This approach definitely works. I teach Internet Marketing and my classes cost between $895 and $1,895 for two to five days of instruction.

Last July, I held my first free 1 1/2 hour seminar and my paid classes are now selling out! Even if a person doesn't register for the paid class, I have given them very relevant and valuable information that they may pass along and help build buzz.

My marketing costs have also gone way down using this approach.

Thanks for sharing this great article!

I know many people don't do trades, but if the trade is mutually-beneficial, I don't see a problem with that. I'm curious as to how this could hurt your reputation?

I don't have a problem keeping my schedule full, so I don't ever suggest bartering, but, for instance, a new business that does mold remediation needed a website and I had a mold problem in my garage, so they fixed the problem and I created their website.

Where's the downside?

I don't look down on them for suggesting it and we both felt it was a fair deal.

If I wasn't conducting a seminar at that same time, I would definitely come...bummer.

I would LOVE to help you celebrate! Thank you for the 8:00 am start time...I'm not a morning person either!

I would love to come! My sister lives in Troutdale so I can go visit her afterwards!

What a great event! I love the opportunity to meet new people! Thank you Tshombe, you did it again!

I just got in by the hair on my chinny chin chin! You might need to be over 40 to understand this one...looking forward to the meeting!

This event was a blast! I met some wonderful new people and reconnected with people I know.

Tshombe is awesome! What energy! I am so glad I came and had the opportunity to help the Oregon Food Bank!

Thank you Barbara, Roberta, E.B. and Tshombe for creating a successful and fun event! Let's do it again!

I'm not going to be able to make it after all. My classes ended yesterday and I am back logged with work. Hopefully I can come next time!

Thank you Gabriella...I guess I never lost sight of the importance of good, quality content. It is one thing to get people to your site through SEO and another thing entirely to convert that visitor when they get there.

With regard to "tricking" the search engines, I think of it as following best practices set out by the search engines to get the best rankings. This includes both on and off-page strategies.

At SES San Jose last month, I did hear a few panelists call LSI "snake oil" as well, and that is the reason I was drawn to your article when I saw it. I am interested in whether it really works or not. I use it, I teach it, but with so many variables, it is hard to say.

I went to Sphinn, Search Engine Land and a couple of other sites and blogs and nobody is talking about LSI these days. Does this mean it is irrelevant? I don't know. I am trying to figure that out myself!

Your article has opened up the dialogue around LSI and for that I thank you!

The first time I heard the term "Cultural Creative" was when I was working with a housing developer who wanted to create a new community that served people with this mindset.

He asked us to read "The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People Are Changing the World" by Paul H. Phd Ray and Sherry Ruth Anderson. This book inspired me to think more about the world at large.

Through this book and working with this developer, I really began thinking about sustainability issues and took a class to become a Master Recycler. A Master Recyler is one who spreads the word regarding "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle."

Any way that is how this concept enlightened me to work towards being a Cultural Creative.

Thank you for sharing this article!

Wow...this thread is intense!

I teach LSI in my classes at the Search Engine Academy of Oregon. It is one of many strategies and tactics I teach and all I can say is that there are too many variables in the algorithms to determine what will be that perfect combination to send your page to the top of the rankings.

The search engines grade on a curve so to speak, so what works for one page, may not work for another. (Although there are principles that need to be followed ie title tags, headings, etc.)

LSI is just one of many factors to consider and will not ever by the deciding factor in rankings ... more likely inbound links are what will give you the boost needed, but LSI definitely helps create copy that doesn't appear to be written for the search engines.

This is just one woman's opinion. Take it for what it's worth!

If you are interested in a semantic search engine, check out http://www.powerset.com/. It was built on the premise of semantic search. The company was recently acquired by Microsoft.

That's too bad...there is another site out that rates SEO companies http://www.semcompare.com/index.php. Check it out...

This seoripoff.com site looks like an excellent idea, so I clicked through to see what was posted, and there is nothing there except a way to file a report. Do they offer anything to consumers besides a reporting form?

Colleen Wright Search ENgine Academy of Oregon