Note: It is not often we cover mergers and acquisitions here, but this one is of personal interest to me and the entire industry.
Internet Marketing Ninjas (IMN), one of the most recognized names in the optimization space, has been acquired by Previsible.io - an SEO and AI consultancy led by longtime strategist Jordan Koene.
Founded by Jim Boykin in 1999, IMN was a pioneer in content-driven SEO long before the term became mainstream. From link building to content audits, Boykin has built a reputation as a trusted SEO partner for businesses navigating the complexities of search. IMN became a foundational fixture at Pubcon, both as a speaker, longtime sponsor - and for a time, was also the owner of WebmasterWorld.
Jim said that he was "proud to share that Internet Marketing Ninjas has been acquired by and is merging with Previsible. This was not a decision I made lightly."
Why It Matters
Previsible isn't just picking up a brand; they're inheriting decades of authority and trust. The IMN domain, backlinks, tools, and extensive content library represent more than SEO equity - they reflect a historic presence that's been intertwined with the growth of the industry itself.
Boykin added, " We've signed a multi year agreement with Previsible, and I've no plans to stop work. I'm working from the road, yes, but I've actually been working my butt off the past several months with creating new services and packages for the new SEO/AI world! They get me, they get 20 ninjas who have been doing this for an average of 14 years, they are some of the best people and are super experts at what they do. And they get our private propitiatory tools and control panels
The decision by Boykin to sell to Previsible signals a new phase for both companies.
Boykin, in his announcement, said: "For the past year and a half, I've been working on the road, traveling the country and revisiting places I first fell in love with in my 20s - places like Denali, Death Valley, Grand Teton, and Shenandoah. "
What Previsible Gains
- Legacy: IMN's domain has thousands of backlinks (OMG!) from trusted sources built over two decades.
- Brand: Among SEO veterans, the IMN name carries weight.
- Audience crossover: Previsible now owns a bridge to WebmasterWorld and Pubcon audiences.
"Partnering with Jim is deeply meaningful to me, both personally and professionally. Jim built Internet Marketing Ninjas with a level of passion, creativity, and relentless curiosity that's rare in any industry. For decades, he's set the bar for what it means to build trust and real authority online, adapting and evolving how the Ninjas support clients and the SEO community.
Merging our combined capabilities honors an incredible legacy while pushing it forward into the future of AI and multimodal discovery. I'm grateful for Jim's trust and excited to shape the next chapter of search together."
What Comes Next
Previsible says they'll continue to use IMN for "growth testing and SEO experimentation." That aligns with the brand's past - IMN was never afraid to test ideas, publish findings, or offer tools like the SEO site audit tool and backlink analyzer.
It's not clear yet whether IMN will remain a standalone brand or fold fully under the Previsible umbrella. But one thing's clear: the domain isn't being mothballed - it's going to continue to do the work.
Industry Reaction
Jim has created an amazing team and an outstanding company culture, which I was fortunate to be part of for more than a decade. It is more than a company or a workplace; it has been a family for all of us. Previsible is fortunate to have the IMN family as part of their company because they have gotten an incredible, dedicated team that is willing to change and innovate with the industry! - Ann Smarty. Smarty Marketing
The powerhouse teams of Jim Boykin and Jordan Koene separately have each been key SEO industry leaders for decades. Now that Previsible and Internet Marketing Ninjas have joined forces, the search industry has a potent and passionate new combination of unique talents to elevate the world's top brands in the age of multimodal AI SEO.
I've been in online communications for 41 years now and have known both Jim and Jordan for decades, and I couldn't be happier for the SEO industry as Internet Marketing Ninjas and Previsible move ahead together. - Lane Ellis, Previsible.io, Digital Futurist & Content Marketing Manager
"Everything about this company is brilliant, from the software that generates the internal links a client needs to add to specified web pages, to the creative nature in which they acquire links that the linking party thanks them for (not just the party being linked to). I remember taking a screenshot of the link pricing at We Build Pages and showing my own prospects how a high-quality link-earning program can cost as much as $20,000 per month, helping my freelance business improve perceived value." Steve Wiideman - Senior Search StrategistWiideman Consulting Group
We're stoked to merge with Previsible, bringing our team's best-in-class link building, content marketing, and Digital PR services to Previsible's expert consulting, technical SEO, AI-readiness, and resourcing offerings.
Jim Boykin remains in an executive role as Chief Ninja - guiding strategy, product & service development, and leading client reviews as always. Jim's ability to see the futue of where search is heading and adapt & pivot accordingly has always been our secret weapon and sets our clients up for future success in a rapidly changing digital marketing landscape.
The entire Ninjas team is staying on board. We're really lucky to have found Jordan, Tyson, David, and the entire Previsible team which share the same people-first, client-centric values that IMN has always believed in." - Chris Sullivan, InternetMarketinNinjas Head of Growth
He then figured out a way to buy links from college students all of whom had their own university web page. He paid them by having Pizza delivered to their dorms. Brilliant!
From We Build Pages (1999) through Internet Marketing Ninjas Jim carved out a great reputation as a link building expert and leading resource in the industry. There are bound to be many more amalgamations between SEO and AI based companies. Jim's at the forefront of this new evolution.
It's either a great way to be a part of the new world of SEO - or to drop out of the old one. He does a pretty good job bar tending, so I know which one I'd choose. Best of luck to Jim whatever he does next. - Mike Grehan, Chelsea Digital
"When you are as well-regarded in the industry as Jordan and Jim, the challenge is not so much finding clients, but rather it's servicing them effectively. On the surface, this combination sounds like a peanut butter and chocolate kind of thing.
While I think there will always be room for single consultants and small agencies, there is a lot of upside for big teams who can help big businesses with big challenges. At this point in time, it feels like SEO, or whatever we are calling the AI stuff these days, is one of the biggest challenges businesses are facing." -Andrew Shotland, Local SEO Guide
"Jim's commitment to doing SEO the right way - avoiding spammy tactics, understanding how search engines think, and building long-term value - was and still is rare. He wasn't chasing trends. He was setting standards."
- Bill Hartzer, CEO Hartzer Consulting
Jim Boykin has been a pillar of the SEO industry for over two decades, building not just a groundbreaking company with innovative link strategies and cutting-edge tools, but also a close-knit team that feels more like a family. His vision, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to the community have left an enduring mark on everyone fortunate enough to work with him." - Ben Fisher, Founder, Steady Demand
"Jim is a long-time SEO who has contributed quite a lot to the SEO community as a whole through his sponsorships of events and knowledge-sharing." -
Elmer Boutin, Head of SEO Milestone Inc.
"Over the years, the industry has had the honor of calling Jim Boykin a dear friend, colleague, and mentor. He has been a fundamental cornerstone of SEO since the early days. He always stood with the SEO community and that never waivered over two decades." -Brett Tabke, Pubcon
As the CEO and founder of Pubcon and WebmasterWorld., Brett Tabke has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of online marketing and search engine optimization. His journey in the computer industry has spanned over three decades and has made him a pioneering force behind digital evolution. Full Bio
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