Back To San Jose For SES

Posted on: August 17th, 2008 by Jeremy Schoemaker

Its hard to imagine 4 years ago I went to my first search conference called “Search Engine Strategies”. This post will probably make some of you laugh It was my goals in justifying the expenses. 1 month later I made this:

Now while I was there I was earning that money but it was what I learned while there that taught me how to take my business to the next level and how to really start earning good money online.

This will be the 4th SES San Jose event and I can’t wait.

People always ask me if I still learn things at these events… Honestly do you think I would be there if I did not get something out of it?

Our biggest successes and partnerships have been forged shitfaced at the hotel bars of conferences.

Post written by Jeremy Schoemaker

Hi I am Jeremy Schoemaker and ShoeMoney.com is my blog. 99% of the post here are done by me but you will see others occasionally make guest posts. This blog is fun to write but for my day job I run several online companies.

More about Jeremy at http://www.shoemoney.com!

Have You Read:

82 Comments. What Say You?

  1. Matt Helphrey
    December 19, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    That is a famous picture. I wake up every morning envisioning myself holding that check.

  2. Harish
    October 8, 2008 at 4:35 am

    I agree Jason.Huge check.I hope its too heavy

  3. jack
    September 9, 2008 at 5:42 am

    I hope I’ll make it next year

  4. Gossip
    September 1, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    The photo is really famous you looks handsome and wise, :)

  5. Dustin Cucciarre
    September 1, 2008 at 12:38 am

    Ha yea I have def made all my good contacts at the after parties at adtech.

  6. Eva White
    August 25, 2008 at 2:47 am

    Have fun and make more money!!!:)
    Like the new look of the site. Much less blue i see.

  7. Dr. Teeth
    August 24, 2008 at 9:27 pm

    That’s the pic i saw months back when i first visited your blog.
    Awesome cheque, hope i get one sometime soon!

  8. Custom T-Shirts
    August 24, 2008 at 10:57 am

    Hard to believe that was 4 years ago, time flies!

  9. Lowongan Kerja
    August 24, 2008 at 12:32 am

    that is very inspirational cheque ..

  10. Sheriff
    August 23, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    I really beleive your hard work. i too working hard to gain the cheque like one you are showing….

  11. Otooo
    August 23, 2008 at 2:44 am

    I enjoyed that other post – good on DigitalPoint

  12. Ivan
    August 22, 2008 at 4:08 pm

    Damn! You were skinny back then.

  13. cheap used cars
    August 22, 2008 at 12:47 pm

    I love every time “the check” gets busted out, there are at least 5 mangs who haven’t seen it yet and cry “photoshop!!!”

  14. San Nayak
    August 22, 2008 at 9:29 am

    In short, i hate that check in your hand, i wish i would show that to all. lol..

  15. Vlad Meghes
    August 22, 2008 at 2:04 am

    Yeah, lucky you guys. I live in Romania. What luck huh? :) )
    No conference or anything around here. So, i keep on dreamin`.
    Anyway, enjoy the SES San Jose.

  16. Big Ben Patton
    August 21, 2008 at 1:28 am

    Next year I hope to make my first appearance at this brand of convention hopefully I will walk out a bit smarter for it.

  17. JumboCasher.com
    August 20, 2008 at 1:02 am

    how many months combine earning is it anyways?

  18. Erica DeWolf
    August 19, 2008 at 1:29 pm

    @Dick- San Jose is a VERY beautiful place! Visit in the spring- it’s beautiful with all the blooming flowers!

  19. matjaz krajnc
    August 19, 2008 at 11:42 am

    can I borow that check?

  20. Project Wealthy
    August 19, 2008 at 10:26 am

    Is this check real or fake becouse I can not belive that you can get check
    with so large sum of money.Is this from adsense or what?

  21. Newhouse
    August 19, 2008 at 9:20 am

    how many clicks did you get for that?

  22. Dick
    August 19, 2008 at 8:46 am

    I know that San Jose has a very beautiful place. Unfortunately, I do not ever happened there.

  23. jason
    August 19, 2008 at 7:59 am

    That is a HUGE check… need any help carrying it to the bank ?

  24. Krazd
    August 19, 2008 at 3:14 am

    “Our biggest successes and partnerships have been forged shitfaced at the hotel bars of conferences.” hahaha nice!

  25. Erica DeWolf
    August 18, 2008 at 10:25 pm

    Ohh. Have fun at this event! I have a friend that lives in San Jose. I wanted to attend this event so I could visit her / get a lot out of the conference and be able to write off my travel expenses! Scheduling conflicts got in the way though. Oh well. Have fun!

