I have always wanted my official title to be Lord of Awesome. I don’t know why, I just have… mostly because it’s awesome. Now that I have my own Denver internet marketing company I had business cards made to read Dave Winget - Lord of Awesome. I think I deserve this title as I do own and run PrettyMuchAwesome.org
I started thinking to myself that if I’m going to have this title I should put some reason behind it - or at the very least rank #1 in google for a search of Lord of Awesome. This is my mission now. I will spend time over the coming weeks to rank myself in the serps as Lord of Awesome.
This is where the SEO comes in - I will rank this page and others for Lord of Awesome as I have for my personal name Dave Winget. A search for Dave Winget comes up as the first 10 results pointing to things I have done and, given a little time, Lord of Awesome will come up as well.
If you want to help me out with this noble mission of branding myself as Dave Winget - Lord of Awesome feel free to link to this post and write about the best title - Lord of Awesome.
As many of you know I have recently made the switch back to freelance SEO from working at an agency. This change has been great so far and if you’re interested in hiring me check out 10kThings.com and leave me a message - the site is still a mess but we still have bigger fish to fry.
Anyway, now that I am back in the drivers seat of my future and expansion of the company I am working for (myself) knowing how to choose the right clients comes into play. Do you aim only for the top, bringing in only clients that you can get an ongoing monthly retainer or do you take on the small hourly jobs?
I have opted for both. Naturally I want to expand my business with as many clients as I can, hire folks to handle the heavy lifting, wash rinse etc. If I only aimed for ongoing larger clients I may get 1-2 signed a month, slowly building the base of the business - I can, however, take on small consulting work 3-5 hour projects at a much quicker rate. In the past one and a half weeks of working on my own I have taken on 13 of these small projects.
With these small projects I have the luxury to pick and choose who I want to work with. I haven’t chosen any that would be a once and out deal but rather I have spent this time to build relationships with other small design and development companies that will lead to more work in the future. While these small projects are not long term contracts they ultimately can provide more value.
One sure fire way to tell when you have been doing something far too much - to the point of obsession - is when you start dreaming about it.
This happened to me last night. I had a dream that I wrote something amazing and it went hot on Digg and that I was getting all kinds of new subscribers, hits, advertising offers… and then I woke up.
Daily updates starting tomorrow.
Here is my experiment in reputation management.
Lets see with this yelp page for Omni Financial. And that ends our test to push a page up in the serps and potentially harmful ones down. Go get them Omni Financial… Go get them.
Expect a follow up post as soon as I know what’s going on with it. Could be pushed up in a day, week, month..
Hey everyone, I know I haven’t been posting as much as I’d like to but I wanted to let everyone know what I was up to. As I have said in some previous posts I started my own Search Marketing Company! This has really put the kibosh on having a social life… much less updating WingnutSEO frequently.
We are updating all the time on the 10kthings Blog though. Be sure to check out our latest post. We’re doing an experiment that involves the power of social media so please tell your friends and help us out. Over at 10kThings we also have started Video Blogging - As part of the power of social media I put up the first Video last night. Be sure to check out 10kthings on YouTube frequently, that is going to be a lot of fun.
All and all life couldn’t be better (even though it is rather stressful and busy right now) but I’m sure it will all pay off. I really couldn’t have come as far as I have without the support of you all. So… Thanks 
Remember the old glory days of chat rooms? Back before the spam bots, back before AOL when the program was called WoW, back before everyone KNEW that only pedophiles used chat rooms? Those were good times and you know what? THEY ARE BACK?
What? Where? What is this chat room where no one is spamming A/S/L IM ME LOL!!!!
Twitter. Twitter is chat room 2.0 - The new features you get out of this chatroom include:
- Only allowing people you like/know as part of your chat room
- Not needing to sit in front of a scrolling text that erases if you leave
- Can chat from your phone
- Everyone is always a part of the chat even if they aren’t around they will see what you said later
Twitter is great for these reasons. Sure it doesn’t have the features and extras like Pownce does - but if there is one thing we have learned from Google - simple sells. There is nothing about Twitter to confuse you. It really is just “What are you doing.”
