SearchFeature.com’s first poll in September 2009 was to find the most helpful web marketing blog by our readers. The first out of the top 7 most helpful blog chosen by our readers that month are the blogs belonging to Bas van den Beld, of SearchCowboys.com who is also a contributing author at Danny Sullivan’s and Chris Sherman’s  SearchEngineLand.com, also one of the top 7 most helpful web marketing blog according to SF’s readers. SearchFeature.com decided to interview Bas to get to know and have a closer look at the person behind.

Search Feature (SF): Thank you Bas, for agreeing to this interview! Perhaps the best way for us to begin is for you to tell us a bit about yourself, SearchCowboys.com, SearchEngineLand.com and Nettraject.nl.

Bas van den Beld (BB): I am blogger, consultant, project manager, coach, search marketer and publicist on the web. I live in The Netherlands and am the owner of my own company NetTraject and Chief Editor of Searchcowboys. I also contribute to Searchengineland and I am the host of the Searchcowboys show on Webmasterradio.fm. I am also a regular speaker on international search events.

As Chief Editor I am responsible for the content of the website and one of the most active writers. I am well informed about what’s going on in the world of Internet Marketing and Search Marketing.

Searchcowboys.com has a European focus but covers the entire search industry. The website also is known for its extensive coverage of events such as A4UExpo, SMX and SES.

Next to being Chief Editor I am also owner of the company NetTraject, which focuses on strategy on search and social media. NetTraject also is a gateway to Europe. In this company we help those looking to do business in Europe and wanting to use search in that get to the right partners.

Could you tell us a little bit about your own history and background? How did you get started with search engine marketing?

I’ve always had an interest in search engine marketing. I was first pointed to it by an ex-roommate of my sister, Paul Aelen, one of the founders of DutchCowboys together with Henk de Hooge. Since I always wanted to be a journalist I started following what went on in the search market and write about it. That’s how Searchcowboys started.

A lot of people have attempted to generate income online and conquer the search engines but many of them fail to do so. What do you think is the biggest or the most common mistakes people make in search marketing?

The biggest mistake is thinking you are done, because you never are. You have to keep on working and keep on improving. Only with 110% effort you will become successful.

What kind of result should people expect when they are just starting out with search marketing? How long did it take for you to succeed in search marketing?

That all depends on what exactly you are working on and aiming for. If you work hard and choose the right direction you can be successful soon. I am successful now, but if I’ve succeeded you can only tell when I retire, not before that .

You have a bunch of up-to-date information on an industry that is constantly changing. How do you keep yourself up-to-date all the time?

You wouldn’t believe the size of my feedreader . Next to that Twitter, conferences, blogs and networking keeps me up to date.

Where do you see the internet is taking us in the future? And also how important is and will the Internet be for business ventures in Europe specifically?

Try looking at Layar.com that is a peek into the future. It will be much more ‘natural’ than it is now. Internet will be very important for business ventures, both inside and outside Europe. In Europe it will also be important because it can make boundaries disappear.

Do you have any last words that you would like to share with the readers in order to succeed in search marketing?

Give it your 110%, be realistic and don’t think you can do it all alone .