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The 10 Best Things Learned at SES San Jose by Ninja Jen

SES San Jose 2008, was my first SEO conference and it was an incredible learning experience for a lowly, little ninja like myself.

On the night of Webmaster Radio’s Search Bash, Jim Hedger, asked me a question, “What did you learn at SES?” Well, I didn’t get to answer him that night, but I wanted to. Bearing in mind that we didn’t attend any sessions, but networked pretty hard at night.

Here are the Top 10 Things I learned at SES, because no one can resist a Top 10. Right, Chris?

#10 Selling Raffle Tickets is a great way to meet people. I lucked out at the The Internet Marketer’s Charity Party when Stuntddubl asked me if I’d sell Raffle Tickets. As a rookie, selling tickets gave me a great excuse to introduce myself to all of the great minds in the room, and make money for children, and really what is better than networking for charity?

#9 I’ll only stop for really good swag. Freebies like t-shirts, shot glasses or Frisbees are definitely worth enduring a conversation about a service you may not need, and I will totally put my name on an email list for a back massager. But if we’re talking a pen or coasters, I’ll keep right on walking, so just a thought for marketers, giving away novelties or clever wearables like Shoemoney’s “SEO Sucks” t-shirt, or the BOTW Hoodies (which were EVERYWHERE) definitely make it worth the time.

#8 SEO, in all its forms, is bigger than I had ever imagined. Being a link ninja, the little slit in the masks Jim makes us wear is pretty narrow, so I usually only get to study the science and effects of link building. But getting out of costume for a week gave me a chance to see the seemingly endless streams of ideas and innovation in this industry. It seems as though everyone has a different field of expertise and ideology. I have to admit I have on occasion wondered about the longevity of this field that is constantly changing, and oftentimes seems tenuous at best. But now I have truly come to believe that there is indeed no ceiling without pride. By which I mean, for those who are willing to accept that everything they have come to believe may at some point become obsolete and strive for a a mentality of ingenuity and adaptability above all else, then the opportunities are truly limitless.

#7 Google has heated toilet seats. I can live with out the giant facilities and Wii Wall, but if Google engineers get heated toilet seats, why can’t ninjas?

#6 Linkbuilding is still very much a secret art. Here at the office, the majority of us have developed the capacity to link build with a severe concussion. And granted, we don’t expect many people in our lives to understand what we do, but even the SEO contingency people’s sense of what it means to link build is still somewhat generic or outdated. Here at We Build Pages, the ninjas have long known that we had the highest kick in the Dojo, but now I understand the real power of a ninja army is not in its size, but its insight, humanity and adherence to unindictable philosophy that truly comprises its strength. And of course the fact that, as Dave Naylor can tell you, there may be a ninja hanging above your bed and you’d never even know it.

#5 Discretion is the better part of Valor, SEO, and Conferences.

#4 SES is not like prison. I make this comparison in regards to gaining the knowledge that unlike incarceration, one needn’t pick a brawl with the Poker King on the first night in order to survive, especially if there is a camera happy German around.

#3 My Boss is the MAN. Now you may be thinking, “How do you work for Jim, and not know that?” Well, in a greater sense I did. I knew he was brilliant and frequently referenced, and I knew he was a great guy I’m lucky enough to call a boss and a friend. But now I know that he has also been a guide and a mentor for more people than I could have imagined, when you hear people use words like “god” and “revered” to describe a man you see every day, it’s kind of like finding out your uncle is Bruce Springsteen. Basically, I got a better idea of just how lucky I am to work for the best.

#2 Jack In the box is better in the middle of the night. Whether you walk there with Patrick Sexton, or Frank Watson brings it to you in a cab on a bench outside the Marriott.

#1 SEOs are the coolest people on the planet. While I’ve suspected this for some time now, this past week has confirmed it. Hearing them speak about their craft is like listening to an artist or a scientist, seeing them tell stories about one another is like watching a stand-up comedian, and partying with them is like hanging out with rock stars. I hope that you all will excuse the excessive gushing of a novice, but I can’t help but to feel a bit like I fell down a rabbit hole for five days, and it was an amazing trip. Thank you all for the inspiration and I hope to see you at the next one…hint hint, Boss…

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Last week I attended SES San Jose, and I ended up coming back to NY with Patrick Sexton (Feedthebot).

