As we celebrate the close of ‘08 and anticipate the coming of ‘09, your friendly BOTW crew would like to reflect on the events and transitions that filled our busy year. Personnel changes, the launching of new initiatives, and general growth were the company’s 2008 milestones, and it’s safe to say that the year was a round success. Join us, if you will, in remembrance…

The year began with charity events and auspicious new hires, when BOTW successfully raised over sixteen thousand dollars for Leukemia and Lymphoma at the SES NY party and undertook a large-scale springtime expansion. The company named Adam Sussman as Director of Business Development and Rob Schmid as Controller, and additionally incorporated editors from DMOZ into our treasured “Nerd Herd.” In June, our New York-based headquarters welcomed two new employees to the fold, and our little group continues to flourish.

Autumn spawned some exciting new initiatives, most notably the launch of our Local Directory. Local has already shown fantastic promise as a resource for search users and businesses alike. More recently, we celebrated the launch of BOTW UK, our first international directory. The new pages will prove essential for our burgeoning volume of UK users, and will certainly bolster and supplement the original directory.

With such a grand ‘08 (almost) behind us, we can’t help but look forward to a bright 2009. Happy New Year to all!

CLOCK’S TICKING
Just a reminder for those last minute shoppers looking to place a few last ads before 2008 expires… use our “BLIZZARD” promo code for extra savings.

When prompted, enter promo code “BLIZZARD” and Save 25% on new:

* Directory Submissions - Save on both the annually recurring and/or the one-time review fee.
* Blog Directory Submissions - Save on the one-time review fee for blogs.
* UK Directory Submission – Reduce the rate on both the annual and/or one-time review fee.
* Monthly Sponsorship Ads - Discount the monthly rate for all new sponsorship ads.
* Blog Advertising - Discount the monthly rate for all new sponsorship ads in the Blog Directory.
* UK Sponsorship Ads – Mark down the monthly fee to advertise in the NEW UK Directory.

Promotion ends when the year does… so strike now and keep your pocket book AND your accountant happy.

Affiliate BIG SCREEN GIVEAWAY
Also… just a reminder that the affiliate earning the most commission by promoting the “BLIZZARD” discount will also win a brand new 46″ Samsung HDTV!! (model LN46A650). No pressure of course, but this contest concludes on the 31st as well.

Good luck to all, and happy holidays from the crew at Best of the Web. ~

‘Twas the night before Christmas, I’d gone to bed early
My click-thrus were down and I felt kinda surly.
I’d chugged a few shots of Jack straight from the bottle
Sufficiently numb, off to bed I did toddle.

I lay there awake, cause no matter how toasted
I couldn’t stop thinking of sites that I hosted
My Adsense was down and the worst of my fears
Told me something must give or I’d soon work at Sears.

I’d just closed my eyes, though my head danced with visions
of SEO schemes and new Google provisions.
There has to be some way to highlight my sites.
I need some good SERPs ‘fore they turn off my lights

But just as I started to dream of red numbers
A racket above woke me up from my slumbers.
I sat up and listened, did I really hear it?
Naah that’s silly, I went went back to sleep (or darn near it).

Then a noise from the den! Where’s my Louisville Slugger?
I crept down the stairs… filled with dread of some mugger.
Shoulda called 911 first, oh well, it’s too late.
I rounded the corner, ill prepared to meet fate.

But nothing prepared me for what was afoot
By my fireplace stood Greg Hartnett covered in soot.
I knew it was him, we’d met six months before
But why is he here tracking soot on my floor?

I had no idea what to say at this time
This guy made too much dough to be turning to crime.
But what he did next was a godsend to me
He sat down at my desk and turned on my PC.

Into Best of the Web all my sites he inserted
Though the entry illegal, my crisis was averted.
I still had to know how he came by this task,
I mustered my courage, I just had to ask.

Well, Santa was sick, and was stuck home in bed
so to get off the “Naughty List” Brian Prince said
He would offer to serve as replacement for Santa
But sent Greg when his own flight got stuck in Atlanta.

There was just no reply to be made to such news
So I stood mute as he vanished back up the flu.
Running outside I thought as he moved oer my roof
My insurance is silent on “damage by hoof”.

But it turned out the sleigh wasnt powered by deer
But instead it was editors. Now he shouted with cheer…
“On Laisha, on Kfander, on Suz and Bluedarter,
on Mitch and Rzan, Hey KC! Must pull harder!”

