A Reflection On The Year 2009 A Year Of Learning And Adapting.
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
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
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
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
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.
SEO – Life & Health Care: A Tucson SEO Update
I haven’t been blogging much this month and I thought that it was time for an update. I really try to avoid bringing my personal life into the blog. It was developed to provide small business SEO solutions and not a glimpse into my personal life. However, today I am relenting. The love of my life has been hospitalized with a life threatening disease. That in and of itself is a very traumatic event!
When you realize that we are a small business that can not afford health insurance this makes the situation that much more difficult. Yes, we live in the greatest country in the world that does not provide health insurance for its citizens. My life partner, Geri, has delayed treatment like millions of others in this country that lack health insurance. Hopefully, she didn’t wait too long.
My love, Geri was hospitalized last night. Today, she is receiving loads of tests and treatments which is a good thing. How these tests and treatments will get paid for will be dealt with another day. I’m sad, I’m scared, and I’m crying. I must deal with my pain and anguish now, so I can provide her with support later today.
I am a 55 dude that has been twice married. However, I did not truly understand love until I was almost 50. Geri and I have been together for 8 years. It was 6 years ago that I nearly died from a prolonged illness. Geri stood with me then and now it is my turn to provide support.
It really sucks when your loved one is stricken by illness and you don’t know what the outcome will be. Geri is my soul mate, my lover, and my best friend that I love so dearly. Her presence in my life has made me a better person. She accepts me for you I am and she makes no effort to change me. She is a woman that doesn’t bitch or complain. Yea, I’m lucky and I know it.
I am a political junkie and I have followed the health care debate almost daily. Inevitably someone will make a comment about how many people are dying for lack of health care in this country. I always cringe when I hear this because it isn’t an abstract concept for us!
That’s our story… For now!
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.
Is Google Putting Your Family Or Home Based Business At Risk?
If you are a small home based business you may have never heard of Google’s Place Pages. Google Place Pages are part of Google Maps or what Google calls the Local Business Center (LBC.) Recent changes to these pages may be putting you and your family unnecessarily at risk.
Google’s LBC is more commonly known as the Google Maps. It allows local businesses to place a free listing in its maps. These maps are often included with Google’s searches that are local in nature. You don’t even need to have a website to list your business with local maps listings.
However, these listing may place you and your family at risk. When you click on a business that is listed in Google’s maps you are taken to what is called a Place Page. These pages provide more detailed information about a company. These pages also include such things as reviews, direction to your business, and more. Recently, Google has begun including a street view of your businesses location. This is great for a retail location. However, if you run your business from your home it may be placing you and your family at risk if you are using your homes address.
Do you really want a picture of your home in your business listing? That picture will show whatever was in front of your home when a Google van took a picture. That may include your kids, toys, or your personal vehicles. The problem is Google does not seem to offer a business opt out of street views of businesses. I have scoured the Help Forum to no avail. My inquiries have gone unanswered.
Here’s is how I know that you may be at risk if you are using your home address in Local maps. Our business is a home based and when I first listed the business with Google I used my exact home address. When you first sign up with Google’s Local Business Center it sends you a post card. That post card has your pin number for your account verification. That is why I originally used my home address. Then I basically overlooked changing the address.
Then, a few months later I had a business appointment with what turned out to be a very strange man. Since I work out of my home I usually meet clients at a local coffee shop (not Starbucks.) At this meeting I was glad that I was using this coffee shop. This guy really was a very scary character. He is the kind that I would not have ever invited to my home or would want to business with.
During the conversation I mentioned that I meet at coffee shops for safety reasons. The very scary man informed me that he knew where I lived because my address was listed in Google maps. Quickly, I was making a mental note to change my address. I thought that I would never want these man just showing up at my front door. That’s when he told me that he drove to my house. He said “I pulled up in front of your house, and then I decided that it was not a good idea, I left and called instead.” Yea, I thought.
This was an almost mess in your pants moment for me. This guy was huge, disheveled, and he appeared to be a ticking time bomb to me. He claimed to have the next greatest idea that would put Google out of business and he wanted to run his business proposal by me. I had time on my hands and that it wouldn’t hurt to give this guy an hour of my time. I thought what if… Well, his proposal had already been duplicated thousands of times over and his was being poorly executed.
