I’ve decided that it’s time for something of a change at SEO by the Sea, and so I am introducing Patent Free Fridays to the blog.
Patent Free Fridays do not always have to happen on a Friday, but they do have to be patent-free, at least if they don’t involve a patent that is from a search engine or a tech company. If I find a patent about how to make a better snowman (and there are a few out there), I might use it for a patent-free Friday.
If I write about finding out that an inventor in my town patented a flying motorcycle, and that I’ve now developed a habit of looking into the sky every time I walk out of my cottage, that could be a good patent-free Friday post. Unfortunately, rumor has it that he passed away (I don’t know if he was in an accident), but I don’t know if he had a protege or not, so I’m going to keep looking.
If I have an idea for an invention, and I write it up in a patent style, that also fits into patent-free Fridays.
I’m tired of seeing columnists at places such as Web Pro World write about me, calling me a “patent analyst.” It’s not something that I do for a living, or to support myself financially. It’s something that I do because I want to know what’s next, and I think to look at patents are a great way to do some business analysis, and get some hints about what the future might bring.
They also give me ideas for questions, but I can ask plenty of questions without patents. Once you start getting inspired with questions with thick legalese-based documents, you can find good questions in almost anything. And I’m intending to ask and answer some good questions with these patent-free Friday posts.
I may do some storytelling here or some opinion pieces. These shouldn’t reduce the amount of patent-based posts that I do. They are just a conscious decision to try something different and see how I like it.
If you have any questions or comments or ideas for things I should write about on Patent Free Fridays, let me know. I have a good topic for next Friday already.
I have to do this now. I’d like to ride that flying motorcycle someday.
Nice move Bill.
Not, of course, that I’m not a huge fan of your patent analyses (I may, in fact, be the hugest fan of same), but I look forward to learning more about what’s churning about in the Slawski brain.
Onward ho!
Great move, Bill. In line with the TGIF sentiment so prevalent on Friday, this should be something that many can relate to. Onward and upward (!! watch out).
I’m thinking this could be interesting Bill.
An associate directed me to your site a few months back and I’ve been on your list ever since then.
It wasn’t two weeks ago we (my associate and I) were discussing one of your patent assessments when I asked him. “Are patents all Bill ever discuss’s”? He was like “yeah man, you didn’t know that”? That’s what his entire site is all about.
I felt like a boob. There I was wondering when I’d get an email about your latest post and it wouldn’t be patent related. HA!
My associate will no doubt get a kick when he sees that you’re going to finally be mixing it up a bit.
Looking forward to it, Bill. Don’t forget to wave when you go zooming over Baltimore on your flying motorcycle!
That’s awesome Bill. I vote for stories!
Looking forward to the new direction!
*Snowman patent* chortle. Humans are weird.
Thanks, Aaron
After spending most of the last 10 years writing about algorithms and trying to get a sense of how might they fit together in a bigger system, I think they might have affected my mind. But in a good way. 🙂
Hi Barry,
I think that fits well and is what I’m aiming for – something that might be a little lighter, a little broader, a little more entertaining.
I’m going to tell some stories, voice some opinions….
It’s not that I’m limiting myself, but instead that I’m removing some constraints to tackle bigger (and sometimes smaller) issues. As I noted in the post, I’m afraid that I’m pigeonholing myself by not writer in a broader range of topics. Looking at and writing about patents has been good to me, and helpful to people. It’s the start of a bigger adventure though.
Hi Blaine,
Thanks for following me, and for affirming that my decision to announce this change was a good idea. 🙂
I’m going to both try to have fun with it and provide useful content and information, too.
Hi Geoff,
Thanks. I’d definitely want to fly over the inner harbor and maybe stop for some crab cakes.
Hi Dean
Excellent. Just remember though, this is an addition, not a complete change in direction. I probably couldnt’ get away with writting about too many snowman patents. 🙂
Hi Dennis,
Thank you. Have no fear, there will be stories. It’s one of the reasons why I announced this change – I want to be able to tell more stories. 🙂
hey thank’s….i vote for stories too!
Hey Bill – I really look forward to these! One quick thought is that some case studies (whatever you can share) would be interesting – deep dives into certain clients or verticles
Hi Dan,
Case studies are a possibility, but often tend to be something I don’t think too much about while writing posts because I’ve been targeting getting information out about new patents, and those don’t always fit exactly with things that I’m blogging about. It is nice when I get asked (directly or indirectly) by a client, and I know the answer to a problem because I wrote a blog post the day before about some phenomena that they are experiencing (a missing high ranking organic search result, but a boosted local result to accompany that change, in that instance.)
Hi Gary,
No dress codes at SEO by the Sea – I usually am wearing jeans and a t-shirt when I write blog posts. It’s going to be difficult to ignore patents in my blog posts, but I’m going to try even if it becomes painful. Sometimes one is just going to appear in a post because I just couldn’t help myself.
Thanks on the Clairvoyant line though, because without the patents, I wouldn’t even know what a lot of the questions to ask might be, before moving on the answers. 🙂
So does that mean we can wear just t-shirt and jeans while reading your blog ?
I think it’s patently obvious that you’ll find it hard to ignore patents ;+}
And to those who call you a ‘patent analyst’, i say ‘he’s a clairvoyant!’ – as you say, it’s about getting a heads-up !
Hi Gary,
I found you blog a few months back and have enjoyed reading the vast amount of content you supply.
I always enjoy a good story so mt vote goes to “story telling” posts.
If you do patent that flying motorcycle though you should head over to KickStart as I think there would be a number of people interested in investing.