General rule of thumb,
if they mention you and/or your company,
then you deserve a link.

My boss was interviewed by a big magazine that published both off and online. He gave some great info and insight into running an exterminator business. What he forgot to do was ask for a link. While this should happen naturally from writers/editors, it doesn’t. Perhaps I live in a dream world that would deem that linking to your source as ethical. Maybe I am alone in thinking that writers should know to link out. Perhaps someday, but for now on my boss has been advised to proceed as follows.

ASK FOR THE LINK BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

It’s really very simple boss, when they quote you they need to do the following:

“Adam Seever, CEO of Bulwark Exterminating, says…”

If it’s an exclusive interview of you then they should conclude with an about section or begin with an introduction were they can build up more of your expertise. You can get a few more links in if it’s an exclusive interview.

“Today we are interviewing Adam Seever, CEO of Bulwark Exterminating, who has used database technology to create www.ScorpionReport.org”

In the past I would have pushed for an anchor text link for targeted keywords like pest control , and if I author a guest post for someone then I typically do drop in such a link, but today Google wants to see more of your branded keyword linking to you over heavy anchor text links. You can still accomplish this in an interview if you reference something you have written elsewhere online… “In my recent article on ant control I showed how statistical evaluation of treatments..”

You can also have them drop in easy links under a bio that lead to Find Bulwark on twitter, Follow Bulwark on Facebook: http://facebook.com/bulwarkpestcontrol Read Bulwark’s Blog …

These are just a few thoughts on how to get valid links through interviewing or blogging. But don’t over do your linking. If you submit an article to me as a guest blog post with as many self promoting links as what are in this article then I’d reject your article submission. I think 1-2 selfish links per article is permissible. More links are acceptable if they are not self serving. So if you want to load up a few more links then link to your friends.

Image via Wikipedia

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Want to guest post? Then contact me: @Thos003

I was recently in San Jose, speaking a bit on the finer points of Local Pest Control Companies online. Well, sadly I was informed of a little San Jose Restaurant serving up a plate of bugs a little too late for me to partake. Lucky for me one of my SMX conference friends, Ryan Jones, did sample the Grasshopper Dinner and lived to tell about it:

Ryan Jones Show Us How to Eat Grasshoppers!

The other day I ended up at MezCal Mexican restaurant a few blocks from SMX with 3 lovely ladies from 352 Media (@erinever, @kellikimpton, and @jdallis) and some random British guy we found on the street. After a few sol’s and margaritas, the table decided that we had to order up a dish that consisted of grasshoppers, chips, and guacamole. As you can see from the picture, it was pretty obvious that they didn’t do much to them other than cook them.

Grasshoppers in the bowl

How do Grasshoppers Taste?

The grasshopper taste was very odd. They smelled like sardines and were very salty and crunchy – with almost a prune style aftertaste. I’m not sure if it was the sauce or the actual grasshopper itself. By the way, when I say crunchy, I mean very crunchy – and you can definitely feel the legs in your throat when you swallow.

Definitely an experience, or as Bear Grylls says “a good bit of protein!”

- Thanks Ryan. You can find Ryan on twitter @RyanJones

Perhaps Bulwark can supplement their pest control business by offering up gourmet bugs after they are removed from people’s homes? KIDDING. Bulwark Exterminaitng won’t be serving grasshoppers or any other bug entrees anytime soon. 

 Would you eat a grasshopper?

Would you eat this?

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Just a couple of fun highlights from my trip to Raleigh, NC for the internet summit.

The 100 Mile Race

Flying out of Phoenix Sky Harbor, I spoke with a man that told me he had just run 100 miles. I thought he was being sarcastic. Nope. He was in a 100 mile race. He says that they call them UltraMarathons. He told me that he fly in just for the race and was leaving. He’s not a professional, and says that there are very few professionals in Ultramarathons. His run was 6 loops. You drop a bag with food and minimum supplies about the half way point. And he finished his 100 mile run in just over 26 hours. The winner finished in about 17.5 hours.

Never Been on the Internet

From Baltimore to Raleigh I sat next to a couple that were retired and living in Florida. They were upwards of 70 years old and had been retired for less than a year. I asked if they stayed in touch with their family in New York via Facebook. Nope. They have NEVER been on the internet. NEVER. They have never owned a home computer. What about text messaging? Nope. She told me that she just got,… “what is it called, you know a phone that you take out of your home.” … I took a guess, “A cell phone?”. She had her first cell phone in her hand about 5 months ago. Still no text messaging, but they got one just for safety reasons.

North Carolina BBQ

North Carolina has it’s own unique BBQ. They claim it to the “REAL BBQ”. Interestingly they even have two different types, an East and West NC BBQ. It’s vinegar based. The West BBQ adds a little molasses to the vinegar. Definitely different, and I kinda liked how the vinegar brought out the flavor of the meat a little more. Not bad at all. Sadly I couldn’t think of a single cuisine unique to Arizona, cactus fries maybe???

Need Raleigh Pest Control? Try Bulwark Exterminating.

