Sermon Transcription and Miracles

Faith First Transcription is a sermon transcription service focused on Christian ministries and businesses. Owner Rhonda, who is my not too far away neighbor here in Tennessee, contacted me less than two weeks ago and asked what we could do on a very small budget to get her some search engine rankings for her new do-it-yourself GoDaddy website.

A quick look showed that all the structural elements important for getting indexed deeply and quickly by Google et al were missing. Her pages (there are only five) were mistitled and tagged but to her credit she did have enough content on three important pages to be able to have a shot at some not too competitive search targets.

We had a brief conversation by phone and then started swapping information using my new support messaging system which eliminates email and allows file uploads and downloads. Rhonda did all of the implementation work herself following several instruction files I have written for low budget clients who can manage the process themselves. We did a little search phrase research, picked our targets and Rhonda has done the rest.

Today she has six pages in the Google index and has a number one Google ranking for sermon transcription Tennessee and a first page ranking for sermon transcription service.

So, we went from not in the index to all pages in the index and first page rankings in less than two weeks.

I would never deny the power of prayer and the presence of miracles, and perhaps that is where the credit belongs.

But there is nothing wrong with relying on skill and hard work to get what you want out of life, or for search engine rankings. Rhonda is a very sharp and quick study and a determined implementer. Yes we can, and yes we did.

Way to go, Rhonda, say a prayer for my website!

"致我的博德牧羊犬"

My very good friend and client in Wenzhou, China, Mr. Zheng Lirong was saddened to hear about the death of my border collie, Candy, and has translated my poem into Chinese. Thank you, Lirong, thank you very much.

致我的博德牧羊犬

Translated by Zheng Lirong

狗是我们最好的伙伴,
当你心情忧郁,
她会驱散阴霾,带来欢笑.
我一直习惯以”最擅长奔跑”来称呼我的Candy.
除了Candy外,我从来没有见过不带轮子的短跑健将,
她是那样自在的驰骋于一片绿色的草地.
我们保持Candy离开我们的姿势，
她还是那样安详的俯卧在那边属于她的绿色草地，
她终究是牧羊犬的英雄。
Candy,真的非常谢谢你，
你是曾经这样的爱我们。
即使时间是如何的改变，
我终究不能忘却你。

Lirong says : This is translated by me, a good friend of Ron in China. I am so sad to heard of Candy's story

Hula Hoops Collapsible Custom Designed

Are you ready to go retro to the 1950's? Wham-o could never have done what Troo Hoop can do today.

Pick your design and colors and have it your way, or let the hula hoop configurator create random offerings, or buy a pre-designed model.

Troo Hoops are great for hula hoops exercise for fitness and dance.

This is a cool looking website? I think so.

It it well optimized? Not yet.

A few of the obvious issues:

• Page titles aren't properly targeted
• No copy on the home page, not enough on most of the other pages
• The website is missing the best search targets based on what people are searching for about hula hoops

That's enough to keep a new website well down in the index. These are all common mistakes even experienced web marketers miss.

We will keep you posted on our progress. A worthy goal would be to outrank Wham-o? They're still around, although Troo Hoops are rounder, pun intended.

Ode to My Border Collie

A dog is man's best friend they say
Dogs love you even when you're down
Candy always was this way
A total joy to have around

I called her "Race Dog" for her speed
A faster runner I've not seen
Tireless sprinter, dog made steed
Across the pastures verdant, green

We put Miss Candy down today
By cancer in her brain undone
Beneath her pasture she will lay
The Race Dog's race is finally won.



Thank you, Candy, for loving me.

I won't forget you.

Footnote Monday evening: Candy was laid to rest this afternoon at Neal Creek Farm beneath the pastures where she loved to run. She's home now.

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Total serendipity from my client and great friend, Bruce, today. Read on:

Dear Ron,

Hope does spring eternal. I thought you would enjoy the attached tale I shared with a client in New York. I think I may dust off the story and send it on along to Fine Homebuilding for inclusion in their ‘Great Moments in Building History’ section.

Regards,

Bruce

Homestead Timber Frames
Vision ~ Craftsmanship ~ Naturally
154 Main St.
PO Box 298
Crab Orchard, Tennessee 37723 Phone 931-484-7059
http://www.homesteadtimberframes.com/

RE: Bruce's thoughts

Dear Rich,

I am, if fact, looking down upon the grass this morning. This past week-end I engaged in a hopeful pursuit—I built a huge compost pile for the upcoming gardening season. I have a quick tale to relay as concerns bell towers.

In my early twenties my brother Dave and I were hired to restore a major portion of a lovely church in Rutledge, Tennessee. The original structure had been built in 1840 or so and over the years part of the building had been modified. The modifications were ugly and the church wanted it restored to what it would have been originally. This was my first introduction to restoration and so I studied the techniques, found vestiges of original trim used, under-quoted the job, and went to work.

After a couple of days Dave and I observed that the rope to the bell in the tower had long since rotted away. Being adventurous sorts we determined to climb the tower from the inside and replace the rope. Once that task was accomplished, of course we had to ring the bell. That old bell sounded so lovely that before long we were looking for reasons to ring it even more. We rang the bell each morning when we started work. We rang it for a morning break. We rang it at lunch. And we really rang it as we were leaving each evening. That little town of Rutledge, Tennessee had never experienced such committed bell ringers as Dave and I became.

By our second week we had aroused the curiosity of the local sheriff, who drove up for a look-see. Dave and I thought we were in for a lecture. “Boys, I hear you fixed the old bell.” said the sheriff. “Yes sir” we replied, fearing the worse. “And I have clearly been hearing that the bell works just fine now.” continued the sheriff. “Well yes, it seems to work really well.” we answered almost fearfully. “That old bell has been silent since I was a young teen-ager.” the sheriff said, now warming to his topic. “I loved the sound when I was a kid, echoing from these old hills. I didn’t know I missed it ‘til you boys came around. You just keep it up. Ring that old bell for us. It sounds mighty fine.” And he doffed his hat, climbed into his dusty old cruiser, and drove back down the hill. Dave and I rang that bell until our arms were tired. We made no money on that job, but I forget the details. But we did our best. And we fixed their bell.

Kindest Regards,

Bruce

==========

Hi Bruce & Cyndy,

Bruce, I did get your message & cell phone number, thank you. I think it is pretty neat that you can explain why a building looks the way it does, when I don't have the slightest idea why it caught my eye. I guess that's why I fix cars & you build things.

I have not been inside the church yet, I'm not even sure if/when it might be open. But we did like the large windows, which are set high enough off the ground for wall space (we have floor to ceiling windows in our home now, that are pretty but they limit where you can put furniture.) The bell tower might be something fun ? Maybe put some windows around the top for light?

And as far as grave stones? Let me quote she who must be obeyed " I DON'T WANT GRAVESTONES IN MY YARD" But it really does look better in real life than in the picture. The situation in NY is grim. The weather is crappy, the economy is crappy, people are crabby. But I tell people as long as you are looking at the grass from the top down and not the bottom up, it's not so bad. If you can wake up to complain, at least you woke up, right?

Have a great day.

Rich