Archive for the 'Jim Boykin' Category

A few weeks ago Chuck (my COO) and I were fishing out back with Stuntdubl until the wee hours of the morning while downing a few drinks, and one of the things that was brought up was the Domain Roundtable Conference that’s in Seattle on Aug 12-15th (official info here). Todd had also blogged about this conference. I think he’s hoping to make it…but last I knew he wasn’t positive….

I know I’d love to go to that conference….Almost all of the sessions sound like music to my ears. Check out some of these excerpts from the agenda page.

• "The Adventure Begins" This "must attend" class for new internet businesses and private domainers will explain all the tricks and tips you need to know about buying, managing and selling your domain. If you’re new at this game, this session you don’t want to miss!
  Speakers: Nate Curran, GoDaddy.com; Matthias Mueller, NameDrive; Sean Stafford, DNZoom.com
• Why you need to know SEO basics if you’re going to build and maintain a successful website. A mandatory session to attend for those who want to know the true secrets of Search Engine placement and how they help you win online. For SEO professionals, consultants and business services. This event is for the beginners and the best of the best in SEO secrets and information.
  Speakers: William Flaiz, VP, Avenue A | Razorfish; Aaron Wall, SEOBook.com; John Tompkins, Trellian.com; Dave Bascom , SEO.com; Dustin Woodard, AllRecipes.com; John Andrews
• "Taunting the Big Kid or Keeping Your Lunch Money" The future of fighting TM C&D’s and UDRP’s, and how far the big corporations can go in claiming domain property.
  Speakers: Brett Lewis, Esq.; Aaron Kornblum, Esq., John Berryhill; Microsoft Senior Atty; Jeremiah Johnston, General Counsel, COO, SEDO;
• Monday night there’s a Trafficz Wild Party night with a "body painting contest"….sounds wild!
• "Content and How To Make It Work For You" Building out your domains can be a very lucrative auction if you have the right tools and direction. Having a website with powerful content and achieving repeat customers is a recipe for revenue! Learn techniques and get advice from some of the best experts in their field on domain buildouts.
  Speakers:
  Joe Davison, TechAnalyst.com; Stuart Wood, WIFI.com (Salient Properties); Frank Michlick, SharedReviews.com
• "The Many Paths To Making Revenue" All domainers and website owners will discover the multitude of revenue paths available to them. You can and you WILL make money off your domain! From SEO and Buildouts to how to use auction and domain listing sites, this session will cover all the ways to make money with your domain!
  Speakers:
  Matt Griffith, eBusinessbroker.com; Joe Davison, TechAnalyst.com; Hal Bailey, Google.com; Ofer Ronen, Sendori; Frank Michlick, DomainCocoon; Chris Ambler, Enom; Yossi Goldlust, LookSmart.com;
• "Marriage Made in Heaven" How SEO techniques include domains, and how domains add power to SEO.
  Speakers: Todd Mintz, SEMPDX; Aaron Wall, SEObook.com; John Andrews

Also on the 15th Domaintools is holding the largest live domain auction ever.

The following week is Search Engine Strategies in San Jose California (I’ll be on one of the linking panels)…and I’ll be gone almost a whole week for that…..there’s no way I can be gone the previous week as well…..

….but I’m sending Chuck to represent We Build Pages there. Chuck has a handful of experience in domaining over the last several years. Chuck is also a Link Ninja, as well as he’s my "right hand business man" and COO at We Build Pages.

If you’re attending, and you see this guy, be sure to say "Hi Chuck!".  Buy the man a drink and have a chat about SEO and/or domaining….you’ll be glad you did!

Chuck also noted the Party on Monday night…as he IM’d me (from 15 feet away):

Chuck: See the Party? – "We are happy to announce TRAFFICZ’s wild "Body Painting Contest" Party at the trendy SUGAR nightclub in downtown Seattle! The party is for a good cause, because it’s a charity event for Michael Mann’s Grassroots.org charity. Everyone will be bidding on the opportunity to paint 10 beautiful models and then vote on the winner! "

Chuck: this looks like a good cause – how much are you willing to contribute in support

Chuck: Of course the words We Build Pages will be prominent!

