1000 Thank You's

I have learned a ton in the time I've been reading this forum. But probably the most valuable thing I've learned is that there is no substitute for reading, testing, theorizing and experimenting yourself. Everybody on these boards has an opinion about just about everything, myself included. But opinions are like noses, everybody's got one but they don’t really make any difference. That's not to say that there aren't some very smart, very talented SEOs here, from whom I have learned quite a lot. There are indeed. It simply means that there is a value available through personal experience that cannot be achieved by only reading other people's opinions.

That said, I want to use my 1,000th post to thank a few people whose opinions I have come to respect quite a bit:

Randfish - I found your analysis of the Google Patent fascinating. It inspired me to go back and re-read the application several times, rather than give it the quick scan I was inclined to settle for. Your many posts and articles on keyword density have also been a source for much thinking and testing on my part. Thanks for all of the great posts.

EGOL - From the day I began reading SEO Chat your straight forward, simple and focused style caught my eye. I am a huge believer in setting goals, staying focused and ALWAYs doing the basics very well before trying to get into the fancy stuff. Every time I read your posts, I am reminded of these principles... and I smile.

G-Man, Mick/Earl (whatever you are going by now) and Bub Wiser - Black hat has never been my thing. I just don't think it is appropriate for the type of sites I work on, but if it was, I would be studying what you guys do very carefully. I appreciate the candor with which you share your thinking, your tools and your tactics. I'll find myself 1/2 way through one of G-mans posts thinking to myself, "I really should try generating 1,000,000 pages of content spread over a couple hundred domains and see what happens. I could probably do it in a couple of weeks, with ... oh stop it! You'll probably go a month over schedule, get all the sites banned before they get off the ground and have lost a 6 week's worth of income from doing what you're good at…"

Anyway, for me, the bottom line is this:
There is a ton of knowledge on these boards, but as with any endeavor, knowledge alone does not bring wisdom. It has to be joined with experience. For those with the curiosity, patience and tenacity to keep reading and keep trying things out for themselves, I think this place produces not only knowledge, but wisdom that can’t help but succeed.

Thanks to everyone who have helped make me a little more knowledgeable, and a little wiser.

Let me be the first to congratulate you on your 1000th post!

congratulations and thanks for all the knowledge youve helped us all with!

Happy 1000 post Brandall! If I was in the Bay area I'd buy you a nice cold refreshing bottle of Budwiser! Since I can't do that, guess I have to get up and drink another one for you now...

Congratulations on your new belt, green looks really nice on you but seriously I really enjoyed reading your posts. All of them were very interesting and informative. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Keep up the good work!

3 cheers Brandall

An achievement a little White Belt like me can only hope for .... congrats!

Congratulations and good luck!!!

Congratulations, im always reading your answers

Well done! Not long to go till I write something similar ;) LOL

Dave

Congrats, brandall, and thank YOU for contributing so much!!

Congratulations brandall... I am glad that you have liked my posting. I want to tell you that I am a huge fan of your postings and usually when I try to give you rep (which is frequently) I am unable to do so because the system will not allow anyone to give the same person rep two times in a row.

Newbies and experienced posters all need to read what you post carefully as your messages are some of the most informed and information dense posted on this site. Anyone who goes to the members list and sorts it by rep will find you at #4 and one of only five posters who have earned three green squares. That is amazing because only two of the twelve strongest rep posters have about 1000 posts.

Keep up the great work!

Congrats brandall... can't give you any rep, need to spread it, but a really good post.

The veterans on this board are first class, for sure.

/*tom*/

Congrats Brandall