After 17 months of funemployment, I have a real job…sort of. I’ve had some stints of underemployment in the past, but after nearly a year and a half of experimenting with freelance I am pretty happy to get back into an office. It has been really hard to continue to be motivated and creative without a people to work with. That and I was always broke. Quite honestly, the poverty was way easier to handle than wallowing in my crummy apartment every day. I eventually came to the conclusion that the two might somehow be related. It’s a contract however, so I get all of the benefits of working, but with none of the benefits. At the same time, with just two or three days worth of change left in the bowl, I decided that I could stand doing my own taxes in exchange for a desk and a chair.

My title is Web Video Manager, however I don’t really think that describes what it is I’m going to be doing very well. I will be managing social media and SEO for a network of real estate professionals owned by a charismatic Canadian small businessman. The project needs a lot of work, and it’s clear that they need some help creating questions and learning how to answer them. I also have a folder full of real estate videos to edit and publish, which is the video part of it.

They seem to be very successful in their field, however it seems that they’re been far less knowledgeable about the type of marketing I have been exposed to. They see the benefit of using PPC to find leads and have had success building a decent foundation, but I don’t think they know what to do next. That’s where I come in. It’s been a confusing week or so, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of it. There are a good amount of challenges ahead for this bad boy. There’s a ton of empowerment and also a lot of responsibility. It’s also very difficult to communicate with the CEO.

Wish me luck, if anything.

                          

As the video went on I caught little details here and there.  The link manager was the first detail I noticed.  It gives you standard categories for your links and allows you to record paid link transactions.  This stuck out to me as very intuitive, even though I have never purchased a link in my life.  To a seasoned professional, that one could be a no-brainer, however it struck me.  It served as an example a well thought out, deliberate attempt to make their system as useful possible.

Of course that’s what every online business wants to accomplish, but this is probably the best model I have seen.  The video goes on to describe more features, SEO tools and what they do.  The coup d’etat was when they described their help platform.  Each page has Help and Feedback links on it.  Clicking Feedback will make a text box appear that allows you to send bug reports and feature requests.  The Help link gives you help related to the page that you are currently on…brilliant.

My goal is not to give Raven’s services a rousing endorsement.  Raven’s little video just made me think about the customer service model I worked on during the years I worked for Name.com.

I worked in the customer service department at the ICANN accredited registrar, Name.com for a bunch of years.  I went to my interview in a small, two room loft above Paris on the Platte, just off 15th st in downtown Denver. There were 10 people working there at the time: Randi, Scott, Ben, Dave, Sam, Michael, Owen, Reggie, Ravi and Bill the CEO. The company was nearly 2 years old at the time, and I was hired to help Ben and Randi in customer service so Scott could begin to concentrate on other things as well.

Nearly everything we did was manual, and almost nothing was automated. Registrar transfers, authorization code requests, account transfers, fraud prevention, etc. It was pretty much all done by hand.  It could get to be very tedious at times, but it was a great way to learn about regulations, rules and processes involved in domain name registration.  It wasn’t quite a well-oiled machine, but we knew what we were doing and there was something new to learn each day.

When the platforms were created for Name.com, and their separate, sister company DomainSite, the system was clunky, and not very scalable.  As we grew, we had to change the way that our system worked.  That became a chore.  The Developers were already busting their asses on other stuff, and bug fixes, feature requests and other tweaks were sometimes difficult to get done.  At times it was frustrating; for both us in the department, but more so for the customers.

In my four years there my biggest pet peeve was answering the same questions over and over and over again.  If I had a nickel for every time I explained how to change your name servers, via telephone and email, I would likely have made more then the sum of my quarterly bonuses.  When Name.com overhauled its interface, and became the flagship company (prior to that, DomainSite got more attention), one of the things I worked on was rewriting the Help section.

My goal was to help develop a system that made it so customers wouldn’t have to contact us. The problem is that I had no idea how to do it, and not create more work then what Development was able (willing) to do.