He thought so much of his great idea that he had me sign a non-disclosure agreement. Eventually he showed me his website and did his presentation. Then he tries to close me. He was looking for financial partners. I went to great lengths to explain why I thought that his business model would not work. I further explained that even if he could make it work that the site would need to be professionally built and he would need huge amounts of money to promote it.
What he was trying to accomplish was to be a cross between Craigslist and YouTube. However, his business model was built upon selling classifieds ads which are free all over the internet. I very carefully explained that I wanted nothing to do with his business concept. I further explained that I thought that he would likely fail. I thought the guy was going to pounce on me and perhaps do great bodily harm to me. Yes, the guy was that scary. He informed me that I was the only person who ever told him no. This guy was huge and I could understand why someone would want to shine him on.
Now, I had to be as gracious as possible because this guy knows where I live. The first thing that I did upon arriving home was to change my business address in Google’s Local Business Center. I made up a number but used the same street address. I hoped and prayed that this guy would not go off someday and come looking for me.
I got a second reality check when I recently checked my Local Business Center listing a few days ago. That’s when I discovered Google was now placing a street view picture of the address that I supplied with our LBC listing on our place page. It was not a very big deal for me as it was not my residence that Google was showing because I changed my address, but it could have been. It truly can be a crazy world out there on the internet we must be careful, especially if you have a home based business and a family.
If you are a home based business do you really want a picture of your home in your Google local listing? Depending when Google took a photo of your home it may also include you, your family members, or your personal vehicles. I have not been able to find out where or how to remove this picture. In fact, I can’t get any answers from Google about its local maps. They offer a help forum but this has been of very little help. If I find a solution I will let you all know. I have made an inquiry today, but none of my other inquiries have been answered by A Google employee. That inquiry was made three days ago. I held off posting then until I gave Google an opportunity to respond but they have not.
There is a lot of frustration with the lack of customer support with Google in general and more specifically in the Local Business Center department. I have been trying to get an answer for why a clients listing was flagged for several weeks now. Google is Beta testing a new ad program associated with its Local Maps and doesn’t seem to be offering any customer support at this time. Those of us who are regularly involved with Local SEO and Local Maps have never been thrilled with the support, or the lack thereof, that Google offers.
I would suggest that you seriously consider changing your address if you have been using your home address. Do you really want photo of your home appearing in your business listing? I know I have one really huge reason not to have my home appearing! I can only hope that others notice this and start asking Google to change this and allow home based businesses to opt out pf having pictures of their homes appearing in its local maps. Now, you will need to check your businesses place page to see if your home is appearing on this page. I checked some listing of other home based businesses that I know off. About two thirds of the listing that I checked has a street view photo in their listing. While yours may not have a street view now, it likely will in the near future.
I am asking my visitors, those who actually read these posts, to please Stumble or to give this post a Digg. This story needs heard and to be shared.
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.
Do Follow Comment – Keyword Luv – Scratch My Back Marketing
Comments Turned Off
Did You Come Hear Looking For
Quality Do Follow Backlinks Resources?
No Comments Links Provided For This Post
Finally, after several long drawn out months we have completed the upgrade to this blog. We have added all of the following plugins Do Follow, Comment and Keyword Luv. We have added all of these plugins to make our blog a friendly place to comment.
It is part of what we have been calling Scratch My Back Marketing.” The idea here is that you scratch our backs with use comments of at least 150 characters in length. We then scratch your back with useful Do Follow Anchor Text links. If you are a blog owner with an RSS feed enabled you will get an extra link.
We now are using the Scratch My Back Marketing plugin. It is an anti spam plugin. It has been developed to halt what is commonly known as drive by comments such as “nice post” or “thanks for the link.” I have been wanting this plugin for about six month and now. It is here for Beta testing. It will soon be available on WordPress.
Whose back are you scratching?
We at Tucson SEO Solutions are officially requesting that you join the conversation here. That is, if you found that this post was at all interesting, useful, or perhaps you are just looking for a useful link. Then, I would like to entice you to comment by providing you with useful backlinks as part of what I call “Scratch My Back Marketing.”
