Shawn Smith’s web ninja life

I’m now a member of the self-employed. My last day at MLive.com is Friday, June 5, 2009.

My video explainer (turn your volume all the way up – sorry about that)

WHERE I’M GOING

Since my Nikki moved to Michigan, we’ve been working on building websites for small and medium-sized businesses. We joined up with Sam that summer to form Optimal Webworks. That was 2007. Amy Watson jumped in during 2008. And then there were four.

Over the last two years, we’ve all put in many long nights and weekends to help us get to where we are.

And it wasn’t easy.

But we are on the cusp now of realizing our goal – to own and operate our own internet-based company.

I am the first to transition to a full-time position with OW. Hopefully, I won’t be the last.

WHAT I WILL BE DOING

Internet marketing! It’s a lot of fun and a lot of work.

Everything from SEO to PPC to SEM to every other three-letter online acronym you can think of. That’s what I’ll be doing and have been doing for some time now.

Most people will call what I do affiliate marketing. I prefer to call it internet entrepreneuring.

BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE!

I really couldn’t have gotten here without the support of my family, friends and co-workers.

I’ve received an unbelievable amount of congrats and warm wishes, and it’s really helping make this transition easier.

The online experiments I’ve been given an opportunity to try during my four years since college have been incredibly valuable to my growth both personally and professionally. I can’t thank the people at MLive enough for believing in me and encouraging me to push things in all sorts of new directions.

I think we are both better for having such a great relationship.

I won’t get into the gushy stuff here. Many of you know how I feel. Thanks for everything.

SEE YOU ON THE INTERNETS