RyanJin.me

I recently attended a conference here in Phoenix, that covered topics ranging from SEO, social media, link building, content marketing, and a few other things. Although I usually enjoy these kinds of events, I have to say that I was a little less than thrilled with what was actually offered in the end. Sure it is good to get an updated summary on what is current in SEO, but if you already have a general idea of what is important, sometimes, these sessions just aren’t for you. Especially once you realize that some of the information they are pushing is actually not correct.

Needless to say, there was a central theme that somehow made itself heard throughout all of the mumbo jumbo. With the divide between social and SEO becoming more and more blurry, the actual digital content/assets on the webpages themselves are beginning to take central stage in where everyone wants to lay high importance towards. Without universal understandings of what and how you actually want to optimize a piece of content, you are sometimes better off not putting the content up in the first place. Without a general integration strategy, or even simple plan of attack, the marketing and promotion efforts you have put so much money into, can sometime turn sour! So what do I do?

If you’re marketing yourself personally, this can be a really enlightening experience. You don’t always take a step back and analyze just who you are personally. Whereas if you are marketing or promoting a business or separate entity, this experience can also be very rewarding in that you can take it upon yourself to ultimately understand without a doubt just what it is you are optimizing or selling. Sure you can pick and choose those high trafficked keywords that YOU think will work, but are they relevant to your product… Are they relevant to your product in 6 months?… or even, are they relevant to you business as a whole? As an individual who specializes in SEO, one should take it upon themselves to reach out, talk, and work with everyone in the company who are willing to help grow your understanding. In addition, work on planning press releases, articles, social campaigns, and whatever else around your SEO strategy as well. If you can communicate and optimize your plan, your keywords, and your vision with your company, people will more likely want to jump on board, and help you help them in the long run. Because that is what you are doing right?

Although there are tons more issues revolving around the simple concept of optimizing content for SEO, a good first step in any plan is to INTEGRATE. Sure your body parts can all have separate jobs, but if you want to learn how to dance, you’re gunna need some coordination.

Peace

As you might have known, if you have continued to follow my infrequent blog posts here on RyanJin.me, there have been many things happening in my life that have effected my blogging routine… at least this is what I tell myself so I don’t feel bad about it. Well speaking of which… I suppose I have to admit that I can’t really rely on this excuse anymore as my new son was born on May 10, 2010 at 2:12 in the afternoon! He really is a cutie pie and I can’t wait to teach him everything I know and watch him grow up. It really is a great time in my life.

Any ways, because Andrea delivered about four weeks early, X-Man spent his first 5 days or so in the NICU unit at the Children’s Hospital at Banner Good Samaritan in Phoenix. Although we wanted desperately for the little guy to come home with us right from the beginning, we can’t help but thank the doctors and nurses enough for the help and assistance they gave me and my family during the time we were there.

With everyone home, healthy,and resting (in increments of 3 hours) things are going great… except for our house of course. Actually, work to our kitchen and living room is nearing the last trimester of their renovation plan, even if it did take a few extra weeks. Paint is up, cabinets are up, counter-tops are just about up, and to make things even better, our backyard now has grass!

Sometimes it is crazy to think about everything that has happened over the last 2 months or so. Actually, really.. over the last year. With Andrea’s and my move to Phoenix almost two years ago, we never really knew what to expect, or how our lives would change. But as I sit here (at work) writing this blog entry, I have to say things are going really well. Sure we really do miss our families and friends from back home, but our time by ourselves has really made us grateful for each other, our 1 year old basset hound, and now our son.

So I guess it’s back to work. Blogging? Sure why not. Writing.. yes of course, and venturing… the sky is the limit.

Peace