As a very busy web developer and marketing guy, I rarely have time to do anything extra, like call my Mom, spend time with my children or play golf. There does not seem to be enough time in the day to develop, support clients, run my business, collect money etc. Then along came social media networking. Like I have time to "tweet" about my weekend or some trending topic. Like I have time to build a Facebook page and associate with people coming out of the woodwork from my past. Like I have time to write a blog about relevant industry topics or supporting new services we offer.
But then a funny thing happened. I reluctantly "tried" the Facebook thing. And I liked it. It was, well addicting. But I did not yet "get" Twitter. Then I tried Twitter. Then I started learning from insightful tweets. I bookmarked blog after blog. I watched podcasts. I started commenting on blogs!
Then I bit the bullet and launched two new blogs of my own. Plus I revised my static business website to be a hybrid - blog and static business site (Thanks to #Joomla). And low and behold, I was thrust into the Link Economy without actually knowing it. But I totally grokked it. It just became clear to my mind that not only is this the new economy and the way, but if you are not educating yourself and participating right now, you are in deep trouble as a business person. I feel blessed to have been enlightened and not missing the revolution. And, this is very real, folks. It doesn't matter whether you are a old school newspaper (read this blog, genius - Clay Shirky - Newspapers and Thinking the Unthinkable) or a web developer, you need to be involved in the link economy now or you days are numbered. If your business relies on information flow or publishing, you are intrinsically affected. If your business needs to be found on the Internet, you are intrinsically affected. Is there anyone left? Not many. Read this blog post from Jeff Jarvis - The Link Economy vs. The Content Economy
And it takes time to write posts on three blogs. It takes time to research, read, view, post comments, link into directories and interact in "real time". Welcome to the link economy ladies and gentlemen. It is not your father's economy.
And the bottom line, good SEO is all about the link economy. It is very new and evolving every minute. How will Google Wave affect SEO? How long does the current Twitter model have before it looks archaic?
I just commented to Chad Windnagle, one of my employees and a rising star, that I am so excited about what is happening with the link economy, SEO, open source, etc. right now. I really am luck to be alive at this point and time. And that I get it, I think.
