As several of my close associates know, SEOmoz was to be featured in the January issue of Wired Magazine (which hits newsstands around Dec. 19). In October, Brad Stone (who usually writes for Newsweek) flew up from San Francisco to interview me and tour our offices. Two weeks ago, the talented and very friendly Gabriela Hasbun flew up to take photos of the crew here. However, today I heard from Brad that Wired's chief editor, Chris Anderson (whose Long Tail blog I've written about in the past) nixed the piece at the last second.
While my staff is distraught, I'm relatively positive. I think the experience was invaluable - being professionally interviewed and written about is no small amount of work. I'm certain it will help to have this under my belt for the next time the press turns their attention our way.
To all of you in the SEO sphere whom I told to buy the next issue of Wired, Sorry! You can still buy it, but you won't see any yellow shoes featured or mentions of SES conferences. Hopefully our next piece of press will make it all the way.
Does Brad own the story, or Wired? Probably wishful thinking on my part, but it seems to me that if Brad wrote the piece they may use it later, or maybe he has some rights to it so he could sell it elsewhere. If he's freelance, maybe there's a chance.
Or the angle could be changed for a new story.
I was looking forward to reading that article, Rand. Kind of cruel to get the company's hopes up and then be let down like that.
Kim - Brad said Wired is releasing (read: giving up) the story, so he could conceptually use it elsewhere. I'm doubtful that will happen, but I'm also realizing all the benefits of staying under the radar...
Nice to know that search engineers won't be making an example of any of our clients, which was something I feared (despite the fact that we're 99% white hat).
I do feel bad for him... He put in a lot of hours on this project - even re-wrote it over Thanksgiving when he was supposed to be with his family, poor guy.
Oh poo. That would have been cool Rand. Guess I'll have to check out your site photos to see this beard you speak of... Although it would have been awesome to see a fellow SEO-er in Wired. Their loss.
Geez... they missed the scoop! They can run this story when they are ready to inspire their readership to make some money.
Booo on wired. You should see about getting a copy that we can all post Rand.
I'm sorry to hear that, Rand. I expect it would have been an excellent article.
I am a subscriber! I remember when Wired magazine came in 94, I thought it was fresh and exciting - guess what? I still do.
Print is not like the web, I am sure they have to leave a lot of good stuff everytime they plan a new editon.
I am sorry to hear, but it is an honor to have been interviewed.
Time to get those invoices sent out ;) Time costs money.