A Reflection On The Year 2009 A Year Of Learning And Adapting.
December 29, 2009
The year 2009 was a challenging one here at Tucson SEO Solutions, as it was for many small businesses across America and all across our blue planet. It started out very disruptive as our major contract did not renew in January. That coincided with the worst recession in my life time.
To survive I launched a marketing program that I called The 109 Day Link Building Explosion. That program featured short reviews of 5 blogs, forums, and social media sites that provide useful Do Follow backlinks. The idea caught on and website traffic soared over 300%. While researching these sites I was also leaving useful comments as part of what I like to call Scratch My Back Marketing (more on this later.) One of those comments caught someones eye. They followed that link, they contacted us, and I acquired some much needed work. This occurred at a time when we were on the brink of folding the business.
Scratch My Back Marketing was no longer just a cute theory it was a marketing program that was doing as it was intended. It was producing business. Please visit the blog post Scratch My Back Marketing Explained for the story. In a nutshell, this program required that I exchange useful content and comments in exchange for Do Follow backlinks. This way everyone benefits. One thing that I have learned in this business is this. No one ever visits the site that is linked to a comment that reads “nice post” or “thanks.” But people on occasion will follow a link associated to a comment that makes sense to them. Quality comments pique the readers curiosity.
Over the year 2009 I built upon Scratch My Back Marketing to become an industry leader in link building services. We have for several months ranked both #1 and #2 in Google based searches for Backlinks Building Services. It all started with those 109 Day of 5 reviews each which meant a total of 545 reviews of Do Follow resources. For every site that I reviewed I visited 6 that I did not review. Of those about 40% provided at least one generic link.
This also was making me a skilled researcher. I had learned how to effectively search the internet. I also located some other power link builders. Fortunately, these link builders use the same user name wherever they went. Once I had this information I could now discover where they were obtaining links and I just followed the trails that they blazed while setting up profile on a wide variety of web 2.0 social sites. I also was able to discern very quickly how to optimize these sites to my advantage or when it was time to move on.
Then I combined this information with what I like to call smart thinking. When I would start on a project I was well prepared. I had my goals in place, I had the sites that I would use already mapped out. Link building, very successful link building requires a well thought out and well executed game plan. I took the mind set of an offensive coordinator for an NFL team. I would study the competition and then generate a game plan based on what my competition was doing in a particular market.
In the year 2009 I would become first a student of link building, then a tutored of other small business owners, to eventually an expert in the field. I had not intended this to happen it merely was an outgrowth of helping others find Do Follow resources through the 109 Day Program. Then in August a commenter on this blog mention a link builder that I was not aware of. I checked her and and while studying her work and her associates work I discovered thousands of sites that were use in the link building process. I studied their methods I discovered where they where spot on, but I also learned mostly from their mistakes.
In August I went into a full blown research and link building campaign. By the end of the 109 Day Link Building Program our site was ranking on the first page of Google for about 31 keyword phrases. This was up from 17 at the beginning of the year. Then by December 4th that number grew to 81 keyword phrases. The year 2009 was the year of link building for me. Our business had transitioned from purely an local SEO provider to becoming an educator. I did more website reviews combined with link building training than anything else. This training helped this business finish the year as a functioning business.
With the huge drop off in business my life/business partner Geri left to seek employment in a very shaky job market. Fortunately, and unfortunately, she found work just down the street from where we live. I will cover more of this later as it was a blessing that turned into a curse of sorts… Too be continued…
Update 01/25/2010: With Geri’s illness I have never made it back to follow up on this.
Here’s some other valuable resources:
Would you like to download the Scratch My Back Marketing anti spam plugin? Then go here.
Would you like to learn more about the Scratch My Back Marketing (not the plugin?) Then go here.
Too learn more about our services please check out these links:
Our Arizona Services:
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson – Phoenix
Phoenix Niche SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Local Internet – Website Marketing Services Tucson
Yuma – Flagstaff Arizona SEO -Internet Marketing Services
Scottsdale SEO – Glendale internet Website Marketing Services
Marana – Sierra Vista – Green & Oro Valley SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Nationally we offer the following services:
Detailed Website Review – Audit
Holistic SEO – Search Engine Optimization
Niche SEO – Internet – Website Marketing Services
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson Phoenix
Geo-Targeted Geo-targeted SEO – Search Engine Optimization Services
Affordable Quality Ethical Links – BackLinks Building Services Training
If your business is located in the US, Tucson, Phoenix, Glendale, Yuma, Scottsdale, Arizona or beyond and you would like to learn more about how your website can benefit from a blog, SEO, Niche SEO, or Internet Marketing services please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024, 520-777-6479 or 843-882-7661 Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
This Blog Hasn’t Been Much About SEO Lately
December 28, 2009
This blog has not been much about SEO lately. The reason what is very simple. My life partner, Geri has been struggling just to stay alive. Her liver is shot and that creates a whole lot of related health issues. We spent both Thanksgiving Day and most of Christmas in the hospital. This time around she has come home with oxygen which she will likely need 24/7 and likely forever.
