No, no one talks more than you lolol. I agree so I am responding here, plus, I love your idea. Go get 'em!

And there is this: Whatever happens in the long-run, a strategy like this should do well in the short-run. The challenge is to be nimble enough to have something new on tap when this idea rams into the law of diminishing returns.

I listened to the podcast on Bloodhound.  Very interesting stuff.  Those podcasts are great when you are at home eating some breakfast, checking out the inventory.  Your idea is a short term marketing push that could turn into a long term relationship builder if you decide to go that route.  Imagine an annual photo contest with a Scholarship for the winner.

Tony, that's the idea.  Imagine the national winner getting a year at Cornell paid by Localism (after it becomes profitable, of course)

Hey, even I know what the laws of diminishing returns are...and good point

What an awesome idea!  We could really get some content going and establish new links with our own community!

I heard the podcast and Greg makes a good case intellectually but in reality I think it is somewhat flawed.  Here's why.  Let's say Jay Thompson and Val Vista dominate the first page of google for the "short run" (which Greg admits does happen---though he leaves undefined exactly how long that short run is---and no one really knows) then during that short run (which may be months upon months), Jay WILL get clients.  And from these clients Jay will build the relationships Greg says are essential farming(& I agree).  Thus Jay's SEO success, of unknown duration, has garnered SEEDS for his garden of referrals.  This is the success of the SEO--- an undefined short run being irrelevant IMO.  The SEO rendered seed may germinate a referral and reseed---like daffodils.  So a local focused blog like Jay's is using SEO to create his relationships.  It's a no-brainer.  A poor analogy perhaps but if you had a goose that laid golden eggs and then he stopped, you still have the golden eggs he laid.

 A blog which blogs to a  national audience (BHB admittedly) will not likely attract those seeds and so it appears from that vantage point that SEO is valueless.  The fleeting nature of SEO does not equate to failure in my scheme of things.  The law of diminishing returns, though apt to describe the downward curve of new seeds has no effect whatsoever on what has already been seeded.

Another illustration to the point, take the case of Teresa Boardman, who has currently attracted 6 clients from her place blog(I hope I got that right Teresa).  First of all, those 6 clients create cold hard cash and more than that, the relationships which can lead to further referrals.  So I quess Greg is right on paper but wrong in reality.  Just my humble opinion based on the empirical evidence. 

Off the subject for a moment.  Brian I just saw a pic of your daughter in your profile and she is adorable.  I think it was poet Ben Johnson who said his son was his greatest poetry.

Brian,

One could use the same theory on realtors in thier area (at least in my case being a mortgage broker).  Contest for free advertising... I don't know a single realtor that would pass up that opportunity.  Thanks for the idea.

That's a very good idea.

I'm going to talk to some local builders about their latest project or development. Also a good door opener for future listings.