My day job is owning and running Pure SEO, New Zealand’s largest and most awarded search marketing agency. It is therefore not surprising that I am obsessed with marketing strategies and measuring their results. Over the past decade, we have tried lots of different strategies, from zany radio adverts and sponsoring events, to traditional media...
I’ve been involved with SEO since 2002. Throughout that time, there have always been people trying to ‘game’ the system or take short cuts that can risk getting their clients’ website a Google penalty. This was the reason behind my decision to writing a book for Penguin Random House about DIY SEO. Released on the...
Last year was a phenomenal year for me both professionally and personally; my business grew dramatically, my work load lessened, I connected well with my family, I visited countries on my bucket list, I wrote a book (to be published in April) and I worked hard on my physical fitness and health. Looking forward to...
Having just completed writing a book about SEO for Penguin Random House, I spent much of the last six months doing a deep dive into how to create a winning digital strategy for businesses in New Zealand and Australia. Through this research, I discovered one thing that companies spend a lot of time on –...
I have been lucky enough to have a business that has grown every year since its inception. There have been times where things have been difficult and I have had to dig in and work all hours to steady the ship. These times helped me learn a number of lesson along the way, to help...
At Pure SEO we measure everything. We look at the source of all our inbound leads, the conversion rate of those leads, the cost to acquire them and the client duration. Over the last 9 years this has given us a valuable insight into what actually works, why it works and the value of each...
In her commencement address to a graduating class of Harvard, distinguished novelist, philanthropist, film producer, television producer and screenwriter, Joanne Rowling, said: “Failure taught me things about myself that I could have learned no other way. I discovered that I had a strong will, and more discipline than I had suspected. The knowledge that you...
It’s very easy for us to conform to stereotypes and to inadvertently mould our children with these preconceptions. Boys are usually given action figures, guns and the like and girls are usually often dressed in pink and surrounded by dolls, princesses and fairy tales where they are rescued by the handsome prince. Having both a...
Twenty years ago, I stepped into the business world. Today, I wouldn’t change a day of it. That’s not to say it’s all been plain-sailing—there have certainly been challenging times. It’s these challenging times that have taught me the most, especially about how to lead people. However, there are certainly mistakes I could have done […]
2018 is well underway and, hopefully you’re still full of the energy and enthusiasm you had when first setting your goals or resolutions for the new year. For many, that will mean an eye on a promotion, so this month I wanted to highlight Ashley Williams, who’s been a shining star at Pure SEO over...
I turned 40 the other day. As an entrepreneur in the digital marketing space, I thought I was young, trendy, and at the forefront of new thinking. Turns out, I’m no longer quite so young. So, I did what anyone would do when they have this realisation: Live vicariously through those around them. This month, […]
Moving to a new country can be fraught with challenges. So, what about those people – the entrepreneurial types – who emigrate and start a new business in a foreign country? I can speak from experience on this one, having set up Pure SEO with just $200, only a couple of months after coming to […]
The idea of authenticity is not new; Shakespeare wrote, in Hamlet – back in the early 1600s – “to thine own self be true” and much more recently, it’s become a buzzword in the personal development space before taking root in our work lives and leadership culture. A simple Google search shows how prolific the […]
I once heard it said that a successful negotiation is when both parties feel a little aggrieved. Put another way, this is the idea that if both people feel only a little hard done by, then the negotiation was probably fair. The reality is that negotiation involves compromise and, especially when conflict is involved, we […]
My appreciation of the efforts of young entrepreneurs is no secret. This month, I wanted to introduce you to Donielle Brooke, Founder and Creative Director of Designer Wardrobe. I was an early investor in Designer Wardrobe, and I never cease to be impressed by what Donielle manages to achieve, despite the challenges she’s faced. Donielle was […]
Many marketers think the wider their potential market is, the greater the opportunities for marketing. But, the options for more specialised, niche businesses also abound. Successful marketing is all about appropriate and relevant targeting and it’s hard to do that if your market is “anyone – men and women – aged 5 to 95”. Although […]
As part of my role in the Entrepreneur’s Organization (EO), I’m part of putting on the annual Global Student Entrepreneurs Awards (GSEA) and, each year, I’m absolutely blown away by the talent and ideas that some of these young people have. There are many ‘student in business’ success stories; from Facebook’s humble beginnings in a […]