I don’t think Twitter ever intended to be the new chat room… I’m pretty sure they saw that “what are you doing” feature on Facebook, thought it was cool and just jacked that idea. No matter how it came about or what it started as - it is now chat room 2.0
If you’re not a part of this great chat room go sign up and follow me!
As most of you know I have done freelance SEO for a long time and just recently started a Denver/Boulder SEO company of my very own. It’s going really well and I’m trying my hardest to make time and write on both blogs all while working a 40-hour agency job and then spending the rest of my time working on building a new company.
That said I started a Twitter account for my new company @10kthings (I’m @Wingnut by the way).
Before I started the company Twitter account it I asked my follwers to see if everyone thought it was a good/bad/lame idea or not - the resounding answer was DO IT. So far it’s been a great idea. I really can’t be more happy with it (well, I wish my partners would use it more… but they started to today) With me and 4 other people tweeting (using it the real way and not just shameless self promotion) it’s been fun. We have a few followers and it’s just nice to know that we have the support out there. For all the time it takes chatting with people - it’s all well worth it. It keeps us motivated knowing that there are people watching what we are up to and willing to help support us.
All and all starting a Twitter account for your company is a GOOD THING. It opens your company up to a whole new range of being social and lets you know that there are people out there that actually do care and wish you the best…. It also it’s awesome free advertising and public relations!
I am pleased to announce the recently registered LLC 10k Things. After being canned from my last job (even after getting a great job 2 hours later) I started to really take things more seriously. The SEM world is always changing and clients come and go – how secure is my new job?
So I did what any Freelancer turned Agency Worker doing side freelance work would do – Took it up a notch with my freelance work. I have always worked with designers and PPC consultants to help with my freelance clients – but now it’s official a company. The launch of the new internet marketing company site, 10kThings.com, should happen later this evening.
It’s pretty cool. We have been working together for a while now and interestingly enough we can do the exact same things any large agency can but for a much lower cost – As we have ZERO overhead.
We will see how things go – we have a few proposals out and a couple clients already signed. Who knows this thing could get huge… here’s to hoping.
To those wondering I will be keeping my full time job - and they were cool that I was working side work when they hired me as they encourage the entrepreneurial spirit. I am really happy where I am with this company and 10k Things will not be a direct competitor with where I am now. The current company I am with is much more large scale than anything 10k Things will be for quite some time.
Right now it’s just a fun project to bring in a little extra money with taking on a few clients and try something new.
Living in Denver and working in Boulder I see a lot of homeless people every day. As an SEO who lives and breathes and dreams search engines I had an interesting thought today inspired by my co-worker Nathan Joynt - What if the homeless needed SEO but just couldn’t afford it? I think it would really be helpful to everyone if I took the time and did my part for the homeless - Free homeless SEO
Lets look at some examples:
Exhibit A
This is the kind of sign that probably worked really well about 10 years ago. This man has been on the streets a long time but has lost touch with what works and doesn’t. He should really consider a redesign as the usability is just horrible, the information is jumbled and the font choices could be better. I’d also suggest that a he write better, less spammy copy - This would not only help usability but he might even be able to get higher SERP positions bringing in more traffic and ad revenue.
Exhibit B
This is a great example of good design but sadly they are not going to get the traffic they deserve. First of all the keyword density is lacking not to mention the fact that “work” and “food” are highly competitive keywords - ranking for these is going to be nearly impossible. With just a little keyword research we see that “Homeless Vet will work 4 food” would be a better choice - You can still get your message across and you find you will get a lot of traffic by putting yourself against less competition.
Another problem with this sign is that it’s out there so much - It’s duplicate content. Just changing the “for” to a “4″ isn’t enough to make the spiders think it is different. I’d suggest adding more words and maybe breaking up the content with bullets and H1’s. Even something as simple as changing “work” to “manual labor” would be helpful.
Exhibit C
Clearly this homeless man has some SEO experience. This man knew that he would get hurt in the SERPs if he used spam tactics or duplicate content. This is a great example of how great content will always be linked to and get a lot of traffic. Not only is this a link baiting sign it is a great example of niche marketing. He knew that ninjas are a big market and by by positioning himself for what people are searching for he gets the traffic. Not only that his copy writing and design skills are great. He gets his point across quickly and makes the reader want to buy.
