I know people hate it when people out others, but I have to do this. I ran across a site that:

1) Creates multiple pages with substantially duplicated content.

2) Has “doorway” pages created just for adsense programs with little or no original content.

3) Has already been caught buying links for one of its international sites

4) Creating pages with malicious behavior

Matt should shut this obvious blackhat down.

Matt you can find the site at Google.com (you will note that I nofollowed the links to them to avoid a penalty from being in a bad neighborhood)

I’m Going to Out These Guys to Matt Cutts is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense

In January, I watched the annual group of “top lists” roll buy with disgust.

What utter bullshit.

If anyone’s top list of anything is as vertically driven as those then that person should just lock themselves in their closet. The reality is that as humans everything inspires, influences, and shapes us. For me this is definitely true. I come from a non-marketing background, and have been influenced by people ranging in levels of success, and walks of life. Most people that influence me I have never, and likely will never meet. I pull my inspiration from a much larger pool.

I am most impressed by people who hustle against the odds to achieve success, regardless of the level of success.

Thinking about it more I realized that almost daily I think about certain influencers, some I know personally, some I obviously don’t, and decided it would be awesome to share such as list.

And so here they are, in no particular order (because this grouping of people is as random as it gets).

My Mom and Dad

Why they inspire me:

My Mom and Dad instilled the relentless drive for success and work ethic I have now. A bit of a gift and a curse. What really inspires me about them is that they always provided for me and my sister regardless of external influences. They created their own paths, and careers out of nothing more than hard work.

Daily takeaways:

Work harder than hard

Neil Patel

Why he inspires me:

When I first met Neil he was a dick to me (I probably deserved it). The second time I met Neil he really showed me how brilliant he is (and he wasn’t a dick). Neil is someone I look at on a constant basis to exemplify the hustle it takes to make it online. He has also been willing to share the lessons he has learned on QuickSprout.com. He has followed a diversified path to success and that is what I admire most about him.

Daily takeaways:

Try new and different paths to success

Pete Cashmore

Why he inspires me:

Pete Cashmore has turned Mashable, and his own brand into one of the most valuable brands in Social Media. He jumped on social media before Youtube or Facebook were popular, or before Twitter even existed. He was truly a pioneer in the social media content space, and has continued to create a quality product over the last 5 years.

Daily takeaways:

See the possibilities in something new

Rae Hoffman

From AffiliateSummit.com

Why she inspires me:

I don’t know if someone’s story in the business and overall perspective has effected me more than Rae. She is not only an amazing online marketer, but she got to where she is through struggle, which is something I associated with right away. And now that she has success? Like any one who is truly motivate, she only wants more, which can be seen by the success of her consulting company Outspoken Media. (which she is partners with Lisa Barone and Rhea Dysdale)

Daily takeaways:

Never settle

Russell Simmons

Why he inspires me:

I group up completely immersed in hip hop culture, and there are very few business and cultural entities that I have more respect for than Russell Simmons. If you look at the history of Hip Hop/Rap’s emergence as a mainstream form of music, almost everything flows back to Simmons. He was also the industries first mogul, and major trendsetter. Mix all of that with the longevity of his success, and it is easy to see why I have so much respect for Russell Simmons.

Daily takeaways:

Be brave enough to create something entirely new

Samantha Snyder

Why she inspires me:

I have never seen someone so totally focused on the quality and time they put into their job as my wife. Her job is one that last 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week, and presents more obstacles than most. She is the person that raises my two sons (and me) and I know everyone thinks their kids mom is the best mom in the world, but I have the luxury of knowing it. She has taught me a lot about not accepting limits in what you offer someone based on perception, and always trying new an inventive things. My kids are proof of her success.

Daily takeaways:

Love what you do, and it will show in the results

Tony Wang

Why he inspires me:

Tony is the CTO of our new company, Second Step Search, and really interesting guy. He lives and works in L.A., but is formerly from China. Tony has an amazing entrepreneurial streak that inspires me daily. He is constantly thinking of innovative ideas, and has the technical prowess to also make them happen. There is rarely a phone conversation we have that we don’t come up with a new tweak to one of our offerings, or more efficient process for something we do.

