Since 1998, Michael has been actively researching and practicing search engine optimization. Many professional SEO specialists around the world have looked to Michael for help in resolving difficult problems. Michael has also developed a reputation for being an innovative maverick in the field.

A contributor to the immensely popular SEOMoz blog, Michael has been sharing insights and secrets on how to optimize Web sites and acquire high value links with the SEOMoz community throughout 2006.

Several years ago, however, J.K. Bowman of the Spider-Food SEO forums invited Michael to join the community there. Spider-food's resident SEOs have developed experimental programs often adopted by other search engine optimization specialists.

Michael's own theoretical work has had a large impact on the search engine optimization industry in several ways. His innovative study of the performance of linking pages called "hallways" on the Inktomi search engine led directly to the development of cross-linking structures called Link Farms, which though now unpopular with the search engines once helped many business sites maintain stable indexing.

Michael was also an early advocate of formal organized reciprocal linking programs, the use of third-party keyword research tools such as WordTracker, development of content-rich doorway pages, and other concepts widely adopted by the search engine optimization community.

Over the past few years, Michael's work with the SEO community has concentrated on developing and improving so-called "white hat" optimization techniques that are acceptable to search engines, surfers, and optimizers alike. He has been active in Jill Whelan's popular Highrankings Forum, the LED Digest discussion list, and occasionally exchanges comments, ideas, and questions with other people on Google engineer Matt Cutts' blog as well as SE Roundtable and Threadwatch.

Michael's SEO Consulting Web site offers direct, 1-on-1 consultations, SEO coaching, research and analysis, linking services, and other competitive search engine optimization skills.

The site also includes several technical reference area of interest to business operators and search engine optimizers alike. The SEO Fundamentals page outlines the basic principles search engine optimizers should be aware of and understand. The SEO Theories page recaps some of Michael's latest research and conclusions. The search engine facts page answers a few commonly asked questions.

Michael also operates the Google Says... blog, which offers analysis and commentary on announcements from official and unofficial Google sources.

Michael has been responsible for placing Xenite.Org's content with search engines since 1998. We have successfully competed with some of the largest, most popular commercial and non-commercial sites in the science fiction and fantasy communities. Xenite's network often leads the way in providing innovative features and content for fan communities around the Internet. Michael's SEO clients should discover a wealth of valuable experience and resources at their disposal.