So yes, our life has been turned upside down. She will need to apply for a liver transplant and for government disability. We are still waiting for prescription coverage to kick in and for the medical bills to be covered. It is very interesting that as long as you are in a hospital in the US you are well treated. However, that long list of prescriptions that they give when you depart is up to you to cover.
As I have mentioned previously, as small business owners with pre-existing conditions, we could not get affordable coverage so went went without. So when we left the hospital the needed medications were up to us to cover out of pocket. And as you might already know prescriptions are not cheap.
Now, having said all of that I can happily report that Geri is doing remarkably well*** The asterisks represent the fact that not only are we living day to day with her illness but it is often measured from hour to hour. Last evening I finally got some much needed sleep, about 9.5 hours worth. While, that was wonderful for me, Geri, anxiously awaited my waking moment. Yes, these are scary times for us.
I am by nature an optimistic person by this part of myself has been challenged lately. It is a real effort to see the positive when your mate is critically ill. When I can I try to keep working. Work is a blessing as it distracts me. I have been scouring all of the social bookmarking lists on the internet. I will be launching a new Ning site where the list will be featured. It should include about 200 social bookmarking sites. It should be available by 01/01/2010.
Thanks, UrbanThat’s my story… For now! This series will be continued…
An Update 01/25/2010: Well, the blog still has not been much about SEO lately. I was shocked when I reviewed this post and found about a dozen spelling errors. I guess the stress showed… Thank, for understanding!
Here’s some other valuable resources:
Would you like to download the Scratch My Back Marketing anti spam plugin? Then go here.
Would you like to learn more about the Scratch My Back Marketing (not the plugin?) Then go here.
Too learn more about our services please check out these links:
Our Arizona Services:
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson – Phoenix
Phoenix Niche SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Local Internet – Website Marketing Services Tucson
Yuma – Flagstaff Arizona SEO -Internet Marketing Services
Scottsdale SEO – Glendale internet Website Marketing Services
Marana – Sierra Vista – Green & Oro Valley SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Nationally we offer the following services:
Detailed Website Review – Audit
Holistic SEO – Search Engine Optimization
Niche SEO – Internet – Website Marketing Services
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson Phoenix
Geo-Targeted Geo-targeted SEO – Search Engine Optimization Services
Affordable Quality Ethical Links – BackLinks Building Services Training
If your business is located in the US, Tucson, Phoenix, Glendale, Flagstaff, Yuma, Scottsdale, Arizona or beyond and you would like to learn more about how your website can benefit from a blog, SEO, Niche SEO, or Internet Marketing services please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024, 520-777-6479 or 843-882-7661 Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
My Christmas Present My Honey’s Return From The Hospital
December 26, 2009
Yes, My Christmas Present is My Honey’s Return From The Hospital. The love of my life has become critically ill over the last two months. She has spent Thanks Giving Day and most of Christmas in a local medical center here in Tucson. She arrive home yesterday around sunset. This time she returned home with an oxygen tank in tow. She will also need regular blood transfusions.
To say this is a dramatic change in our lives would be an understatement. She is tired ans weary from her hospital stays but in remarkably good spirits otherwise. These changes have been difficult on both of us. It certainly places additional responsibilities on me. I am a worker bee by nature so adjusting will be a challenge but certainly very doable.
Because of Geri’s illness she can not safely drive or tolerate bright sunlight. So it will be my job to run the errands and do the shopping. Which are things that I do not mind doing at all. It is just going to be more difficult to balance the needs at home and work. Since I work from home this with be a very challenging task as I am easily distracted.
Having said all of that, I am extremely grateful to be here for her. My love for Geraldine is boundless. We will be exploring whether she is a candidate for a liver transplant. Yes, her illness is that extreme. She is in her early 50 so a transplant could add decades to her life. She we have entered a stage where we are discussing ways to extend life. That freaks me out when I think about the implications here. I will be exploring if I am a physical match for giving her part of my liver. I would do it without hesitation.