• Make the Help section bigger?
• Put an FAQ link in the main menu?

It appears that Raven has begun to solve that issue, and better than I have seen so far.  Of course highly specialized SEO monitoring and strategy management tools is a vastly different customer base than a domain name registrar.  Their customer base is much less broad, because their product is much more specific.  I’m sure it is easier to know what a customer would want in such a specific field.  The model is a slam-dunk however.  It offers their users very precise, automated help without having to contact support.  If you do want to contact support, they are right there; One click away and on every page.  I just wish I had thought of it while they were remodeling the Name.com web site.

I am not trying to compare the the way the two companies do business, or trying to sound critical of Name.com.  During the time I worked at Name.com we went from a two year old start-up, in a drafty brick loft, to finding ourselves within the top 30 ICANN accredited registrars in the industry (there are almost 900 ICANN accredited registrars worldwide).  I simply saw the way that Raven created their Help system, and it just happened to be the idea I was looking for.

                          

As I was fixing the image for this post, I got a random tweet from a friend of mine that was tailored just for this entry, it seems. It’s a Nietzsche quote that says simply:

you need chaos in your soul to give birth to a star.

I have excuses though, plenty of them. I’ve been struggling with all of the work I’ve had to do all summer, and it feels great. I don’t know when I’ve ever been so busy, and I’ve gotten fairly, if not significantly behind in nearly everything I’m currently involved in. I really enjoy having so much to do though. It’s just becoming difficult to keep my deadlines. It seems I may have gone in each of the directions that the crossroads alluded to in my previous entry.

The summer hasn’t been a complete wash, however. I have been camping; fly fishing, gone on vacation to West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Washington DC and New Hampshire. I have hung out with all of my close friends, got drunk with some people I haven’t seen in nearly a decade, and yes… even found romance (albeit short-lived, but it was truly lovely while it lasted).

I have been getting somewhat steady work from Syntropic Music. I am redoing their main Web site, which looks like crap right now (yes, that’s all my fault). I’m not really sure where all of the technical trouble is coming from. I am using the same template as another project, with a few tweaks, but for some reason the Syntropic install is all screwed up. I am currently working with David Pennington, Syntropic Music’s Director, on moving Web servers, and cleaning up everything that has messed up.

I finished up a site for Syntropic Music’s flagship band, Gription. Besides that I am doing some digital brand management consulting for them, trying to help consolidate all of their domains at one registrar, and attempting to convince them to move syntropicmusic.com to a server that I am more familiar with.

Working with Syntropic has truly been a pleasure. I met David via social networking, and we became friends pretty easily. When Syntropic Music needed to change IT strategies, I was the guy they called. There is no better way to learn the best ways to work with clients then to begin by working with someone whom you already have a bond of trust.

I started school once again, and once again I have plenty to complain about. This time around is much different however.

Before I start bitching about how much being in college sucks, I have to give a big, giant thank you to Miss April Gosling. She is a super-duper book nerd, and I would never have been able to pass World Literature without her help. April is a fabulous poet, and a wonderful friend. Please check out her blog Social Curettage at www.aprilgosling.com.

So World Lit is taken care of, but I’m having trouble with JAVA Programming. I have never been challenged at this school. Furthermore, the last beginner programming course I took, C++, was a total crock. The instructor showed us the programming language once before, and the only time we used it was a copy and paste exercise the very last day of the class. JAVA is much different though. The instructor is engaging and fun and he is plowing us through the material like a champ. The problem however is that I underestimated the value of the class, and I gave it no attention. Now I’m kind of hosed, and have been playing catch-up for the past few weeks.

Speaking of catch up, I have Igor‘s web site to finish up and a Denver Marketing project that I need to do as well.

Probably not last, and certainly not least, I’m in the middle of a bad ass internship at a lifestyle company called Gaiam. I am working under Everett Sizemore, who is the Manager of SEO Strategy there. The company is fantastic. The people are friendly, and the office is immaculate. I never thought I would work within an office until Name.com. Now I work in a cubicle. For as much as that goes beyond my punk-rock sensibilities, the situation couldn’t be more comfortable.

