About Us

So, what do you want to know about us, the real people behind the scenes at MurphyGold.com?

My name is John Dilbeck, and I'm the owner of Dilbeck Marketing. I love helping the owners of businesses in Murphy, NC tell their story to the world by using 21st century tools combined with traditional marketing techniques.

John L. Dilbeck
(Photo Credit: Bill Grove)

I love marketing and promotions. Really!

I could put up a photo or video showing me doing what I do best, but I'm sure you've already seen someone typing on a computer for hours at a time. (grin)

Instead, I'll be concentrating on introducing you to some of the best business owners in Murphy, NC, and we'll do our best to show them doing what they do best. I think you'll find that much more interesting.

Why Murphy, NC?

That's a good question. Why would anyone in his right mind devote so much time and energy to promote locally-owned businesses in a very rural part of western North Carolina that is located closer to the Smoky Mountains than to a big city?

First, I never claimed to be in my right mind. I think I am, but it can get tricky if I start thinking about it too much.

The real reason is that I fell in love with this area back in the early 1970s when I lived in the Atlanta, Georgia area and tried to escape the city every chance I could find. I would come spend some time enjoying the peace and quiet of these mountains. Back then, I would go camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing on the lakes and rivers.

When my Dad retired, he and I came up here and found a small cabin about a quarter mile from Lake Hiwassee. He and Mom moved here and spent the rest of their lives in this small house they loved, among friends and neighbors they loved, too.

Why marketing?

That's a different story.

For over 20 years I was a consultant specializing in computers, computer systems, and programming special applications for small businesses.

In 2001, Mom was diagnosed with cancer and underwent chemo, radiation, and surgery. Luckily, they got the cancer, but the surgery left her unable to walk and care for herself without help. After weeks of therapy in Asheville, her medical team decided to move her into a nursing home for the remainder of her life.

That was totally unacceptable.

So, I said no. My daughter (who was grown and married at the time) helped me bring Mom back home and I cared for her for over six years, until her condition declined to the point I was unable to do all she needed. At that time, she was admitted to the hospital and then a local nursing home. She died a few months later.

While it wasn't perfect, she got to live another six years where she wanted to live and do things on her schedule.

Before the surgery, she was a lively and hard-working woman. She loved gardening and there are hundreds of flowers, plants, and herbs she found somewhere else and brought here to grow in her yard. Dad also had a green thumb and loved working in his garden and tending the yard.

After the surgery, she was basically confined to three rooms in the house, and eventually to just one. Since I was her sole, full-time caretaker, I was confined to the house with her so I could help her whenever she needed it. For the last several years, I only left the house about once a week to run to the bank, pay bills, and buy groceries. I was always in a rush and tried to get back within a couple of hours or less.

I needed a way to earn a living

Since I couldn't leave the house, I had to find a way to earn a living while being at home almost all of the time. The solution to my problem was affiliate marketing. I did the advertising and marketing and received a commission whenever someone would purchase from one of my links. For over six years, that's how I earned 100% of my income. Along the way, I developed a talent for getting websites easily found on page one of the Google search engine results.

I also developed skills related to using 21st century tools to make traditional marketing techniques more effective.

Time for a change

After Mom died just before Thanksgiving, 2008, I found myself not knowing exactly what to do. It has been a big change from being housebound to being free to go out and visit people, again.

I knew I didn't want to be stuck at home all the time, but I love working for myself.

Over the last few months, I've been planning how to help select business owners promote their businesses in Murphy, NC to a wider audience over the Internet.

To that end, I developed and promoted Murphy Connections, a social networking site for people living in Murphy and those who are interested in visiting or moving here.

After it was up and running, I turned my attention to this site, MurphyGold.com. It is specifically devoted to helping business owners increase their business and helping our friends and neighbors get more for their hard-earned money by supporting Murphy Gold businesses and taking advantage of the special deals they offer.

My secret weapon

Over the years, I found a mentor in Ken Evoy. I read his ebooks and learned how to work with the search engines so people could find what they were looking for. It took awhile to learn to provide information in ways visitors, like you, could find my site, because I really didn't know what they were looking for nor the words and phrases they actually used. I've learned, over the years, that most people don't search for things using the phrases that I would, but after lots of research, testing, and evaluating, I'm learning how to present my websites and blogs so people are finding them.

Along the way, I also realized that most people who own small businesses don't have the time and energy to learn what I've learned and need someone to help them market their products and services online. So, now, I'm using the skills I learned to help them do what they do best -- run their own small business and provide quality products and services to their valued customers.

I try to provide useful information so the visitors who find us (perhaps you) will continue to return to our site whenever you need to find someone who offers what you're needing. I'll continue to add more information on a regular basis, and our Murphy Gold News will tell you when something new and/or exciting has been added.

Uh, wait a second. You mentioned something about a secret weapon, didn't you?

Yes, I did.

Over the last few years, Ken Evoy and his highly-skilled team have created Site Build It!, and that's what I use to power this site. It provides all the tools, guidance, and support I need to create a professional website in the 21st century. In addition, it has one of the most friendly and helpful communities of webmasters, and want-to-be-webmasters, that I've ever met. Their private, members-only, forum is the place to help and be helped.

So, I make use of what Ken and his team provide. Site Build It! has helped me build this site and you're living proof that it works. You found us, didn't you?

Enough about me

Who else helps with MurphyGold.com?

I want to offer special recognition to two special ladies who helped launch Murphy Gold in the summer of 2009.

My daughter Dena has helped me think through all the plans and methods I'm using to make it possible to help as many local business owners as we can. While she is not actively involved in the site, she always provides a good sounding board and I welcome her insightful advice. She'll probably inherit this business, eventually.

Just before MurphyGold.com went live, Dena's sister-in-law, Stacy Howard, joined us and she spent many days talking to local business owners and explaining what we were building here. I want to send her special thanks for all that she did to help launch Murphy Gold.

I really appreciate each of their contributions.

Do you have any questions?

If you want to know more about us, visit Murphy Connections, where we're all active. Or, if you prefer, use our Contact Us page to send us your question or comments. As long as you're not trying to spam us, we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

Small town people doing what we love

So, you see, MurphyGold.com isn't run by some faceless, continent-spanning corporation. We're real people who live in Murphy because we love the area and the friends and family we have here. We may not know everything about the area or the people who own the best businesses here, but we're working hard to learn as much as we can and share it with you when you visit.

Thank you for visiting MurphyGold.com and reading a little about us.

If you live in Murphy or plan to visit or move here, why don't you come on over to Murphy Connections and join in the fun. We'd like to learn more about you, too.

What next?

Return to Murphy Gold home page or select your choice from the menu in the left column.