From running a BBS out of his bedroom in the ‘80s to diving deep into SEO audits and WordPress performance today, Ryan’s journey has always taken its own path. With a background in IT, a hacker’s curiosity, and a relentless drive to adapt, he turned a challenging chapter in his life into a thriving business.
In this interview, Ryan shares how Norzer was born from necessity, why he believes action beats perfection, and how his past — from Linux architecture to late-night 2600 reading — still fuels his work every day.
What kind of work did you do before your current business and what did you bring with you into this career?
I have over 25 years of experience in the IT field. I have worked for IBM, Computer Science Corporation, and Northrop Grumman, just to name a few companies. I ran an “underground” BBS out of my bedroom in the late ’80s and early ’90s. I grew up learning how to circumvent telephone security systems, fax machines, printers, mainframes, etc. I’m still an avid 2600 reader! I have a knack for creatively figuring out how to solve problems largely because of these initial experiences.
I have done everything from Linux architecture to information security to Google Ads. I’m truly a jack of all trades. I do some basic coding but it’s not my specialty. I’ve worked with hundreds of companies helping them improve their SEO, WordPress website performance, WordPress security, etc.
I got into digital marketing and SEO because I was medically disabled for a few years and unable to work. Once I was able to use a laptop again, I started building a blog to try and get up to speed with current technologies. This led me to wonder how I could rank high on Google. Once I figured it out others started asking me and the rest is history.
You might be wondering what a Norzer is. Norzer is the last name of Nine Inch Nails lead singer, Trent Reznor, scrambled up. 🙂
What part of the website creation process is your favorite to work on and why?
My favorite part is looking other websites to get ideas and inspiration and presenting that initial mockup to the client.
What motivated you to start your own business, and what keeps you going when things get tough?
I started Norzer out of necessity because I was unable to work for a few years due to my health. It really just started with me doing single gigs on Fiverr, UpWork, etc. It quickly became clear that I would be unable to keep up with the incoming leads and needed to do something more formal and learn to scale my business.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten and how has it affected your business?
Just start! Do not wait until you think you are an expert in SEO or web design or whatever before selling your services. You will never think you know enough or are good enough. If you have to offer your services super cheap just to get going and get your confidence going, do it! I started by doing my hardcore SEO video audits on Fiverr for $20 each. I now do these audits for hundreds of dollars each.
As an entrepreneur, what’s your proudest accomplishment?
I’m just blessed to be alive. My biggest accomplishment is being here and doing this right now. Every day out of bed and being productive is my new biggest accomplishment.
What’s a book every agency owner should read?
The SEO Entrepreneur – Nathan Gotch
What’s your favorite podcast to listen to?
I’m an avid podcast listener and can’t name just one, so I’ll list a few.
Solving JFK @ solvingjfkpodcast.com: – A deep-dive investigative podcast that revisits the JFK assassination with fresh eyes. Each episode examines original evidence, inconsistencies, and competing theories to separate fact from fiction. Probably the best podcast I have ever listened to.
The Civil War & Reconstruction @ civilwarpodcast.org: The most in-depth podcast on any topic I’ve ever listened to—nearly 500 episodes about the Civil War and counting.
Red Onion Randy @ redonionrandy.com: A podcast from a Virginia inmate serving life in Red Onion State Prison. Randy shares his life, regrets, prison conditions, and reflections on justice and rehabilitation.
2600 Off the Hook @ 2600.com/offthehook: A legendary hacker radio show from the minds behind 2600 Magazine. Deep dives into phone phreaking, old-school hacks, surveillance, digital rights, and the culture of tech rebellion — past and present.
1776 Patriot Power @ patriotpowerpodcast.com: Discussing the people, places, events & battles that turned 13 separate colonies into the U.S.
What’s a WordPress plugin more people should know about?
Broken Link Checker. Google doesn’t link broken links so stay on top of them.
What’s your favorite tool, accessory, or gadget on your desk?
My multiple monitors and my Flipper Zero. Flipper Zero is portable electronic device used by pentesters and hackers that lets you explore, clone, and interact with RFID, NFC, radio protocols, etc.
What’s your favorite non-WordPress tool or software?
Kali Linux. I’m still a hacker at heart.