Daily takeaways:

Mix your talents with your entrepreneurial spirit

Sid Rosenberg

Why he inspires me:

Sid is someone I used to listen to on sports radio when I lived in South Florida. I even got a chance to have dinner with him, and do an interview (on two separate occasions) for some blogs I was doing at the time. The thing that has always stuck we me about Sid is his resilience. Regardless of the issues he either causes, or is pulled into, Sid always sticks to his guns, never willing to make a change for anyone else. This is something I really have come to respect in the last year. There is a time and place when you have to draw a line.

Daily takeaways:

Be willing to remain genuine

Chuck Palahniuk

Why he inspires me:

Chuck is the author of Fight Club, and about a dozen other awesome reads. He is a modern day satirist, with a streak of nihlism. The most intriguing thing about him, aside from his fiction, is that he wrote his first book in his mid thirties. Before this he worked as a mechanic. After attending some writing workshops he began creating works of fiction. His first attempt at publishing, Invisible Monsters, was rejected for being to disturbing, so he set out to create Fight Club in order to disturb the publisher more. It was then accepted.

Daily takeaways:

Don’t compromise for success

Dave Naylor

Why he inspires me:

I don’t think Dave knows what a huge impact he has on me, and he will likely call me a name when he reads this. However, from the time I first got to know Dave, which was about 2 years ago, I have basically looked at every SEO decision I have ever made and asked “Would Naylor do that?” “What would Naylor do?” Pretty gross. But also pretty telling of the kind of person and professional he is. He has taught me to constantly stay alert of changes and educating myself to be the best I possibly can be. There are basically only two people I would ask SEO questions to outside of my business partners and they are Dave and the next guy on the list…

Daily takeaways:

Never settle for what I know now

Greg Boser

Why he inspires me:

I didn’t really get to know Greg until last year, but we kind of hit it off right away. His personal journey to success is very similar to mine, and I think that is part of the bond, along with the fact that we are both former musicians (not something we really discuss, but its an unspoken bond). Greg, like Naylor, has always been really open with me about giving advice, and helping me out here in the early parts of my career. I don’t know why either of them do it, but I am glad they do.

Daily takeaways:

Be willing to help new people in my industry

Jay Z

Why he inspires me:

There isn’t a single person that effects my attitude about business and marketing more than Jay Z. This has to do with both his music and his business dealings. He is worth over half a billion dollars, and all of it stems from his own personal hard work. Everything he has now came from building his own record label to produce albums mainstream record companies didn’t want to have anything to do with. This kind of attitude is the exact opposite of the tech scene which anchors itself on VC and angel investing. I look up to those that can hustle to make their own success become a reality.

Daily takeaways:

Be willing to put your own money on the line

Jeremy “Shoemoney” Schoemaker

Why he inspires me:

I’m not sure there is a person who I study more than Shoemoney. Everything he does fascinates me. He is the single best marketer I know, and I am most impressed with what he has done with his personal brand above all else. You mix these facts with another great success story, and you know the reason I religiously read his blog, and monitor his tweets.

Daily takeaways:

Build a brand

Loren and Jordan

Why they inspire me:

These two guys are amazing, and probably the most underrated businessmen and marketers I know. They have created a company that has seen INSANE growth over the last 12 months, and become deeply integrated within the SEO community. Each of them is a workaholic, which I can respect, but each of them is also a dreamer, and that is what has allowed us to get to the point we are today. You have to be willing to take risks, and mix that with hustle to get what you want.

Daily takeaways:

Be willing to take risks (like partnering with a crazy person such as myself)

Marcus Tandler

Why he inspires me:

mostly because of the above picture. No, I really love this guy. He is one of the most successful people I know, but he is also one of the more humble, and genuine. He is a reminder to me, that know matter what success I achieve, I can always be me. This is a really tough lesson to remember sometimes.

