SEO Blog

So what do you get when you mix Nina Hagen, The Demics, Frank Sinatra, Richard Hell, The Clash, Chameleons UK, The Beastie Boys and Tom Waites together? Among other things, you get a serious selection of songs about New York, one similar to the play list in my iPod this week.

I’m heading to New York City tomorrow afternoon for a wild week of conferencing, interviews, meetings, product demonstrations and catching up with old friends. November is the beginning of a hectic winter conference schedule and to open the season, ad:Tech NYC, the world’s largest interactive advertising and technology conference rolls into Manhattan next week.

While all major Internet industry conferences are enlightening and interesting, ad:Tech has the reputation of being one of the most intense. For three long days and nights, nearly ten thousand people involved in online marketing will be throwing their bodies and souls into the goal of meeting with as many contacts as possible. Luckily, the city is said to never sleep. That will be a nice change from the tenor of shows held in San Jose where even the sidewalks close around 11PM. While there are more interesting thinkers per square meter at these events than anywhere else on Earth, there is never enough time to speak to everyone you want to speak with.

Each year for the last few years, Vancouver Island’s technology association, VIATeC has organized a Food Bank Challenge. Last year, 39 local technology companies raised over 60,000 pounds of food for the needy. That’s a lot. We’ve participated each year, although last year, I messed up, and failed to submit our final totals to the list. I won’t make that mistake again this year: I’ve delegated keeping track to someone! The point however is not to win, it’s to participate, and effectively assist individuals in the local community who require assistance.

The Food Bank Challenge is not limited to VIATeC members - so I’m challenging other local firms who are not members of VIATeC to participate in helping the needy this year. There’s a few SEO / SEM firms in town; I hope they’ll participate. The local technology community is vibrant, and thriving. If you’re here on the Island, participate in the FoodBank Challenge. If not, please find one in your local community, participate, and help.