[Tfug] OT: PHP Programming leads

[Chris Niswander]

I was curious whether this was legitimate or not,
so I did a small amount of digging:

klsmith2020 at yahoo.com has the website http://wwww.netcodeman.com
(and other websites, which I'll get to later.)
He's had this website since at least late 2004.

I did a Google search on [PHP programmer], and
http://wwww.netcodeman.com was the #2 result (after Wikipedia.)

Over 500 webpages link to http://wwww.netcodeman.com.

Many are forum posts or other webpages that have comment sections
at the bottom, where comments have been posted by Keith
that link to his website(s).
A smaller number are websites that seem to have been created
by Keith Smith for marketing purposes.

I originally *expected* that I would find a lot of websites created by
Keith Smith *for various clients*, with little links at the bottoms of
each website's pages, to Keith Smith's www.netcodeman.com website.
I was disappointed that I *did not* find many websites created by Keith 
Smith for clients.  I did see a website created for a church.

Most of the websites that appear to have been created by Keith Smith
and link to www.netcodeman.com seem to be somewhat contrived websites
that were created in an attempt to grab a domain name with some possible 
marketing value, show up in Google search for something,
and get people to click on ads or to become leads to sell to some
provider of a product or service such as car insurance. For example:
www.choicearizona.com/LOTS OF PAGES WITH SIMILAR AND/OR
                       SOMEWHAT CONTRIVED CONTENT, TRYING TO SELL
                       CAR INSURANCE OR OTHER INSURANCE.
www.keithsmithlaw.com :
   No, Keith Smith doesn't run his own law firm;
   he just wants you to find a lawyer through him.

In summary, it appears that:
1. Keith Smith has been practicing "SEO" and "SEM" as a
    genuine Internet marketer with some skill and actual success at that.
2. I think that as #2 in Google for [PHP programmer], with a website
    that has a "Free No Obligation Quote" form and Contact form,
    he must really get leads on PHP programming gigs.
3. I have no idea whether he really has hot PHP programming skills,
    and whether more than two or three clients ever pay him or his
    company to do PHP programming.  :-)
    But I guess hanging out in places like TFUG, either he knows PHP or
    he can probably find better PHP programmers than just whoever would
    pay the most for the lead through Google AdWords.
    Also, I would guess that his "Free No Obligation Quote" page
    on www.netcodeman.com probably provides relatively high quality leads
    with more information than a mere click on an ad.
4. Keith's offer looks sufficiently legit to me that I'm not sure
    why Keith is selling this for only $60 / month to 4 people.

keith smith wrote:
> Dear PHP Programmers:
> 
> Is business slow? Could you handle more programming business?
> 
> My company has more PHP Programming leads than I can handle!  Every month I receive 30 - 40  project leads that I am cannot work. I do not work any of these leads.  Based on my experience, these programming jobs will pay an average of $25 - $75 per hour, sometimes more.
> 
> If there is 40 leads in a month and you pay $60.00 for the full month, you are paying only $1.50 per lead.  If you were using Google's Pay-Per-Click you might be paying $30.00 or more per lead. 
> 
> No long term commitment.  $25 for the rest of this month and $60 a month due on the 1st of each month thereafter to continue.
> 
> Limited to 4 people.  First come first serve.  I have 2 vacancies.  All 4 get all the leads.
> 
> Contact me off list if interested.
> 
> ------------------------
> Keith Smith
> 
> 
>       
> 
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