I could go through all that I have been learning since I started, about a month and a half ago, but I’ll spare you. I started blogging about the things I’m picking up. I would be honored if you would check it out.

Beginning SEO is a project I started in the second week of my internship. I had a little bit of time, and I thought blogging would be a fine way to gather my notes into something that is helpful. Of course, I’m behind on that too. I’m working on overhauling Meaghan Gosling‘s web site, Art of Behavior. You can check out what I’m doing for her at Beginning SEO.

Please, follow Beginning SEO on Twitter as well: www.twitter.com/beginningseo.

So if you’ve been holding your breath for a new blog entry, which I know you have been, here it is along with my apology. You are not the only one who I’ve been neglecting. Since this spring I have been more motivated then ever… if only temporarily. The goal is permanent laziness; however I have to bust my ass now in order to be able to afford that later in the future.

I am dying for some free time, however with any more of this, I’m sure to give birth to one hell of a star.

                          

I have been busy however.  I have projects I’m planning, projects I’ve started and projects to finish.  I also have a bit of a rant to go on about the company I started this year.

First of all, Denver Marketing LLC has not been doing a hell of a lot of anything.  I joined the group because they needed someone to write the Web sites they were selling.  Since March we acquired two clients, both friends of mine, and struggled getting the projects coordinated.  I expressed strong concern to the fellas a couple of times, and was met with awkward apathy.  I decided to let them come to me if they needed something, and just focus on my own projects.  I got my first assignment from them in over a month today.

It boggles my mind, first of all, to think that the amount of work that we are putting into these projects is difficult to sell, given that we only charge $25 a month for our services.  It is also confusing when I think about how successful someone can expect a business to be if this little work is being spent on acquiring new clients.  Denver Marketing LLC has taken a backseat with me, and I have become re-focused on gaining new contracts and/or (heaven forbid) an actual job.

So onto other things

I’ve got some super cool projects in the works right now, and I’m really exited about what I’ve been working on.

• SyntropicMusic.com is somewhat of a work in progress, currently.  My friend David is a principal at this Boulder, CO based record label.  They got a little hosed by their Web designer on the original Web site they had and they needed a new one.  I was able to put up the new Syntropic Music Web site in a few, short days, and did it for less then half of what their original designer charged for a site that was embarrassing to look at.The template I chose is designed for a lot of content.  Once the site becomes a little more active, it’ll work like a magazine, with all of the information nicely categorized and easily searchable/spidered.  In hindsight I could have chosen a template that was not as robust.
• DenverTechno.com is a current labor of love that I started last Sunday, and is currently forced to take a backseat for the moment.  My favorite type of electronic music is Techno.  Currently underground electronic music is not incredibly popular, and local Techno is suffering.  I have gotten with a local Techno DJ, and friend, to try to generate some unity between local Techno DJs, producers and fans, and provide a forum where we can begin to develop interest in what one another are currently pursuing.
• ArtOfBehavior.com has fallen in desperate need of an overhaul.  With the amount I have learned in the past few months, I feel like I am cheating former clients who paid for things that are so far below level that I am at now.  I will be changing the look, and feel of this Web site as well as adding some much needed SEO, and 2.0 functionality.

There are other ideas floating around, as well as super cool projects that are waiting in the wings.  You can keep your eyes peeled for Unseen Denver, a really cool artist project and hopefully another Name.com contract.  I am really happy with the work I have been doing.  I am always looking for new contracts, and would love to gain traditional employment in the right organization.  Any leads you may have are much appreciated.

                          

I worked in the store, six to seven days a week, and took care of all of the management duties.  The only thing I didn’t do was product research, marketing strategies and visit the accountant.  Everything else was all mine, from merchandising, to graphic and Web design, all the way to bookkeeping.  I was the only employee, until the last few months we were open.  Marco was only in the store once, maybe twice a month.  It was a really good experience, peppered with some of the most epic mistakes I have ever made in my personal life.  I met some cool people, fortunately enough, and we connected others who ended up creating some really great things together.