We are now using the Scratch My Back Marketing plugin. This anti spam plugin simply requires that your comment be at least 150 characters in length or it is automatically rejected. It’s that simple. We are now forcing commenters to do what we were requesting for months on this blog! The blog also uses Keyword and Comment Luv. Please note that if you only include keyword your comment may be used put you will not obtain a link!
The Scratch My Back Marketing requires you to scratch this blog by leaving a useful comment. We then will provide you with an anchor text Do Follow Link. It’s all about win/win marketing. I am willing to exchange page rank for the bump that a fresh comment provides.
Are you ready to exchange comments for links?
This is the part where I move link juice around the site and hope that someone might actually want to learn more about our local small business solutions and venture further.
Too learn more about our services please check out these links:
Local SEO Services Tucson Website Designs Tucson Search Engine Optimization Phoenix SEO
Holistic SEO Solutions Geo-Targeted SEO Solutions Niche SEO Solutions Arizona SEO Solutions
Ethical Link Building Training Affordable Website Designing Tucson
If your business is located in the US, Tempe, Phoenix, Glendale, and Scottsdale, Arizona or beyond and you would like to learn more about how your website can benefit from a blog, SEO, Niche SEO, Internet marketing, or our affordable website design/re-design services please call Tucson SEO at 520-777-6479 or 1-866-512-1230 Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.
No Comments Links Provided For This Post
Is It Time To Bo Do Follow… Again?
I recently wrote about appreciating your blog readers and suggest that it is safe to be a Do Follow blog again. That made for some very interesting conversation both on and off the blog. We all know that all blogs get spam and it is especially bad for those blogs that provide Do Follow links.
I explained that much of the problem was not so much from individuals leaving comments but it was bots that were the problem. There are many lazy link builders around and they are not going away anytime soon. There are also many paid link builders from low wage counties cluttering our blogs with useless comments. This problem now has and answer. When you leave a comment here you now must leave a comment of that is at least 150 words in length or it gets rejected automatically. I am calling this plugin the Scratch My Back Marketing plugin.
For the last six months or so I have ended each post stating that you must leave a 20 word comment to be considered for a link. This was ignored everyday by link builders who visited the blog. So now, we have forced the issue. No longer will I have to waste my time deleting short comments that I like to call drive by comments.
I also use the spam filter Akismet and found that it was always full of spam. So much so that I dumped it all. I knew from experience there were useful comments in there but it wasn’t worth it to me to preview hundreds of spam comments everyday to find a few good comments. I know that I am not alone here. I am talking about 350 spam comments a day!
So after reading several posts about the spam filter plugin, Bad Behavior I had it installed. Then I took at look at the number of spam comments per day prior to using Bad Behavior. The spam comments on a good day were 113 on the worst day it went as high as 497. That’s a lot of spam.
The day before I installed Bad Behavior the blog had 444 spam comments. That dropped down to 16 the following day. I can easily deal with this amount of spam comfortably, in fact I now pull 3 or 4 comments out of the spam filter each day. Those 3 to 4 comments were being lost each and everyday. That is potentially 100 fewer comments per month!
Over the last two months the spam has been as low as 5 and as high as 32. Now, those are numbers that I can live with. This isn’t a perfect solution but it’s a reasonably good one. We have also included a 20 word comment requirement to obtain a link from this blog. We have managed to become Do Follow without the Do Follow spam problem.
Well, I then upgraded my plugins and Bad Behavior would no longer work with the newer version of the Redirection plugin. So I switched to using the Tan Tan Noodles plugin. This plugin turned out to be even better than the Bad Behavior plugin. It has absolutely removed all the auto bot spam. The only spam that ends up in Akismet now are from blogger’s on our black list. If you have a WordPress blog you can blacklist email addresses in the Discussions area under settings.
What I am suggesting here is this, when we release the Scratch My Back Marketing Plugin it could be combined with Tan Tan Noodles and Akismet for a killer anti spam approach. It will then be safe to become a Do Follow blog. The reason that most blogs are not Do Follow is because of spam. These three plugins will provide your blog with lots of protection.