It’s at times like this when love is more than an easily spoken word. This is where the rubber meets the road. I am a very emotional male. Sometimes I think I cry to easily, but it is what it is. I tried so hard not to break down in front of her at the hospital but I was not always successful. I have often found myself curled into a fetal position weeping and sobbing in grief over the last two months. I have sometimes, in the past, said that I hope I would be like my dad and be the first to go. Now, that seems so selfish and shallow.
Now, unto a brighter point, I am very grateful that we live in the state of Arizona. The state has been on the forefront of providing health care. So it is likely that Geri’s medical expenses will be covered. If we lived in another state the medical bills would overwhelm us and would make life unbearable. But getting medical attention while our paperwork gets processed is still via the emergency room. We were told yesterday at the hospital that we qualified. We were sent home with oxygen supplies which usually indicates that she has been covered, but we have not gotten this confirmed in writing.
Hopefully, this will be taken care off when I go to fulfill her prescriptions later today.
I have for the most part been able to keep this blog strictly business related but with all that is going on I decided to allow our readers into our lives on a more personal level. That came back to bite me sorta when a heart felt post on our health struggles was spammed. It was an India based link builder representing a England based SEO provider. I became livid, after all the post was about our life and death struggles. I found this to be an extremely repulsive action. There are over 300 other posts that could have been used but they lazy bastard went for the first post available.
I have blacklisted the email associated with that comment. Spam is a reality that we all live with I know… but it just got to me. At that point I didn’t know if my honey would ever return home again. I emailed the company to express my anger, but of course they never replied.
I also wanted to take a moment to thank those wonderful people who have left wonderful comments of encouragement. They really are appreciated.
Thanks so very much,
Urban and Geri
Here’s some other valuable resources:
Would you like to download the Scratch My Back Marketing anti spam plugin? Then go here.
Would you like to learn more about the Scratch My Back Marketing (not the plugin?) Then go here.
Too learn more about our services please check out these links:
Our Arizona Services:
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson – Phoenix
Phoenix Niche SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Local Internet – Website Marketing Services Tucson
Yuma – Flagstaff Arizona SEO -Internet Marketing Services
Scottsdale SEO – Glendale internet Website Marketing Services
Marana – Sierra Vista – Green & Oro Valley SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Nationally we offer the following services:
Detailed Website Review – Audit
Holistic SEO – Search Engine Optimization
Niche SEO – Internet – Website Marketing Services
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson Phoenix
Geo-Targeted Geo-targeted SEO – Search Engine Optimization Services
Affordable Quality Ethical Links – BackLinks Building Services Training
If your business is located in the US, Tucson, Phoenix, Glendale, Flagstaff, Yuma, Scottsdale, Arizona or beyond and you would like to learn more about how your website can benefit from a blog, SEO, Niche SEO, or Internet Marketing services please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024, 520-777-6479 or 843-882-7661 Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
Another Update Our Life and Death Struggle Another Really Big Scare
December 24, 2009
I have been living a life that I would have never asked for if I had been given an option. But life didn’t allow me that luxury. What I am talking about here is the struggle to stay alive that my lover, my business partner, my life partner, my everything, Geri has been going through.
Like many who live in the United States we are small business owners who are struggling to keep our business open. We also can’t get health insurance due to preexisting conditions at any price. So she delayed health care till it was almost to late. She now has multiple conditions that make it very difficult to treat her. Its a combo plate of problems that include her spleen, her blood oxygen levels, blooding clotting factors, her liver, and water retention just to name a few.
One thing is certain is that she is loosing blood somewhere somehow internally. They suspect that the problem is with her spleen. Surgeons where summoned today to talk about our options. However, they started the conversation off based on faulty information from the lab. Apparently, the lab was showing that her kidney’s where almost completely dysfunctional. This would make any surgery extremely risky.
The conversation was grim and it centered about what could be done to extend her life. It took an enormous effort on my part to stay calm. I knew that things were bad but it is very difficult to discuss extending the life of someone that you love. What should you do, who should you listen too, and who should you trust. This scene or a similar one is being played out on a daily basis all across America. So that which I write about is not unique except that it is happening in the center of our world.
The problem was that the information about her kidney’s wrong. When the doctor mentioned her kidney’s I had to stop him and ask him to repeat what he just said which he did. I spoke up and mentioned that after a month this was the first mention of her kidney’s failing. At that point the surgeon appeared confused and surprised. He excused himself to look into the situation. When we did not appear after 30 minutes I assumed that he was called into surgery.
