Just a short post tonight.
First, off, I'm honored to be interviewed by Aaron Wall. We've had our differences and maintain some divergent opinions on a few topics, but we both have an insane passion for helping make SEO professionals better at their job and work hard to grow the credibility of SEO as a whole.
Second - we've got a lot of reason to be thankful. SEOmoz was recently named the 334th fastest growing company in the US by Inc Magazine. I was named to Seattle's 40 Under 40 List (I'm guessing it's a typo) and we've recently passed 6,000 PRO subscribers (actually, we're up over 6,300 as of today).
As amazing as all that is, nearly everyone at SEOmoz is thinking not about these milestones, but about one of our own - Jen Lopez - who noted on her Twitter feed that she's out battling cancer. We are all with you Jen - every last one of us, with all our hearts. And we agree: #fuckcancer
Ditto to all of the comments about how awesome Rand is for succeeding in this ever-evolving SEO world and helping all of us to succeed as well.
And ditto to #fuckcancer. I wish I could upload a photo here; I have one I gave my dad recently when he told my mom and I he decided not to pursue chemo. It was of my yellow lab sticking his tounge out. The caption reads: "This is what I think about cancer." A picture says a thousand words!
#courage
Really sorry about your Dad Summer. I think a more appropriate card would be of a male lab lifting his hind leg and you know whating on the word cancer.
It's awesome to see all the good thoughts going out to Jen! She is a strong one, and having this community behind her only makes her stronger. Go Jen! #wonderwoman
Since her tweet yesterday in my night I could not but having Jen as a constant thought. She's is the Community Manager... I mean, she's the wonderful lovely heart letting mine (ours) blah blah blahs having space on SEOmoz and she's one of better secret of how the mozzer community is so humanly wonderful. As Dr Pete wrote, we miss you. But I know you will come soon here again.
See you soon Jennita... your strong heart is what is going to make you win the fight and, I know you will understand this: "cancer, vete a la puta calle de una vez por todas!".
@randfish About the interview: great one, Aaron could have a future as interviewer (not joking) and your answer... TAGFEE as always.
Ow :(
Good luck to Jen.
Rand - Congrats on the great write up. What a cool story about working with the UN Secretary General. There is an unusual SEO strategy for real!
Jen, I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I know how scary and uncertain that feels. I dealt with this about 4 years ago and I decided to use the "time off" for pouring myself into learning web stuff and SEO. That actually turned into the springboard for where my company is today. I decided I would do what I could, listen to my doctor, and COMPLETELY forget about the odds, statistics, and chances that were being pushed on me, and instead focus on what I could control which was diet, exercise (when the energy was available) and shifting my energy from "urgent" things to "important" things. I pray you will have a swift and complete recovery!
First off, good job on putting aside your differences and doing an interview. SEOmoz and SEOBook are two of the most reputable online sources and it's good to know that you're professional enough to do that for the good of the SEO community.
Awesome about SEOmoz's growth as well!! Fantastic.
The really horrible news is about Jen, she's an awesome girl who I've spoken to on here, Twitter and via email and let's all just stick with her throughout the whole battle. I agree with you too: #FUCKCANCER.
Jen, You are in my heart and in my prayers #wonderwoman. I fully expect to hear that you had a recovery time that was half the normal amount and that your doctors will be shaking their heads in amazement at your miraculous recovery...........
Mentally, just put cancer in the same boat as the stupid spammers that try to leave designer handbag links in the comments. You are gonna delete it so fast it won't know what happened!...........
I'm really looking forward to hearing some great reports girl.
Good growth Rand. Hi Jen, I wish it should never happen to anyone. God bless you.
I quite enjoyed reading the interview. One thing I noticed with the new layout is that the number of thumbs up on the top can't be changed. I'd read the article earlier and wanted to rate it. In this instance it made sense to have the thumbs up active.
Good luck to Jen.
Holy wow!! I'm not really even sure how to respond. :) I'm so grateful to the entire SEO community for all their support through this absolutely crazy time, especially Rand and everyone at SEOmoz. I had surgery last Tuesday and they were able to remove all the cancer... woot!! Now I'm just recovering from the surgery and taking it easy. I'll be back in no time. Thanks again for all the kind words and positive thoughts. :) Although they have made me a blubbering idiot reading them all. Love to you all!
Jen
Oh! And really Rand... THAT's the picture you chose? haha :P
Good luck, Jen:)
6400 subscribers - that is amazing - I am soon gonna be a Pro member!!
#fuckcancer #wonderwoman We love you Jen. Kick that stupid diseases ass! I'll bring the cape for you :)
Best of luck Jen :)
Hi Rand,
Great write up here. That was an awesome interview and I would say, your achievements in SEO itself is a great history for the field. Your hard work and simplicity has brought you this great success movements to celebrate and I believe there are still even more movements to enjoy and celebrate in the future.
Jen, I really feel sorry about the diagnosis and you are no wonder a #wonderwoman, whom all would treasure. Get well soon and rock back. We can't miss you for a long time in seomoz. All my prayers for you.
Jen, your attitude in this battle is as important as the medical weapons. My wife (also named Jen) is five years past her battle with cancer, and she did indeed kick it's ass. Be assured there is life on the other side of this difficult battle and perservere.
Rand, classy move putting your differences with Aaron aside for the benefit of all. My admiration for you goes up another notch.
https://www.fatcow.com/edu/interview-rand-fishkin/ one more unknown interview.
The very best of luck to Jen, wishing you a speedy recovery.
On a happier not, congrats to the seomoz team on their recognition, and to you Rand as well for the personal listing.
two great resources sharing ideas and thought can only be a good thing.
Can I send my positve thoughts and prayers for Jen to win her fight.
both SEOmoz being honoured, and yourself personally Rand, are both fantastic achievements.
That said however, any such accolade pales into insignificance next to the sombre news about Jen, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our heartfelt sympathy and absolute best wishes from all the ardent SEOmoz members, we know you will get through it and be strong.
Get better Jen - everyone is behind you, and indeed #fuckcancer.
Thanks Rand - you are a wonderful source of educational inputs and I look forward to hearing how the lunch my boss is going to have with you in London around conference time goes. Hopefully in 12 months I will have progressed under my personal Jedi Master to merit inclusion for the next trip over and perhaps we can meet up too..
And we are with you, Jen, too. Good luck and win in that battle!
Jen :)
Yesterday i was thinking just how big LDA is going to be, today its seems so small and insignificant.
I'm on your side Wonder Woman, #fuckcancer
Jen, our thoughts are with you. Kick cancer's ass :)
Great interview Rand, the stuff about Linkscape and paid links was especially interesting. "BTW - I asked some SEOs about making this a metric available through Linkscape/Open Site Explorer (like a "liklihood this page contains paid links" metric) and they all said "don't build it!" so we probably won't in the near term."
Hm, just noticed, that on your homepage the number of votes for the article is different from this on the article page (12 vs 14 at the moment). Has that sth to do with caching?
@Jen: wish you good luck!!!
@Rand: another great interview!
Go, Jen! We miss you already.
That was an outstanding interview!
This is a perfect example of how important it is to have great people in the industry.
Jen, sorry to hear this, but everyone here is with you don't forget that.