We’ve got really big plans for the future of We Build Pages and Patrick will be a big part of that.

Here’s the press release.

I’m Feeling Lucky!

Popularity: unranked [?]

We’re seeking someone who is very experienced in Perl.

This job is in Troy New York. You will need to move to Troy New York. No Exceptions.

Our ideal candidate:

Is fluent in Perl, PHP, SQL, and Javascript (with experience with AJAX)

Writes code that is easily understood and maintained by others

Can design databases from complex real-world scenarios

Is experienced with regular expressions

Has basic Linux server administration knowledge (can use rpm/yum to install required software; is familiar with configuring Apache web servers)

Is an experienced "hands on" manager who leads by example.

Is able to code while managing a small team of <10 programmers.

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To Apply
Answer the following questions and email them to my first name at webuildpages.com

Name

Phone

Email

Where do you live

Date you could start (in Troy New York)

Pay you are seeking (do not write "Negotiable").

How many words can you type per minute?

Please list your last three jobs, including dates, your regular duties, salary, and reason for leaving, as well as a contact person and phone number.

List the programming languages / web technologies you know, including level of familiarity and years of experience for each. (if you list it, be expected to be quizzed on it).

List some URL’s of live examples of your work.

——————————

Please pass this on to anyone you know who might be needing a new job and has these skills.

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Sunday morning I’m heading out to San Jose for the Search Engine Strategies (SES) conference with 7 other ninjas.

I’ve actually got a pretty busy week…

Monday night there’s the IMCharity event for the The Leukemia and Lymphoma Foundation and the Childrens Hospital.  I’m also proud to say that we’re one of the sponsors of the event.

Tuesday Night there’s the Google Dance. I’ve been at all the google dance’s since they started in 2002. I can’t wait.

 Wednesday night is Search Bash. This is always one of the craziest parties of the year…if not the craziest! (Sumo wrestling this year??)

Between these events we’re planning on checking out San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, and perhaps Rt 1 (Montery, Big Sur), or Kings Canyon National Park or Sequoia National Park.

Chuck gets to attend the day sessions (he get’s the am shift) and everyone else is on the pm shift for networking

I’m excited to share a California experience with a bunch of people who have never been west of the mississippi.

I’ll see ya’ll at night!

If you see a Ninja, be sure to ask them for a light…we’re coming with hundreds of keychain lights that are really cool.

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OK readers….I’m going to warn you…it’s another one of those "after 1am…I’m still at the office" posts ….

A Space of my Own – Written May 28, 1988 – (Over 20 years ago), when I was in 11th grade…fyi, I got an 88 on it…I had lots of spelling errors (could you guess?).

I remember a time long gone, a time when my only worry was what was going to be for supper. Back then most of my time was spent in the woods. There was one space of my own, a special space. It was centered around a big boulder that was beside a stream. It was a long walk from home, but to me it was worth the journey!

Every day Mom would pack my lunch for my adventure. I used to head out the door with my lunch and a Louisville slugger to fend off the wild beasts of the woods. I’d scamper off into the forest without a care. I would run along a rock wall until the right moment where I would veer off deeper into the woods. A cliff was in my path so I fell and rolled the rest of the way down. Then I’d spot the rock; it towered above the rest. Running up to it I’d climb to the top and eat my lunch.

After lunch my crumbs went to the frogs and fish. Jumping off the boulder I would start my hunt. I always caught some small lobsters (crawfish) and lizards (salamanders). Tonight they’d be in my room until Mom made me take them back tomorrow.

Every day I was some one new: Billy the Kid, Captain Hook, Reggie Jackson, or Superman. Mom would always call me home too soon so I’d have to run home until tomorrow.

