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Introducing
We asked her everything from how she first got into SEO to what empowers her to be the brilliant woman she is 💪🏽
How did you get into SEO?
To be honest, writing & SEO found me. And I couldn't be happier about it. A week into my campus-placed job at an MNC, I realized that Java wasn't my cup of tea rather stories were. I’d place a semicolon in a sentence and not at the end of a code. I was fortunate to find a great role at a startup, as a fresher, and there was no looking back since then. Initially, it was just content writing; it was my manager (& mentor), who brought me into the world of SEO. Needless to say, I fell irrevocably in love with it in no time.
And I learnt, one meta at a time. I recall re-writing a meta description around 6 times because of a particularly lousy writing day, a lesson I remember to date. I'd say it's been an incredibly fortunate journey - I got an opportunity to learn a lot from some amazing people, within and outside my team, who is one of the best in their domains. There's a lot more to learn, and I'm looking forward to it all.
What is your favourite SEO task?
It's hard to pick one. Even then, I love blending SEO into a content piece and enriching it for both the audience and bots. Even today, it's exciting to take up a new webpage or blog and evaluate how best to approach it. The keywords to target, spinning the content to seamlessly integrate those, being mindful to avoid cannibalization, dedicating much attention for metas, and nurturing step-by-step till it appears in the search engine's radar and makes it to the top.
What is your go-to tool or resource that you can't live without?
I have 3 I'd say: SEMRush, Google Analytics, and NightWatch. I start my day, every single day, with GA to understand the performance of every page, the source of the traffic, and to understand what's working and what isn't. I needn't elaborate on why SEMRush is a lifesaver. Right from website audit to backlink analysis, the tool has been my best friend. Yet another tool that has my heart is NightWatch, to keep a real-time and accurate track of how the pages rank. Simple and does the job, neat!
What is something you learned in SEO that made you have an 'AHA' moment?
I'd say SEO never disappoints me in having an AHA moment every now and then. The sheer realization that what I know is just the tip and the iceberg runs pretty deep is exciting.
With that said, one distinct moment was when I realized the importance of interlinking as compared to backlinking. Almost everyone understands the importance of backlinking and very often, gets in that rat race to get links. However, time and again, I have seen how splendidly the ranks improve when you take up interlinking as a dedicated activity. AHA moment right there!
Yet another instance was when I'd seen the harsh effect of cannibalization. You'd want your web pages/blogs to compete with the world, and not with themselves. This tops the list of things to be mindful of, for me, while taking up a new content piece.
What is your proudest industry achievement?
It was a happy and proud moment when I was among the Top 100 Content Writers of India, based on LinkedIn Profile Rating List, an initiative by a freelance organization. Yet another that I cherish, was getting recognized as an MVP, or the Most Valuable Player, from the Marketing team in my previous role. I hold close to me, every small achievement as it further fuels the fire to aim for the stars.
What advice would you give women who are starting out in SEO?
Patience & perseverance.
In SEO, results needn’t be overnight. While you’re pursuing the end goals, don’t let anybody make you doubt your skills, your passion, or most importantly yourself. Believe that your efforts will bear fruit, even if it’s an extended one.
Put your heart into every word you pen, every analysis or audit you take up, and every rank in your pursuit. Shine bright!
Give a shout out to a woman in the industry who inspires you and tell us why
The sheer clarity and depth of knowledge in SEO that Aleyda Solis has are truly inspiring and you are always bound to learn something from her, always!
After I came across Kristina Azarenko’s SEO extension, I was instantly awed. I’m sure, like me, many were inspired to spin out a tool of our own to help fellow SEOs & marketers.
With that said, this list would be really incomplete without my mentor, Sophia Madhavan, who taught me, still does, the art of SEO and added this lovely trajectory to my career as a marketer.
Areej's initiatives for representation & encouragement for women to come forward is nothing but inspiring. A loud cheer, right there! I, for one, wouldn't have had the chance or resources to attend one of the most sought-after SEO conferences if it weren't for her.
Finally, what empowers you to be the brilliant woman you are?
When your passion & profession cross paths and greet each other excitedly, I think there's no better thing that could happen. When you put your heart into something, it shines. When you truly believe in your efforts, it sings. Most importantly, being aware that every day is a day to learn makes it humbling & exciting at the same time!
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Thanks Aiswarya for a truly insightful interview, you can learn more about her through her website and connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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