So here’s something interesting.  I recently did a search for ‘St Louis SEO‘ on Google.  For the first time I noticed that there are some PPC results on the page, and perhaps they always were.

What concerns me is ‘St Louis SEO’ isn’t really a very competitive term.  This isn’t exactly a hotbed for SEO services.  So why would an SEO company use PPC instead of just rank for something that is what they do?

I can hear the phone conversation with some of these companies..

“Do you rank for the services you provide?”

“Yes, look on the righthand side of the page - we are near the top”

How many very popular websites were built without private funding/VC?  Is it possible?

Bored and looking for something to do?

Go to your twitter page.

Click on a picture of someone you’re following.

Now do this at least 6 more times.  You can’t look at who you’re clicking on, just click.

Once your on some page (hopefully someone you’ve never met/seen before), try to get back to your twitter page in 6 clicks or less.

This post has no SEO value whatsoever, Just for fun.  Although there are probably some deep things we could learn (but I’m not going to waste my time trying to figure out what they are.  This is enough of a time-waster as it is…)

I’ve got a weird problem, and probably one that people see all the time.

I keep getting these friend requests from people in the SEO industry, but I don’t know them.  Do I accept?

Here’s a cool way to get some possibly original content for a local community-based website.

Watch the local newspapers for articles written by freelance writers.  These local newspapers often don’t have a website, but are usually pretty stable in their small market area.

Hence the writers are getting published in the paper, but possibly not online.  So why not contact them and ask them if they’d like to be featured on your website as a writer for that local niche?  They’d probably be happy to get more attention, and you’ll get free local content.

I used to write an IT column for the Missouri Jaycees newspaper.  They were thrilled to have content for their newspaper, and I was excited to get the byline (and mention my website).  Had they put that online, I’d have more links and more exposure.  Win win.

If you run a local community or small business website and are needing ideas on how to get some free press, why not piggyback off the local items of interest?

There are two top news stories this week in Saint Louis.

• Flooding

I’ve already started a photo contest related to the flooding.  Take a picture of flooded areas, or perhaps a teenager filling a sandbag, or perhaps an elderly gentleman donating water to workers.  I’ll post the pictures, send out a press release about my contest, and get more traffic and brand recognition.  The winner will get a $25 gas card, which appeals to pretty much everyone nowadays.

• Anheuser Busch Takeover

Several ‘web-people’ have already taken advantage of this, launching sites such as SaveBudweiser and SaveAB. Smart because they’re getting free mentions on all the news broadcasts, radio stations and links galore from beer lovers and proud Saint Louis bloggers.  They’ve started petitions (even if useless, these encourage people to spread the word about the website) and forums to discuss the takeover.

Check out the news. Even if its depressing, there is still plenty of goodness to be found if you’ve got a somewhat creative mind.  People are happy to jump on a bandwagon, all you have to do is hook up the tractor and get in front of them.

Many of my readers wonder if they’ll ever get to the point where they’re making a decent income from their online affiliate programs. Well, I’m here to tell you that yes there will be a day when you’ll be able to quit your ‘regular’ job and live off the income that your websites take.

I started doing Internet marketing in 2006. I had no idea what I was doing. I bought an ebook (no longer available) and was inspired to give it a whack. I made some MFA pages and after several months got to about $5/day.

That sucked. But it was enough to keep me motivated.

Two years later and I’m pulling in a nice set of checks each month. Usually I deposit them and put most of the money back into my business, and I spend some on the kids.

But this month I thought I’d treat myself. And I did.

That’s me this past weekend on a 57 foot charter boat off the coast of Alabama. I’m fighting an Amber Jack and eventually I win.

I took my 15 year old son, left Friday, rented a nice apartment on Dauphin Island, and drove back on Monday. The entire 4-day trip was paid for with just two checks from affiliate marketing. It was awesome.

So for you that are wondering if you’ll get there, you will. Stick with it, learn some search optimization for your website, build links and you’ll have checks bigger than mine. Then you can tell me about your adventure.

For those of you that know a little about me, you’ll enjoy this…

The Job Interview

A guy goes to the Post Office to apply for a job.

The interviewer asks him, ‘Are you allergic to anything?’

He says ‘Yes - just caffeine’

Have you ever been in the service?

Yes,’ he says. ‘I was in Iraq for two years.’

The interviewer says, ‘That will give you 5 extra points toward employment,’ and then asks, ‘Are you disabled in any way?

The guy says, ‘Yes 100%…an IED exploded near me and blew my testicles off.’

The interviewer tells the guy, ‘O.K. In that case, I can hire you right now. Normal hours are from 8 AM to 4 PM.

You can start tomorrow at 10:00 - And plan on starting at 10 AM every day.’

The guy is puzzled and says, ‘If the hours are from 8 AM to 4 PM, why don’t you want me to be here before 10 AM?*

‘This is a government job,’ the interviewer says. ‘For the first two hours we just stand around drinking coffee and scratching our balls. No point in you coming in for that.’