When starting out, we really didn’t know what it takes to build a website with a big community around it.  In fact, we didn’t realize we needed a community at all.  When we built the website, we really had no idea about what it took to really build in SEO, what page rank meant, or how to write proposals to potential advertisers.  Having worked in web marketing I knew enough to help get my clients started although I didn’t honestly know the work it took to sustain a successful website. I knew how important regularly updating content was, how necessary good images and design was including how vital alt tags are on images and I knew where the eye went first and last up on seeing a website.

All of that information is good knowledge to build a foundation on.  Here are some of the things that I neglected:

1. Networking. I don’t mean occasionally talking to people on Twitter through RTs, liking their pages on Facebook or linking back to their sites on your link love page.  I mean really, really talking to these people.  Commenting on people’s blogs that you really like is important.  I’m such a lurker and it needs to stop.  In real world terms, I’m a wall flower. And I think most people who know me, know I’m not a real life wall flower, so why am I one on the Internet? Probably because I’m all business.  I go to people’s websites to see what they’re talking about it, what they’re doing and how I can apply that information to my website.  Creepy? Probably.  Sorry. I need to stop being such a creepy mcstalkerson and start chatting with people more on their blogs and through Twitter. And I mean really talking to them, not just saying thanks for the RT or whatever. It will help my business a lot more in the long run, I’m sure of it.
2. Understanding the importance of linkbacks.  We never really thought about what an anchor text was or even exchanging links with other websites as important to search engines. In fact, I just thought it was good to get a link back from anyone as long as you get one. I’ve learned a lot since those silly days.  Since I’ve been so slow to the world of linkbacks, I use Linkvana (Linkvana 5 Day Trial (Now 14 days)($147 Billed Every 1 Months)) and really enjoy it, despite how expensive it is.  I’ve seen the visits to our site increase 150% since we started it back in February.
3. Something I never counted on was being a boss. DIWYY has had a few employees in our time. One thing my boss, who was a multimillionaire, told me when I was a PA in Beverly Hills was: be slow to hire and quick to fire. I know that now.  If you have instincts that something is wrong, you’re probably right. Not everyone has your company’s best interest as heart.

Here are some things we did right:

1. We started a newsletter in the very beginning. Over the past year, our newsletter has gained more than 1,400 subscribers.  We use aweber and I love it. Kristina hates it.  But I think it’s because you do need to know a little HTML to really customize the newsletter format.
2. We focused on our Facebook page. It has almost 8k likes.  We seriously have THE best community ever!
3. We utilized Twitter, although we rarely have time to really get into it like we would like. Luckily, we have an amazing online community manager. I mean, really, the most amazing one out there.
4. We formed partnerships early on with Contiki, Kelty, 3floz, A Girl’s Gotta Go, Banana Saver, The Humanity Exchange, Edge of Seven and Tripping. We love our partners!

The past year and a half of running DIWYY has been an eye opening experience. I will definitely never take for granted the work put into a website again.  I love DIWYY and have seriously considered that maybe I would rather work on it all the time and not continue with my school work to become a doctor. Doubtful that would happen, but that would be nice..

I’ve learned how to shoot one of these

I’ve done this (but this isn’t my video):

and I’ve done more of this than I ever care to do again:

I was so totally depressed yesterday but today I’m over feeling sorry for myself. Just like I expected. I actually had an awesome day with the boy and his enormous family. No more hard knock life for me just some Jay Z. And a Jay Z song was on and a Jay Z song was on.

I had no idea what to expect. In my head, San Francisco is home to On The Road, beatnik types like Jack Kerouac and Full House.

Friday

I arrived at the San Jose airport around eight where Kristina picked me up and took me down to Santana Row for dinner at Thea’s. I had an awesome Raspberry Caiprinha and we (Kristina, me and Kristina’s friend, Kelly) shared phyllo pie stuffed with spinach, feta cheese, leeks and onions and pita with hummus.

Afterward we went to the Hotel Valencia that I recognized as being in San Antonio as well. The crowd was pretty posh. The courtyard has nice running water fountains and fire pits with lounges set up around them. We were pretty tired and Saturday was going to be our big day, so we decided to go home and crash around 1 am.

Saturday

We woke up early and drove to San Francisco from San Jose. Of course, I had to stop at Google and get a picture.

The amazing thing about San Francisco that I didn’t expect was the sudden temperature change. It was at least ten degrees cooler once we got there and I saw clouds hanging low above the valleys. As we approached the city, I saw rows of small houses packed in tightly along the hills. It reminded me of the townships in South Africa. Weird. I know, that this city reminded me of third world living conditions. When we arrived in San Francisco proper, the sky was clear and we could see the top of the Golden Gate bridge, which I am told, is rare.

We ate at a cute coffee/wine cafe and explored the city seeing all the touristy spots before taking our luggage to the hotel- Westin in Union Square- and getting some rest before our big night on the town.

As a sweet surprise, Kristina took me to the Bobbi Brown counter at Nordstrom’s so we could get makeovers before we went out. We got dressed up and decided to leave to go around the corner from our hotel to a club called Slide. We managed to find some cute Marine boys in town for the Labor Day weekend and spent most of the night talking to them and dancing. They were about to leave to go on their third tour of Iraq and I’m not much into long distance relationships so we said our goodbyes and Kristina and I went home to our awesome Westin hotel room and beds.

Sunday

We packed up our belongings and said good bye to the beautiful city of San Francisco and drove back to San Jose. Kristina took me on a tour of the huge homes around San Jose. To be honest, while the homes were spectacularly large to be sure, I was pretty unimpressed with their lack of personality. They were big, the yards were small and the view was pretty uninspiring. I don’t love San Jose.

In the afternoon, Kristina took me to some vineyards (wine trees as I like to call them) outside of San Jose. Not Napa Valley, but still quite fun! First we headed to Fortino Winery where we had some amazing Almond Champagne. Next we made our way to Sycamore Creek Vineyards where we jumped in their vineyards.

After several glasses of wine for me, not Kristina, we drove home and rested before beginning the last leg of the vacation: the continuation of our Melting Pot World Tour! Kristina and I have been to the Melting Pots in Ft. Lauderdale, Houston and now San Jose. With belly’s full, we went home and watched Exiled on MTV and laughed with Kristina’s mom about all the fun we had and all the silly things we said (i.e. “Horses are pretty chill as long as you eat them.”)

Monday

The next morning, Kristina’s mom made me a goodbye omelette and then they drove me to the San Jose airport around 11 am. It was the perfect mini-vacation!

Julie and her videographer for the show, Suki, were in a hit and run on New Year’s Eve on Las Olas in Ft. Lauderdale while riding in a PediCab. No one has come forward yet with any leads about who the person was that hit these ladies. For more information about what happened visit Julie’s MySpace blog at http://blog.myspace.com/jewelswoolf.

I came to talk about how two of my favorite artists are coming to Houston in November-Regina Spektor and Silverchair. Even better, they are playing at venues that are only a block away from my place. Regina Spektor will be at Warehouse Live on November 7 and Silverchair will be at Meridian on November 28.

Other bands I’m excited to see playing around these here parts are Dashboard with Augustana at Warehouse Live and Hot Hot Heat at Meridian. Yay Houston!