About Us
How I got into this weird job
1998
Fresh out of Stanford with an MA in Education, I start my career as a high school English teacher.
2001
I quit teaching after I’m nearly killed by an avalanche of ungraded papers sliding off my desk. At least that’s how I remember it.
2003
I decide to combine my greatest passion–teaching–with my favorite hobby–guitar, and launch www.heartwoodguitar.com. I advertise by posting fliers all over Seattle. Feet get sore. I realize that if I can learn how to get my website to rank well in search engines, I can save hundreds of dollars on thumb tacks, staples, and moleskin.
2004
After a year of researching Search Engine Optimization techniques and obsessively tweaking my website, I finally rank #1 in Google for the search phrase “Seattle Guitar Lessons.” The emails flood in, averaging five new clients a week. Within two weeks, my schedule is full, I start a waiting list, and I raise my rates. A month later, I raise my rates again. It does nothing to staunch the flow of new business.
2006
I have a year-long waiting list. Having posted free chord charts and lessons on my site, I’m now getting over 6,000 visitors every day.
2007
The waiting list is so long, I may never get to the people at the end. Site traffic has increased to 10,000 visits a day.
I create a page on my site channeling my potential clients to other guitar teachers I admire. I start helping my friends who are business owners to optimize their Websites.
2008
Helping my friends is so much fun, I decide to make a business of it. Know about how Seattle SEO Guru is born!