Last month I visited my special space. I set off with no lunch and no bat. As soon as I set foot in the woods, the bugs started to eat me alive. I didn’t remember bugs here before. The rock wall was my path until I saw a snake. I somehow managed to miss the spot where I used to veer off and went way past the builder. After I backtracked, I reached the place where the boulder should have been. All I saw was a rock that was a little bigger than the rest, so I sat on it.

I sat and thought about school, girls, parents, and what I was going to do for the rest of my life. I saw a frog, but it quickly jumped away. Across the crick a ragged rope dangles from a tree where Tarzan had once swung. I couldn’t stay long: there was a lot of work to be done.

I knew that the place was still the same, but the place I remembered as a little boy had changed. Somehow the rock had grown smaller, the stream has also moved closer to the house, and my thoughts have moved to things "more important" than frogs and fish.
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August 14, 2008: Today, more than 20 years after writing the above, I set out to revisit that boulder.

Background: About 5 years ago I had bought my parents house, but this year we moved, and tomorrow my childhood house is being sold.

Today I was doing the final walk-through of the house I had grown up in when I decided that I’d go for one final hunt through the woods to the boulder where I had spent so much time as a little boy.

I started into the woods, knowing that I’d be heading into work right after that…and if my jeans and sneakers got wet, so be it. I wanted to be in the woods.

Memories came rushing back to me the second I stepped into the woods. I knew exactly where I was…it was as if I was seeing things as I did 30 years ago as a 7 year old.

I followed the rock wall remembering where I had found snakes as a kid, and looking around those areas hoping to see a snake (though I doubt that if I found one, that I’d put it through my belt loops to freak out my wife like I used to do to my mom).

Knowing where the earth would be wet, I traversed right to where I expected to come out in the stream, and I followed it to where the boulder should be. On my way I found the tree that held the Tarzan rope, though the rope was gone today (If it had been there…and looked stable, I would have swung on it…..though I knew that was a pipe dream).

I found the place where the boulder should be…and in between fallen trees, I spotted the boulder. I worked my way through the trees and sat down on the boulder and thought.

I didn’t think about the business (like I tend to do 98% of the time)….I thought about everything that I’d experienced through the years, and how it had all led to what I am today, and will influence what I will be tomorrow. I feel good because in my heart I want to make the world a better place, and I’m working to help contribute to helping make the world a better place (FYI, We Build Pages donated over $100,000 to charities last year, and we’re expecting to give more than that this year….this makes me feel so good inside…it’s hard to express)..sitting there on the boulder, thinking about everything I’ve been through in my life (the good and the bad), has made me into who I am today…and the person I am today is one I’m very happy with.

As I looked around I noticed that the stream had taken a new bend, and was now 20 feet from the rock……The rock, like my deepest feelings, hasn’t moved; the stream, like my life, has meandered….but is ever flowing.

My mind shifted to wondering how life was treating the stream. I got off the boulder and went to the water and saw the same little fish like I remembered watching as a kid. I turned over some rock looking for crawfish or salamanders….but found nothing….if only I had more time and had my boys with me…..they’d love this!

As I started back…..I’ll admit that a tear came to my eye….but it didn’t last long, and was quickly replaced with a smile.

The second I left the woods, my mind went right back into We Build Pages mode….and I kept smiling.

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Eric Enge did an excellent interview with Priyank Garge, the director of product management for Yahoo Search Technology (YST).

The interview was almost exlcusively centered around to topic of "links", and Eric did a great job of asking the right questions, and Priyank gave some great honest insights into his/Yahoo’s view on links.

Here’s what Priyank said about paid links:

There’s no black and white policy that makes sense in our mind for paid links. The principle remains value to the users. If a paid link is not valuable to the users, we will not want to give it value. Our algorithms are being organized for detecting value to users. We feel most of the time that paid links are less valuable to users than organic links.

If a paid link is not valuable to the users, we will not want to give it value. Our algorithms are being organized for detecting value to users. We feel most of the time that paid links are less valuable to users than organic links. But that’s not black and white, it is always a continuum. Yahoo continues to focus on the element of recognizing links that are valuable to users, building mechanisms in our algorithms that attenuate the signal and capture as much value from that link in context, rather than worrying about it being paid or unpaid.

