Hey, hey, Mozzers. I'm invading SEOmoz! Muahaha! [looks around] Okay, being on the inside actually feels a little weird. Let's just do this. I guess I'll introduce myself: I'm Lisa Barone and during the day I hang out at Outspoken Media, an Internet marketing company I recently founded with partners in crime Rhea Drysdale and Rae Hoffman. We kick ass. But this post isn't about them. It's about me.
I'm a winner! Last week during SMX West I won a free one year SEOmoz PRO subscription at the IM Charity Party held at Yahoo HQ (enough name drops in there for ya?). The experience was both life changing and terrifying. Actually, I still have goosebumps. The thing is, I'm not a real SEO. I just blog about them on the Internet. Given that, I felt a little guilty about my win. And when I got home, I decided to email Rand and offer the prize back to him so he could find it a more deserving owner. After a few emails back and forth, Rand, Rebecca and I decided it'd be fun to not only give it away, but to make you guys work for it! So here I am offering it up to you, one loyal SEOmoz reader, to have and to hold for as long as you both shall live. Or at least for the next 12 months, because that's how long it's good for.Getting the key to unlock the SEOmoz PRO area is pretty sweet and gives you access to all of the following:
- SEOmoz PRO Tools
- Eight elite PRO Guides
- The Q+A and knowledge base
- Super secret SEO tips
- PRO Training Videos
- A date with Rand or Rebecca at your next family or work function so you can stop being ridiculed for showing up stag.
You get all the tools, all the content, all the video, and all the bragging rights. Sounds juicy, right?
Hells yes.
So here's the deal: If you want my subscription, I want to know why. I challenge you to leave a comment here and tell me why you want it, what you're going to do with it, how it will help you in your pursuit to become a better SEO, and/or your best sob story about how your mother never loved you. The most compelling answer gets the membership and my eternal admiration. The rest of you losers are stuck scraping the information yourselves and trying to get Google engineers drunk at conferences. Suckas!
Speaking of sucking, kissing up to me in your response is also encouraged, as I'll be the one judging your "entries." I can't promise it'll help your chances, but it'll make me feel good while I read them. So, get to it and tell me why you deserve my membership. And if you know someone you think could benefit, hurry up and get them over to SEOmoz. You have til Wednesday, February 25 to give me your best pitch. This is a chance to get into the heart of SEOmoz for absolutely nothing. That's something no search marketer should be passing up. May the force be with you, Mozzers!
UPDATE from Rebecca: Lisa has chosen the winner of the year-long PRO membership, and it's jamib. Congratulations, Jami!
I'm not sure I actually NEED the membership, but I do desperately WANT to be a pro member. Basically I just want to be able to login and ask Rebecca questions via Q&A so she will be obligated to respond.
I don't know if this is a good enough reason to warrant winning the contest, but it's going to take a pretty compelling entry to top "wanting to annoy Rebecca" as the most noble cause.
I bet your questions will be stuff like, "Are you ready yet? Dinner reservations are for 7:30 and we're going to be late" and "This isn't a question so much as a comment: You should really buy your boyfriend Street Fighter 4."
Those will make great additions to the Q&A Knowledge Base.
Hi, can the two of you take this domestic spat offline? Thanks. You're scaring the hopefuls away.
Wait, does that mean I didn't win?
You were disqualified for sleeping with an SEOmoz staff member. Sorry.
I hope you and Rand are very happy together.
I forgot to add that I have a girl-crush on Rebecca and that I am going to name my first child "Rand."
LMAO!!!!!!!! :-)
LOL! OK now you definitely get my vote.
Lisa, that's gotta clinch it surely!
I clearly deserve this free membership because, after all of the time and effort that I've put into the SEOmoz community, blessing it with my charm and brilliance, all I've gotten in return is getting to know awesome people, great networking opportunities, invaluable SEO knowledge, and enough paid gigs to pay off all of my previous membership costs. In other words, my life just plain sucks. Plus, my latte is running a little low, my TiVo missed the last minute of Battlestar Galactica, and my cat just sneezed. Please rescue me from this living nightmare. You're my only hope.
(Please ignore this entry - not giving Rand money would make me sad)
you are my hero
Obviously I think I should be the one you give your Pro membership to and I've got a bunch of really good reasons why:
There, I think I've taken up more than enough of your time. I know you and your pretty eyes will make the right decision.
;-)
I think you should get it just for the chicken suit.
Ah, that is so sweet and honest and you are good at kissing butt! A winning combination!
Enough with the guilt trip, chiken-suit-guy! It stills costs you only $80. If you were living in Argentina it'd be at least $282.
I thought that chickens went "puck, puck, puck" and not "cheap, cheap, cheap". :D
That settles it in my mind - the chicken takes home the membership.
I started my own SEO company about a year ago. It is a woman-owned company that helps small businesses and nonprofits grow their businesses by being found online. In these tough, tough, tough economic times, it is imperative that these types of home-grown businesses are able to succeed, and I try my best to make it possible for them. I even conduct free seminars on search engine marketing and provide free tutorials on my website to help people get started if they can't afford my services. The bottom line is that I would be more capable of helping small businesses and nonprofits if I had access to better tools.
I did sign up to use the the $1 SEO Pro subscription for one month, and like what I've played around with so far. However, I simply do not have the cash flow to continue using the tools right now.
Thanks for not being selfish with the freebie and for the opportunity of to help others grow their business!
Jami
p.s. Pick me, and I'll tweet about you at least once a day. :-)
I can relate with you and admire what you are doing. Most of the customers I work with would never be able to afford a traditional SEO firm.
Congrats Jami! Now let's see those tweets flowing :D
Congratulations!!!
I agree with everything Lisa said! You're doing good work...keep it up :)
Hey Jami:
Whooo hooo! You're a great choice for the winner and I wish you a ton of success helping the little people.
Bullitt
Congrats on the membership!!! Good luck with your SEO company.
I'd be offended, but in reality I'll show up if there's booze and cheese.
Rebecca you have become so complicated, it used to be just "booze or cheese" :)
It's like Van Halen and their "no brown M&Ms" request.
LOL!
ROTFL!!! Next thing you know she'll be picky about what kind of booze and is that cheese Camembert, and is it organic?
When I was a little boy, growing up in the ghettos of communist Romania, we had little to be happy about. Sure, I was happy when my brother was born and I was enthralled when my dad managed to smuggle in an orange from work so we could taste the sweet-sour aroma of fruit we’d only dream about. But other than that, it was a pretty sad life, having to work in a coal mine since I was 5, pulling blocks of concrete around, mostly for the amusement of the grown-ups in the room (ok, that’s a blatant lie, but stay with me).
You see, back then, as was the rule of the land, people would not distinguish between childhood and adulthood. We’d blaze straight past our puberty and teenage crisis stages, plunging head deep into what would be our adult life from thereon: hard work in miserable places, little to no nutritious food and of course, having to pull those fucking slabs of concrete for the amusement of the grown-ups until I’d eventually become one (in retrospect, this did help me grow my enormous triceps, so I’m not all that mad).
So there I was, a couple of days before my 8th birthday, deep down in the mine, taking my 5 minute smoke break (funny how 5 minutes of sucking on deadly poison can turn out to be the best part of your day sometimes, isn’t it?) and contemplating about the meaning of my pitiful existence. Who was I? Why was I placed in this twisted-piece-of-crap-of-a-town and why did the grown-ups find me pulling those damn slabs of rock around so funny? Transcendental questions, no doubt.
Puff after puff, the cave started filling with an eerie mist and in a few minutes it had gotten so thick that I couldn’t see anyone around me. All I could see was this bright shining light, buzzing sporadically at the southern end of the cave (apparently, the proverbial Light at the end of the tunnel suffers from electricity fluctuations, much like your regular household apparatus). Being still in my child curiosity stage, I shakingly got off my potty, leaned towards the light when it smacked me straight in the face: t’was God himself, reaching down upon me, giving me purpose to life and saying:
“And now, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the World was.” (God likes quoting from the Bible – he owns copyright after all).
It’s that exact moment that I knew I wanted to become an SEO. I understood what my life’s purpose was and I was set on glorifying Him within mhine own self with pretty much the glory which He had with mhee before the World was. Ever since, I’ve been living the life of an SEO monk, praying to the powers that be that I gain a few more ranks in the SERPS each night. You see, the way prayer works, you can’t just ask for the no.1 for all your keywords, lest you want to risk getting a penalty. You need to arduously beg for each rank before you go to bed (sorry Rand, the secret’s out now).
You see Lisa, being an SEO monk, I don’t get out of the house much, nor do I get any real work done. I’m mostly sustaining myself through sheer meditation, training my body not to crave for the luxury of food (I’m saving money on toilet water this way too).
There’s no way I can afford a full year of SEOMoz with my current economic status, so you’re my only hope Lisa. Lisa? Lisa, are you there? If you can hear me, give me a sign and I shalt glorify thou as my own self with the glory which He had with mhee before the World was. Also, I can pull a few strings and put in a good word if you need more Twitter followers, or a couple of .edu links for your blog, just let me know what you need and me and my friends will fix it.
How’s that for a heart-warming, tear-churning, sadness-inducing, eye-swelling, spirit-healing, bribe-tempting sob story? Here’s to me, making a fool of myself on SEOMoz on my 23rd birthday. Here here!
P.S. For the record, the above is fictional. We actually do have oranges in Romania and we don’t use wooden bows to hunt for rats that we subsequently roast and call a Thanksgiving Dinner. The slabs of rock part is real though.
Sweet baby Jesus. Darren Saltten has a brother in Romania.
I have no clue who Darren Saltten is, but I feel strangely insulted (and aroused, but that's for another reason - just gave Sean a "Thumb up"...get it? lol).
wow what a great chance to get to see behind the closed curtain which is SEOMoz.
See, I have already explained this to Rand via Email so I mind as well share it with the rest of the people here.
I got an email a few weeks ago about SEOMoz doing a trial offer for a buck. Which I was so excited about I almost crapped myself.
I honestly said out loud "Gee-Widdickers that's so spiffy of them SEOMoz folk! They really are the bees knees!"
But then reality struck. We are in a bit of a down economy and myself and my wife decided to budget ourselves as tight as possible. After all of our bills were paid we had exactly $371 bucks left over. Which we decided that $370 would be spent on alcohol, mainly hard stuff. Like Popov brand vodka, which is such a high quality product it comes in a plastic bottle.
That left us with $1.00 left over.
Now I totally would have spent it on the SEOMoz pro trial membership - but there was a little issue that happened.
See late at night, the day before the email was sent out, I was up watching infomercials. In between the ShamWOW and the PediEgg a commercial for "Sponsor a child in a 3rd world country" came on. Call it a moment of weakness or the fact that I had already drank all $370 worth of booze in one night, but I picked up the phone and dialed. About 20 minutes later I was proudly sponsoring a child in a 3rd world country. My $1.00 a month would give that child 75 lbs of grade "D" beef, tooth paste & some ugly donated Christmas sweaters!
