How and Why I Became an SEO Expert

Learn More About My Background as an SEO Expert and How I Stumbled Into this Amazing Career!

One of the most daunting things about becoming a young adult is figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Like many of my peers, I had a vague idea of what I wanted to do going into college. I knew I wanted to write, but I wasn't quite sure how to make a living out of my passion. So, I did the "logical" thing and jumped head first into Creative Writing and Film degrees!

That's definitely passionate... but not the smartest move for someone living in Cleveland, Ohio. Quickly into my first semester at Cleveland State University, I realized that film wasn't for me. For awhile I mainly focused on my writing and opted for some general ed courses to see if any other fields piqued my interest.

Discovering Marketing

As my first semester ended and my second semester courses needed to be assigned, I decided to give "Intro to Marketing" a try. And boy did it not disappoint!

I remember looking over the material for the course and everything clicking. Not only was the idea of creating strategic campaigns fun, but I realized I could pursue my biggest passion: writing. Soon after discovering this I made Promotional Communication my second major.

Over the next three years, I worked on both my Creative Writing and Promotional Communication degrees in conjunction with one another. I learned about the many fields of marketing, the endless tactics, and how to persuade others through content. The further I got into both degrees, the more I found how well the two worked together. To market something you need to be able to convey the message in many different formats - one of the most prominent formats being through the written word.

How I Got Into SEO

As you probably know, marketing is a massive field with endless career opportunities. I needed to find something to specialize in. I tried a few different forms of marketing through internships and freelance: social media, public relations, grassroots, email, copywriting, etc.. It was fun diving into all of these different roles and I still enjoy them to this day, but it wasn't until my first full-time job that I discovered SEO.

One of the things I am most grateful for at ChoiceLocal is that they taught me everything I know about SEO. For the first few months as an SEO Specialist they taught me the ropes on how to edit websites, perform local listing audits, conduct keyword research, and so much more. Being able to learn while on the job really resonated with me - I'm a big advocate for learning while doing - and by the sixth month mark I was developing my own strategies, content calendars, and diving into Google Analytics.

What I Love About SEO

As I established myself in my SEO career I really found a passion for it. It's exactly what I wanted: the ability to be creative and strategic. One of the biggest ranking factors in SEO is quality content and with each Google Algorithm update it's only becoming more and more important. Every day I get to write, edit, and publish content that's helping businesses grow.

Additionally, SEO has opened my eyes to new passions like conducting tests, training, leading meetings. I've become more confident in public speaking and even thrive in it now - something that I would have never thought I was capable of just three years ago. I love the fact that every day I get to learn new things to make me a better marketing professional and well-rounded person.

Would I Recommend This Field to a Friend?

Absolutely! 10/10 would recommend. I think this is an amazing field for creative and strategic minds alike. It's so versatile that you can really make it into something your own. All the SEO experts I know have different specializations - audits, web design, photography optimization, copywriting, technical, local listings, link building, research, and more. If you're thinking about taking the leap into the world of digital marketing - more specifically SEO - I highly endorse it. If you're looking for your sign to start learning the basics - take this as one! Even if you don't make it your career, SEO is a must-have in today's age for anyone looking to sell something like a product, service, or skill.

In my next blog, I'm looking forward to diving more into the many ways to learn SEO and get into the field. Be sure to tune in next week for that post!

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About the Author

My name is Amy Vaughan and I am a Digital Marketing Professional; specializing in search engine optimization and campaign strategy. My professional experience has allowed me to lead national and international digital marketing projects, including developing complete campaign strategies, training and leading SEOs, and overseeing project execution. My data-driven strategic approach has enabled me to take my partners to the next level, establishing long-term relationships through successful digital marketing strategies that increase their bottom line. I have built, executed, and managed SEO campaigns that have increased traffic, conversions, and profits. My experience also includes content marketing, social media marketing, and email marketing. To learn more about my experience, or just to say hi, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.