Where is the Benefit in Being an "SEO Guru"?

why do they take clients vs. just stick to their own projects? Risk.

Taking money from a client is almost risk free money vs. sinking time and resources into a project that might fail, or at least not live up to expectations. And there is a lot of client money out there for the taking. The client takes the risk that the site does not do as well as expected.

How many of your personal sites have been home runs?

 

I've wondered this for ages and have come to the conclusion that it must be vanity. Money is not the only motivational factor in life.

Shoe is the perfect example of this. He flashes his mug shot right next to his 6 figure check and it's like instant celebrity status. He's got the money, why not buy an island and a few sets of hottie twins and ride off in the sunset. Nothing against the man, but there must be some other motivational factor for him. Sorry Shu, please don't have me wacked 'cus I know your posse plays for keeps. :>

The people who are the true gurus are the ones with millions in the bank and still hack the net for the sheer pleasure of doing it. There are your experts and they are totally anonymous.

 

That is something I'm noticing more and more - the majority of people in life would much prefer to be paid in the moment - ie have a job, than work on building an asset like a business etc. And I also think that is one of the craziest things about how people relate to risk because from my perspective having your ONLY source of income being dependent on a employer is taking a big risk...

I mean for me personally I don't just work on my own projects because of the greater returns but also because of the reduced risk. Sure I probably work harder than your average worker and a lot more accountable but I still think my risks are a lot lower because they are almost completely dependent on my commitment.

As for how many of my sites are "home runs" I'd say maybe 50% but those 50% that have made are the ones that I put the majority of my time into. I have no doubt the others that I have launched could have, or may still be, successful it's just they will require me to commit myself more to them to make them work.

Yeah I'm starting to think that this is the primary reasons more and more - and I'd be lying if I said that wouldn't have been a perk that I would have enjoy IF in future months/years I was to head down this path.

 

Well I PMed a few of the well know DP Gurus ti get their opinions and I ended up bouncing a few PMs back and forth with Shoemoney and he has since made a post on his blog on the topic:

http://www.shoemoney.com/2007/04/20/why-would-you-want-to-be-a-guru/

 

yeah well, some don't make anywhere near as much as you would think