When Panic closed, a little more then a year later, I had a new perspective and a new idea of what I wanted to do. I was lucky enough to win a car from the radio station we used to advertise on.  It was especially lucky because after my girlfriend kicked me out of the apartment, and started seeing my former business partner, I had a place to sleep… once again, that’s a story for another blog.  I drove my free car, full of my things, from Virginia to Denver, on the heels of the first entrepreneurial venture I’ve ever undertaken (on the books).  I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my career.  I had fallen in love with small business.

The first real job I got once I arrived in Denver was with Name.com, who was little more then a startup when I got there.  I arrived for my interview in a small two room, brick loft on 15th and Platte st (upstairs from Paris on the Platte, for those familiar with downtown Denver).  At that time it was a small, informal group of 20 somethings, and a couple of 30 somethings, sitting across from each other at folding tables.  The company had been around for two years and was more or less still an infant, compared to what it has grown to become.  It was the best office scenario I could have asked for.

Fast forward to today…

Earlier this month I was talking to a friend who had a very young startup, and was looking for a designer.  Three days later I am sitting in a cafe with the two main partners, discussing a partnership.  Two weeks after that I became a partner in Denver Marketing LLC.  We are a online marketing company specializing in helping small business people get their companies online.  We offer quality Web sites, internet marketing and amazing SEO, at a price that makes me wonder if I’ll ever get out of my garden-level apartment.

Starting a business will allow me to rediscover the taste I developed for ramen noodles when I was in my 20s.  I know this for sure.  I am torn between that, and knowing that just landing a job will be more helpful as far as the immidiate budget is concerned.  Fuck it, I guess.  Given the choce between my heart and my wallet, I’ve always tended to go in the direction of my heart.  It may be a longer route toward financial independence, however; How likely is one to become finincially independent when they work for someone else?

                          

The future is way too uncertain for me to feel comfortable shaking my pom-pons at it.  I do however, have a specific issue regarding higher education.

After going to school for a very brief time when I was 18, I chose to forgo continued education; as it was mostly a crock of shit.  Over a decade later, in the midst of having a good job in a promising career, I chose to fill some extra time and plunge myself even deeper into debt.

Originally the goal was to enroll half time in a degree program, get financial aid, score some certificates and drop out.  Unfortunately it didn’t quite unfold like that.  After the first few classes I discovered that I wasn’t learning anything useful.  In addition I was (am) paying $1000 – $13000 per class and gaining little more then disapointment.  Once my perspective was altered in that regard, I figured I’d stick it out and get a degree.  After all, the classes are stupid easy, plus I have the time and I’ve already spent all this money on nothing.

That’s a pain in my ass that I can deal with, since I am gainfully employed and my future is pretty secure.  Fast forward a few years later, and I have no job and the “extra” time that I was using for school became less extra.  My time is now my own, and is used to further my goals and learn the things I want to learn.  Previously school time was added to the work time-budget, and it worked well.  Now I will find myself waist-deep in the illest development groove, and realize that I have to leave for school.

My previous schedule was:

1. 6am – 8am: Get up and do homework.
2. 8am – 9am: Get ready and get to work.
3. 5:00 – on: School on school nights, and video games on non school nights.

My current schedule is:

1. 6am – on: Work on development projects.
2. All other time: Video games.

As you can see, I have had quite the priority shift that has left little room for bullshit.  Colorado Technical University is absolutely full of bullshit.  I have learned nothing that I concider valuable, and nothing that I feel is worth $1000 and up; per class, per quarter.

If I felt there was value to what I was learning, or even having a decent time, the money really wouldn’t be that big of an issue.  The problem is that I am stuck in this situation.  I owe over $13,000 since June 2007, and I’m not half way through with my degree.

