Confessions Of A SEO Late-Starter

Confessions of a SEO Late-Starter Lessons Learned From My Business Startup Al Walsh Walsh Enterprises Business Advisors The Capitalist’s Friend Huntington Beach, California USA http://www.awalsh.us [email_address] (714) 465-2749

After thirty years of making other companies rich, I decided it was time to start my own business advisory practice. Now you’ll have to look long and hard to find someone who knows more about what makes businesses tick than me, but I was a complete novice when it came to Websites, SEO, Social Networking, and the like.
Following my own first rule of “do something”, I went to a basic service and set up a crude website. Six months later, it’s still crude but I’ve learned a lot and improved upon it in many ways. Any self--respecting web designer will laugh at it, and some have, but it will do.
Next, I did something that I’ve been very good at over the years; I started researching on the web. An unbelievable mountain of information is out there for the taking.
I started taking lessons from “smart-ass 16 year-old kids” who know more about these matters than I ever will. Know what I discovered? They’re nice people – and they share.

If I was going to make my venture fly, this “Old Dog had to learn a whole bunch of new tricks”. One of the first things I learned is that giving is the best policy . There’s lots of “takers” on the internet who don’t give a damn about anyone but themselves. However I learned that there are a lot more “givers” who share freely.
I took a page from their book and set up a blog where I started posting useful articles on Business, Economy, and Career; subjects I excel at.
I started posting presentations like this one on Slideshare, sharing knowledge and opinions on a wide variety of business topics.
I created a page on my website where I have useful links to other experts on a large number of topics.
My new friends taught me to join Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and other useful sites; and post my articles & presentations to them.
I joined several social networking sites and started hooking up with people all over the world.

I jumped on social sites and answered peoples’ questions.
I wrote guest articles for other peoples’ blog sites.
I answered email and phone questions.
I invited other business people to post their profiles on my website as collaborators.
I took on some free-gratis work for people who couldn’t afford to pay.
I also read up and learned how to do SEO tweaking.
It really is true that what goes around comes around. I’m getting an audience now, and people are starting to realize that I have something of value to offer too. My exposure is growing by leaps and bounds.

I learned that those “smart-ass kids” who were intentionally or unintentionally teaching me knew what they were talking about. I owe them a big debt of gratitude.
I also taught myself, and them, that “an Old Dog can learn new tricks”. They also started learning that maybe the “Old Dog” could teach them some tricks too.
My business is not where I want it yet, but I’ve sure come a long way from my humble beginning.
There is nothing more terrifying, and thrilling, than taking the leap into entrepreneurship. This is my third go-round, and I wouldn’t trade the feeling for anything. I feel like a 20-year-old all over again.
In my business, it’s not enough to have talent – you need exposure too. That’s a slow process. But the business is starting to roll in. I’ve also made a lot of great friends, and built up a huge stable of experts I can call upon as needed to tackle just about any challenge. My efforts have been well worth the investment of time and energy.

So here’s my lesson for you want-to-be entrepreneurs who are contemplating your own ventures:
Research – Learn – Think - Do – Give
It’s a simple formula, and it works. You don’t need a lot of money to make it work; just time, energy, and the right spirit.
I’ve reinvented myself several times over the course of my career, and now I’m doing it again. I’ve never let others tell me what I can and cannot do. Neither should you.
Thanks again to all you “smart-ass kids” for everything you taught me. You’re all “young punks”, but you’re okay by me.

If you’re curious, my website is at: http://www.awalsh.us .
My blog is at: http://www.walshal.wordpress.com . From there, you can also access my Slideshare presentations; but if you’re reading this you already found that site. You can also access my Resource links from there or from my website.
I’m on a number of social networking sites like LinkedIn and Ecademy. Just Google me.
My Twitter ID is: AlWalsh

Confessions Of A SEO Late-Starter

by Alan Walsh on Jul 22, 2009

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Confessions Of A SEO Late-Starter — Presentation Transcript