. So we farkled (rock/paper/scissors) to see who had to leave, walk down to the stand, and pick up two more. Well, I lost. Screw me. But it was worth it! Those bitches are tasty!

Friday
This was supposed to be just another travel day but as it turned out, Ron and I had been invited along with our wives and a few other couples to attend the Mavericks vs. The Jazz at the AAC in one of the Platinum Suites. Although I really wanted to hang out with my kids that night, it was too hard to pass it up. So, we landed in Dallas at around 5:30, headed home through tornado weather, grabbed the girls, and headed south to downtown.

Mavs won. I got drunk again. Good times. Long week.

How to report paid links: I just vomit-burped

Wow, Matt, you sure know how to clear a room. (And I'm referring to Matt Cutts, not me.)

One minute I'm in New York having a blast at SES and the next it's reported to me that I might as well kill myself because the "paid link business" has been officially shut-down forever. What a buzz kill. From bar-hopping in NYC to talking about some dude that works for Google. I just got a soft-on.

I guess I'll talk about New York and how great it was later. Now, let's get super serious and talk about Matt Cutts and his majesties new orders... (insert sarcasm here)

Report paid links, huh? You want people to do what? HAA!!! Come on, dude! What a joke.

Who wants to do that? Have you really had that many people asking you to put something like this together? Pardon me if I question that, but I'm not a Buttcutt or whatever they call themselves.

Can I ask what's in it for the tattle-tales? Better rankings? Higher AdSense payout? Free radio spots? Gimme something! Sad truth is, people want shit if they're gonna sell other people out for no reason. Oh wait, there is one HUGE reason that I haven't mentioned yet. And I'm sure Matt and those boys at Google already have contingencies to deal with this potential catastrophe.

What reason, you ask? Why, it's "competitive advantage," of course!

I can hear it now, "Sure, Matty, I know some people buying/selling links. They're kicking my ass in the SERPs! Bring 'em down, brotha! Go, Matt, Go!! Google rules!!"

This is a disaster waiting to happen. For some people, anyway.

People adapt and if this "paid link reporting" decides to grow legs and go somewhere, then people will be gaming the "new" system too. What, so now you have to buy links to knock off your competitors? Nice. It'll happen, I know it. And I think its way worse that way.

We'll have in-house people calling us up freakin' out. "Dude, I need to buy $2 grand in shit links for www.mycompetition.com. I've got budget-approval." Then they turn around and report them. HAA!! Kinda funny...

Is it wrong, then, that I actually think this is all pretty great? Let's be honest here. The world hasn't ended. I've been almost exclusively entrenched in the gray world of linking (full-time) for more than 3 years now and this is the most attention I've ever seen the industry get. And any pub is good pub. Yes, even this right now.

Don't worry, people. These are good times.

Next post: SES NYC