Daily takeaways:

Always stay the same regardless of success

And there you are, the most random list ever created.

People Who Have Inspired Me Through Hustle is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense

So this week was more of a roller coaster than usual, and like all things interesting in my life I figured I would share it.

Lesson # 1: Dante is a pimp in a tie

A bit of chest thumping, but whatever.

Lesson # 2: Transparency is KEY

This was probably the most cliche statement in 2009, so I am sure your eyes are rolling. BUT, what do you do when it is YOUR company that needs to be transparent. Not a hypothetical company, not a Fortune 500 , not a client … your company, the one paying your bills.

This week we had two issues arise with work we were contracted to do for clients. Both of them were honest mistakes, and the kind of issues that can happen to anyone, but we were at a cross roads with both clients. The issues were severe enough to warrant us being taken of the accounts. In reality, both issues were caused by circumstances that are not part of our everyday business, or that we even knew were going on (this lesson feeds more lessons to come). But that is the reality of doing business.

As a business owner do we cover our tracks, and do whatever it takes to keep the client?

No. Instead we chose to man up, take blame for our mistakes, offer swift actionable changes to benefit the client in the situation. Now by doing this we knew we were likely going to lose the account, however something interesting happened, the fact that we were transparent, willing to fix the situation, and provided excellent customer service in both cases caused the client to realize how safe there business actually was with us. We were not the company that was going to mess up, and leave them in the lurch, instead we were the company willing to protect them at all costs, despite our benefit or loss.

Lesson #3: When something is broke, FIX IT!

When your company is humming along and being profitable, it is sometimes hard to stop the machine to make repairs you know are necessary. With the above issues however, this month, we halted several of our process, and made massive overhauls in the middle of work. Very few companies would do this, but what we realized was that our mission has always been driven by Quality, in services and customer service, and if we have processes that aren’t giving our clients that one basic principles they must be scrapped and redesigned, from the ground up.

Lesson #4: If you want the most from your staff challenge them

As you can imagine the reinvention of process in our company was a huge undertaking for our staff, so I decided to sit out in the main work area yesterday to help them along. I was surprised, and delighted to see the aggressiveness and enthusiasm they had about tackling the challenge. It made me realize that the ingenuity if our staff is something we should harness via processes and not suppress. By creating challenging assignments, not only will it make the staff rise to new levels, but it will also produce the best quality services for the client.

Lesson #5: Google Doesn’t Understand Privacy

Seriously! This never came up in testing?

Lesson #6: Snyder men are dead sexy

This Weeks Shocking Lessons in Business and Life is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense

Lately I have grown exhausted.

Search & Social has grown to be a pretty important player in the search marketing space, although we normally remain pretty quiet about it. Our second venture, Second Step Search, hasn’t even been officially launched into Beta and is already cash flow positive for the entire year of 2010; no small feat for a software based endeavor. And all of this has led to my energy consistently draining.

I stay up at night thinking about things like profit margins, growth projections, and how to stay ahead of the insane learning curve that the internet poses to marketing companies and entrepreneurs alike.

None of this is natural.

Man is supposed to worry about finding shelter, food, and keeping their family unit secure. Most of our modern concerns are not bound to reality. They are concerns that revolve around money, the future, and other things we have little to no control over.

Then in the middle of concerns over nothing, sometimes reality comes creeping in, and the force between the two opposing ideas can literally cause a person to crack.

Case in point:

Today I had to go read story time at my son Dante’s school. He is 4 and attends a Montessori day school here in Tampa. Each week they have a parent come in, and this week I volunteered. Early this morning I dreaded it because I was in a horrible mood, worrying about all of the things that I become focused on during the course of a work week.

I showed up early to Dante’s school, and got to hangout with him and his friends on the playground.

I felt a swelling in my throat. Weird enough, but I moved on.

Story time was set to begin. I brought two books from home, Pog and Dr. Seuss’s ABCs, and we all headed in to hear them.

We sat down, and first up was Pog, which is a cool story that flips the concept of monsters upside down. I started to read, and again felt this swelling in my throat as I looked over to Dante’s glowing face. He was so excited to have his daddy at school, and sharing “our story time” with his friends.