  26. Meng-You Yang
    August 18, 2008 at 7:59 pm

    Hi! Shoe, I’m running ShoppingNotes.com, and also a loyal reader of your blog. We’ve got this great technology that can scrape images and prices out of any product pages. Just enter any product page URL and your email address at our front page, and we’ll monitor its price for you and notify you when its price changes.

    We are trying to bring it to the next level (and hopefully achieve what you showed in this picture) and would like your advice. Just wondering will you have time for a chat at SES or the hotel bar?!

  27. Reid
    August 18, 2008 at 7:34 pm

    I hope someday I’m signed up to attend a conference for internet marketing… I just have been stuck trying to figure out how to really get started, I just hope that I’m into something that after time will turn around a decent living, and a check for college!!!

  28. jim
    August 18, 2008 at 3:32 pm

    You need to set up Elite Retreat again. :)

  29. eMarketing
    August 18, 2008 at 3:30 pm

    Wow, I guess it is time to finally go to a conference.

  30. max
    August 18, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    Shoeman,

    You have to drink with me if you are in san jose, as always I want to pick your brain about something. Email me if you can drink and transportation is on me :)

    max

  31. techdude
    August 18, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    @ John, I like you 2nd website.. about college, it looks helpful for those in search of finding the right school.

  32. Travel blog
    August 18, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    I feel that the shoemoney logo is little small.. previous one was adequate.

  33. Nicholas Chase
    August 18, 2008 at 1:27 pm

    Jeremy, Hope to see you there at SES on Tuesday. Need to find out what SEO can do for me. Respectfully, Nicholas http://www.dontoreadthisblogunless.blogspot.com

  34. cheap used cars
    August 18, 2008 at 12:55 pm

    @Michael John are u kidding me? why do u think there are so many cocktail parties at conferences, you think alcohol might loosen some tongues?

  35. Michael John Grove
    August 18, 2008 at 11:19 am

    The best places to network – who would have thought.

    I guess I need to re-learn a few things again

  36. Ganesh
    August 18, 2008 at 9:15 am

    Since I’m a bit new to Shoemoney, I like the new design.

  37. John
    August 18, 2008 at 9:02 am

    That picture of you holding that “awfully large” check has been my inspiration. but I must be honest, I am no where near that. Just earned my first $100, at the end of July 2008.

    I have tried almost everything… The fact you were able to accomplish such a feat, is just mind-blowing… How can I be down like that? I would certainly welcome some mentoring…

    Regards!

    John
    http://www.johnzpchut.com
    http://www.collegetidbits.com
    http://www.amotherswit.com
    http://www.csswpaper.com

  38. Travel blog
    August 18, 2008 at 7:31 am

    can we compare both themes side by side and have a poll… :D

  39. Goran Website
    August 18, 2008 at 7:26 am

    I love the last sentence of this post, Lol! Well it does sound like quite an interesting event. I would love to attend one someday when business and funds allow. It sounds like a great place to network.

  40. Dick
    August 18, 2008 at 6:50 am

    The previous design was good. However, this design I like more. This is a matter of taste, I think. -)))

  41. Dick
    August 18, 2008 at 6:42 am

    I think you need to constantly learn. This gives a chance to be in the vanguard.

  42. Agent Magenta
    August 18, 2008 at 6:23 am

    Good to see you are still getting some use out of the adsense cheque photo! I remember the days when the DP forum was the place to be, doesn’t seem quite so good these days, maybe becuase its the same info over and over.

  43. Travel blog
    August 18, 2008 at 5:25 am

    I liked the previous design.. dont know why ….

  44. JumboCasher.com
    August 18, 2008 at 5:12 am

    Shoe, this blog design loads faster than the previous one… is it becuase of lesser number of plugins or something like that?

  45. JumboCasher.com
    August 18, 2008 at 5:10 am

    Good Money! Have a Good Time!

  46. Travel blog
    August 18, 2008 at 3:00 am

    @melvin – how can you say for sure? only an experienced user can tell if its photoshopped or not. :D

  47. techdude
    August 18, 2008 at 1:50 am

    That first check you earned is my goal, which comes with hard work and determination. You are an idol Shoe!

  48. BarackOamasBlog
    August 18, 2008 at 1:17 am

    haha thats funny you made some nice money your goals lamo good post shoe

  49. SEO Loser
    August 18, 2008 at 12:13 am

    Seeya there!

  50. River Girl
    August 17, 2008 at 11:33 pm

    Have a great time – wish you were going to BlogWorld!

  51. Bulbboy
    August 17, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    They say that there isn’t anything new under the sun, but new cool stuff pops up every so often. Always new stuff to learn.

