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 💪🏽
How did you get into SEO?
My background is in PR, and I initially found success in writing email pitches to journalists and publications online. That allowed me to get a lot of qualified backlinks for a software company in the past. I was also managing all aspects of marketing: Content Writing, SEO, Paid Ads, Video Editing, and so on.
After that role, I wanted to experience working in Search Engine Marketing, and I started working as a Digital Marketing Specialist for another software company. During this time, I understood the power of SEO even though I was running google ads. My real SEO experience, by that, I mean On-Page, Off-Page, Technical, and Local, came from working at Verb Interactive. I work with a talented team, which has been a great experience. Soon after, I started to freelance and became a consultant for boutique agencies. That opened my doors to E-commerce and International SEO, plus allowed me to master technical SEO. I have started my SEO agency, Techover Digital, and it's the best decision I have made so far.
What is your favourite SEO task?
My favourite SEO task has to be coding schemas for websites. Schema markup codes allow the search engine bot to understand data better. Also, schema helps present URLs more aesthetically on the SERP and generates "rich results." I know from experience the kind of results schema can bring to a website and boost its overall performance.
What is your go-to tool or resource that you can't live without?
As you know, SEO is constantly changing, and you can't ever master it completely, which is why it's so important to learn new skills. I complete certifications and courses online to improve my skill set. Blue Array Academy is an excellent resource for SEO certifications. I completed all three of their courses. Other than that, Nucamp is an online web development boot camp where I took some web development courses that helped me better understand websites.
Apart from courses, there are lots of really great tools out there. ScreamingFrog for technical audits, Ahrefs is amazing for discovering competitors' keywords and backlinks and is easy to use. Brightedge is another tool that I love; it is so powerful and does so much research for you.
What is something you learned in SEO that made you have an 'AHA' moment?
For me, it was when I discovered technical SEO and its quick returns when you do it right. I know so much has been said about the content, and it is still a fundamental pillar of SEO. But, when you can get basics right, by that, I mean building a SEO friendly website, even before the content, that's when you have an edge compared to your competitors.
What is your proudest industry achievement?
My proudest industry moment was when I started SEO; I had no technical knowledge or skills. I remember an interview where I couldn't answer too many questions about technical SEO, and I said I don't know, but given a chance, I can learn quickly. I was hired for that role, and it changed my life. Today, I say it's my proudest moment because I've come such a long way. Other than that, it would be when I manually coded schema for a client, and they doubled their revenue before the end of that year.
What advice would you give women who are starting out in SEO?
SEO is such a diverse field; try to find your niche. Knowing a lot about certain aspects and becoming confident in your skills is better than just touching the surface of all other areas. Keep learning, and enjoy your work; results will follow.
Give a shout out to a woman in the industry who inspires you and tell us why
So many talented women in the industry it's hard to name just one. Areej AbuAli is inspiring. Her interviews and resources have inspired me to learn more about technical SEO. Apart from Areej, I thank my manager, Lindsay was such a great support; she encouraged me to work harder and appreciated whatever I could contribute. I think it's important to have a good manager for young people when they start; for me, she was just that.
Finally, what empowers you to be the brilliant woman you are?
You need to love what you do and dig deeper to discover everything you can because it's exciting and enjoyable. For me, it was SEO. Apart from finding your niche, having the utmost confidence in yourself and working hard to improve your skills is everything.
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Thanks Mashiat for a truly insightful interview! You can connect with Mashiat on her website and LinkedIn.
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