The next day I get the email from Rand. I was very excited, but quickly reminded myself that I had already spent that dollar helping someone less fortunate. Now sometimes things might have been said about SEOMoz that are less then "nice" - but I couldn't bare to deal with SEOMoz being responsible for depriving a child of 75lbs of grade "D" beef, tooth paste & ugly Christmas sweaters. So I had to use my best judgment and pass on the offer. I would sleep better at night & so would the SEOMoz crew.
So here I am back again trying to get into the K.K.K. [not that KKK silly, the Kool Kids Klub, which is so cool its spelled all with K's] My supply of alchohol gets replenished in 9 glorious days. So I am hoping that this could help kill some time & also keep my mind off the fact that I have the shakes.
ohh, yeah, & Lisa - you're alright some times. O.K. more then some times, like 80% of the time. I just take offense when you start trying to mess with New Jersey. I mean New Jersey is also the birth place of Rand - so like are you gonna come on this blog and start talking smack about the state the owner was born in. I mean granted he was kinda born in the sticks in New Jesey [No offense Rand, but its the sticks] but still its his home state. Also the home state of your business partner. So please respect NJ. Jeez. I mean I never talk about the fact that you are from New Yorks Wang or anything like that.
Its been fun!
Since I got drunk for the first time at 17, when I stole a fifth of Popov Vodka from the locked "alcohol cage" in the back of the bowling alley I worked in (Lindenhurst, NY), I must vote for this entry becasue it brings back such fond memories.
I'll never forget waking up the next hot summer morning, with my face firmly planted in steaming, brown grass clippings in the wooded area near my house and my head covered with crickets. I'm pretty sure I didn't drink vodka again for about 15 years.
Thanks Streko.
YOU PEOPLE ARE NOT SUCKING UP TO LISA!!!
I think people need an example of want Lisa wants, here it is.
"Lisa, although I can not think straight due to the way your hair is so vibrant and shining, I would like to attempt for a moment to be worthy of your ears.
I believe I deserve the pass because with this pass all I will do is compliment you everyday on SEOmoz. Due to the "PROmember" badge next to my name people will know that I am intelligent and will therefore put great stock into the songs I sing of your beauty, charm. and hotness.
I have waited a long time for this, longer than you think, longer than your legs, longer than the hellish time between 8am and 9am is as I breathlessly wait for your daily kneesock pic to go up.
Before I swoon from the pleasure of talking to you (OMG she is going to read this! Lisa Barone is going to read this!) let me just say that every comment I make will include a link to the latest OutSpoken Media blog post as well.
I hereby humbly submit an example coment...
"The lovely and talented Lisa Barone has made me not only hunger her, but has also made me hungry ith her delicious new post about Dennys and breakfast"
Hey Mozzers, I'm back again.
Wow. The response to this off-the-cuff giveaway was more than I was expecting. Let it never be said that the SEOmoz community is anything but alive and active. Or that reading 130+ blog comments isn't a totally fun way to spend a Wednesday night. :)
After much internal debate, the new owner of my SEOmoz PRO memberships is Jami Broom aka jamib.
Jami won me over with her committment to the small business owner and the free seminars she offers to help spread education to that very important niche. I share her passion and I hope that this membership will allow her to not only continue that, but help strengthen it. I also admired her total lack of Lisa sucking up. :)
So congrats to Jami. I hope this membership brings you lots of happiness, sleep-filled nights and SEO kickassness.
Thanks to everyone for participating.
Lisa
[And BlueLynxMarketing, you were my other favorite. If only you hadn't tried to unfollow me on Twitter (kidding!). ;) ]
Excellent choice, Lisa; and thanks so much for holding this - much appreciated :-)
yay! Thanks so much, Lisa. I promise to put the membership to good use:-)
I'm seriously jumping up and down! woo-hoo!
Congratulations!
Now you have to tweet Lisa atleast once a day! :)
[thinks that she could cure cancer and still get thumb'd down on SEOmoz. Yey, community!]
There's a thumb's up to counteract the evil jaded mozzer trying to bring you down.
Congratulations jamib...thumbs up to you too!
Seriously...someone went a little crazy with the completely unnecessary thumbs down. Yay for maturity!!!
Great choice Lisa! Thanks for making your membership available for this contest.
1. I've been working in the SEO industry for almost one year, and I LOVE IT. I love the challenge. Every day I learn something new.
2. I spend hours on SEOmoz learning about new tools every day. I subsribe to the blog RSS feed and read it religiously. I follow some of the bloggers on Twitter (but not at work. Ok, maybe at work. Sometimes). I have the SEOmoz toolbar (which I love). Etc.
3. As an SEO, I have the opportunity to be as great or as useless as I want to be. Becoming a great SEO involves a lot of time, a lot of reading, a lot of asking, a lot of work, not much sleep, and a lot of coffee.
4. Countless hours spent on SEOmoz lead to poor vision and the onset of carpel tunnel. I have to pay for new bifocals and wrist braces, so I can't afford a Pro membership. Seriously.
I'd love to progress in this industry and I need the right tools to do so. Pick me, pick me!
you'd get my vote so far...
Not that it matters, but so far you have my vote. :) Welcome to the biz!
The time limit's drawing close and I know Lisa will be making her decision at some point today. Having looked over all the other coments on this post (and keeping my fingers crossed for nearly a week now) I can safely say that if Lisa doesn't choose me for the Pro membership I hope she picks you instead.
Good luck.
I say you give your membership to a good looking, up and coming SEO chick, much like yourself. ;-) That will narrow your choices and give us someone nice to look at. =) Sorry guys, I'm sick of looking at Darrin and Sean dressed like women.
Hey folks, can you refrain from mass downthumbing answers you don't like? It's technically a violation of our Blog Etiquette Guidelines and is grounds for banning. Lisa gets to choose the winner--it's not based on the number of postive/negative thumbs. I'm monitoring thumb activity and reserve the right to bust anyone who's being overly aggressive with the negative thumbs.
My major faux pas earlier today crushes any slim chance I have to win this. Right Lisa? Talk about Murphy's Law? You see, Lisa Tweeted about kicking a puppy yesterday (jokingly I am sure). I decided I did not need to follow any puppy kickers. So what did I do? I mistakingly "unfollow Lisa Barone" for all 89 of my followers to see. Classic.So, I am already at a huge disadvantage here. I did chuckle about the situation especially when she immediately replied "@bluelynxmktg Smooth ;)". After my apologies (which I could not DM because she was not following me), she replied: "No worries, I wouldn't follow me either". This made me like her even more. I have since re-followed Lisa for reasons other than this contest. I'll get to that reason later. But first....
Why should I win?6 months ago I quit my job as an IT recruiter with the goal of creating a marketing consulting firm that specializes in helping small local business. My passion has always been marketing and helping small business owners. I believe America will be re-built by the gumption of the small business community and I want to be involved in the process. Since I quit my job, I have been a sponge soaking in everything related to online marketing. SEO, Analytics, PPC, Content Marketing, etc. I have recently realized that if I want to really compete and provide the best value for my small business clients, I need the best tools. I have been evaluating the many different resources available and the reasons why the true professionals in this industry rely on the SEOMoz.org Pro Package tools are obvious. To be honest, I will probably end up becoming a Pro Member eventually. As a very small start up, it may take some time for me to take that step.
I guess I should also make it clear that my rooted interest is in the principles of advertising that are often overlooked. I believe that by combining the teachings of John Caples, David Ogilvy, Rosser Reeves, Robert Collier, and the like with new web technologies - the positive results can be drastic. I believe online marketing is the best advertising value for the small business owner.
Oh yeah, one more thing about Lisa. She has personality. Her biting sarcasm and sense of humor is something that I only wish I could publicly display. It's funny how serious I am online which is the antithesis of who I really am. If nothing else, I have learned a valuable lesson today and this is "personality" sells. Regardless of whether people like you or disagree with you, it is better to be yourself and stand out. Lisa stands out from the crowd, even if her puppy kicking comments are not liked by everyone.
If you give away your membership, how will you know if you're properly blocking linkscape :P
nicely done.
So here’s the deal Lisa:
I want your subscription! Why you ask?
Because I’m the little sister who got shoved in the dryer and am left with a stutter! Need I say more?
I’ll spare you the vocals and stick with the typing. Like you, I am an ambitious woman, cutting my way through society to leave my mark and make a difference in the world (and my pocketbook).
Beat me down and I’ll stand right back up, so I’ll spare you the sob stories…they just make me work that much harder and want to kick everyone’s ass that much more!
Sucking up? That’s never really been my style, but what the hell? Your writing style is most excellent, you don’t hold back and you crack me up! You’re genius! It’s no wonder you have such a following! And I’m happy to see you already crossed a few people off this list!
What am I going to do with the subscription? I’m going to kick ass is what I’m going to do! I’m on the fast track, been busting my butt for 15 years running my own business, working 80 hours a week and then it dawned on me….why not take my superior design skills and marketing abilities and create an ecommerce site that benefits both me and the rest of the world. It's a site that I promise will help save the environment (at least a portion of it....I can't do it all myself for God's sake). So for the past year I’ve studied, researched and busted my tail for countless hours on how to take this world by the balls and wrap it up into one little neat package….my ecommerce site. That'll wake 'em up!
Then I found seomoz! Only problem is…I can’t afford it….damn foreclosures! But I must have it! I dreamt, I prayed and then I found you! My savior! The one who is going to make me the next ecommerce rock star so I don’t have to get Google engineers drunk at conferences anymore. Who told you my secret? That’s a little embarrassing. Did they also tell you about the time I got a little tipsy and got up on the table and...well, um, oh nevermind.
Did I mention I’m psychic? My intuitive abilities are telling me that I’m going to be blogging a lot about you and sending all kinds of traffic to your site. Wait, I’m being told that due to your unselfish generosity (which no one seems to mention here) with this whole seomoz thing, good will and fortune will be bestowed upon you. Well, at least that’s what my fortune cookie is saying right now, but I have faith!
Begging? Well, that’s not really my style either, but I’m not opposed to one last suck up… You rock! Keep rocking on! Please help me be a rock star too!
Thanks Lisa!
Hi Lisa and Mozzers,
There are 5 simple reasons that I should win the Free SEOMOZ Pro Account.
1) I am not a gurl and we all know if you award this to a member of the female persuasion there will be calls of favoritism. Looking at the members (Accidental euphemism) of your company’s team, I think this should be avoided at all costs. :)
2) I can sympathize with your plight of having to (or wanting to) forge your own path. I was a few years ago a fulltime SEO/ SEM consultant. Then I went affiliate mostly on my own sites. Then in-house. Now after a recent move I am getting a few domains, making my logos, and getting my corporate things in order to go as a startup SEO/SEM company again. And I dont even compete in your markets....
