Name of your website?800Cocaine
Your name?
Jon Heller
Your Location (city, etc)
Boca Raton
When did you start your website and why?
800Cocaine was once a part of the SoberRecovery.com Network which I had built as a school project in 1999. Little did I know it would become the most visited web site of its kind. After building and running SoberRecovery for over 6 years, I received an offer that I couldnt pass up. I had been working 15 and 18 hour days...it was time for a break.
Please give us a short summary of your website, business model, etc
800Cocaine.com, like its sister sites 800Heroin.com, RehabReferral.com and others, are "info-sites". They are content driven and content specific, and all conclude with resources, help and support listings. Some of those listings are paid, most are not. In addition, although I've scaled back at least 60%, we still run AdSense on internal, relevent pages.
What has been the most difficult part of creating and running your website?
There is just never enough time... With over 500 domains and more than 30 live web properties, maintenence alone takes about 3 days a week. ANd thats without creating and publishing new content.
What has been the easist part of operating your website?
Just before SOberRecovery was sold, we celebrated its 5th Birthday. Through the hard work of the volunteer moderators, myself and the site received awards and proclimations from all over the country...Mayors, Councilmembers, Senators, Govenors...it was truly overwhelming.
What was your biggest mistake?
Today I might tell you that selling it was my biggest mistake, but I can't look back like that. I do wish that I had spent more time on things away from the computer screen. You become its hostage...
Who maintains your website and why?
I do. They're mine, and while technically there are many teenagers with a better skill set, I look forward to taking care of my "kids."
Tell us how your business has benefitted from your website?
It was never intended nor built as a business. It was a project for a counseling class...a simple list of links, period. That list became a directory, a portal, and a 35,000 member message board community. A year and a half as a live site, I received an inquiry for banner space. The gentleman asked how much, and I had no clue. I stammered "50 bucks a month" and hae asked where to send the check. From that day on we were a business.
What are your views on ecommerce and the future of the internet?
Right now I'm a little jaded. We need the learning curve for a typical web visitor to shorten dramaticaly. If more people were up to speede I don't think we'd be dealing with GG-sites, Click fraud, no content mazes, and I dont think we would be "crowning" people whose blogs weve read for a year or two the "voice of the Internet", the next Hemingway or a Nobel Laureate. Its way too early to see how user generated content is going to play out.
What are your views on Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
I learned what I know about SEO out of neccessity. I had a zero budget. Zip. Zilch. Nada. And in 2000 we were just discovering the importance of links, but not nearly to the degree we do today. I had links from Gov't agencies, Colleges and Universities; Heck, I had a front page link from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, at that time they were by far the biggest site dealing with drugs, alcohol and mental health. It wasn't until much later did those links really pay off. Do you remember the Florida Update? My site didn't budge...not up, down or sideways. I attracted some serious intrest after that.
What are your views on Search Engines? Have they helped or hindered your website?
Without them you would not be interviewing me, thats for sure. With no budget at all, it was Live or Die by the serps. We did OK.
What method has been most successful for promoting your website?
Links, links, and Online Press Releases. And more links. Not so much for the quantity, but you have to have a lot just to have a few reall, really influential ones.
What method has been least successful for promoting your website?
Probably direct mail, followed by radio. No one listens to a commercial or opens a letter and decides that 'Todays the Day" they're going to rehab...
What would you like to see change with respect to the internet?
I started out with the hopes of "leveling the polaying field" so that smaller organizations could get as much exposure as the giants. Eventually thuough, I became an 800 pound Gorilla. At one time we had over 200 bidded on Top Ten and Top 20 terms. I think what is most imporatnat is that it continues to change...rules included.
You can enter a question of your choice and the answer here:
What do you see yourself doing the next 5 years or so?
I would really like to be part of a team for awhile. 6 years on my own became just too much at times. Especially the later years. As rankings and serps and the Internet in general became more competitive, guys who used to talk all the time, trade ideas and actually help each other vanished. Too much money at stake, as well as the performance pressures from a boss or advertiser, and we all just stopped talking. I'd like to get back to colloborating and sharing iseas with a group.
And, I want to thank you for being such a gracious host! Maybe we can do this again sometime...thank you.
Jon Heller 760-793-7895
What is your website address?
800Cocaine