Interviewing Stephanie Long

Welcome to a new WTSInterview edition, where we interview brilliant SEOs in our industry and share their stories with the world! WTS members are welcome to share their story by simply filling out this form; we encourage folks from all walks of life in our industry to do so.

Introducing Stephanie Long! Stephanie Long is the founder & CEO of Mrs. SEO, a company offering SEO services, team training, and consulting. Over the last 15 years, Stephanie has worked with businesses of all types to set them up for long-term success on the ever-evolving SEO landscape.

The growth of Mrs. SEO has led to the recent launch of Junction Jack, a brand-new platform that directly connects qualified SEO experts with businesses in need. Junction Jack is designed to transcend the gig economy experience—featuring a curated lineup of highly qualified service providers; it’s also meant to showcase women and people from all walks of life in a space that is often highly male-dominated.

How did you get into SEO?

I got an internship in SEO in college.

What is your favourite SEO task?

Keyword research — I’m an analytical thinker, so I love digging deep and thinking outside the box to find out how people search and find the correct keyword for my clients’ websites.

What is your go-to tool or resource that you can't live without?

Semrush is my go-to SEO tool that I use for everything from keyword research to backlinks to competitor analysis.

What is something you learned in SEO that made you have an 'AHA' moment?

The most surprising thing I’ve learned working in the SEO field is the need for adaptability—in order to stay at the forefront of my field, I have to learn new things and shift on an almost daily basis. The digital landscape is always evolving and SEO is no exception. Right now, there are seismic shifts happening as AI search takes precedence, so staying flexible and adaptable has helped me ride the wave and welcome the challenge.

What is your proudest industry achievement?

Landing an SEO lecturer position at University of Washington — the practicum I developed was the first of its kind at the university. It was also one of my proudest achievements because I am an alumna and hold a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the school in communications and digital media, respectively.

What advice would you give those who are starting out in SEO?

It may seem really hard at first and something you may not initially grasp, but don't give up!

Give a shout out to someone in the industry who inspires you, and tell us why

I really admire Crystal Waddell, who is one of the featured SEO experts on my platform Junction Jack. Crystal is not only an SEO strategist and digital marketing wizard, but she also has an incredible podcast called Simple and Smart SEO.

Finally, what empowers you to be the brilliant person you are?

Being a solopreneur is no easy feat, and what often makes it even harder for me is the fact that I deal with health challenges such as body dysmorphia, OCD, and ADHD. I’m proud of the resilience I’ve been able to develop and the way I’ve helped entrepreneurs by sharing my own experiences.

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Thanks, Stephanie, for a truly insightful interview!

You can learn more about Junction Jack here and connect with her on LinkedIn.

Check out our Interviews page for more interviews. If you've enjoyed reading this, we'd love for YOU to share your story with the world! Simply fill this form here, we welcome brilliant SEOs from all walks of life! 🙌🏽