3) I have been in the shadow of the big companies as well. As a USA consultant I was brought into phone conferences with some of the big Chicago agencies that make you tremble. Then you hear them ask slightly uninformed questions and you realize that they are not always the most rounded people. Every week I go into a building who has, as a fellow tenant, the large SEO company with the initials B.C. And I don’t mean British Columbia. I go in that building 3 or 4 times a week. They are impossible to forget about. And today I was talking to a potential client and they were working with a company that is the sound you make if you were standing in the Swiss Alps and trying to get someone’s attention. But after hearing their description of the service and results they were getting I know I am going in the right direction.
4) I am as a business startup, swamped with costs, fees, and percentage costs that I am trying to decide where to draw the line. Fees for memberships, associations, networking breakfasts, software monthly fees, and hardware costs are frightening. I was just at the corporate promotional shop and am looking at several thousand dollars in swag for my initial mailouts and giveaways for Adtech and SMX. Any business expense that could be reduced or avoided for a year is much appreciated.
5) I am a software tool freak. I love working with tools that give me more info, better info, and allow me to make better decisions. I think this type of software integration with a consultant’s guiding hand is what will allow my company to differentiate myself from the amateur’s and the big agencies as it will allow better results than you can get without the tools and will allow me to scale my clients work in a way that allows me to give personalized attention to the campaign aspects that can benefit most from it. Software tools also help an experienced marketer to make sure they are not leaving any money or keywords on the table. But I don’t count tools as the answer to everything. Sometimes I just like to go to Google and see what the results feel like.
<Donkey>Pick Me! Pick Me! Oohhh Pick Me! </Donkey>
Oh, and Lisa...I think I left out the most important factor is obtaining your SEOMOZ subscription! It will allow me to generate the cash needed to get my brother out of that god forsaken lime green beetle he keeps pulling into my driveway! The neighbors are starting to talk...
This is my first post and the reason I initially signed up was because of Lisa's dimples. :)
I need to win this subscription for all these exciting reasons -
1. I run a blog that helps under privledged children learn more about SEO. I just started the blog in Jan. 09 and need the tools to teach others about SEO.
2. I recently lost my salaried position with a company because I continually turned down invites to go to the owner's son's place and watch cage fighting and get drunk. They also complained that I wouldn't grow a mullet, and were offended when they came to my apartment and there was no couch outside for them to sit on.
3. -----
4. Sorry about number 3. I was staring at Lisa's picture. What a beautiful woman.
5. I'm sitting at my apartment writing this right now on a Mon. so that proves that I'm unemployed (or atleast I am now for not showing up to work).
6. SEOmoz doesn't except gravatars or pngs so I couldn't even post a picture of myself up. Now you can't even tell if I'm a human writing this. You think I didn't post a picture because I'm ugly. Well, people say I have a great personality. Oh no, I am ugly.
7. I have been doing SEO for years and can NEVER learn too much.
Plus, don't forget about the children - aka college kids too cheap to buy a membership and to buzzed to read so they come to my blog to copy and paste the answers in their reports.
Atleast I'm helping someone - aka children that know more SEO than me, but respect me because I have facial hair
8. Because I lost my job, I'm freelancing and my credit cards went to collections, so I can't even buy a SEOmoz membership if I wanted to. I tried contacting them to see if they would trade a membership for hugs.
9. Did I mention Lisa's nice smile? :)
10. And the most important reason of all.
I do all my SEO with my shirt off.
This statement made my morning. Thanks for the laugh!
Sucking I am. Pro Account I need. You pick me, so that the force may be with you!
Pick me pick me pick me!
I've been working for a company for a couple of years now that just won't get me a damn SEOmoz membership *grumbles*. I feel that is invaluable to my personal development as an internet marketer!
My sob story is that SEOs just don't get the respect they should around here. The software developers all think we're going to break the computer just by looking at it and panic at the thought of us adding 301s to an htaccess file (because it's oh so hard to do you know). It's frustrating </rant>
Mmmmm ... homemade truffles Lisa ... I know you love em. Not that I'm trying to bribe you or anything ;)
Oh, and when I become a superstar I'll gladly throw a few links and props your way.
Dearest Lisa,
I’m not going to drone on with some sob story, although, my momma did kick me down the stairs once - granted it was right after I had put my little sister in the dryer - but it was only on the delicate cycle, it wasn’t like I set it on heavy duty dry. And, she did recover after a few weeks, although she does still stutter. [You’ve got moxie girl!]
I just left my wife of 15 years. My guilt was such that all I took with me was a shoebox full of belongings and my remote control. I left her everything else. I am now 2,000 miles away. I had to move in with my parents. I had to go to work for my sister and it’s very stressful, as I often have to wait 30-40 minutes to get my directives on the day’s tasks - you know - with the stutter and all. I don’t have a car so I have to drive my moms lime green beetle to my sisters’ house. [You’re incredibly witty girl!]
My mental duress got so bad that I decided I couldn’t take it anymore and on that fateful day I took an entire bottle of Propecia, to no avail…all that happened was my left ear started to sprout hair like a chia pet on steroids. [Your smile is infectious girl!]
As I write this, the moisture in my corneas grow uncontrollably.
Aw damn it, that was a sob-filled rant, wasn’t it? I’m so sorry Lisa…I know you’re very busy. [Outspoken Media is awesome!]
The Why, What and How:
For the last 7 years or so I have made my cabbage as a carpenter…just like J.C. My sis, bro in-law and I started working on our ecommerce site a couple months ago.
Since then I have been vigorously edgamacating myself on seo,social media, etc.
My borrowed pIII laptop never leaves my side, my dedication being such that the other day while grooming, I was listening to an audio tutorial with my mp3, in right ear only, of course.
We will have an ecommerce site selling organic ‘green’ products. My hope is to fix the hole in the ozone before I melt. We will also have a blog, ‘the green slam’, an entertaining blog aimed at politicians and celebrities who are a bit hypocritical in their pursuits of a greener world. [Iv’e been told I look like some dude named Chris Pearson.]
Seomoz pro has been evaluated and deemed necessary for our sites. Unfortunately for me I am not in a position to procure it. If you were to award this awesome gift to me it would allow me to bring something to the table and help restore some of my dignity…for the love of God and all things holy, next time I might reach for my bottle of restless leg syndrome pills.
Also Lisa, I want to assure you that this gift would not be squandered…I am prepared like Martha Stewart at a Boy Scout jamboree to receive and implement this gift, should you deem me worthy. I am following you on Twitter, [you smoking hot woman]. I also intend on letting the world know how awesome you are. Also, when I have 5 digits in that little feedburner box and a pr 7, rest assured there will be a link to and mentions of the genius of Lisa Barone. Please understand the aforementioned is in no way a bribe or to be construed as such, rather it would be an expression of my gratitude towards you. Why?... because that’s how I roll baby.
Summation:
I’m sorry about the length Lisa, ever since the Propecia debacle I tend to ramble on and occasionally drool uncontrollably.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and I would like to say that I will now be following the genius that is Lisa Barone, whether you choose to give me life back or not.
Sincerely,Doug
P.S.- The above content is factually based, however some items may contain slight embellishments for dramatic effect. The opinions expressed are not those of a sane man.
I want it so i can have a cool badge under my name..
<-- Yep right about there.
Please help me look special!!
Oh yeah, the tools will be cool too so i can open up a can of whoop ass on Wikipedia's eternal domination.
Hi Lisa --
All right, I'll take my shot at this.
I work for a 15 person sustainability think tank in Seattle. We're working to craft smart, sustainable policies for the Pacific Northwest to help improve our quality of life.
We do a lot of wide-ranging work: from climate policy and transportation emissions, to human health and toxics.
We do the number crunching and get our info out to policy champions and thoughtful media throughout the region with the hope that it will help guide their work to make our area better place to live for ourselves and future generations.
We operate three websites, hosting a heap of content, from maps and charts, to primers and white pages. With a host of great resources, we're still struggling to figure out how to get our pages to rank higher so we can reach an even bigger audience.
As a non-profit, we can't afford the Pro Package, but it would be ever-so-valuable to us--we need to hunt down those long-tail, keywords and figure out who's searching for the information we have. We've spent a lot of time exploring and teaching our selves SEO, but we still lack the tools to truly power its implementation.
So that's my case. Also, pretty please, with a cherry on top?
- Eric
www.sightline.org
since you are a non-profit why don;t you invite someone from SEOmoz to be on your board of directors.. ?
nudges rebecca..
Plus, since we're a non-profit, you might be able to count it as a donation and write it off... (maybe? I don't work on the finance side...)
First things first Lisa. I REALLY miss your writing on Bruce's blog. You had a rare gift of not only communicating clearly whatever it was you were blogging about, but at the same time you made me feel like I was one of the "insiders" with you. Your personality and humour came through every single time and it really felt like you "knew me". I loved your jokes and comments, and while Virginia is doing a VERY good job, you left a hole there next to impossible to fill.
I know the preceding sounds a lot like sucking up, but I mean every word.So now, to attempt to address your key points:
1) Why I want it
I want a years PRO membership to put my fledgling career as an SEO on the fast track. I know there are work arounds for most of what SEOmoz offers, but to have all the tools in one place as well as to be able to be an inside part of the community would multiply my chances of success exponentially.
2) What I'm going to do with it
I plan on making my first "client" a website that is absolutely "world class" for free. He is an alien (legal from Colombia) that was a biology professor in his hometown of Bogotá, but he moved here for his children. His grasp of English is mediocre and because of that he is only able to take menial jobs. He desperately needs more money, and I want to help him create an online business that sells handmade baskets from the jungles of Colombia.
3) How it will help me in my pursuit of becoming a better SEO
Having this PRO membership will help me become a better SEO because I will be immersing myself in the mozzer community for a solid year, and although I will be a "solo" shop, it won't feel like I'm alone. I'll have the backup of the SEOmoz staff as well as the members of the community to bounce ideas off of, seek help from in sticky situations, and by the end of the year, perhaps I will have learned enough to "give back" to the community.
4) My best sob story
My best sob story. Hmmm. This is a tough one for me because not only do I not like to focus on negatives, I don't even like to acknowledge their existence. I try to focus on the good. This isn't to say that my life has been without occurrences that would make for great sob stories. I know this is a totally lame response, and I'm really tempted to share my stories because they would really shine but it just isn't worth the fall out that comes from negativity. I really hope my reticence to share sob stories isn't too great a negative for my chances to win this PRO membership. :(
5) Kissing up to you
Hmmm. Kissing up. I only know you through your writing so I don't know you well enough to be able to kiss up. I can repeat what I said above, and that is that you are one of the best writers I have come across on the web. You have a remarkable talent to make your writing very inclusive to your audience.
