Welcome to a new
Introducing
We asked her everything from how she first got into SEO to what empowers her to be the brilliant woman she is πͺπ½
How did you get into SEO?
In short, randomly. My first job out of school was a sort of "catch-all" marketing assistant, where I did everything from blog writing to organizing events.
When reporting on our blog performance, I noticed that we were driving most of our traffic from organic. I had no idea we were even ranking on Google. The question "how does that happen?" is what pushed me down the rabbit hole of SEO, and I've never left.
What is your favourite SEO task?
Search-focused content strategy. I love researching what a client's audience is interested in, and finding the best opportunities for them to create new content, or improve what they already have.
What is your go-to tool or resource that you can't live without?
Thruuu! It's a free SERP analyzer which gives you a quick overview of the search results for a given keyword, both on desktop and mobile. Just click onto a result to see information like metadata, word count and headings. It's saved me oodles of time previously spent combing through individual search results. It makes competitive analysis so much easier, which is definitely something to celebrate!
What is something you learned in SEO that made you have an 'AHA' moment?
Content "experts" don't have to be people with PhDs - for many industries, they are simply the people who can relate to and understand the topic.
For example, one of my clients writes about how to support those going through health crises. The authorities on this topic are actually their own followers, because they know firsthand what is helpful, and what is not. We frequently ask their Facebook followers to weigh in on our latest blog topics, and the ideas they share give us the content we need to help others in the same situation.
What is your proudest industry achievement?
Being published in Search Engine Land and SEMrush. Content is my passion, and it is validating to see my work alongside many people in the industry I admire. The proudest I've felt about an industry article is my most recent piece onΒ How to Support Women in SEO. I learned so much from the women featured in the article, and I just feel really honored to be part of this discussion.
What advice would you give women who are starting out in SEO?
Surround yourself with an intelligent and most importantly, supportive community of digital marketers. Reading others' work and connecting with people in the industry have been the single biggest factors in any achievement that I've had. Some ways to kickstart this: Join Women in Tech SEO. Subscribe to digital marketing newsletters. Ask for a video chat with 5 SEOs who you admire. And finally, when you read an article you like, reach out to that person and let them know! Keep supporting others' voices, and you'll find that your own grows stronger too.
Give a shout out to a woman in the industry who inspires you and tell us why
Britney Muller is just fantastic. She is so wicked smart, and she projects kindness and happiness to everyone she talks to. She helped me feel like I could actually be myself in this industry, and I'll be forever grateful for that.
Jess Girardi is an enigma, a completely one-of-a-kind woman. From starting multiple successful businesses to being an Olympian, she is the perfect example of a woman who can truly do anything. I'm thrilled to call her my coworker, and even happier to call her a friend.
Finally, what empowers you to be the brilliant woman you are?
I read a book last year that helped me uncover my Ikigai, the Japanese term that roughly translates to "reason for being". My reason for being is to learn, and to share what I learn with those around me. I try to let this guide my life, from my career to my personal relationships, and found that it has never steered me wrong.
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Thanks Abby for a truly insightful interview, you can connect with Abby on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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