What are some of the biggest challenges/obstacles you faced when starting out with SEO, and why?
The biggest obstacle was moving from grey hat SEO to safer white hat SEO practices. I made the decision to make content the focal point of my efforts after I had several websites get nailed with manual actions.
Tell us about your favourite/most successful link-building strategy - how quickly do you typically see results from this method?
The Merger Technique (a technique I coined), which is the process of acquiring relevant domains with strong link profiles and consolidating them with your website. It takes up to 6 months to see the full effect, but it’s worth the wait.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, or have lost your focus temporarily, what do you do?
I think about what needs to be eliminated. A lack of “focus” is almost always the product of too many priorities. So eliminate the noise and focus on what has the biggest impact. I also block distracting websites that I’ll subconsciously attempt to check using the “Block Site” Chrome Extension. Then I’ll use the Pomodoro method to focus my mind (a countdown seems to help with focus for some reason).
How do you choose who to reach out to/partner with? Where do you find them, and what approach do you take when reaching out?
100% based on the exchange of value. How can we partner together and both receive an equal amount of value?
What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
That backlinks aren’t important for SEO performance.
In the last five years, what new belief, behavior, or habit has most improved your life?
Learning that relentless focus is the only way to have a substantial impact.
What do you think about link swaps?
They work. Examine the top websites in any vertical and you’ll see that many of them link to each other.
What is one of the best or most worthwhile investments you’ve ever made?
As cliche, as it is, investing in myself, has been the most important. That’s because knowledge and experience is the foundation of all success. For example, investing in a book about index funds gave me the knowledge to build a successful portfolio. It also helped me avoid common mistakes (which helps me produce faster than relying on trial and error). The only security we have is the knowledge we build through investing in ourselves.
What is the book (or books) you’ve given most as a gift, and why?
Cashvertising is the most eye-opening marketing/sales book I’ve read. It’s curated all of the great advertising “secrets” in one spot. From a personal development perspective, Psycho-Cybernetics changed the way I think forever.
What purchase of $100 or less has most positively impacted your life in the last six months?
This is a weird answer, but probably a Rubik’s cube because learning the algorithm to solve it forced me to adopt a learner’s mindset.
Heather Wilkinson is a globe-trotting content creator and PR enthusiast who’s finally put down roots in her native UK. When she isn’t working, you’ll find her pretending to care about Minecraft for her son’s sake, while secretly reading the latest Ace Atkins novel (or sleeping – her second favourite past-time).