I finished the first story, and we moved on to the next. It was our ritual that Dante helps me read Dr. Seuss’s ABCs since it is one of the only books he can help me read. He scooted over to me when I was ready, and began to read the first page with me.

Here I was with my 4 year old son, who was reading openly to his class. I quickly realized how impressive he was, and important to me. How Dante, his brother, and mother, our family, is the MOST important thing I have accomplished in my 29 years.

Reality crashed into my unnatural concerns and I cracked.

One page into the story I had to excuse myself. I walked outside of the classroom and began to openly weep. Now imagine that sight! You are a teacher and in your hallway there is a 6′2. 275 pound, tattooed man crying. I know some people will think this is ridiculous behavior for a grown man, but I really don’t have much respect for those people.

I was crying tears of joy. I had realized what my reality was. It was not what car I drive, how much money I make, or any number of other things I dwell on daily. It was my family. Before you say thats because I don’t have to worry about money, remember where I came from.

I regrouped and returned to story time. Dante and I reading OUR story to the delight of his class. It was one of the happiest moments of my life, and I am still reeling from it as I write this post.

It’s strange how the universe chooses to bring us back down from the great heights we create for ourself. Hopefully I can hold onto this grounded feeling for a while.

Reality Punched Me Square in the Jaw is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense

My family and I spent part of the last week in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Epcot. As we made our way through each ride at the theme parks I began to realize a pattern:

Photo by Express Monorail

1) Lines are setup to build up anticipation for the ride itself
2) The rides themselves are awesome, but only last mere moments, in most cases a fraction of what is spent waiting in line.
3) After every ride you are let off into a shop with themed items based around what you just experienced. The kids then go ape shit over stuffed dolls going for $50 a pop.

I began to see a pattern that can be utilized easily on the web

Conversion = Marketing + Branding + Quality Content

Use this as a layover for the web:

1) Create a great piece of content that appeals to the direct demographic of your products consumer. As an example this infographic by Billshrink.com is a great way for the company to draw interest from gadget types and phone consumers in general, then notice the ad on the right hand side.

2) Market this content in a way the builds your brand presence as well as traffic to your site. A holistic marketing campaign mashing search and social media. Zappos has done an amazing job of this, as well as Amazon.

3) Match products and offerings to people enjoying your content. Tripadvisor does an amazing job of this. People use the platform to scope out travel need sand reviews, and Tripadvisor then gives them the option to book. The content is the crux of the conversion experience.

Think about your website now, and your conversion rate. What are you missing from this equation? We work with a lot of site owners who have great products and we can build them traffic, but they are not willing to shape their site for the consumer experience. A simple change like adding reviews to your sites products can have a tremendous impact. Beyond that, brand building can turn customer acquisition into customer retention, and this is where real growth begins to compound.

A Lesson in Conversion from Disney World is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense

As an Internet Marketer I use a ton of tools on a daily basis, and our staff uses even more. It is part of the game, and weeding through the crap can take a ton of time.

What takes even longer is training a staffer how to properly use the tool.

This is the disconnect that happens with tools related to Internet Marketing. People think if they buy a great tool, automatically it is going to create a change in the way they approach and succeed on the Internet. That’s a bunch of hot garbage.

Photo by Jchetan

A hammer, in and of itself, is simply a mixture of wood and steel. However, in the right hands a hammer can build a home. No matter what the hammer is comprised of in terms materials, in the end it is just a tool, and without expertise it is worthless on how to use it, it is simply a way to hang a picture.

This is a problem I see with a lot of Software as a Service.

That is part of the reason that when we designed the tools for Second Step Search we built them with labor as a major component. Think of it as “Service as Software”. The tools allow us to find links, qualify them, and the labor builds them. On a massive scale. The same with our content offering. We can produce more content, in more languages, at higher levels and lower prices due to the software we have built to manage the writers and editors who create the copy.