Eric adds more of his thoughts and analysis on his SearchEngineWatch article called Google vs. Yahoo on Paid Links. It’s a must read.

Eric says there:

Yahoo appears to be taking a different route. As I read the comments by Garg, it seems that they focus more on the end user value of a link, whether it’s paid or not. To read between the lines a little bit, end user value is most likely being measured by the relevance and context of a link.

This saves Yahoo from fighting a difficult battle, a battle that has led some to say that there’s an arms race between Google and spammers. Certainly if this battle is inherently unwinnable, the Yahoo approach may be a pragmatic one.

It’s nice to see how Yahoo treats different types of links. The Yahoo method seems pretty reasonable.

Do you agree with how Yahoo acts towards links that may appear to be paid, or how Google acts towards links that might appear to be paid?

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Ok, I’m at the office after midnight again, but I’m taking a break and posting a nostalgic "I’m feeling lucky rant" – hope ya enjoy my happy rant. …

At times like these (when I’m at the office late at night working alone – only time I can get things like non-emergencies and emails done) I sit here in amazement… I feel lucky…I do. We’ve grown to 40 employees working in house here (not to mention the writers, and other outside projected people we help feed). Yea 40 in house here now…wow!

Jim steps into his time machine… I can remember it was over 9 years ago (Feb 1999) I got online for the first time. (I’d been traveling the year before.) Two weeks after getting online, I bought the domain webuildpages.com – two weeks later, I had the first version of webuildpages.com online. Two weeks later than that, I had my first web design client from 1000 miles away who had found webuildpages.com via a search engine. (AltaVista, searching "Build Web Pages.")

In 2001 and 2002, I went to work for a couple of local web design firms as their first "Internet Marketing Specialist."

In August of 2002 I attended my first SEO conference, and met Matt Cutts, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and many of my "SEO Heroes".
In September of 2002, Aimster/Madster had the same fate as Napster and I was out of a job.

I remember thinking, "Do I want to work for a web design company again? NO….SEO has to be #1, no more designers, programmers, managers, clients to stand in the way of SEO. I felt that Rule #1 should be SEO, and everything else should fall around or behind that.

So in September of 2002, I decided to see what I could do with We Build Pages on my own. My chosen phrase was "Internet Marketing." A few months later in Dec 2002, WeBuildPages.com went to #4 in both Google and Yahoo for the phrase "internet marketing." That same month, I hired my first person to help me out.

I don’t think I ever envisioned growing to the size of 40 back then…or even as of a few years ago….but grow we have….and I like it.

In the last few years alone, we’ve gone from 12 employees at the start of 2007 to 25 at the start of 2008, to 40 as of July of 2008, and there’s a lot more I want to do….I’ve got big dreams.

I’ll tell you, it’s a whole different business at 25 than it was at 12. And growing from 25 to 40 so far this year brings its own little problems, as well is it opens up many, many opportunities.

When you grow, changes are going to happen…and not all changes are always going to work as you thought; mistakes help us find what doesn’t work  

But you learn, and you grow, and you get better….

The We Build Pages team members have been troopers through our growth and changes, mistakes and regrets, yea, I’ve made a few (but yet again, too few to metion), but I feel that everyone on my/our team knows that we’re taking ALL the right steps to make our company the best we can. I feel really good, not only for what we have, but for where we’re going.

The future….well….I can say that I have lots of dreams….Some of those dreams, unfortunately, I can’t publish here….But I can say that we’re exploring all different types of dreams, and so many look so good….But in any event, I’m completely thrilled with where I am and with what I’ve got, and with what we’re doing, as well as where we may be going.

I’ve got lots of dreams, and I don’t mind exploring dreams. We explore amazing business dreams here all the time…there are a few dreams we’re exploring right now even…who knows…. The lucky thing is, is where I’m at I often feel like it’s a dream. I feel so thankful that I love what I do, through good times and in the changes, I love it. I truly do.

I’ve been lucky, it’s been a dream come true since the start, the dreams just keep getting bigger with time.

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