I dont know just how, but they started to fly
So I called out once more as they lept to the sky…
“Hey Greg! That’s amazing… how’d you make that thing go?”
He called back “Hey it’s YOUR dream, so how should I know?”
—

Win a Big Screen TV
If by chance Greg doesn’t make it to your house this year… (we’ll assume it was an oversight, surely you didn’t end up on the “Naughty list” beside Brian)… then win a big screen TV or take advantage of the specials as listed in the prior post here on the BOTW Blog.

Merry Christmas to all from the crew at Best of the Web! ~ Rob Jones

Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry. Unfortunately, not everyone can be so merry when times are as tough as they have been. But that’s no reason to just eat… or drink… Best of the Web is helping do it’s part in spreading cheer to all webmasters, site owners, marketing agencies and of course… to their valued Resellers and Affiliate Partners. If you haven’t already heard, BOTW has pulled out all the stops in promoting the year’s biggest savings. This month’s Promo Code, BLIZZARD, will discount all new directory submissions and sponsors by 25%.

This is the biggest discount offering of the year and if you happen to be a valued BOTW Reseller, you can take advantage of this opportunity to promote the “BLIZZARD” special, drive more sales, and earn even more money through the Best of the Web Reseller Program.

And to sweeten your holiday spirits, we have a bonus. The affiliate who earns the most commission by promoting the “BLIZZARD” discount will also win a brand new 46″ Samsung HDTV!! (model LN46A650)

Use the images below to help promote the “BLIZZARD” discount on your site, and increase your chances of winning the new HDTV. At the end of the month, all commissions will be calculated, and the affiliate who has the highest commission will be contacted via phone or email to claim their new HDTV.

Remember – this is a limited time offer. The “BLIZZARD” Promo and HDTV Giveaway contest will end on December 31, 2008. Get started today!

For additional banners and tiles to display on your website or blog, please visit http://botw.org/helpcenter/blizzard.aspx.

The ever-expanding BOTW is proliferating yet again—we have launched a comprehensive UK Directory that catalogs relevant British and Irish websites and your anglophile narrator is thrilled!

BOTW UK incorporates the original BOTW Directory’s extensive and comprehensive categorization methods, and the new UK Directory will offer seamless access to corresponding information in the main directory. British and Irish users can sift through categories, search for specific services, or utilize the regional pages to find relevant resources in their own backyards. For example, the localized regional categories will allow the UK audience to search on the city level. It’s the perfect tool if you’re, perhaps, searching for a bed and breakfast on the Isle of Wight.

For more information on the launch, check out our Press Release at PR Web.

As we’ve noted in the release, BOTW is concurrently launching several initiatives to help integrate interested businesses. The BOTW UK Directory Submit Service will ensure a speedy review service for membership in the burgeoning directory, while the UK Sponsorship Advertising Solutions will ensure participants’ enhanced visibility throughout the site.

So if you are a UK site owner, webmaster or marketing agency - come check out Best of the Web’s newest Directory - BOTW.org.uk and tell us what you think. We look forward to your feedback and as with the original Best of the Web, we hope BOTW UK will prove to be a great informational resource for all UK users.

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and BOTW… Okay, so we don’t fit in the song, but we DO fit in your budget, especially now that we are offering a generous discount on all web directory listings and sponsorships!

BOTW would like to spread some holiday cheer to show appreciation and love for our loyal customers. So, while the weather outside is frightful, use our “BLIZZARD” promo code for extra holiday savings.

When prompted, enter promo code “BLIZZARD” and Save 25% on new:

• Directory Submissions - Save on both the annually recurring and/or the one-time review fee.
• Blog Directory Submissions - Save on the one-time review fee for blogs.
• UK Directory Submission – Reduce the rate on both the annual and/or one-time review fee.
• Monthly Sponsorship Ads - Discount the monthly rate for all new sponsorship ads.
• Blog Advertising - Discount the monthly rate for all new sponsorship ads in the Blog Directory.
• UK Sponsorship Ads – Mark down the monthly fee to advertise in the NEW UK Directory.

Be sure to act now – this promotion ends December 31st, 2008. With savings like these, you’ll be sure to have a holly, jolly holiday.

If you have spent any time learning the ropes of search marketing, you have undoubtedly heard people talking about PubCon. It’s an annual conference hosted by Brett Tabke of Webmasterworld that features a few days of learning, a few nights of networking, and one afternoon filled with beer. This year marked another wonderful success for PubCon and the entire search industry.

BOTW has long been a PubCon participant. Due to conflicting schedules,we were unable to bring the booth crew this year so we made the trip in reduced numbers. We were able to do some great networking at the various venues, and it’s always great to see our friends and partners. I was able to give a presentation on directories on a panel with Chris Tolles, Rebecca Kelley, Eric Enge and Roger Montti.

