TRENDING: The All-In-One Digital Marketing Software

Matt McGee is the Editor-In-Chief of Search Engine Land. He’s been writing for Search Engine Land since February 2007, first as a columnist and then joining the staff as Assignment Editor in September 2008. He was promoted to Executive News Editor in December 2010. Matt has provided SEO consulting to some of the biggest companies on the web and continues to consult/train a few small business clients on matters such as SEO, social media, and local search. He began doing SEO around 1999/2000 — back when Google was just a baby, and you were hot stuff if you could figure out how to get a site to rank well in both Lycos and Excite.

“Sometimes blog comment spam isn’t about the quality of the comment, but about the quantity of comments.”

“Avoid blogging mistakes by thinking your idea through to its natural conclusion.”

“The older I get, the more I’ve come to the conclusion that success in just about anything comes down to discipline.”

“If you know what you need to do to succeed, but you don’t do it … it’s not your brain’s fault and it’s not your body’s fault. It’s because you lacked the discipline to connect them.”

“More hyperlocal sites need to figure out how to make money, otherwise they won’t last too long. Sustainability will be huge because running a serious hyperlocal blog is an enormous commitment of time and energy.”

“Doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, if you have the time and desire to blog about your local area, you can make it work. Local blogs are powerful weapons for local SEO.”

“Don’t believe you’re entitled to anything. You must work for it. Everything.”

“Fortune favours those who are prepared.”

“Always remember there is RIGHT and there is WRONG.”

“The older I get, the more I realize that The Beatles knew the secret to life: “All you need is love.”

“Don’t worry about your future, but do care about it.”

“Make use of every single moment you have.”

“Put down your damn devices. Be with yourself. It is difficult. It is good for you.”

“I didn’t find what I was supposed to do with my life until I was 37. You’ve got time. Try everything.”

“When you are approaching 40 and looking back on what you’ve accomplished so far, be able to say to yourself, “I have no regrets. I’m proud of where I am and what I’ve accomplished.”

“Make good choices about what you’re going to do, of course, but pretty much say YES to opportunities to travel, learn new things by having hands-on experiences, and by helping others. Those things will shape you into a smarter, kinder and more compassionate person in the years ahead and they will help you learn to adapt to the changes in life you’ll surely experience.”

“Make it a priority in your life to treat women as equals, not objects. Show respect by saying NO to places, products and temptations which denigrate women, and cast them as toys or servants or trophies.”

“Reading good books is important and feeding your mind with positive thoughts will help you in your life. I am sure you have heard the saying “garbage in, garbage out.” Well, feed your mind with good things and good things will come out.”

“Don’t take the easy way out when faced with tough decisions. The hard way is almost always the right way.”

“Draw outside the lines, laugh, cry, serve others, make great friendships and live the best life you can ever live.”