6) Why I deserve your membership
Why I deserve your membership...Gosh Lisa, that's impossible to answer. I don't "deserve" anything besides a kick in the pants for taking up work time composing this post. But I just HAD to take a shot at winning your membership. I was totally unable to become a PRO member before Rand and crew came up with the $1 brainstorm idea, and now my membership will have to be cancelled due to lack of funds on my part. Until I can show my family that doing SEO is going to be a net positive venture, I'm unable to get the funds necessary to keep the membership up.
Sooooooo this ends my diatribe. Thanks for offering your membership up for this giveaway and I wish you success in picking the right candidate.
Warm Regards, Bullitt
I should get it because I'm first to comment. ;)
Honestly, though...I'd love to win because I can't afford a yearly membership at the moment and the membership would provide me with access to some invaluable SEO tools in my attempt to launch my own SEO venture.
I considered signing up for the $1 for a month promo, but was afraid I'd fall in love with the tools and then not be able to afford the $80 a month to keep them - so I didn't.
There you have it...ooh, ooh...pick me - pick me!
I did not see any sucking up to Lisa. You lose automatically. ;)
Because I can fulfill your lifelong dream.
PS - I am not looking to win. Just thought it would be fun to enter :)
Good luck all.
Congrats. Great and worthy choice. Way to pull in comments.
Thumbs down for offering congratulations!?
Sweet ;)
I know, it doesn't make any sense. Someone keeps doing that lately! The things people do for fun ...
Some more up thumbs sly-grrr
Back at you steph and goodnewscowboy. Two can play at this game ;P
I'm thinking some of your past comments were better the second time I read them.
No negative Nancy is going to dampen my enthusiasm for the Moz!
In this day and age, it is hard to find someone who is geniunely honest. In reading the above comments I see people pleading their cases as to why they think they deserve to win, each with a unique backstory carefully worded to elicit a wide range of emotions with the high hopes of hitting some psychological "you win" trigger in the OP's brain.
Some people lost their jobs, while others seem to have their lips puckered around the rear end of certain SEO Moz employees.
The truth of the matter is this: When you are giving something away for free, especially to people like us who are skilled in the art of deception (I DARE anyone to say that advertising is not a form of deception) you have to realize that there is always going to be some shard of b.s. given to help one's chances of winning.
For that reason and that reason alone I wish to distinguish myself from the others with the following statement as to why I should win:
I, Mr. Snrub already have a PRO membership. I think I am paying somewhere around $50 a month or so for it. I use it at least 3x a week. I have been a member now for a few months and really and truly find the SEO Moz Pro membership to be of great value. I plan on keeping this membership active well beyond one year from today.
With that being said, the reason why I should win is simple: In 2 days I am moving to a beach front apartment in Hermosa Beach, Ca. I will be within a 5 minute walk to the bars. If I win the one year free membership to SEO Moz, I plan on cancelling my current Pro membership and taking that money and pissing it away (literally) on booze and broads at the local bars on any given Friday or Saturday night.
Your charitable donation will help a fellow SEO brother get his drinky-drinks on at Hennsey's and fuel many hours of alcohol-induced entertainment for all of the bar patrons in attendance.
If there is any money left over, I plan on buying and bulldozing a children's orphanage in order to make way for my newest nulcear power plant, of which will provide top-notch electricity for the servers here at SEO Moz. What makes my brand of electricity better than all other brands of electricity? The simple fact that we use additives and a special patented formula which results in greatness for all who use it. In fact, just last year our brand of electricity won first place in the First Annual Montgomery Burns Awardfor Outstanding Achievement in the Field of Excellence.
You do care if there servers here at SEOMOZ run on the highest grade brand of electricity that is out there, don't you?
Thank you for your consideration.
p.s. Screw Flanders
Thumbed up, both for "Screw Flanders" and because every time you comment I laugh at both your name and your avatar.
First of all .. thanks for offering up your prize!
I run a local Hospice golf tournament with a great team of volunteers and we have been doing it for over 17 years. We have raised over 120K but I think we can do more. I would like to take our efforts to the next level (national, even worldwide stage) and the SEOmoz PRO Account will help us get started.
We would like to raise more awareness for Hospice and solicit donations via microsites and other conventional online methods. The tool kits, guides and expertise would serve us well as we get more aggressive with our fundraising goals. I am addicted to the whiteboard sessions and the blog so i can't imagine how much the Pro Account will help us.
Hospice is a special concept of care designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families. Patients are referred to hospice when life expectancy is approximately six months or less.
Thanks again for the opportunity.
My name is Nick, and I would benefit from this amazingly. First, I'm a student, and the main reason I don't have an account already truly is the money. I work freelance to help make some extra money, and I could really use this. Please help out a poor college kid :)
- Nick
3 Reasons I shouldn't get it are...
1.) I can afford it.
2.) I could sell my boss on the idea of buying it for me.
3.) I would learn more than i already know and potentially become a hazzard.
1 Reason I should get it is...
1.) I understand the SEO value of this post.
Lisa,
I was planning on using my elegant writing style, my humor, and my irresistible southern charm to write a comment that would knock your kneesockz off! ( get it? ) However, after reading through the other comments I have decided that many of the other mozzers deserve the PRO membership more than I do.
Lisa's Thoughts: Wow this is the most heroic, selfless, and noble act I've ever seen!
My Thoughts: I've already won!!!
Ok back to being serious. With the Presidents new stimulus package going into effect, I should start to see around 45 cents more on each paycheck. Also, I went to Denny's for their FREE Grand Slam the other day which hit the spot! So as you can see I am obviously "sitting pretty" as the kids say, and should be able to get my own PRO account in a few YEARS!
Instead of fighting for the prize I think I will just comment quickly on how I feel about SEOmoz, and more importantly, how I feel about you Lisa.
What sets SEOmoz apart is the passion Rand and the other moz staff have for what we do. It shows up in the tools they create and the posts they write on the blogs, and it is both refreshing and infectious. (hope that's spelled right?) This, in my opinion, is why they have built and maintain such a great community of SEO's. We work in an evolving industry and it is helpful to have a place like SEOmoz where new ideas and theories can be discussed and debated by some of the best in the business.
Lisa...let me start by saying that if heaven had a height you would be that tall. It's rare that beauty, humor, and intelligence comes in one package, but you seem to pull it off. God must have spent a little more time on you. (How's that for sucking up???)
So in conclusion I will not be joining all you PRO's in the prestigious members section, but I will keep reading, and learning, and eventually posting on the site.
@Lisa, you have chosen the right winner I think! And I also feel it's a very nice gesture of you to give away this, or any, prize.
And @ Jami: It's a very noble thing to help small-time companies, struggling for survival, with free /cheap seo services. But, in order to help them out even better,would it perhaps be a good idea to take on several larger (non-competing) clients as well? That way you generate some nice revenue streams (a) for yourself, and (b) to invest in even better services to your clients in need.
Good luck!!!
I think that is a fabulous idea! Send any big clients you know of my way:-)
Seriously, I do have to balance it that way in order to keep things going.
@ Jami: I would if I could, but I'm from Holland (and that's all the way in Europe, ow, and we DON'T wear wooden shoes here anymore since the old windmills stopped working hahaha!). And big clients like a visit of their seo consultant now and then I suppose, so if you have any plans on visiting Holland soon: you're welcome! ;-) (You are actually...)
But, apart from that nice Holland-welcoming gesture of mine, I can also give you some advise on how to acquire one or some larger clients, through some old school sales, and a bit of newschool se marketing techniques.
1) write down a list of some (semi-) competitive keywords that you got serps for, for (one of) your smallest client(s). The smaller the client, the more competitive the keyword and the higher the serps because of you, the best credentials you have. (How else would they get up there anyway without your services? You obviously achieved that!)
2) write down another list of other (semi-) competitive keywords from branches you like personally. Go to the extKeyword tool of AdWords to get info on the expected search volume (Or use your new pro seomoz account!!!). Then go to your 2nd best friend (;-)) Google.com, query the keyword plus the biggest city near you, and now DON'T look at the first 20 results, but start with results 21 and lower. Look for companies you would have expected to be higher on the list based on their offline status.
3) call those companies, ask for the owner, ceo, chief marketing or sales manager, any other top dog, and put on your utterly amazed tone of voice. Then say: "Did you know... and I know this may sound a bit shocking... that when I go to Google.com and search for keyword '<keyword> + <city>' that your organisation, despite having a very nice status in real lief, merely pops up at result page number 8 (place 87 to be exact), while companies like X, Y and Z, small-timers compared to your organisations are on places 1,2 and 3? And did you also know that per month mor than 148.000 people look for those keywords?"... => the following sales appointment is yours, in 50% of your calls, definitely!
:D
Congratulations Jami.
Lisa had a very difficult decision to make as there were many worthy applicants. A lot of the replies really made me laugh and some made me cry. Ok, none really made me cry but I do hope that everyone is able to continue learning from this great website and the people on it.
Jami, I am glad to see you won (if it wasn't going to be me). Good luck with helping the small businesses in your local community.
Lisa, thanks for seriously considering me. It really does mean a lot.
I hope your foot is better. (I am not going to ask how you injured it though. I just hope it wasn't kicking an innocent animal.) LOL
I hope everyone has a great weekend.
thanks for being such a gracious loser!
and thanks @bluelynxmktg for the follow of @jamilbroom on twitter, where i'll be doing plenty of tweeting about @lisabarone :-)
Did you really just call him a loser. Way to be, Jami. ;)
I said gracious loser. :-)
Not sure what time this contest officially closes today, but wanted to say Good Luck to everyone who participated in it.
Many of you don't know me, but I will be posting up a storm soon about SEO and if you have any questions, I'm always awake. No really, I don't sleep much. I'm afraid I might miss something.
Ty to Lisa for offering up her winnings to get us all to compete like the desk-atheletes we are!
I second that! Good luck to everyone...and may the best woman win. ;-)
Much gratitude to Lisa for her generous gift...and may she get a lot of great laughs out of this string of brilliant tales spun by die-hard internet gurus and SEO wannabes.
May the force be with you all!
Hi, My name is Ryan Arroyo, and I am San Diego resident. I have been closely following the impending water crisis in California, and the water issues that face the south-western states in particular. There is a lot of work to be done to not only raise awareness of the seriousness of the situation, but also to help individuals save water.
My passion towards addressing water conservation issues has led me to create a new business revolving around water conservation education and water conservation technology that helps people save water and money. (https://mywaterfuture.com) My research of water conservation products has led me to find many great tools to save water indoors and outdoors. High-efficiency sprinkler heads, weather based sprinkler timers, and WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets can provide huge reductions in water use. These products are also easy to install by the average homeowner. I am posting a comment here because I would be thrilled to win this SEO package to help me learn how to share my water conservation products and ideas with the world! I am not new to the web, but I am definitely new to SEO. However, I have been trying to learn all that I can with my limited budget. To have an opportunity to use all of the premier tools that SEOmoz has to offer, would be a tremendous boost! I think we can all make a big impact by helping people save water. This is a new era of water scarcity that demands an increase consciousness towards water conservation! Thanks for your help!