Imagine a tool, that doesn’t leave the heavy lifting up to you. It is a restaurant, where all other marketing tools are a grocery store.

Photo by buck82

That’s what makes me so excited about this project. We are giving people tools to get actual production they need, regardless of their personal skill set. I know personally I have tried almost every SEO or social media tool on the market, and probably have found 5% to be useful for my daily work. The issue is that most of these products were created for the developers themselves to use in conjunction with their skill set and knowledge base, leaving them almost useless in anyone elses hands.

On that note, there are tons of great tools, and SEJ Tools offers a version of one of them. What I will say is that if you are purchasing tools to equip your staff, you should also equip them with training on how to leverage those tools effectively.

Marketing Tools: Why Most of Them are Hot Garbage is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense

Evernote

Photo by Patrick Haney

Basically Evernote allows me to sync notes and files between my work desktop, laptop, and mobile device. This means regardless of where I am, I can work. I highly suggest the Windows desktop application and android application, despite the fact that the web based versions work very well.

Droid

From Engadget.com

So, is the DROID a good smartphone? Yes, the DROID is an excellent smartphone with many (if not all) of the features that a modern user would expect, and if you’re a Verizon customer, there probably isn’t a more action packed device on the network. That’s not to say the device doesn’t have its faults; the camera was unpleasant to use, the application selection feels thin in both quantity and quality (despite the claim of 10,000 options), and the phone has bits of basic, non-intuitive functionality that might chafe on some users after a while. But even still, it’s hard not to recommend the DROID to potential buyers eager to do more with their devices. It’s easily the best Android phone to date, and when you couple the revamped OS, Verizon’s killer network, and an industrial design straight from a gadget enthusiast’s fever-dream, it makes for a powerful concoction.

I owned the G1 and traded up for the Droid. I have never been happier with a mobile device purchase. The android market offers all of the apps I use daily, including Evernote, Meebo, and the built in integration with GDocs. The speed, screen, and Qwerty are all features I love, and are only made better by the addition of a kick ass camera and Verizon’s data service.

This thing has kicked my mobile production into a whole new gear, and probably made me an Android user for the long haul.

MiFi

Photo by nDevilTV

From CNET.com

the Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot, which is manufactured by Novatel, is an excellent product. It’s a tiny device that offers instant Internet access to up to five Wi-Fi devices, virtually anywhere in the United States. This is the first of its kind that we’ve reviewed and we really liked it. If you travel for business in a group of five or less, this superportable router will come in handy.

This thing has changed the way I work. No longer is the business world tethered to physical locations, and with 90 days of travel in 2009 I can speak to that about as good as anyone. This device allows me, and any staff traveling with me to stay connected to our work at all times. No longer are we tied to the usability of conference WiFi, or searching for Hotspots. In fact, in our cross country move from Utah to Florida this year, this device allowed me to work all 5 days as though I were in an office. Add the stability of running on Verizon into the mix, and you have a winner.

If you don’t have one of these yet, run, don’t walk to get one now.

Moleskin Notebook

Photo by sendusout

So despite having all of my business ventures tied to the web, I am still the creative writing major, and love a good notebook I can hold and jot down ideas. For me, a moleskin notebook I can throw in my laptop bag is an asset. I use it for meetings and brainstorming sessions, when utilizing computers becomes an inconvenience.

Zoho

Photo by zolierdos

Search & Social and Second Step Search both run and thrive off of Zoho products. The software and apps they have put out can really streamline a lot of a service based businesses needs. We mostly utilize the invoicing, project management, and CRM solution. Without these web applications we would still be emailing excel sheet likely. The best part is the cross integration Zoho brings to the table between products. So whatever business we sign using the CRM, we can port directly into the invoice system for billing purposes.

Exchange Server/Outlook

This one may seem like a no brainer, but it was new to me this year. Exchange server allows you to sync your Outlook based life across mobile devices and multiple PCs. With the addition of VOIP, Fax, shared contacts, and share calendars this is a must have for any business.

