FreeDictionary.com - MasterBlaster Meeting June 4 Meeting

Hi All,

Here is are some note from our meeting on June 4th. It was really cool and different. We had a chance to interview Steve Boymel the owner of FreeDictionary.com. We did this on Skype.

• Always loved the computer, since he was little. A programer at heart.
• Work during the dot com period and build a business with venture capital dollars and the business crashed during the bust.
• Went back to school and for a MBA degree after the failed business.
  
• Graduated with a MBA with a computer Technology degree. During his MBA as a class project started freedictionary.com 2004.
• His theory is to build an Asset. His website is an asset. Like real estate and wants to build for the long haul. He builds his site with White Hat intention. ( Which means he stays google compliant)
  
• He will never use venture capital dollars again. He uses only his own and partner's money to build the business.
  
• He believes heavily is to go to big web SEO related conferences. He goes to at least 7 a year. The big one he goes to WebMasterWorld in Las Vegas. Pubcom This show is in November every year.
• He makes a lots of money from Advertising from his website.
• He is involved with Web 3.0 now, more than web 2.0
• He follows and listen to Matt Cutts a lot from google.
• He mention about this 1 man show, who owns plentyoffish.com and makes a lot a money. He said this guy works about 1 - 2 hours a day and is very focus on this site.
• He now has about 15 part time programers. He has a partner and makes a great living from this website now.
  
• He mentioned a great tidbit. Since he started, he has listen to his users all the time and has built the site from their suggestions. It has paid off. The way he has gotten feedback with a feedback link. I need to do this right away. All he has is Feedback link at different places on the website. Left sidebar and bottom footer.
• You need to check out freedictionary.com pagerank, wow an 8. That is amazing!!!

We plan to try to record others who we interview and try to have a podcast for the next time. Rich Mattheisz was going to send me a link to record from the computer. Alex mentioned about Gold Wave Audio. If any other suggestion for recording, please let me know.
God bless,
John
Swim with the Dolphins Key Largo