Because we didn’t have a booth, we didn’t bring t-shirts to hand out. We do promise though to send shirts to all of you who requested one (or two/three). Thanks to everybody that we got time to hang out with, and a big shout-out to PG for bringing the SEO dinosaurs together for a class dinner at the Wynn. And a huge shout out to DK who did another fantastic job putting together the second annual SEO poker tournament (all BOTW participants were eliminated in short order). Pics here.

So for now it’s time to dust off the keyboards and get back to work. Until next time friends…

Our very own Greg Hartnett took the spotlight during an interview with Local Search expert, David Mihm, where he discussed the new Local Directory and where it’s headed.

An interesting read all around! Great job, Greg. Check out the entire interview here.

For anyone who has been following the decline of the US economy, it is safe to say that many of our financial holdings have been buried! But if history is any indicator, the economy will eventually bounce back and rise again like a zombie from the dead. Which is why, in the meantime, you can focus on saving some of your hard earned cash by taking advantage of this months discount offer from Best of the Web.

SAVE 20% on All NEW Submissions and Sponsorship Advertising in the original Best of the Web Directory, the BOTW Blog Directory, and Best of the Web’s newest offering the BOTW Local Directory.

To SAVE 20% INSTANTLY, simply follow the sign-up process for any BOTW service and enter the following promo code when prompted – it’s that easy!!

Promo Code: ZOMBIE

Get Started today and Save 20% on:

• Directory Submissions - Discount on both the annually recurring and/or the one-time review fee.
• Blog Directory Submissions - Save on the one-time review fee for blogs.
• Monthly Sponsorship Ads - Save on the monthly rate for all new sponsorship ads.
• Blog Advertising - Discount on all new sponsorship ads in the Blog Directory.
• Local Premium Listings – Save on the already low monthly cost.
• Sponsored Local Listings – Maximum exposure at a great monthly discount.

You may use the promo code multiple times for multiple products and services throughout the month of October. Remember to act now – this amazing deal ends October 31st, 2008 so be sure to take full advantage!

Attention Affiliates and Resellers: This promotion is commissionable. So you can pass along the great savings to your users and receive the same great commission. They save, and you make money. It’s a great opportunity to get your users introduced to BOTW offerings. Start now!

Not a BOTW reseller? Find out more about the BOTW reseller program.

Phinding a Fysician….
Once on a whitewater canoe trip in the wilds, one of my friends lost a fight to a rock in the channel at high speed. The resulting gash required stitches, so we headed for the nearest town… basically a grocery store and a few houses. Seeing no medical clinic, we went to the grocery store to inquire.

The owner was kindly, but education wasn’t one of his strong points. As he helpfully opened the Yellow Pages under “D” to find the address of the nearest doctor… he suddenly drew a blank look and said none were listed. We suggested he look under “Physician“.

He flipped the page… to the section beginning with “F”.

Countries Separated by A Common Language
Looking for something on the web yields similar problems. You need to search the term that’s actually present, and it doesn’t hurt to have it spelled the same way. Unfortunately, if you’re in the UK you are sometimes hampered by evidence the colonials elsewhere can neither spell nor call things by their correct name.

If seeking legal specialists… US-based editors will likely have placed the “Solicitor” you’re seeking under “Lawyer” or “Attorney“. Meanwhile someone in Wales is searching “Barrister” with limited success.

BOTW Kicks the Yanks Out of the UK
OK, not physically, but we did decide that our customers and clients in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland might be better served if our taxonomy didnt assume you spoke and spelled like US citizens. Simply a matter of dealing with reality. We decided to add some local color (or in this case… colour).

A new group of editors was hired to overhaul the UK & ROI portions of the directory, and the new editors are natives of the area. There is simply no substitute for firsthand knowledge of the language and idioms (or the geography for that matter… it doesn’t do to have a non-native try to handle Regional: London).

Our Thanks to Resident Magician
The credit for the work goes to a relatively small but strong UK team led by “Merlin”… and in our opinion they bring to mind the Churchill phrase once applied to the RAF… “Never have so many owed so much to so few….” Once complete it will look like everyone’s UK section would look if they’d only had a decade to think about it. Special kudos to GavinK, Robo, Rzan, Specop, and others involved in this massive effort.

Who Benefits?
Well, besides making it easier for surfers to find what they’re looking for, it probably has a benefit to our clients in making their sites more findable. Seems like a win-win for everyone. The work is ongoing, but feel free to stroll the UK area of the directory and let us know if it seems better, or if you see areas of concern. We value your input.

Regards

Rob Jones
(aka: The “good” Rob)
Proud Member of “The Nerd Herd”