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Okay… I like Spiderman and all, but did it really out rank Ironman? I mean, I even have a biased to the spider since I am a pest control guy and all, but Iron Man nailed it! … But putting them in a real order wouldn’t leave much to debate here. And at least now I have a couple of rentals to consider since I haven’t seen several of your top 25. Cowabunga!

http://blog.moviefone.com/2011/05/10/best-comic-book-movies/

Here is their list:

25. ‘Shogun Assassin’ (1980)
24. ‘A History of Violence’ (2005)
23. ’300′ (2007)
22. ‘Road to Perdition’ (2002)
21. ‘Hellboy’ (2004)
20. ‘X-Men’ (2000)
19. ‘Scott Pilgrim vs. the World’ (2010)
18. ‘Persepolis’ (2007)
17. ‘Sin City’ (2005)
16. ‘X2′ (2003)
15. ‘Ghost in the Shell’ (1995)
14. ‘Iron Man’ (2008)
13. ‘Lupin the 3rd: Castle of Cagliostro’ (1979)
12. ‘Spider-Man’ (2002)
11. ‘The Rocketeer’ (1991)
10. ‘Superman’ (1978)
9. ‘American Splendor’ (2003)
8. ‘Men in Black’ (1997)
7. ‘Batman’ (1989)
6. ‘Spider-Man II’ (2004)
5. ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ (1990)
4. ‘Ghost World’ (2001)
3. ‘Akira’ (1988)
2. ‘The Dark Knight’ (2008)
1. ‘Blade’ (1998)

Well, where to begin with this list. Let’s just start with #1… SERIOUSLY? Sure the logic is sound, but I doubt that the general public would even place Blade in their top 10 list let alone #1. And I am surprised that 2 sequels beat out the originals (Spiderman II, and Dark Knight). In fact, Batman Begins didn’t even make their top 25. It only made mention to why Blade was number one. Which may not be all that honorable of a mention considering that they mentioned Daredevil in sync, which also didn’t make the list. If they were dipping into the top 25 as legendary status they also missed Tales from the Crypt, an EC comic book. And then you have to think about Dick Tracy being skipped over for a couple of less known animations films. Which is especially insulting when they didn’t add in any of Marvel’s full length Comic Book Animations. “Batman: Under the Red Hood” was an amazing movie. But I can see why you wouldn’t want to add another Batman to the list.

I must think that there is some criteria that is not being explained in the author’s selection. Some unwritten rule about it having to be a Comic Book prior to being a movie, which is understandable. I mean the Stars Wars and Indiana Jones movies made the comic books. But this doesn’t explain why Transformers was left off the list. Granted it was a Toy prior to it’s TV and Comic Book debut. But none the less, Transformers was a comic book at the same time it was a TV series, so without proper exclusion from the list for being a toy first, Transformers should have made the top 25. The author also included “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World” which was graphic NOVEL, not a comic book.

Disclaimer: I am not a certified comic book specialist. So don’t mind me, just a Phoenix pest control guy doing my pest controlling.

Okay, I feel just a little bad about this phone conversation I had yesterday.  A guy calls and says that he is with Google Places wanting to verify my info, in reality he was with “Local Splash”.  He began his practiced speech…..

<a few seconds later>

“….So we can get you on the maps!”

“Where am I currently on the maps?”

“I don’t know… Let’s look…. Humph… Well we will 100% guarantee you a position at all times on the first page so you don’t have to worry about whether your there or not.”

“But I am already on the maps…. Where did you get my number?”

“From a list at the local library…But we are a full fledged SEO service.”

“SEO service?  Do you know who Matt Cutts is?”

“Uh…Does he work for Local Splash?”

“I’m sorry, but  I’m good… But uh…Good luck with the next guy.”

I actually felt sorry for this guy as I hung up the phone…

SEO Litmus Test – Do you Know Who Matt Cutts is?

If you don’t know the name of the guy who heads up the army that could wipe your website from off the face of the cyberworld than you won’t be leading my troops into battle.  Not that Matt Cutts is really out to get everyone, but if you cross his team then you will get it.  When I started SEO I didn’t know who he was.  I hired SEO teams, I have since had to learn to evaluate those teams and the work.  I have fired SEO teams. Word of advice, if you get a call on the phone for SEO run this litmus test.  If they can’t answer that question then you are running a higher risk.

Twitter Litmus Test – How to Determine who to Follow?

The first thing I do when I get a follow: I will look through their tweets to see if they are just blasting links, or if they are actually communicating with others.  I will follow people that provide good information and links after meeting them in real life.  I will follow people that engage me in conversations via twitter.  I follow people I want to endorse.  I unfollow people I don’t want to endorse any longer.

Social Media Litmus Test – What’s the Online Conversation?

Social media isn’t for everyone and just because many companies are jumping on board doesn’t make it right for all companies.  What people are most desiring online is communication.  Social media is communication. A telephone, a fax, face to face, email, blogs, all of these facilitate a conversation.  All of these are a type of social media. Just as much as you hated a “Win a trip to Disneyland” fax blast from the past, this new age of social media is about engaging people, not blasting your horn. Too many salesmen want to just talk TO you, not WITH you. Don’t hit me up with a bunch of solicitations.  You may ruin any chance you had.  If you choose to engage me than learn to listen.  I will tell you exactly what I want.  If you say you can deliver then I will proceed to drill you on what I want and how you are going to deliver it. I have no problems with a well thought out plan of engagement and I will give some of my time to listen to you.

By the way, I am just a pest control guy.  I learned my tenacity from a spider.  I learn that better businesses listen, from books like J.D. Powers, “Satisfaction”, I learn better SEO from reading legit SEO blogs, and books like “The Blueprint to SEO” and “The Art of SEO”. I am happy to share what I can.  You are welcome to disagree, share, or joke about anything I post… so long as I know you are listening to me and not just talking to me.