I just added to webuildpages.com this note "Sorry, we are currently booked through 2007 for all of our SEO and link building services"
July, August, September are already booked with new clients. October, November and December I’m not seeking to take on any new clients. We’re not seeking to take on any other clients until at least 2008.
It’s been a pretty crazy year so far. Back in November of 2006 we did our projected goals for 2007. Nine (9) weeks into 2007 we hit our September goals in contracted monthly client work. We surpassed our new client goals easily, but we also had many many existing clients increase thier budgets which was really nice.
We have about 27 employees at We Build Pages. This includes 18 ninjas, 2 designers, 2 programmers, Content Manager, Accountant, Office Manger, and COO, and me (not to mention we manage over 50 writers). We’re really lucky in that we’ve built a system of billing that was fair, honest, and allowed us to take on more work each month w/o loosing hours owed to clients, or having to hire more people). To see how we bill, see our sample report (the more links we get, the less time we need to spend searching…this allows us to have open hours each month w/o loosing any time owed to clients).
So in October, when "time" opens up, we’ll be seeking to direct that open time on our own projects, and forego on any more new client projects for a while (at least no more in 2007).
We own several hundred websites already. We are also very active in aquiring additional old quality sites (every other Friday here, 21 people are working on just contacting old sites for the purpose of buying them so we can help these sites become a better resource on the web…and we just might monitize them along the way). I just can’t see on passing on these opportunities that are available today. Why keep booking client time when we can book our own time on our own sites?
Wouldn’t you do the same if you were in my shoes?
PS. We’ve got a load of training videos that will be coming out in a few months (will blow away SEMPO’s), as well as their will be an opportunity to use some of our private tools (amazing tools for link hounds and optimization nuts), as well as a few other cool things we’ve got in the works here.
PSS. We’re also starting a Free newsletter for those who want to stay tuned, or get advance info of new products and tools from We Build Pages. Sign up today and you’ll be glad ya did tomorrow!
35 Responses
🙂 congratulations jim… signing up right now !
Jim,
I am taking the exact opposite direction. I’ve been doing search marketing for my own sites for the past few years and I am now starting to take outside projects. I think working on your own sites is more rewarding, however by working for others, you face a lot more challenges and it presents an opportunity to learn more.
Ideally you should have a balance.
You know you’re doing well when you have to turn down business! I’m sure that announcing it to the world will only make clients want you more (the “scarcity” weapon of influence).
Once I heard a wise man (David DeAngelo) say something to the effect of “there is nothing more motivating than a rapidly diminishing supply of something you want.”
Looking forward to your training videos.
Congradulations. I look forward to seeing some more tools come out of WBP.
That’s great that you are all booked for 2007. I too would rather work on SEO for one of my sites rather then a clients. I guess that’s just how it is!
Congrats Jim!
Can’t wait for the newsletter and especially the videos and tools!!
Congratulations, Jim, and yes, I totally understand. I learned early on that having clients wasn’t the best way to go for me. Good luck with it all, and I’m anxious to get my hands on your new videos and tools.
That’s an amazing achievement Jim to start turning down clients. Very grateful for the free tools you make available to visitors of your website.
Jim, do you plan on eventually phasing out future client work?
TOny, I’ll never say “never”…. ya never know what tomorrow brings.
That’s fantastic…If you’re the best at doing what you do, it sure makes sense to me that you would apply the resources where they can benefit you the most. If all goes well, I’ll be where you’re at in another 3-5 years….
I don’t blame you at all Jim. Despite how good client work can be, it’s always rewarding to use your knowledge on your own sites. I signed up for the newsletter! Can’t wait to see what’s instore.
Jim – Congratulations and I appreciate the insight into your business’s success – the information provided has been invaluable. Definitely looking forward to the newsletter as well.
Jim, SEMPO does’nt have video’s. The progam is online distance learning for SEO and PPC basic and advanced. Look forward to seeing your videos since you know I think so highly of your training 🙂
Jim, you need to outsoure to India and triple your workload. Train those guys to do your SEO work so you can spend more time blogging.
Look forward to the vids and newletter, I’d love to know even a fraction of what you know about link building.
Jim will those wonderful tools that you are going to share with us include the one you use to find old sites???
ShortBus – No.
Booked up, you must be doing something right. I might start aquiring those old sights myself..
Jim, first off, congrats on being so successful! Is it time to expand (staff)?
Do you realize that since you’ve posted (we’re completely booked) that you’re going to become ever MORE popular and more people are going to want to do business with you? For some reason, that’s just the way it happens.
Bill, yes, people keep filling out our entire contact form several times a day…even with the note on the top of the page.
http://www.webuildpages.com/internet-consultant/
crazy….but I could have worse problems (the opposite).
Congratulations on your success Jim!
what you seem to currently experience is the effect of the “scarcity sales hook” … only 1 link ninja left for ALL of you 100 enterprises 😀
nah, but I think it’s great to limit expansion to make sure your team plays well and without the stress of an every ongoing expansion… (team stormin, norming, forming, adjourning thing)
all the best
presell page man
Way to go Jim and Ninjas!
Sounds like things are really on fire around there!
Really looking forward to the new tools, too.
Miriam
Jim-
Wishing you continued success. I personally appreciate all of the knowledge you have shared with the community and look forward to the newsletter and videos.
Best,
Howard
Hey Jim, if you don’t want people to fill out the form then a)take it down or b)just 301 it over to my site for the rest of 2007. LOL
Jim – Congrats and all of the success with your company! I am sure that I would make the same decision as you if I were in your shoes.
Thanks also for such an open look into your the paperwork behind the business and showing a billing system that seems to be doing well for you.
If you decide not to 301 to Bill, I would be happy to take his place 😉
Congrats
Jim,
Mark Barrera just turned me onto your blog and this post. Let me say the same as a guy who has finally been talked into creating a brand new marketing firm to take in clients I indeed applaud you on your success.
Looking at your paper work I noticed you buy links for all clients, which I think makes sense, yet in regard to that I was wondering if you would take just a moment to comment on this post I did a few days ago,
http://www.comtechnews.net/search-marketing/are-you-a-google-link-narc-do-you-know-one
Jack Spirko
Anytime you have to turn customers away must mean business is that good. Just remember though you may need those turned away customers in the future when business gets lean. By then they’ll be happy with someone else and you won’t be able to beg them back.
Very cool you can make such strong statements about customer demand. Your company is still at a size that’s pretty manageable. Watch out for the next phase of growth – once you get to 75 or more employees you need a level of infrastructure similar to a 200 or 500 employee company. So decide to keep it in the
Have you thought about referring seo out to a respected expert?
you guys must be doing quite well to turn down business
Congrats on doign so well. Just out of curiosity, what is a ‘ninja’ on your employee list?
you know your doing great when you don’t need to get any new clients for the whole year. Congrates!
jim,
the fact that you’re turning down offers shows the kind of business you’re getting.
congratulations on your immense success jim.
The day when I can put a note on my website saying: “We’re all booked up through 2007” will be the day that I go househunting.
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