Hi!
Just wanted to say this is my first ever post on SEOMOZ as i read the blogs religiously but never feel quite clever enough to respond!
But put away those tissues i'm not that shy just fairly new to SEO.
The reason the prize is destined for me is because:
Last year I packed in my job recruiting for the banking industry (good move!) to pursue my interest in online media. I always thought i would be more interested in viral marketing but actually SEO has changed my life and career. I now scrape together any spare time I have to learn all i can about SEO practices and SEOMOZ has really helped. So thank you. But because this is not my main role, they have given me a few projects but i am mainly writing content and viral marketing, i do not have a complete SEO tool package.
Secondly - if i learn how to use the Pro tool package and can show what I can do with my projects I will realise my dream.
Thirdly - (sorry to pull out the gender card) we women should stick together. When i went for interviews recently i had ten interviews for roles and only 1 female interviewer! Lets promote the girlies!
So there it is - Phew not so hard after all (please don't give me a load of thumbs down)
P.s. - i think this is the best use of self promotion ever - Lisa this is genius. I will follow your blogs more closely from now on.
P.P.S - Loving the ticket tape necklace - very Gok Won!
you are the very first people to ever hear these words, for they have waited many years to be uttered. the time has finally come for them to be brought from the shadows and delivered to the light of the world.
it began eight years ago, in the dark early hours before sunrise, in an alley in downtown Bogota. i had just come out of the jungle after an eight month long sojourn with the native Arhuacos people, during which time I had experienced what the natives term "caribana especes," or animal twin birth journey. but that is another story.
a strange woman turned into the alley. i could see her through swollen eyelids, amid an overcast rainbow of detritus. i could not move, my lips were encased in plaster. she approached, saw me, came within an arm's reach and whispered, "seo is the key."
those fleeting wisps of pure truth echoed within me as she nursed me back to health, helped me stand on my feet again, eat again, see again, love again.
but the memories of my former life never returned.
i pursued seo like a cub searching for its mother, scavenging the fringes of society for a morsel of seo anywhere i could find one. seo became the blood in my veins, the neurons in my brain, the fibers in my muscles.
i know now that everyone is born with seo. i see it in my baby daughter's eyes when she gazes off past me. i feel it when i am with thousands of people lost in the timeless trance of the dance, and when i am all alone in the wilderness. seo is where time began, and seo is where time will end.
the seomoz is seo's majordomo. nothing touches seo without going through the seomoz first. the seomoz is the eternal.
the strange woman who found me and saved my life gave me something before she died. she gave me a message sealed in her blood and told me to deliver it to the seomoz. she told me the fate of the world depended on it.
i have the message. i have cared for it all these years, and now is the time to deliver it. you, the one who is called lisa barone, for reasons beyond our ken, are the gatekeeper. i was told you would recognize my person, and open the gate for me to deliver the message.
together we can save the world. we must act. now.
So let me get this straight...Lisa is the gatekeeper???
Does that make you the Keymaster???
Hi Lisa,
I need this Pro Account
Why?
To help educate musicians in and around Bangalore and about the reach they can achieve globally through websites.
Why not?
I really want to see some of my friends win a grammy.
What will I do?
I am a student at The Bangalore school of music. I intend to teach music. I plan to start a website to guide aspiring musicians like me.
So If I have the Pro Account, I will be able to reach to a lot of musicians in agony.
This is slain https://www.myspace.com/slainindia (I used to play with this band)
I am helping these guys to put together a website. (I am not a web designer myself) But nobody around here knows about SEO and what it can do.
I cannot afford the fee that SEOmoz charges, I do not have access to the guides for pro members and I want to go indeapth (most of the blogs just say titles, h tags, meta tags, social media etc) I want to learn to implement all these things in detail.
Please Give it to me...
What will you get?
You will get all the passes to my concert free (lifetime)!! I am performing (classical guitar) at the bangalore school of music auditorium on March 1s.. Drop in if you can.
I really want that Pro pass...
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa. These 3 words could change my life. Let me use a little French to try to "seduce" you. Ton sourire est resplendissant et ton collier en billets de tirage et aussi joli que tes yeux :)
Now about me and my needs.
I've been hitting my head against the wall after reading books, blog posts, and comments all over the internet. I can't sleep at night since my company challenged me to get them to the top. Yes, that's right THE top. Me, a simple French Canadian who already has to suffer the harsh winter months. I'm so grateful I have a job in marketing but if I can't get the to THE top, I will have to sleep in the snow. You wouldn't my death on your conscience would you?
So please, please, change my life and give ME you subscription. I will send you good karma which will make your internet marketing company so much more successful. Think about it, in a few years you will realize that all your success is due to the fact you gave ME your subscription. Don't jeopardize your future.
In the end, I'm asking, begging... if you don't do this for ME, do it for our planet. If I don't have to google so much and can get everything I need in one place, think of the positive impact on reducing the greenhouse effect. Better yet, think of the trees you will save by preventing me from printing everything I find around SEO.
I'm hoping you can save my life so I don't have to read so much material while I pedal my way to work through the snow.
Why do I want it?
Because Lisa,
My dream every day is to be able to have a follower list in Twitter that I can ask a question and get better answers than Google like you do.
My dream every day is to be able to write almost about anything and be able to get dozens of links just because you write with such elegance and charm and just because you are you.
I believe Lisa is the greatest SEO in the world because she can be #1 without having to spam anywhere and just being herself. And Lisa, honestly, you being yourself makes you the greatest SEO.
If SEOMoz can teach me just one percent 1% of being like you Lisa, I think it is reason enough to get it. If SEOMoz can't teach anything about being you Lisa, then the lessons are worthless and I don't want it.
Well if I can't get a membership, I will even take an autographed photo just to inspire me to be great every day.
Thanks Lisa.
Give me the account cuz i'm a friggin squirrel! Actually, f*** that, I don't want your account. All I want are nuts. Mouthfulls and mouthfulls of nuts. kthxbye
That is F***'N funny! I don't think I have ever actually laughed at a blog comment before until now :-)
Okay, there are some damn fine reasons on here, and I have a fantastic company that is willing to renew my membership when it expires next month. So not sure I need it.
Lisa, you are great for offering this up. Good luck with the judging. I see about 3 so far that I'd want to give one to. Not sure how to pick between them.
For all the others wondering if a membership is worth it. Trust me. It is. :)
i agree with kate.. have renewed my membership, twice i think...
I'll use it to create world peace.
I would like it because today I put a deposit down on my first apartment so I am now broke for the next 35 years.
It would make the first year of my 'sentence' go so much easier.
I am a pro member currently because I took advantage of the '$1 sign up' e-mail I got. I will be cancelling my membership as soon as my account gets threatened with an $80 bill.
Additional sucking/sobbing: You're hot (yay) My cat died (boo hoo).
You mercy killed your cat to get sympathy from The Lisa, didn't you?!
There was no cat.
shhh
I don’t know if this is still available. I hope it is !!!
Here is my reason (saying all this on my hands and knees grovelling at your feet)
While everyone on this blog has a vast amount of experience and expertise, I on the other hand have this in a limited amount (2 years).
I neeed this pro membership to enhance my knowledge and reinvigorate my passion for SEO. Help me become another extremely active individual within the community and allow me to contribute, and help grow the industry for the better!
OK, Lisa, I could use the extra 12 months. I am a female SEO that started from nowhere and has worked hard to create a business that is doing pretty well. I don't like spending money (except on Louis Vuitton purses and cars). I like to keep as much as possible, so I would love the extra months and avoid a year of costs.
As for butt-kissing, I will be honest and say that when you where with BC you mentioned one of my articles and my entire family heard, "Lisa Barone mentioned one of my articles!!!!!!!!". It was a cool day for me. I think I wasa bit more excited than when SEL added links to their searchcap.
Also, at SMX East Marty Weintraub invited me to a party and you were there, but you looked so much younger than your pictures that I didn't realize it was you! AHHHHH! I actually asked many people if you were there (SMX)...I am and was so bummed. I looked you dead in the eye and didn't know it was you. I emailed Jim Hedger and was like, "why didn't you tell me she was there!".
Anyway, your writing and success inspired me to believe in myself as an SEO and a woman. If you could look in my history you would see I googled you today before this...FYI-I am NOT a stalker, just a fan and I like your work. I also put Rhea Drysdale on my SEO dream team awhile back. I read all three of you and your new site is a riot.
Anyway, if you want to choose me great, if not I still love your work and will read all your stuff :-) Now the pic on this article does look like you did at the party- young! That is one of my big regrets of SMX.
:-)
Melissa!
P.S. - on the "may the force be with you" - check out my site, twitter and facebook. I am a die hard Star Wars fan. You are in my SEOs that remind me of star wars characters!
My Very Dearest Lisa (does that count as sucking up at all?),
This is such a cool competition, and you are so amazingly amazing to want to give away your prize, that I just have to tell you why I deserve it.
You're too young to know what it feels like to start out on your own after being stuck in the corporate cubicle for 25 years. But let me tell you that it's really, really scary!
So, here I am, managing my own SEO company, with my first employee (an intern I've taught all I know), in a country where chauvinism is the norm, and the number of female company owners is less than the number of 0's in your paycheck...
I have this great client - she was the first, so I kowtow to every word she says - and every time she calls me up, my heart drops to the bottom of my very high heels, thinking that I must have done something wrong.
Usually, I haven't.
But I REALLY REALLY need this 1-year membership, since my month-for-a-buck is almost up, and I need all those yummy tools to make sure that I'm always doing the best for my clients, and to keep my heart in its place, so that I can follow your blog, twitter, everything. Please, please, please - I will be eternally grateful, and will SEO anything you want for ever and ever.
SO……
At the end of 2008 I finished up as an inhouse SEO to volunteer for a HIV/AIDS organization in Papua New Guinea.
SO…..
I started a two-year post as a project officer with the largest locally run HIV/AIDS organization in Papua New Guinea. We run prevention programs, distribute condoms, test for HIV, screen for STI’s and provide care for people living with HIV Aids (at every stage of their illness)
It wasn’t easy…although it was the kind of job you embrace with a passion!
BUT…….
The Aussie Dollar fell spectacularly…which meant that our funding was cut by 25%...which meant that we had to slash programs and tell staff to stay home…which means that we are doing less at a time when HIV infection rates are going through the roof.
SO…….
We set out to find the money ourselves. We figured that some smart SEO and some targeted marketing would help us claw back a little bit of the deficit (we know it’s a tough gig, so aren’t pinning too many hope on it, but every bit helps right?)
BUT……
I discovered that internet speeds in PNG make dial-up seem blindingly fast (which is like doing SEO with two hands tied behind your back)
And….
It costs more than you want to imagine ($60AUD for 100 megabytes) (which is like doing SEO with two hands tied behind your back blind-folded)
SO…….