Long Battery Life Laptop

So I had a decision to make in October. I was looking for a solid laptop, after having my second laptop in a year crap out on me. Should I make the leap to Apple? Should I search for a more stable PC? Windows 7 helped making the decision to stick with a PC easier. The OS is way more stable than Vista, and so with that in mind I looked for a new laptop.

I decided on a Toshiba Satellite , which isn’t overtly sexy, but with the addition of a 7 hour battery, it has made my work life amazingly more efficient. No longer is computing something I worry about. Having a long life battery means I can plugin my MiFi anywhere, open Evernote, login to Outlook/Exchange Server, and Zoho, and have a mobile office ready to run.

Tools for Entrepreneurs: My Top 7 is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense

Moving into 2010 the growth of “Social Media Experts” is certain to continue its spike. So I thought being the nice guy I am I would give people hoping to jump on the bandwagon a quick set of guidelines to follow in order to make the quick transition into social media superstar.

Now take note that this will not make you a legit social media marketer the likes of Neil Patel, Chris Winfield, Brent Csutoras, Jordan Kasteler, or Matt Inman. Nope.  This is purely the road you will need to take to get out of your Burger King job and into a growth industry.

If you were able to check of all of the points on the card you are surely looking to display your exciting new title to the rest of the world, so feel free to use the badge below.

Social Media Expert Checklist is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense

To start, this post is more of a therapeutic exercise for me than anything.

In the last 12 months I have:

1. Seen our company grow from 2 dudes (Jordan Kasteler and I) to 12 full time employees, with a bunch of awesome clients

2. Worked with some awesome people to create another company that is launching called Second Step Search

3. Traveled all over the country and world speaking (over 90 days of travel booked in 2009)

In that process I lost myself.

It’s funny that when you begin to have success in some areas of life, no matter how minimal, you lose focus on others. The culprit was an ego that began to develop. It clouded my judgment, it changed my focus, and almost cost me my family.

The difficulty is that our society, and especially the Internet world, puts success on the same plane as ego. It is as though the two concepts are not to be separated, and penance is allowed for one because of the other.

This has become exceedingly clear to me in my travels this year, as I saw people even putting ego before success, figuring perhaps that a sheer projection of their own value is all that is need to accomplish goals. The concept to me seems to be nothing more then “fake it till you make it.”

But still, in July, I stood completely lost, thinking the world, and everyone in it revolved around my greatness. My breaking point is something that is private, and not really fodder for this blog, but it was life changing for me. Several realizations occurred based on this event:

1. In the grand scheme of this universe, time, and space, my small business accomplishments mean nothing. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but as people our legacies are not often formed from our career based actions. Actions themselves can form a legacy, but often these are not self serving. In the end, we will all be gone, and what we will be remembered for is what we gave to this world, not what we took from it. For me personally, I see my family as my legacy, and the reason I started down this path was to improve life for them, and enrich the possibilities for my sons.

2. If you feel you are already the best at whatever it is you do, you will be hard pressed to learn anything that will help you grow. This is a firm reality. If you are the smartest person in a room, who do you have to learn from? The answer is, everyone else in the room. This is a concept I really began to understand when I was teaching. I learned more in my time as a teacher than I have at any other singular time period in my life. Those kids taught me about life, relationships, how to create community, and a myriad of other lessons I still hold dear. Ego, stops this entire process. You have nothing left to learn because you are the best. Everyone’s opinions and ideas are inferior, so why even take them into account?

3. I had, since my time as a teacher, prided myself on my kindness towards other people. I had completely lost this. I no longer cared about anyone but myself. Who should I care about? I was the most important person I knew. The funny thing is that much of the success Search & Social has, has been based on the reputation Jordan, Loren, and myself have for being kind, stand up guys, that people wanted to establish working relationships with.

4. I had always been fiercely individual, and now was allowing myself to be put into a role everyone expected of me.

In the months following these realizations, I have done a ton of soul searching. In the end I realized, ego almost destroyed me. It was not the reason for my minimal success, it was an ugly bi-product. This realization is hard to swallow, but it saved me, and it is something I stay conscious of now as I navigate through my personal and professional life.

