Warning: This post is not for those who are weak of heart or small children. If you use the safe search option on Google or a V-chip turn back now. You are in the wrong place. Really. Stop. I mean it.
There have been a lot of posts on the Web about how to use branding and social media to your advantage. Sometimes it just happens by accident as I discovered when Mike Belasco, a Denver SEO Expert, sent me a great example of how one of his clients with an unfortunate name is getting links a plenty today.
Check out this post on Digg.com on When Middle Initials Go Wrong. Apparently his client, a San Francisco Plastic Surgeon, has been getting a lot of traffic from this and more importantly, links. As you may know getting links back to your site is key to moving up in the rankings on Google and other popular search engines.
Thanks to this linking and I suspect some fine on-page SEO work done by Mike, the good Doc Aycock is now on page one of Google for Cosmetic Surgery San Francisco and Bay Area Plastic Surgery. After all those years of what I am certain was endless social abuse the name is finally paying off. Sort of reminds me of that Johnny Cash song “A Boy Named Aycock”.
So the next time you are sitting around brainstorming the perfect name for your exciting new jewelry business remember you can do a lot worse than something like G. Aycock Rings.
Ok the kids can come back in the room now.
19 Response Comments
The irony.
I’m thinking how when this guy was in high school someone saw his full name in writing and you probably know the rest of that story.
Now years later the same name is driving a ton of traffic to his website.
That’s what I call “SEO Justice”. I am changing my name to Andrew Herbal Viagra as we speak.
Andrew,
Thanks for the mention, now I’ve got some reputation management to do…. Follow-up post anyone?
Tell him to blame it on his parents.
Hi Andrew,
Really great post. I know this pain too well. Back in 2005 I recieved a distressed call form the CIO of Australia’s largest gas/eletricity retailer – Australian Gas Light Company (www.agl.com.au)
We were conducting PPC and SEO for them and all was going well….so I thought!!!
The problem. Google had wrongly indexed them under the term “all gay listings”. It appeared that the Google BigDaddy (no pun intended) reshuffle had altered the algorithm and AGL.com.au was appearing with a Title Tag that said “All Gay Listings”.
After a series of all night phone calls to some folks at Google in Mountain View, the problem was rectified.
Talk about being electrocuted………….
Marc
Yea I about spit coffee out of my nose when I read Mike’s email about this. I forwarded it on to my wife, my boss and my mom. Too funny…
I finally decided to get a dose of Shotland and this is what I read! When did SEO get so low brow? (congrats on the SEMMY silver by the way).
Mr. MacFarlane,
There is nothing low brow about using common experience (i.e. name calling) to illustrate basic principles of how a system works. I believe this is how Sir Isaac Newton was able to explain Calculus to the masses.
I am going to be Wayne Kerr – well I am a Brit – get it…..???????
Then, of course, there is ViaGrafix. I used to always be amazed when their emails from viagrafix.com would clear the spam filter.
This is really interesting. After all the years of being made fun of in school for having a funning name, it really pays off. Just if I had a funny name I would not have to do so much work.
Well… It does happen in real life.
Back in the late 1970s, there was a gynecologist on Prospect Ave. in L.A. named Dr. Decunto.
Really true.
Hmm…
Think he changed his name for linkbaiting purposes?
Nah.
You can also purchase writing instruments at: http://penisland.net/
This reminds me of the Simpsons when Bart keeps calling Moe’s Tavern asking for various individuals and Moe is a little slow to catch on.
As a guy named Dick, I feel his pain.
However, I would be remiss in my responsibilities if I did not share with you the man with perhaps the best name ever.
Here it is:
http://ypcommando.com/blog/2008/02/14/the-best-name-ever/
I’m glad my Digg post help Mr. Aycock out so well. I try my best.
Kind Regards,
Trevor
Trev,
Thanks for stopping by. We are honored to have you. Excellent Digg.
Did you ever see this post? Some good names, minus the R-rated ones….
http://www.merchantcircle.com/corporate/blog/2008/06/creative-business-names.html
Love the Dirty Hoe Kevin