The time we spend online has to be as focused as possible (limiting the ability to research)
SO……
A SeoMoz Pro membership would:
1) Level the playing field (allowing me to compete a little more effectively from one of the least internet connected countries in the world)
2) Help fill the gap in our funding – allowing us to restart some of the programs
3) Eventually make a difference to one of the largest Pacific Island Countries at a critical time to halt the spread of HIV
Hi Lisa,
First of all, thanks for being an inspiration to many of us SEO neophytes. It's always refreshing to read your story--how you have journeyed from being the quiet BruceClay blogger (hey, good job what you did there!) to now an SEO rockstar slash SEO startup founder. (That was some big leap!) I hope you know that lifestories like yours give hope to people from all over the world, even reaching up to third world countries such as ours, and lives such as mine. ;)
Okaay. That's me sucking up. I suck at it, I know, but I mean every word. :)
SO anyway, I've been doing SEO for more than two years now and even though I've been doing this for quite a while already, I've always struggled with feeling incapable and unconfident about what I do. I've always played by my company's rules, but lately I've started to feel deprived of things I could've learned if I wasn't too limited. Now, an opportunity opens for me to have my own home-based business, and work on my own, and experiment, and explore SEO and internet marketing in my own terms, and be my own boss. While I'm still weighing the pros and cons, I'm sooo leaning towards taking this step -- I'm nervous as hell, and I need all the help I could get.
I'm currently toying with the $1 Pro Account, and I love it! And I know it'll really help me big time for when I start working with my own set of clients. I'm in the Philippines and 1 USD is about 48 PHP. The cost of a pro account would be around P4,000/month, and since I'd be starting off from scratch with no company backing me up, I don't think I'd be able to afford that.
The guys above have given great comments on reasons why you should give the PRO Account to them, and I feel guilty that my reasons may be a bit too selfish. :) But well, I'm trying out my luck.
P.S. If you choose me, I swear I'll send you cupcakes all the way from the Philippines! (Uh, I'm not sure how to do that yet, but I'll have to find out!) I know you love them. :)
I think I should win the Pro Membership for a year for a few reasons:
I have nothing else clever or cute to say just the fact that I need it and will use it.
Thanks
Lisa,
I have been following your work for years. I know I am far to late to even participate, but the simple thought of you even acknowledging our little company makes my heart go pippy poop. You are the reason we started SEO at www.salesjumpstart.net . Prior to that we were just a lowly brick and mortar company.
Why do I need a free SEOmoz PRO Account?
There are scores of webmaster and SEO tools on the internet but none that compare to SEOmoz PRO membership. Spending 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day commuting for work; having two five year olds waiting to see me when I get home and doing the occasional side project at night doesn't leave me with much in terms of spare time.
Access to the SEOmoz PRO Tool Set will give me the ability to research and report more quickly; and with greater accuracy so I can be more effective for the projects I handle.
In addition, the fact that this SEOmoz membership has been owned by Lisa Barone and is being passed down to the groveling masses makes it a collectors item that I'll be proud to pass on to my son one day.
Lisa, who did u give it to in the end? cmon let us know we would like to know...:)
'...I want this more than I want IE6 to DIE!!! Well maybe not...'
Lol, i feel your pain bro!
Lisa,
When is SEOmoz going to give you the annual subscription or free so that I can participate in the next competition.
Eagerly waiting Pali Madra
Hi Lisa,
First of all, there is no need to suck up - the truth is always self-evident! Your sense of humor is awesome, your blog is over the top, and I love nothing better then to see “women” running their own business.
I design websites, but do not specialize in SEO. In fact, I only have a very basic knowledge of the subject. Sadly, I figured it was something apart from my job description, but in truth websites should be planned and developed with SEO in mind from the get go. I know this should be obvious and I am red-faced to admit it, but I am sure I am not alone. The universities spit out web designers every day without a clue.
Having to go back and optimize after the fact is not only a pain, but costs me time and money. I cannot afford to pay for a Pro Membership or I would sign up today. It looks like there are tons of great tools and if nothing else - I would love to have access to the data from Q&A.
I honestly can’t say that I need this more then any other person here, (it is truly a great and generous offer for anyone), but if you do pick me - I sure would appreciate being able to spend the year learning as much as possible.
Thank you… :)
There's no reason I want the PRO membership.
In fact, I don't want it. How could I stand to take something without giving something in return? Isn't this a bad idea?
Especially from my beloved SEOMoz, which already provides so much for free?
It's... I can't... I just can't think of such a thing.
But I would like to make this request: please send it instead to whomever you feel will do the most good with it.
Sincerely,Nabha
P.S. Ahaha, I see it says I'm a pro member, which of course makes this message meaningless. But in fact I only have one of the one-month memberships that Rand and everyone sent out recently. :)
Because I'm Norwegian.
Loving the $1 offer SEOmoz, good stuff :)
<suckup>Lisa you are the awesomest. You are the greatest</suckup>
: )
Ok, with that out of the way I would love to have the PRO Account because it would help me work on my brother's website a lot better.
My membership now is the 30 day $1 deal, so I guess you'll believe me when I say that the FREE part sounds awesome.
Oh yeah: <suckup>You are awesome, You are awesome, You are awesome</suckup>
Hi Lisa,
This one's a sap story but here it goes.
My name's Jordan.
I am a full time Electrical Engineering Student at UCSB.
I maintain a part time job working on SEO for Dogs of Design.
I work many hours a week hours a week so that I can afford drive home to see my girlfriend every weekend in LA.
I recently bought a car to save time and money going home each weekend. (Train takes 7 hours including wait time and buses to and from trian stations)
$83.52 a month is exactly how much it costs to drive home 4 times a month (every weekend). [25mpg, roughly $.087 per mile, $10.44 each way]
My boss won't pay for the pro account since he's paying for his own. (Wish we could share a company wide profile, but I understand why that's not possible).
$1/mo Trial is almost up!
-Jordan
I have an Internet Marketing Blog that educates readers on using SEO for their websites and blogs. A free account here will help me leverage the tools on SEOmoz and pass the valuaable information and strategies to my readers....
It will help spread knowledge to the lesser know internet users
Thanks for this opportunity.
ZK
Dear Lisa,
I was going to start out with a little background about myself (traded as a child for a sock with a hole in it) raised by a small herd of angry geckos,...
But enough about me. I think you should keep the Pro membership. Maybe you'll post a YOUmoz or comment on one from time to time and bless us with your avatar. I know you don't need it and I think it's great that you thought enough of the readers here to pass it on. But speaking for myself I don't think it would be worth it to risk loosing you.
I know last time we met, we both said some things, we really didn't mean... like when you said, "Jeez, Old People!" I forgive you.
And when you hit me,.. really I probably asked for it,... But when you put it in reverse to backup over me, I think that may have been over reacting? I'm just saying,... Seriously, I promised myself I was not going to go to pieces over you. Well no more than three anyway. I probably wasn't going to need those pieces anymore anyway.
I just want you to keep the membership so we can still be, like connected. But not in that weird awkward "no closer than 100 feet" official wording, kind of way.
Those clothes I left at your place, I want you to have them too. They made me look a little heavy anyway. But hey, you make that look work.
That didn't come out right. I just wanted to say, I think you should keep it and now I'm going to go listen to "Our Song" by our favorite group, Puddle of Mudd. "She Hates Me!" it will always be our song to me.
PS if you really have to give it away, at least don't stop coming around ;)
Hi Lisa,
I recogn you should keep it. It will be good for all those Pro SEOs to be surrounded by someone who can still see the world as a "surfer""user""younamethem""keyword"...
OK, of course if I'm takin' our precious time here it's because I want it too, hihihi!
I'm number 1 and number 100!
I would ab-use the subscrition, first week getting to know all those amazing tools, the 53 weeks after to give my site all the promotion it deserves (Just check my profile ;-)
I love party too!
Hugs!
Reading that blog was really interesting, I liked it! - and couldn't we all use something for free right about now... with the economy and all, blah blah blah...
I thought it'd be worth a shot to ask for the free membership, along with everyone else! I'd love, LOVE, LOVE to get this free for a year! I'm new to the SEO field, but am learning more every minute. With such a vast amount of information, it's hard to figure out what's real and true and what's just another scam...
As of now I'm charged with optimizing our clients' PPC campaigns - which I'm quickly finding involves more than just a few minutes learning by perusing websites, blogs and comments, but adding my two cents and really delving in deep.
If you picked me you could really say you started from the bottom and SEOmoz really DOES work. THANKS!! :)
They say honesty is the best policy, so...
Why I want it:
Because I'm selfish. I don't want anyone else to have it. It's like the time in elementary school that Brian Carter wanted to play with my Tonka truck. I wouldn't let him. Not because I was playing with it, I just didn't like the kid. Purely selfish.
What you're going to do with it:
Expand my plan of world domination? No. I have other tools for that. But I'll use the Pro membership to become a top-class spy (we're talking 007 levels here). Looking at competitors' backlinks in Linkscape has become a favorite pass-time of mine, right along with watching Lost and Law & Order SVU.
How it will help you in your pursuit to become a better SEO:
Knowledge is power. Power to the people me... please? The amount of high-level learning that can happen in the inner circles of Pro membership (Q+A, pro guides, pro videos, etc.) can only be matched by attending seminars like SES and SMX. Becoming a better SEO is all about knowledge and experience, and having the knowledge makes getting the experience so much easier.
Best sob story about parental neglect:
Sorry - can't say I wasn't loved. Hell, my mom even cared enough to take the time to write my initials in my underware - thanks Mom!
In all seriousness - thanks Lisa for making this opportunity available for some lucky geek. You're a class act, not a selfish bastard like me ;)
I know my profile says I'm already a Pro member, so you may feel someone esle is a better candidate for your prize. But my Pro membership is of the "1st month for a buck" promotional campaign type, which is about to expire. Please take pitty.
GOD YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL! I wish you weren't wearing so many clothes. It would be great to see a lot more of you. With those cute dimples I bet we'd make a great couple on the French Riviera. Skiing in Colorado, maybe sitting by the fire with a cold one would do fine also.
But I digress.
I've been doing SEO since before it had a name (1996). That's when my site went up. Combining ultra-high quality, standards compliant web development (see the footer icons on all pages of my site (https://www.21stsoft.com) with SEO I provide an SEO service that most other SEO'ers don't even understand. Purely white hat and fundamentally superior.
Keeping up with the latest is critical, and this membership will allow me to keep providing SEO that blows out the rest.
You can also write about my SEO services, but please include a picture of yourself next to it.
Hi Lisa!
I'm a fairly new face to the SEO game and I have had the opportunity to use this tool before. Being that I'm new it's critical for me to have the right tools, resources, and foundation for me to better myself, my clients, and the company I currently work for.
I'd love to be your pick, because I feel that I would use these tools to their full potential, which will help my employer bring their online marketing to the next level and fully help establish clear reports on competitors, back links, and keyword analysis. At the same time using these tools as a great resource of information and metrics will also help me better understand how the gears turn and what to look for in future ventures.
