We have received the following unsolicited message from Bob Davis, CEO of the popular Soul-Patrol.com website, on the occasion of this BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's 10th anniversary.

Many thanks for all your support and encouragement, Bob.

David (Webmaster).

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HEY BO DIDDLEY (indeed!!!!!)

I have discussed the truly historic nature of the "BO DIDDLEY-The Originator" website in the past. Today, I would once again like to acknowlege it again, as it celebrates its TENTH YEAR OF EXISTENCE.

It's important, not only because it celebrates the life/career of one of the most important artists in the history of Black music, but also because it is a PIONEERING SITE OF THE BLACK INTERNET and today it
remains one of the most EFFECTIVE ARTIST WEBSITES that I know of. It isn't flashy or fancy, but it is the MODEL FOR HOW AN ARTIST SHOULD MARKET THEMSELVES ON THE INTERNET.

Here is something I wrote about it a few years ago....

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Everyone knows that BO DIDDLEY is one of the pioneers of Black music. However he is also one of the pioneers of the Black Internet. During the 1990s, one of the first Black music websites I encountered was BO DIDDLEY's website at: http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/

I signed up for his mailing list when I first encountered it and since that time I have been getting weekly updates about the activities of BO DIDDLEY. I'm sure that by now there must be tens of thousands (perhaps over 100,000) of others?

It remains in this day of MySpace, Blogs, YouTube, etc. one of the top 5 most effective artist websites on the entire Internet. Here are a few reasons why:

- The url has never changed, it's a free "personal page".
- The website is updated weekly.
- It contains the entire history of BO DIDDLEY, so it's a great reference.
- They send out the weekly updates.
- They post the weekly updates in relevant usenet groups, bulletin boards, etc.
- They reply back quickly to any questions.
- They don't spend any money to do any of this.

The weekly updates follow simple but highly effective guidelines:

- They actually provide you with real information about the artist. Upcoming appearences, radio interviews, concert reviews, etc. along with appropriate links and NO FLUFF.

- 100 percent text emails (no graphics, no MP3 files, no html), this ensures that the email will actually reach its destination and avoid ISP spam blockers. If there are graphics they want you to see, they give you a link on the website to see the graphic. Plus, there are some people (like me for example) who simply DELETE any email containing any sort of a file attachment (unless the person has warned me in advance they are sending me something).

- They constantly give credit to other people who provide them with assistance. Not only is this "the right thing to do", but it also increases the likelihood that the people you are giving credit to will also pass along YOUR email to their network of friends on the Internet.

- When they post a link, it ALWAYS has the "fully qualified URL" (yes, that means the "http://"). One of the biggest mistakes I see artists making in their mailings is to NOT use "fully qualified URLs" when posting links.

Example:

**Good - Most everyone will be able to click: http://www.google.com

**Fair - Half will be able to click & half won't: www.google.com

**Horrible - Nobody will be able to click: google.com

Using fully qualified URLs will dramatically increase the effectiveness of any email.

BO DIDDLEY's website is, in my opinion, one of the models that all artists should take a serious look at when planning their Internet operations. There are some great, inexpensive and simple ideas that they have implemented and been using at a very high rate of effectiveness for many years.

The site, much like the artist, is one of the ORIGINATORS.

Big ups to David Blakey, the Webmaster of the BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website: http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/

Check it out...

Bob Davis
SOUL-PATROL.COM WEBSITE
http://www.soul-patrol.com/

We have received the following unsolicited message from Vini Demon of the great blues/rock band Vini & The Demons, on the occasion of this BO DIDDLEY-The Originator website's 10th anniversary.

Many thanks for your very kind words, Vini!

David (Webmaster).

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Dear David and Lynn,

Happy 10th anniversary!!!

Thank you so much for the honorable mention in your last email. Although you may not hear from me regularly, you can rest assured that I read every transmission and love checking all the links. You do such a wonderful job, and sometimes, that, in and of itself, can be a curse. I expect you to be there, doing your thing on a regular basis, no questions asked, never thinking to send you a thank you note or a chorus of three cheers across the pond. I do apologize. I will be more thoughtful in future.

The great thing we share is our love for Bo. The few years I spent being around him, playing with him, were magical, and the visits I made every so often to see him were just as special. Your site is a great testament to his life and many accomplishments, and I for one will always applaud you for it.

Thanks again.

Truly blue,

Vini Demon