HaHa!….hum…could I pull some linkbait out of that? It is a business expense…..We’ll see Chuck…man, I Really wish I could go.

Are you going?

Popularity: 2% [?]

London SES

I had a great time at the London SES conference. I get jealous when I hear of people like Matt taking 6 weeks off…man, as a CEO I don’t get much time “off” at all….I don’t think I’ve taken a week off in several years. Hey, maybe it’s a disadvantage of being a CEO – there’s often not time to take big ole long vacations, and having a 17 month old toddler, and another on the way in 5 months, my wife’s idea of a good time is not traveling at the moment….so to me, a conference is part of my “vacation time”.  

To be honest, nowerdays I tend not to attend many sessons, as I’ve seen most speakers several times, and I can learn more “hands on” than in a “classroom setting”….I’m just too fidgety and distracted sitting in a room listening to a speaker….that’s just me…. I’d rather discuss more in debth dirt later at the bar over a few beers.

So at night I do the “SEO networking”, and during the days, I tend to “vacation” on these conference trips.

SEO People Pictures – London Duck Tour – Stonehenge – Bath – Egyptian Mummies – Tower of London

Popularity: 1% [?]

11 years ago today I was living in my pickup truck. I was spending a lot of time in the Haight-Ashbury district in San Fran.  It was about this time 11 years ago that I collected $170 in foodstamps (the only money I’ve ever had to collect like this).

Right now we work in Troy NY – and we have one of the best offices in the city, with the best views around. We’re on the second floor, above the local Chamber of Commerce. I’m looking to move us to the 5th (top) floor…..it’s the total "Executive Ritz" office space…but also perfectly layed out for my team to function as I’d like it. 

I just got another tour of the space tonight, and in my future office I noticed a picture on the wall of Denali (tallest mountain in North America – in Alaska). In my current office I also have a picture of Denali (I worked there in 1993 washing dishes, then being a prep cook, the line cook, then assistant kitchen manager…..all within 5 months! In my time off I did a lot of exploring, both internally and externally.  I had a blast there)….to think that my future office has one picutre on the wall, and it’s Denali too! It was meant for me….it’s such a killer space, and my, I’ve traveled far…and my, what a long strange trip it’s been (and continues to be)! (as I listen to Terripan Station)

Popularity: 5% [?]

Do you rank well for your name?

Do you care?

I’ll start…..I do, and I care. Often, If I’m trying to sell someone on "trust me" – I will tell them to Google my name. FYI, I often Google prospective clients, and I google prospective employees.

(FYI, The other Jim Boykin (the tennis player) must hate me. )

–inspired by Simon Heseltine’s post.

Popularity: 30% [?]

A few days ago I found out that I’ll be a Daddy again! Due beginning Nov.

It’s kinda funny how things happen….for over 5 years my wife and I had been trying to have a baby before we had Sam…we were about to do one shot of IVF, then if that didn’t work, we were going to Russia to adopt….then the month before the IVF, Mary got pregnant (and that was the first time we weren’t really trying).  So last month for the first time I didn’t use protection…and wa-la….Mary’s pregnant again….that’s like twice in a row after 5 years of trying….amazing!

So this weekend I spent a little time on Sam’s (our first baby’s) website, updating it….and then I starting popping in some pictures of the family history (still working on it).  I’m happy that he’s #1 for his name, and he’ll be happy I started this site so when he’s 18, and want’s to use the site, he’ll be way out of the sandbox by then

Anyone recommend any specific family tree programs?

If it’s a girl, I’m going to try to convince Mary to name her "Page"…then I try to slip in "Rank" as a middle name …..she didn’t go for it last time though….

Popularity: 36% [?]

I said what I felt had to be said. It was said – it was read. time to move on.

Popularity: 22% [?]

Twas the day before Christmas…and there’s not much for news in the world of internet marketing…worse than a normal Sunday….I hate slow news days….give me some controversy….give me anything….I feel so all alone scanning for my fix of SEO news…

Is there anybody out there?

Popularity: 7% [?]