Is it time that you you went Do Follow?
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
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Nationally we offer the following services:
Detailed Website Review – Audit
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Local SEO Internet Marketing Services Tucson Phoenix
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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.
Comment Policy Update 2009
I thought it was time to address the SEO crowd and link builders that visits here often and who leaves comments. I have a very simple policy when it comes to providing links to my competitors. I will not provide a link on this blog that will give you a competitive advantage. This simply would be a foolish business policy for me to provide you with a one way link. However, if you have a blog that does not require me to register I will provide you folks with a link.
Many companies and individuals offers SEO services but they do not have a blog. So I can never acquire a return link if I chose to make a comment on their blog because they don’t have one. This may seem silly to some but this is my bread and butter. If you can not return the favor then I am not interested in providing you with a link.
Our business completes in Tucson, Phoenix, and across the US and Canada. So if you provide SEO services in any of these areas then you are a competitor you will not acquire links from here unless you have a blog. I actually had a direct competitor from Phoenix that started leaving 3 and 4 comments per visit and he visited every few days. The comments were great. However, when I visited his blog he never would approve my comments. That discovery prompted me to delete his comments. I also emailed him to explain my position.
I just thought that it was time to make a formal statement on this subject.
We have created the Scratch My Back Marketing plugin which requires comments to be at least 150 characters in length or about 20 words. Just think of it as a Tweet. If you do not meet this requirement will comment will be rejected!
If you do not properly execute Keyword Luv by using the @ symbol in your anchor text you will not acquire a link and I will use your comment. You simply should know better by now! This is the biggest reason why links are denied here. If all you can do is enter your keywords you will not get a link. I am still amazes that so many people ignore that the site uses this plugin. It’s all about following directions!
No profanity………………! Allowed Even the mildest forms will be deleted.
If you insert links into comments that are self promotion those links will be deleted.
Tucson SEO will not provide links to the following types of sites.
Porno
Gambling
Drugs
New blogs with little or no content (20 posts required with some comments included)
Political sites
One page marketing sites
Foreign language sites
All affiliate marketing sites and blogs that means yours!
If your comment appears to be spammy it will likely be deleted
If you want to be argumentative that will not fly either. Th reality here is this blog is part of my businesses marketing plan. It turns off clients to see arguing on the blog so it is not acceptable behavior. I will gladly let you make your point and I will counter that point. Then the discussion is over. I don’t have the time nor desire for protracted discussions. This isn’t a forum. It’s a blog, and it’s my blog
Finally, for those who like to tell me how to run my blog or business your comments like will never be published.
And that’s that!
We at Tucson SEO Solutions are officially requesting that you join the conversation here. That is, if you found that this post was at all interesting, useful, or perhaps you are just looking for a useful link. Then, I would like to entice you to comment by providing you with useful backlinks as part of what I call “Scratch My Back Marketing.”
The Scratch My Back Marketing requires you to scratch this blog by leaving a useful comment of at least 20 words or more. Your comment should be relevant to the post. My scratch is that you will receive a Do Follow anchor text link (Keyword Luv.) And if you have a blog with an RSS feed enabled you will receive an extra permalink back to your blog via Comment Luv.
It’s all about win/win marketing. I am willing to exchange page rank for the bump that a fresh comment provides.
Are you ready to exchange comments for links?
This is the part where I move link juice around the site and hope that someone might actually want to learn more about our local small business solutions and venture further.
Too learn more about our services please check out these links:
Local SEO Services Tucson Website Designs Tucson Search Engine Optimization Phoenix SEO
Holistic SEO Solutions Geo-Targeted SEO Solutions Niche SEO Solutions Arizona SEO Solutions
Ethical Link Building Training Affordable Website Designing Tucson
If your business is located in the US, Tempe, Phoenix, Glendale, and Scottsdale, Arizona or beyond and you would like to learn more about how your website can benefit from a blog, SEO, Internet marketing, or our affordable website design/re-design services please call Tucson SEO at 520-777-6479 or 1-866-512-1230 Now!
Tucson SEO… Solutions that create probabilities out of possibilities.