Fingers crossed - Thanks Lisa!
Dear Lisa,I can't compose a humorous love letter, or infringe upon popular movies for a heartbreaking sob story. I'm just not that creative (or willing to engage in a lawsuit).
I am a very recent account on SEOmoz...simply because my company wouldn't pay for a pro account, and I didn't need to sign in for anything else. I moved to a new company that would gladly pay for an account - if they had the resources. I signed up because I saw this post and a golden opportunity to satisfy my dream! But that's not why I should get the PRo Account.
At the risk of sounding stalkerish (stalker-y?), I've been following The Lisa since you started blogging at Bruce Clay - those blog posts always managed to put a smile on my face. I followed your blog posts to We Build Pages, and then to Outspoken Media. And they continue to put a smile on my face (while keeping me educated and up-to-date in the industry). Also, live-blogging? A skill that eludes the masses, major kudos. (Is that enough sucking up?)
I can get most of the information I need from other tools, I'll admit it. I've been doing SEO for quite a while, I've learned how to finesse individual tools, add-ons, etc to get the relevant information. But it would be nice for once to get my information from one consolidated source! Especially since it will cut down on the time I spend doing research for my freelance, non-profit projects. So really, one account will satisfy two different needs! What could be better? It's like killing two birds with one stone - metaphorically.
And I promise (pinky-swear) - if you give me this PRO Account, I will strive to be worthy of it. I will submit questions to Q&A, post to YOUmoz, share my own insights and knowledge with anyone who wants it, and generally become active in the community.
In the end, whoever you give this PRO Account to will use it well. So, fingers crossed, and let the dice fall as they may.
Oh Lisa - you have such a tough job ahead picking just one from all of these worthy winners. I'm sure many would crumble under the sheer weight of the responsibilty. However, if anyone is up to the job, I have no doubt that you're that lady.
OK, sweet talk over - if you need another reason to pick me...
Without it I'm useless. Oh sure I'll work hard, but those lovely PRO tools do the job that could only be achieved with hundreds, thousands, millions(?) of human hours. Frankly I don't think I'll live that long :o(
PRO membership would enable me to give to my friends and family a website worthy of top rankings. It's not for me, it's for them... they have kids to feed and dress. Their businesses need a boost and you have it within your power to lend them a hand.
I don't envy your task, but I shall respect your decision.
Hey Lisa, There are countless reasons why I need to get a free SEOMoz account. I am a web developer coming back from almost 9 years in limbo. The internet has changed a lot over the years and I have felt a little bit overwhelmed. Having this SEOMoz account would help me more then words can explain. I have been eyeing this service for some time now but the monthly fee has always deterred me because of the price tag.
Whenever starting a website I always have a fear that all my hard work will be for nothing and the site would simply not perform. This is a fear shared by many upstart (or restart) web developers. Having this service would greatly improve the chance of my website doing well. If you give me this account you would make my web development experience amazing and satisfying.
Thank You,
Dan
P.S.
Thank you for doing this, and good luck to everyone on getting the SEOMoz account.
My name is Chris and am stuck in a rut. The IT support rut. It pays the bills but lacks excitement and challenge. Can I see myself doing this for the rest of my life? Sadly yes, but please please PLEASE don't let it be that way.
For the last couple years it has been on the top of my list to really learn SEO properly. It hasn't gone as smoothly as I would have hoped though. I was told by many prominent SEO'ers to join SEOmoz, but as much as I want to I just simply cannot afford the pricetag. Also living in a very expensive city doesn't help matters.
SEO is what I would love to, someday, be able to do full-time. Right now that is a barely visible, flickering light, at the end of a really long and dark tunnel. A pro membership to SEOmoz would definitely change that!
Break these chains that enslave me to telling teachers the reason why their computer doesn't work is because it's not turned on. Turning on the monitor does not turn on the entire computer. I need a change and it's a dream for SEO to be that change.
Thank you for presenting this amazing, potentially life changing, opportunity for all of us. Whomever walks away with this...congratulations.
Dear Lisa (you rock by the way),
When I was but a young, noble (read poor) little SEO nipper I walked by the SEOmoz factory everyday (on the way home to my slanted hovel in which my mother, father and both sets of grandparents resided). I dreamed of how great it would be to win one of those "golden" tickets and gain access for a year to the delights and treasures that awaited within.
I even bought numerous types of branded chocolate and clicked a number of adwords in the hope that I could find this golden ticket, but alas, I did not.
Newsletter reports and emails spread news that a lucky 5(,000) had won golden tickets for $1, but again, I was too poor to afford such a luxury (re: slanted hovel above) and was forced to make do with my watery cabbage soup instead.
[IMG]https://i583.photobucket.com/albums/ss275/WebWiseBusiness/randwonka.jpg[/IMG] (https://tinyurl.com/bgecrs)
Therefore, I write to you, most merciful, wise and excellent one, hoping that you can provide me with the last golden ticket. Should I be selected, I would use the treasures of Rand Fishkin's SEOmoz factory (see pic) to perform wonderous SEO feats, aiding my video SEO and canonical URL tagging and allowing me to feed my extended family and retile the roof so Grandad can dance about without fear of expensive hip operations.
It may also go someway towards freeing up much needed funds for the legal suit I face for theft of intellectual property as a result of this post but I won't bore you with that....
So please, pretty please, pick me - at the very least for the entertainment this post may have provided.
Regards,
Andrew
If I got the subscription it would be put to use at the best place on earth....sitting on a beach in Hawaii working on SEO. That is true, but the better reason is that right now I hardly know crap about SEO and could actually really use it. I need my two questions a month to the crew so I do not go nuts posting them on blogs and the comment section becoming an argumental area for what is the correct answer and in the end me never getting an answer. Also, I own a vacation rental company here in Hawaii and I am getting a new design and would really like to take the next few months to start optimizing it properly. Once again, I already and building up a list of questions and trying to figure out how I am going to get them answered. Actually I am now wondering.....I wonder if seomoz would let me trade in the year subscription for a month of unlimited questions answered....wow, that would make my day. Then as I am sitting on the beach and stupid SEO thoughts are popping in my head I could actually have someone competent to answer it rather than posting it and then trying to float on my raft and figure out who is right. Anyway, even if I don't win I am still sitting on a beach in Hawaii so that is not bad.
Dear Lisa,
I’m taken.
Your picture made me stop. Your evil laugh made you dark and seductive (Muahaha!). They say you penetrate through all the crap.
Your post cut through me like a chainsaw. Not only has this goddess blogged unexpectedly into my life, but (like they say about Barbie) she has everything I need ….
Your fortitude is Legendary (yes, capital “L”). You are a woman of power. Domination. Yet also sweet, honest, and caring…. Your knee socks have conquered the patella. Are you perfect!?
I’m going to have trouble sleeping at night. Not only may I never actually meet this glamorous pragmatist, THE Lisa Barone, but I’m up against fierce competition for her PRO membership at SEOmoz as well. It’s distressing.
I’m an aspiring SEO, will YOU be my light in the darkness? I’ve had great success with local SEO for my own business and a number of others…. and think I’m about ready to go SEO pro. MAKE ME an outspoken success. I want to name-drop you everywhere I go. Because let’s be real, this isn’t about me… it’s all about LISA BARONE.
Lisa, darling, though I’m certainly not worthy, may I pop the question tonight?
Will you MOZzy me forever? …or at least for the next 12 months?
Um, can somebody get this squishy brown stuff off my nose?
Here is why The Lisa can't turn down this offer.
She and I are going to change the world. As some of you know, I run an online marketing agency aimed squarely at small business and non/not-for profits. (We also do some cool probono work for two local charities, but enough....)
Lisa, you tried to give the prize back. Fair enough. I already have a PRO membership. So here is what we'll do:
YOUR choice (because after all, when isn't it about you) of giving an online marketer in the DC area the menbership. I'll pledge to work with that person each month IF they use the tools in part to help a chairty. It can be a huge national (good luck getting that gig even for free) or your local soup kitchen. The winner has to blog here at the 'moz all year so we feel good about paying it forward.
And if that's too difficult, give me the membership, and each month, we'll pick a new charity to get the money that ordinarily would have flowed to Rand's secret offshore accounts. And then you and I will blog here about who we hooked up that month and why.
It beats blogging about Denny's breaking even ,miserably failing after their Super Bowl ad. [If you must know the story, go visit Lisa's blog. And if you can't find Lisa's blog and the Denny's post from this week, please go to the 'moz horizontal nav item called "Search Marketing Guides"
That's it, Ms. Barone. Let's do some good.
Lisa,
You have given uncomfortable-80s-high-school-memory flashbacks. You are one of those damn hot chicks in school that used to always come up to me, play nice and then drop the "You are such a good friend" line on me. You and your damn hotty ways. Holding something so sacred as that of a free SEOmoz account to just tease and tempt my inner wants and desires.
Being with a small New Hampshire agency, all I want is to be part of your hot, popular NY crowd. But with limited budgets and smaller clients, I do my best for them through SEO. I want and need that key to your heart and the SEO kingdom. But I won't be stripped of what little dignity I have and be forced to kiss ass and tell stories about my mother.. well.. for you.. I will do it, your mystical charms have done me in.
I have taken on SEO like a matador in a Spanish stadium, not for me or my glory, but for the clients, the people who pay me to do what I can for them, to keep honest American small businesses running and not over run by large corporations intent on draining our money and then shipping them to oversees investors. To get people visiting my clients' websites, reading about their services, enticing them, letting them know that they are worth contacting is what I strive to do, to be their SEO hero.
Now to my mother, what damage hasn't been done. She forced me to wear kneesocks as a child. I did everything to hide them, the only place I felt I could be free was on a basketball court, but then when the late 80s came, so did the end of short shorts and kneesocks. Now, in secret from my wife and children, I have to hide my kneesocks. Riddled with shame, I slide them on under my clothes and savor their closeknit, warm embrace.
There is nothing else I can say... about your beauty that any red-blooded man cannot see from your picture above. Unfortunately, I am so embroiled with emotions that the right words would only sound fake and pitiful. And I am having a hard time even using correct grammar and complete sentances as it is.
If "desire of having is the sin of covetousness," than call me sinner.
Lisa, giving away your own seomoz pro account is one of the most selfless acts I have ever seen on the internet. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy knowing that there are people out there still willing to help us little guys, whether it's through generous contests like this, or being able to be a part of a Beta for behind the scene access..
Kudo's to you for doing this..that takes class..
The three of you at outspokenmedia have been an inspiration in that you left full time jobs to start up your own path. By having a seomoz pro account, I too, could follow in your paths, but having the tools needed to create my own path..
Thank you for your time and consideration..
sincerly,
Jake
p.s. my son and wife thank you in advance..
(anything on my nose?)
I find this lame and rather humilianting. Not to mention it kind of plays down the value of a PRO membership, at least in my eyes. Maybe it's just me.