  52. Reid
    August 17, 2008 at 10:59 pm

    Haha I love the last line of the post…

  53. Karl
    August 17, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    Best part so far imo

  54. Justin Cook
    August 17, 2008 at 10:12 pm

    Honestly, I felt SES (Toronto at least) was an incredible waste of time and money. I learned absolutely nothing, I almost felt like I should be speaking. That said, I spent no time in the after event networking, so that’s perhaps my downfall.

  55. Melvin
    August 17, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    @travel blog well its not… but well its easy to always say a picture is photoshopped…

  56. brad
    August 17, 2008 at 9:51 pm

    lol at the hotel bars…

  57. Andy Crofford
    August 17, 2008 at 9:40 pm

    Have a good time. I look forward to reading about your adventures at SES.

  58. Travel blog
    August 17, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    woo. biggg check..
    I have never seen that.. I am sure its photoshoped :eek:

  59. Gone
    August 17, 2008 at 9:02 pm

    @GiladG – those days are gone. I’m sure Google’s checks are 1/8th of what they were 5 years ago if not worse. I doubt Shoe even looks at Adsense anymore as CPA took over.

  60. GiladG
    August 17, 2008 at 8:52 pm

    Mu Google checks are stuck at about 1% of yours… Looking forward to attending such convention to take my business to the next level.

  61. Hustle Strategy
    August 17, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    way to tell it like it is. networking is key and hotel bars is a place to do just that

  62. SawanM
    August 17, 2008 at 7:49 pm

    Hope you have a good time, keep up the hard work and keep bringing in the bills (money).

  63. Melvin
    August 17, 2008 at 7:35 pm

    as far as one of the articles i have read here it says 5/500 sucess/failures…

  64. Lawrence
    August 17, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    @Shoe

    what would be your guesstimation %, of all the projects you’ve undertook – that turned out to be duds?

    is it pretty much at or around 90/10…failures/successes

  65. ShoeMoney
    August 17, 2008 at 7:23 pm

    @cheap used cars cellit2u never really got legs. We got distracted by more profitable projects.

  66. Dice
    August 17, 2008 at 7:15 pm

    I’d like the attend one of these events this year or next when the funds allow me.

  67. matt
    August 17, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    Inspirational! I work on my blog or read about blogging or social media every awake hour that I am not working at my “Joe” job. Maybe I’ll be able to display a photo or two like that on my blog one day.

  68. cheap used cars
    August 17, 2008 at 5:44 pm

    whatever happened to cellit2u.com?

    “She will be president of a new corporation I have founded called cellit2u.com. I am planning on making about a 30k investment off the bat for this company with inventory, facility costs and other stuff.”

    Did u give up on that lame old school business model right after SES 2005 or did it take a while?

  69. Le Melon
    August 17, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    Jeremy, any idea what the best (if any) conferences are in the UK?
    All the good ones seem to be in the USA :(

  70. cheap used cars
    August 17, 2008 at 5:33 pm

    woah did the new skin get rid of threaded comments? I really liked that.

  71. DannyArcher
    August 17, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    or, could it be the case of not what you know but who you know that brought ur business to the next level?

  72. Melvin
    August 17, 2008 at 5:11 pm

    wow… that really seemed to be something worth doing..

  73. The Cheapest Domain Registration
    August 17, 2008 at 4:58 pm

    I am going for sure! I like the new design of the blog Shoe!

  74. Matt McGowan
    August 17, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    Jeremy – Its good to have you back here at SES San Jose! Looking fwd to having a few drinks at the bar(s) with you…

    @Bryn Youngblut we do a SES Toronto in June… come on down!

  75. Zack
    August 17, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Hotel Bars often make the best offices. Especially if they have free wifi. Then there is no reason to leave.

    You should do a session at SES on what you learned to make that money.

  76. Bonie
    August 17, 2008 at 4:10 pm

    congrats man, keep hard work !

  77. OnlineGodfahter
    August 17, 2008 at 3:41 pm

    Have a good time :)

  78. Bryn Youngblut
    August 17, 2008 at 3:17 pm

    Lucky you, I wish I knew about some conferences around here (Toronto)

  79. Start Blogging
    August 17, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    I didn’t even know about this event. Have fun, but you’ll probably be getting more out of the event than just that.

  80. Kolby Bothe
    August 17, 2008 at 2:30 pm

    No way haha the best part by far is…

    “Our biggest successes and partnerships have been forged shitfaced at the hotel bars of conferences.”

    ah haha
    …classic, enjoy the conference!

  81. cheap used cars
    August 17, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    the best part is you don’t have to “imagine” 4 years ago you can “remember” it

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