Herein lies the problem.  I’m in too deep financially to give up, but I have zero motivation to continue.  This quarter has seen my lowest attendance, interest and desire to put up with this crap.

My choices seem somewhat clear.  I can:

• Stay ta CTU
• Transfer to another school
• Quit

None of these options seem very appealing, and all of them involve taking a giant financial loss for something that I hate.

What would you do?

                          

I began exploring social media when I was throwing warehouse parties in Boston.  There were two email lists; Boston Raves, and later Ian Scott started the Boston Parties mailing list.  Boston Parties became wildly popular right out of the box, and the subscribers created a very strong, and loyal underground.  All we had to do was send out one Boston Parties email with event details, and we had more guests then we knew what to do with… but those are stories for another blog.

I didn’t ever think that social networks were useful for anything besides keeping track of my friends in other states.  I just got on board early, and really enjoyed it.  Trypnotik was my first username, when I created my Friendster profile in February, 2003.  Friendster didn’t go live until March 2003.

If you can be first person who can tell me what the Friendster Beta invitation code was, I will PayPal you five, lousy dollars!

I’m not the only one who thinks Trypnotik is the coolest word ever.  Check out the endorsements here, or here.  Google gave me those results, and a myriad of things with my name on them… most of them mine.  Some I had forgotten about for years.

This is half an apology, and half a request.  If you’re surfing around and you run into something with my name on it that..

1. …offends your more delicate sensibilities; Please accept my most humble apology.
2. …I might have missed, and should probably be taken off the Internet now; Please send me an email, right away.

Recently I heard the term “Social Equity” and it made me feel the same way that I did the first time I saw a jock wearing my favorite Green Day T-shirt.  To think all this time I was doing what I liked, and people are actually talking about things like social branding espionage and strategic ways to get more followers.  While this is all fine and good for those who are into it, I prefer a more personal approach to my online business identity.

Very soon now Trypnotik Visual will be once again open for business, and I will be attempting to supplement my unemployment check with real, live work.  My brand has gone through as many changes as I have tattoos.

Just like tattoos, there are some that are nicer to look at then others; but I wouldn’t get rid of any of them, even if I could.

                          

Besides not being able to roll in past noon, smelling like a distillery, there are other reasons that I am hesitant to look for a corporate job.  In these days of economic stress, who is to say the job I accept today will be here tomorrow?  Every day there is more news of companies laying off hundreds, to thousands of employees.  It really kills me that I am just one of the millions of untold jobless.  This is real, man.  Seriously.

Most of the experience I have gained from my previous job was through helping domain name registrants solve a wide range of issues. Some of the things that I got really good at were domain DNS and name server issues, managing Google Apps and Gmail, domain name registration, renewal and transferring. I also became somewhat of an expert in online credit card and PayPal fraud prevention. I developed a database management system for storing and reporting all payment fraud data. I worked very closely with our merchant account manager at PayPal to solve various, complicated PayPal payment issues. I caught loopholes and stopped payment leaks that could have cost our company thousands of dollars a year. I developed a wide range of email templates that are used to answer common customer questions, and a Web-based system to organize and display them. I have caught fraudsters, hackers, thieves and child pornographers.

Also, I’m a really good cook.

What does this make me professionally?  Somebody tell me, because I don’t have a clue.  I have looked at ads for Web developers, project managers, customer supporters and a host of related jobs.  They all sound so stale, and boring or far too advanced for my skill set.  As soon as I find the Craigslist job posting for a General Internet Company Employee, I will be golden.  Just wait and see.

                          

I am working on a number of projects, trypnotik.com being one of them, to improve my knowledge, skills and my portfolio.  I will be linking my published work here, and in my development portfolio at www.trypnotikvisual.com.  I encourage you to take a look at the projects that I publish, and leave any feedback that you may have.  As I continue to log my job search, and the results (or lack thereof), I would love to hear some feedback, or even a note to say hello.

I am looking forward to seeing how this project develops, and what may come from from it.  My career continues from here.