It was then that Geri confided in me that she no longer has a fear of death. This is something that has loomed over her during these health struggles. I long ago had an out of body near death experience and had lost any fear of death. However, my story was of on comfort to her. So what she was now telling me was a significant change for her. As I listened to her I began to embrace the fact that our time together may be limited. At times like this you are flooded with memories of things that were wrongly said and missed opportunities.
I was now dealing with a litany of would of, could of, and should of’s. Shortly thereafter, I lost it and began to weep and sob as I am doing now. I was also filled with anger. The kind of anger that one expresses to their God in situations like this. After two divorces and many relationships I had found true love with Geri. The thoughts of facing life without her where becoming unbearable. I quietly, whimpered that I needed to go home to cry. I didn’t want her to see me like this. I wanted to be stronger but I could not muster the strength. Even now, I feel guilty for going home.
Eventually, after much weeping and sobbing I would fall asleep. Later, the phone rang and caller id indicated the call was from the hospital so I took it. It was Geri informing me that the lab screwed up and her kidney’s were working as they should. Finally, some god news I thought.
I will return to the hospital again later today to map out what we are going to do on the health front. She will likely never return to any form of employment and that creates a whole other set of situations. Well, it’s 3 in the morning and I will end this and try to catch up on some sleep.
Its a sad tale for the holiday season, but life is often sad when others are rejoicing. I truly wish and pray that you all have a safe and prosperous holiday season. I would ask this on small favor please remember us in yours prayers.
Thank you all so very much,
Urban and Geri
Here’s some other valuable resources:
Would you like to download the Scratch My Back Marketing anti spam plugin? Then go here.
Would you like to learn more about the Scratch My Back Marketing (not the plugin?) Then go here.
Too learn more about our services please check out these links:
Our Arizona Services:
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson – Phoenix
Phoenix Niche SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Local Internet – Website Marketing Services Tucson
Yuma – Flagstaff Arizona SEO -Internet Marketing Services
Scottsdale SEO – Glendale internet Website Marketing Services
Marana – Sierra Vista – Green & Oro Valley SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Nationally we offer the following services:
Detailed Website Review – Audit
Holistic SEO – Search Engine Optimization
Niche SEO – Internet – Website Marketing Services
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson Phoenix
Geo-Targeted Geo-targeted SEO – Search Engine Optimization Services
Affordable Quality Ethical Links – BackLinks Building Services Training
If your business is located in the US, Tucson, Phoenix, Glendale, Flagstaff, Yuma, Scottsdale, Arizona or beyond and you would like to learn more about how your website can benefit from a blog, SEO, Niche SEO, or Internet Marketing services please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024, 520-777-6479 or 843-882-7661 Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
Thanksgiving Blessings & More
November 26, 2009
We at Tucson SEO Solutions want to wish all of our readers (Robin included) a very Happy and blessed Thanksgiving Day and a peaceful and prosperous holiday season. I will be spending part of my day at a local medical center with my life partner, Geri. She unfortunately is dealing with a major illness. However, we are giving thanks as she is responding well to her treatment and looks much better. A major life threatening illness has a way of changing attitudes and priorities.
This year has been very challenging for everyone that I know, still I have much to be grateful, especially considering the economy. I am grateful to still be in business and to be blogging. I am also grateful to be able to share what I have learned about SEO and internet marketing with you my readers.
I am absolutely grateful for the love of my life Geri… I love you babe… You’ll be coming home soon. It’s lonely without your presence here. This house just isn’t a home without you!
Keep the faith…
Thanks,
Urban & Geri
Tucson SEO Solutions
Our Arizona Services:
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson – Phoenix
Phoenix Niche SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Local Internet – Website Marketing Services Tucson
Yuma – Flagstaff Arizona SEO -Internet Marketing Services
Scottsdale SEO – Glendale internet Website Marketing Services
Marana – Sierra Vista – Green & Oro Valley SEO – Internet Marketing Services
Nationally we offer the following services:
Detailed Website Review – Audit
Holistic SEO – Search Engine Optimization
Niche SEO – Internet – Website Marketing Services
Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson Phoenix
Geo-Targeted Geo-targeted SEO – Search Engine Optimization Services
Affordable Quality Ethical Links – BackLinks Building Services Training
If your business is located in the US, Tucson, Phoenix, Glendale, Flagstaff, Yuma, Scottsdale, Arizona or beyond and you would like to learn more about how your website can benefit from a blog, SEO, Niche SEO, or Internet Marketing services please call Tucson SEO at 520-505-6024, 520-777-6479 or 843-882-7661 Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
