Welcome to a new
Introducing
How did you get into SEO?
Like (probably) most people I didn’t choose this career, and definitely fell into it. I was very fortunate to find a job at a hotel advertising firm whose owners were heavily into SEO, which set me on this path. From that role I went agency side, which showed me a whole new side to the discipline of SEO, and gave me experience in optimising websites in multiple verticals outside of travel, and from there I never looked back.
What is your favourite SEO task?
I still enjoy keyword research and building the fullest picture of what an audience is searching for. I also still really enjoy the buzz of outreach when you get a link.
What is your go-to tool or resource that you can't live without?
SEMRush. Obviously I use a variety of tools in my work but the times I have found myself without SEMRush access I have felt really quite disorientated.
What is something you learned in SEO that made you have an 'AHA' moment?
I’m constantly having AHA moments in SEO, that’s what makes it such an exciting industry to work in. Probably one of the most eye opening things for me was seeing exactly what kinds of issues client-side rendering can cause, and also how common these issues are.
What is your proudest industry achievement?
Starting my own successful, profitable business, retaining all of my genuinely lovely clients, and building a support network of talented freelancers who function as the best group of colleagues I’ve ever had.
What advice would you give women who are starting out in SEO?
Know your worth and don’t be low-balled on salary. It’s becoming a bit of a cliche these days, but that’s because it’s true. Don’t apologise, don’t try and compromise on the salary before the negotiations have even begun. Definitely do your research on what the going rate is for an SEO specialist is in your area, because it is certainly possible to price yourself out of the running for things, but more often than not, women low ball themselves which then leads to a cumulative loss of earnings over time.
Give a shout out to a woman in the industry who inspires you and tell us why
So many. Arianne Donoghue is a genius. Jamie Alberico constantly amazes me and it was actually her BrightonSEO talk last year that filled me with a newfound enthusiasm for my work. And what Areej has done with this (much needed) community is fantastic.
Finally, what empowers you to be the brilliant woman you are?
I am lucky to have a healthy level of self-confidence due to the results I have achieved for clients in my career to date and in managing a profitable business so far. That’s not to say I don’t sometimes have moments of self-doubt, but there are certain things I just know I know, and I try to focus on that whilst building up the skills that I’m not so confident in.
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Thanks Natalie for a truly insightful interview. You can check out Natalie's website and connect with her on LinkedIn and Twitter.
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