I met Bill online around 1998 when I ran the Cre8pc Website Promotion Club in Yahoo teaching what later became known as SEO and I was a co-moderator for another club called the Home and Small Business Club, where I helped members with their SEO questions.

Bill arrived at one of them. I no longer recall which one. He quickly became a regular, sharing as fast as he learned. By the time Cre8asiteforums became an official spin off in 2002, Bill was already my co-person. We added Ammon Johns and Jill Whalen as co-administrators.

Eventually we learned that our paths likely crossed at a popular punk rock bar in New Jersey in the 80’s. We like the same off-beat bands. We didn’t live too far from each other, but it wasn’t until Jill Whalen held a High Rankings Seminar that I went and met Bill, who also attended, for the first time.

We had various jobs and would hang out at SEO conferences. I was struck by how smart he is. And humble. He would take as much time as needed to answer questions in Cre8asiteforums. He was often our example for communication and the art of tolerance.

My history with Bill is more personal than most. We had a terrible falling out in 2008. He drove a considerable distance to attend my 50th surprise birthday party to say goodbye. Looking back, I realized he was protecting me. Losing my friendship with Bill carved a hole in my soul.

We reconnected at a PubCon conference years later. By then he was famous around the world for his work as an SEO and expert in search engine patents. Still humble. Still helping people.

Still family to me.

The photo is from my archives. It is a testimonial from the old days by Bill.