I think it's all meant in good fun. I bet most of us here can afford the PRO membership or aren't desperately trying to get it, yet they did the application thing for funsies.
I'm in that bucket at least. I'd rather it go to someone that can't afford it.
I would like your membership so that I can continue my quest towards SEO domination and with my expert knowledge take over SEOmoz.
Seems this month everyone in the SEO & SEM industry is offering something free. I read many blogs, sites and forums about SEO & SEM. The free content from SEOMOZ, is similar to free content from SEOBOOK or SEARCHENGINELAND as value.
All of these sites have premium content, to access this content you need to pay. Why and how, is better SEOMOZ premium content compared with others premium content?
Personally I will not buy SEOMOZ PRO, because is very expensive for me, and for that amount of money I will buy things that I need more. That doesn’t mean I don’t wanted, especially if I can get it free.
In my country is a proverb: Don’t search horse dents, if the horse is a gift. (the horse dents show the health of a horse). Basically a gift, is a gift, so you should say thanks, and not complaining about the gift.
If I am poor ?; compare to the majority of the population of my country I’m not, I am in the middle, not poor and not rich, compare to the prices of SEOMOZ PRO I think I am.
For me the SEOMOZ offering of PRO Tools at $1 and follow up by a competition for a free Pro ACCOUNT is more like a marketing technique. I saw this technique many times, from different marketers; to create desire, give a child a free cookie so then he can return with his father to buy the all box of cookies.
Sometime ago all of my software was cracked, you can’t give Bill 300$ if you earn 200$ on month. But in time I start using more and more free software (open source) and now I am totally legal. I even buy it, software licenses, for what I can’t replace with free software, to respect the developers and I try to contributing myself to the open source, to give something back.
Many people that are here and don’t have a PRO account, is not because they have the money and don’t have enough desire to acquire the premium content, is simple, the price is very expensive for them.
I search on many blog, forums, sites, and until now I didn’t see a material about “ how to create a seo tool “ . I want to see such a tutorial on SEOMOZ , maybe a open source seo tool. I don’t know by requesting this I am egocentric, like Donald Trump, but I think many others want also this. Something that doesn’t exist on other sites.
SEOMOZ is here because is simple good, but also because of the community of people who made SEOMOZ a very known brand (by linking and creating buzz about SEOMOZ).
I think you can give back from time to time , to the community who help you branding , something good (from the premium content) free.
I NEED a PRO membership as I am a new web developer who is just getting into SEO. I love how much the FREE tools have already helped me out so much, and can only imagine what the PRO tools can do.
I love what I do and providing my customers with the highest quality SEO tools would be great!
I can't believe that you don't want this and are willing to give it away.
I want this more than I want IE6 to DIE!!! Well maybe not...
-Brenelz
Well Lisa,how should I answer you the best? I'll give a try.I am a "SEO" - at least I call myself a SEO" - from Europe, Austria, and I work for a small agency who provides homepages, SEO consulting and so on. I suppose if I would come along with a SEOmoz Pro Membership I would rock our company ;-).I know the value of all the tools - at least I can imagine them - I never got in touch with them.You just give me the the chance of my life - I feel like I am close to a huge jackpot. That's why I love you (I suppose we never get it touch through our lives - so I can confess my love to you without getting any problems with my husband ;-)! ).Be sure if you would choose me for the account I give it a try and would be yodeling the whole day long!
Best wishes
Petra
Because in Costa Rica, where I'm from, you'd have to be pretty rich to pay for a PRO account.
$100 buys you a LOT of food here.
I love learning, and love coding websites, but I'm 100% sure I can't pay for a PRO subscription.
Heck, but with what I'll be able to learn, I can get some good knowledge. Who knows? Maybe after this year with my PRO account, I'll be able to pay for it next year.
I'm currently using the Pro Account Promo from SEOMOZ. But I've got a Calendar reminder to cancel it before the end of the month.
You can save my PRO account.
: )
You know the worse thing about losing your job? is that for all the SEO tools that you have mithered for, killed for, jumped in to bed for, treated the boss to lunch for, dragged the whole of the finance department down the pub for, and basically licked anyone’s boots who mattered for – you remember are on the works computer and not saved to your laptop :-(
How are you supposed to prep for interviews without the very best tools at hand to do so?
Winning a free year SEOmoz PRO subscription would not just get me that next rung up on the career ladder but the chance to say to my new boss, “I would not have come up with all that good SEO stuff if I hadn’t got the SEOmoz PRO tools to work with!
Thanks in advance.
Lisa, Hi, I was browsing through Google to see if you guys offered a way to receive SEOMoz for Free. Well, Google isn't doing all that great at keeping it's content up to dte, as from the looks of this post. But...I don't suppose Google can make you do anything, can they? Well, I will continue to check back, as they years pass. Thank you, Greg Smith
25 random things that will convince you:
1. I have recently been appointed SEO guru at my agency – and would like to live up to expectations
2. Working on quickly building up my skills as I have dreams of setting up on my own later in the year
3. Up until now I have been lurking in the SEO blogosphere and this is my first comment/post
4. I am quite nervous about writing this – and I don’t really know why
5. I’m an American living in the UK and can’t get to all the events
6. Plus all you US-based guys are so ahead of the game than me – I want to catch up!
7. Lisa is my hero for being altruistic with her prize
8. I forget what 8 was for
9. My SEO niche is driving traffic to careers and recruitment sites
10. I’ve just returned from an all you can eat Chinese food lunch and am bursting at the seams
11. From all my research I think seomoz is a valuable tool – and I don’t know how long I’ve lived without it
12. Lisa is amazing
13. The more I know the more I want to know
14. I am neglecting other work to learn more about SEO
15. Have I mentioned how lovely I think Lisa is – and a very shrewd business woman to boot!
16. I’ve been working in the digital/web industry for 10 years and not been so passionate about a topic for a while
17. Imagine what a bore I’ll be a parties now
18. If I win it, it will make me more confident to comment, build relationships and even start my own blog
19. I had a couple glasses of wine with lunch – this list is going a lot quicker now
20. Is it time to mention the loveliness of Lisa again?
21. Although only 2, my daughter will be immensely proud of her mummy for winning something
22. I’d be really popular – and we know that’s important in the grand scheme of things
23. Did I mention that I harbour a fantasy of being my own boss and this would cut down on start-up costs
24. I am now following Lisa and Outspoken Media on Twitter – see #15
25. I’m relatively new to this world – but already hooked.
Love the Violent Femmes reference.
Thanks! Just pleased that someone recognised it...*blushes*
So here is my pitch. And you should know that your post inspired me to write to you. I normally run far far away when someone offers something for free. Jus the other night my wife was going to call the number on the envelope that came in the mail for that free vacation and I literally had to put my foot down.
On to the pitch.
I am a custom software develope that develop web based applications for companies. Typically the audience size for my software is anywhere from 5 to 30 employees. I've built the occasional shopping cart and threw in google analytics code, but not being the marketing guy, I have not done much more than that.
I am very aware of SEO and have occassionally hired some companies to help me out, but I never really spent the time to understand how to make it all work. I do get your RSS feed which is how I discovered this contest. But as you know, talking to some companies in the SEO space, some give off a used car salesman smell and it was not something I wanted to get involved in, especially as my core clients didn't really care about attracting an audience.
So, things changed recently.
See, by chance, I started going to temple and listening to a very moving sermon by a local Rabbi. His analysis of the bible was quite inspiring - mainly becuase he would analyze the text in a way that showed you that the text itself was acting as a commentary on itself. Sound complicated, but it created tremendous clarity to very traditional values such as G-d is interested in a human being who acts to redeem his brother before thinking of himself.
Not to get too religious - I got inspired by his teaching style and wanted to help him reach a broader audience. I saw his website was not as good as I could make it and took it on myself to build him a better one as a non-profit and non-paying client. If you want to check out his old website it is www.rabbifohrman.co. I expect to launch the new one by March 1st.
So now, I need to learn about SEO as I need to learn how to attract a wider audience.
So I submit that you pick me and our worthy goal of spreading the word and teachings of the bible far and wide.
I should get a free SEOMoz account because:
1.) I could use a break from the crappy SEO Tools that linger online.
2.) The S, E and O keys from my keyboard are erased.
3.) I'm from Argentina and 1 dollar is 3.533 argentine pesos for us, thus it'd cost me $282 a month ($3392 a year) for me to purchase the service.
4.) And because I have a friend that looks a lot like you! I mean, that's gotta count for something, right?
I don't need SEO Pro membership because it is not worth it. Your best SEO is following general usablility practices when designing your website plus some creative marketing. There is not much more to it except possibly a few basic rules (like what in general affects SERP), and you don't need SEO Pro to learn those. Instead of wasting time reading SEO 'research' papers, better spend your time improving your website design, filling it with useful content, and marketing it around!
You're as obvious as "boobs are fun". SEO is not about playing in the mud like the rest of the pigs, it's about being that one pig that knows where the good mud is.
Amen. the more you know the better services you can offer. I think it is easy to say you don't need it if you have never used real effective tools.
All the tools SEO Pro has are available online for free, just not in one place and with less bells and whistles.
There are a lot of tools online, but many tools here save me a lot of time by getting update information at all one time instead of using many and trying to integrate all the data. With all the clients I have I just don't have time for that. Plus, the resources here are very good. I don't think you can judge SEOmoz's tools until you have used them. I use other tools as well, but I love the tools here.
Not meaning to sound like a defender of the truth here, but the PRO membership is a bit more than just free tools. For example, the guides come in extremely handy (true, you can simply download them in your first subscription month, then cancel it). The directory listings, linkscape advanced reports and SEO QnA are also extremely useful.
True, you may find that the other tools have lookalikes across the web, but the fact that you have all these tools in one place on SEOMOZ PRO shouldn't be the sole reason to pay the subscription in the first place.
We could all learn a lesson from you. Instead of wasting time learning about topics, we should spend all day reading blogs about topics we hate and leaving comments about how much we hate them. That would be a much better use of all of our time.
For the record, I'm a usability specialist and I still do SEO. If you think it's waste of time, you're not doing it right.
<clapping>
I don't hate SEO because there is no SEO. What you call SEO is a fairytale created by 'SEO-pros' to make $$$ off of you. General idea is important. Build content and market it to gain trust/links. Details are not important because (1) Google is changing the game all the time, (2) you don't want to build your business on something that relies on details of a system you don't control
OK, so here is a question for you. Do you think that just building content is going to help a client that wants to be on the first page of the SERPs for a keyphrase while they have 5-10 pages of competitors ahead of them?
I don't think so. No offense, but your comments just show that you don't have a lot of experience with some of the more difficult jobs or even small ones. Optimizing one or two sites doesn't make you an effective SEO.
I would question, then why you waste your time on a website devoted to SEO if it is in fact a fairy tale.
Does that make you a leprechaun or a unicorn?
Curious.