Hello Louisville!

I am new here at LPC, so maybe I should introduce myself briefly.  I am a
German resident, but also a bit of a virtual inhabitant of Louisville
and an honorary Kentuckian.  I was an exchange student at Elizabethtown
High School with the class of 1989, I visit whenever I can, and I still
maintain close relationships with my Kentucky friends.  I have been an
internet professional for over 15 years now, and in addition to my day
job as a web consultant for an internet marketing firm, I also do
freelance web design and SEO work, as well as enjoying my own personal
test projects on the web.  Over the past 8 months, I have been working
with a dear friend who is a well known Louisville wedding photographer.
 I've helped her with her homepage and am continuing to develop an
ongoing SEO strategy for her business, which is working very well for
her.  Within just weeks of concentrated effort, her website jumped to
Google's very first page on a variation of important wedding search
terms.  Since her business name has changed this year, we are very
pleased with the results, as she was quite concerned about losing word
of mouth and recognition with her new business name.

During this time, I've done a great bit of research reviewing nearly all
of Louisville area photographer's websites, blogs, and other web
activities.  I've been very surprised at how few I've found that really
take advantage of important SEO strategies to promote their businesses.

I have an opportunity to second shoot a Louisville wedding in June with
my friend I mentioned above.  While I am there, I have an idea that
could be a win-win-win for everyone.  So, is anyone willing to pay for
my flight?  Anyone?  :)

Just kidding, sort of.  My idea is to hold a workshop with 10-15
interested photographers who are wanting to learn about SEO and online
marketing.  I am thinking of a price somewhere around $50-$75 for a 2-3
hour workshop.

I would cover topics such as:
       --Bad practices (a review of any volunteer's or just random
photographer's websites to illustrate what could be done better)
       --Moving from the evil flash website (see below) to a website
that really makes best use of SEO opportunities
       --Simple rules of SEO
       --Advanced SEO technology
       --SEO for Google, focused on the local
       --Basic online marketing strategies

As a bonus, you'll get:
       --Hands-on ideas and techniques for people of all internet
skills and levels
       --The entertainment of the funny English speaking skills of a
German computer nerd :)

This will not be some boring and goofy consultant wearing a tie spouting
off useless buzz words to make the message sound trendy.  This will be a
fun get-together of cool, like-minded people who want to learn how to
improve and grow their business using up-to-date online marketing
techniques.

So, anyone interested?  I have references and work samples that I will
be more than happy to provide, should anyone want to discuss further
(starting with my dear photographer friend mentioned at the start of
this message).

(Note--On the very first day Apple offered the iPad, they sold 300,000
of these little toys.  On the first day.  It is common knowledge (at
least among iPhone users) that neither the iPhone or iPad show any sites
made with flash.  So, did you know that 70% of Louisville
photographer's websites are not able to load on this ubiquitous new
technology tool?)