This AGREEMENT is dated and in effect as of the Month Day, Year, between “Company Name” hereafter referred to as “Consultant” and “Client Name”, hereafter referred to as “Client.” This agreement is with respect to the Search Engine Optimization of Company website, hereinafter referred to as the “Work.” Whereas, Consultant is a professional of Search Engine Optimization of good standing; Whereas, Client wishes Consultant to create certain Work described more fully herein; and Whereas, Consultant wishes to create such Work; Now, therefore, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and other valuable considerations, the parties hereto agree as follows:
CONFIDENTIALITY:
The Client and Consultant may disclose confidential information one to the other to facilitate work under this Agreement. Such information shall be so identified in writing at the time of its transmittal, and shall be safeguarded and not disclosed to third parties by the receiving party. Confidential information shall not include information that:
- is already known to the party to which it is disclosed;
- is or becomes part of the public domain without breach of this Agreement;
- is obtained from third parties, which have no obligations to keep confidential to the parties to this Agreement.
DESCRIPTION OF WORK:
A separate Proposal will describe the Work that is required of Consultant for the Client.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
The full length of this contract is as follows:
- Starting date is Month Day, Year. and estimated completion Month Day, Year for the total amount of $X per month. Payment is due on the 1st of every month.
DUE DATES:
Consultant agrees to deliver optimization suggestions on dates as agreed upon in the Proposal. Consultant will make every effort to meet agreed upon due dates. The Client should be aware that failure to submit required information or materials may cause subsequent delays in the production. Client delays could result in significant delays in delivery of finished work. The Client also agrees to make any SEO changes suggested immediately and to not second guess the Consultant. The Client acknowledges the fact that he/she knows nothing about SEO and will keep his/her personal opinions to themselves.
FEES & ADDITIONAL SERVICES:
Changes in client input or direction or excessive changes will be charged at $X an hour for any work the Client wishes Consultant to create, which is not specified in the DESCRIPTION section of this agreement, or in the attached Proposal will be considered an additional service. Such Work shall require a separate Agreement and payment separate from and above that specified in this Agreement. If the Client wishes to do nothing with the suggestions and changes offered but still expects his/her rankings to increase the Client accepts that he/she shall allow the Consultant to punch the Client in the throat.
ASSIGNMENT OF WORK:
Consultant reserves the right to assign other designers or subcontractors to the Work to ensure quality and on-time completion.
RESERVATION OF RIGHTS:
All rights not expressly granted hereunder are reserved to Consultant, including but not limited to all rights in sketches, comps, or other preliminary materials.
PERMISSIONS AND RELEASES:
The Client agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Consultant against any and all claims, costs, and expenses, including attorney’s fees, due to materials included in the Work at the request of the Client for which no copyright permission or previous release was requested or uses which exceed the uses allowed pursuant to a permission or release.
PUBLICATION:
The Client may publish or disclose information regarding the Work and shall acknowledge the support of Consultant in all such publications. The Client will not use the name of Consultant, in any advertising or publicity without the prior written approval from the Consultant. The Consultant will not use the name of Client, in any advertising or publicity without the prior written approval from the Client.
Termination:
Either party may terminate this Agreement by giving 30 days written notice to the other of such termination. In the event that Work is postponed or terminated at the request of the Client, Consultant shall have the right to bill pro rata for work completed through the date of that request, while reserving all rights under this Agreement. If additional payment is due, this shall be payable within thirty days of the Client’s written notification to stop work. In the event of termination, the Client shall also pay any expenses incurred by Consultant and the Consultant shall own all rights to the Work. The Client shall assume responsibility for all collection of legal fees necessitated by default in payment.
The Client and Consultant are independent parties and nothing in this Agreement shall constitute either party as the employer, principal or partner of or joint venture with the other party. Neither the Client nor Consultant has any authority to assume or create any obligation or liability, either express or implied, on behalf of the other.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of STATE applicable therein.
The undersigned agrees to the terms of this agreement on behalf of his or her organization or business.
On behalf of the Client: ______________________________
On behalf of Consultant: ______________________________