This is not to say people shouldn’t be proud. Pride in ones accomplishments is natural, and deserved, but there is a clear difference.

Pride is defined as -

1. A sense of one’s own proper dignity or value; self-respect.
2. Pleasure or satisfaction taken in an achievement, possession, or association

Ego is defined as -

1. The self, especially as distinct from the world and other selves.
2. In psychoanalysis, the division of the psyche that is conscious, most immediately controls thought and behavior, and is most in touch with external reality.
3. An exaggerated sense of self-importance; conceit.

Ego, by definition, is not reality, based on external factors, and self involved.

One of the biggest pieces of advice I can give to young entrepreneurs is to set aside time everyday to reflect on who you really are, and how that person has led to your successes or failures. By grounding yourself in that firm reality, you will find more success than you ever would falling into the trap of ego.

Ego is the death of success, not the product is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense

This economy is allegedly rebounding.

That is despite a 10% unemployment rate.

Now is the time to make plans for personal wealth and expendable income returning to the American household. But where is the money to be made, and how does one make it?

Verticals to Attack Now

Green Technology - This area is read hot, and being picked up by companies throughout the Fortune 500, including IBM. Retailers can pick up business by offering eco-friendly products and optimizing for those terms. I recently bought an eco-friendly Toshiba laptop, and moving into my new home we have made several eco minded purchases.

Publishers should look to add Green Technology content if applicable, and look to capture some of the advertising dollars that will be rolling into the market in 2010.

For the industrious affiliate marketer, there are a plethoria of green technology based affiliate offerings.

Travel - A ton of affiliate marketers abandoned the travel vertical in the down economy looking towards the booming finance vertical. 2009 was one of the worst years for online bookings. Expedia, Orbitz, and Priceline are looking at a combined reduction of 4.7% in gross revenue.

However, the industry is looking at double digit growth next year.

I would look towards the Caribbean. With the drug issues still plaguing some of the more popular Mexican destinations, the Caribbean should not only see growth in tourism dollars due to the rebounding economy, but also from spill over travelers that no longer want to risk a trip to Northern Mexico.

How to Get Things Prepped

Streamline everything. The worst thing people do when revenue jumps up in a business is increase overhead. If you create streamlined processes now you will be able to effectively make transitions regardless of workload.

Tools to Streamline:

Odesk - Awesome outsourcing platform. Grab whatever labor you need on a temporary basis and on the cheap

SEJ Tools - Tons of useful tools for SEO and repoting

Hummingbird - Cool tool to build your twitter account

Twitcleaner - Kill of your twitter spam

EasyTweets and SocialOmph - Manage your Twitter accounts and content

Zoho - I love me some Zoho. Amazing invoicing system that allows multiple payment gateways

99Designs.com - Run a contest for all types of design needs and pick the winner and have them create the work on the cheap.

Second Step Search - This is our newest company. The tools we have built here will allow SEOs to buy as much low cost high quality hand written content and organic white hat links as they could ever need. We have taken the labor out of the SEO process, and now SEOs can just focus on optimizing a site, rather than the grunt work. For small companies, we are launching a low cost SMB SEO product based on the technology behind these offerings. Small businesses won’t have to worry about being taken advantage of by SEO companies that pray on the low end of the budget spectrum, they can now work within a highly customizable platform to manage their search needs.

With these tools in place you can rampage the Interwebs without bringing on a large full time staff.

Learn from the past

What everyone should have learned from the downturn was that investment and risk are not synonymous. People that took unneeded risk in order to hit financial homeruns where hurt the worst. Once you find a niche that works in the rebound, invest the revenues back into your overall gameplan in a sustainable manner. This means not wasted overhead, but instead developmental concepts that will yield returns over the long run.

What are you planning?

I want to open a discussion amongst entrepreneurs to see what everyone is planning as we escape from the clutched of this dismal economy.

How to Be Profitable Online on the Rebound is a post from: David Snyder's Snydey Sense