brewery33

I don’t want to suck like SEO companies

I was treating life like a slimy SEO company. I knew the proper strings to pull, or people to agitate to create a response. My content suffered, but I got a healthy amount of traffic. The traffic was seeing a one dimensional character that I had created in an effort to say “LOOK AT ME!!!”. Hence my inner self was experiencing an unseen breakdown. Getting down to brass tacks, number one needs to be in order.

I want to find the focus and channel my energy toward completing a goal that will satisfy my mind. My tactics of late would be just the opposite of what I have realized. I am just as gross as the telemarketer promising front page Google ranking.

It goes like this, the telemarketer will litter your content with links to credible sources and also provide links to your page from “credible” sources. What this does is game the Google engine to garner page views. If you care anything about your content you won’t fall victim to this unethical practice, or you will pay the piper in a high bounce rate.

What you should do is find a focus that your content will encompass. Once the focus is agreed upon, start creating content in the medium that you desire (Twitter, blogging, vlogging, email). Not only will you be staying true to yourself, but you will find that the content is more rich because you actually care about what it is you are creating. Focus allows you a path to follow and a goal to attain. Without either of these you are just treading water.

This has happened to me in the “real” world. I lost my focus and imagination. Living without the chatter I am making strides on finding my lost characteristics. I am creating a plan and readying myself to return the space. Upon my return, I will use the tools available with more precision. That is the idea anyway.

The muddy water isn’t so much clarifying yet, but I think that it is safe to say that the answer lies in acts. You have to love what you do. If you don’t love what you do, you are only acting as a cog in the great machine of depression.

I leave you with a video and a quote.

“If you watch the pennies, the dollars take care of themselves.” Ferment on that until next post.

Stay fresh.

St. Baldrick’s Day Massacre

Today was potentially a big day for philanthropy in Stockton. During my daily lurk of the Siders blog I came across the young Lincoln high school student that stood before City Council offering the opportunity to help children that have cancer merely by shaving your head. The poor student got the political treatment and walked away with a meager offer from vice mayor Kathy Miller to hold the clippers, rather than get scalped for charity.

This event gave me the idea to ask my current favorite City Council member (due to her presence in the playground we nerds know as Twitter) @susanEggman if she was game to shave her head. My initial tweet to her was in complete jest and I actually was waiting for some of the faithful to say that I was acting like a bully again and to stop being so rude. Side note, I have found that sarcasm and jokes tend to not translate so well in the written word.

Much to my surprise @susanEggman accepted the challenge but added a caveat, raise 5 thousand dollars. It’s basically a political trump card. It puts me in a position, which began as a common chide, of now becoming a fund raiser for a cause that while is very worthy, doesn’t really fire me up enough to take even more of what little precious time that I have with my family, away from them.

I have received a lot of support from the Twitter community from Stockton and abroad encouraging the pursuit of the goal (thank you by the way), but much to the displeasure of the crowd I will have to bow out. Let’s say politics have won this round. While in a perfect world I would love to drop everything and raise the 5 thousand dollars that it would take to have @susanEggman shave her head, not only embarrass her, but more importantly provide the funds to whatever children’s cancer society that Lincoln High school is benefitting, I must swallow my pride and accept defeat.

I am still game to get my head shaved, and invite fellow Stockton Tweeps to do the same, as long as it doesn’t cost any money. With my stupid start up and educational pilgrimage, I really have very little cash to spare. The only tangible thing of value that I could give to benefit the research of children’s cancer at this point is my dignity by allowing my locks to taken.

Feel free if you are a philanthropist in search of a cause, to take this episode of Parks and Recreation and run with it. It will not be considered poaching and you will be assured run in the paper and possibly TV coverage. It has some legs, but will take a lot of energy to meet the goal, especially in this recession. I hate pussing out, but through many battles and wild stunts I have learned to fold my hand. Thank you Kenny Rogers. Now excuse me while I go to write a check that the City Council is making me do, because I do business in an Enterprise Zone.

Politics 1, @brewery33 -100, Lincoln High School St. Baldrick’s Day complete win, because lots of people are talking about your event. Keep it philanthropic.