Welcome to a new Weekly Interviews edition where we interview brilliant women in our industry and share their stories with the world! Anyone is welcome to share their story by simply filling this form, we encourage women from all walks of life in our industry to do so.
Introducing Aesha Patel! Based in India, Aesha has worked with numerous international brands and has honed her skills in the field. Her expertise lies in improving e-commerce businesses' visibility on search engines, driving traffic to their website, and generating sales and leads. Aesha holds a postgraduate degree in Information Technology, further solidifying her knowledge and abilities in her field. Outside of work, she enjoys taking a break from the fast-paced work life by indulging in her passions such as painting and travelling.
We asked her everything from how she first got into SEO to what empowers her to be the brilliant woman she is 💪🏽
I got into SEO when I was doing my internship in WordPress during my master's degree. It was when I first came across the term SEO and started exploring it. During my internship, I was developing landing pages for the college website and I was asked to add a Google Analytics tracking code for the form tracking. It was then that I discovered and started learning more about SEO and Google Analytics. I was fascinated by how the ranking of a website could impact its visibility, traffic, and eventually its success.
I started reading blogs and articles related to SEO, learning about keyword research, link building, on-page optimization, and much more. I also learned about the importance of using Google Analytics to track the website's performance, including the number of visitors, their behaviour, and the sources of traffic.
After completing my internship, I decided to put my newfound knowledge into practice. I teamed up with a friend, and we started a blog. We implemented all the SEO techniques that I had learned and watched in amazement as our blog started ranking higher and higher on search engine results pages. Our blog's traffic grew, and we started getting more engagement from our audience.
My internship in WordPress was the starting point of my journey into the world of SEO. From that moment on, I was hooked, and I continued to learn and grow my knowledge of SEO and digital marketing. Today, I consider myself an SEO expert and I am passionate about helping businesses and individuals improve their online presence through effective search engine optimization.
Creating SEO Audits for websites is my favourite task. In addition to SEO audits, I also enjoy on-page optimization, especially for e-commerce websites. E-commerce websites have unique challenges, such as optimizing product pages, and categories, and ensuring a seamless user experience. On-page optimization can have a significant impact on the website's visibility, traffic, and ultimately its success.
The one tool I use the most is SEMRush. It offers a wide range of features, including keyword research, site audit, backlink analysis, and competitor research, making it a comprehensive solution for search engine optimization.
An "AHA" moment for me in SEO was understanding the importance of site structure and user experience. I used to think that as long as I had high-quality content and a good number of backlinks, my website would rank well. However, I learned that the way a website is organized and how easy it is for users to navigate can greatly impact its search engine performance. This includes factors like using clear and descriptive URLs, creating a logical site hierarchy, and having a fast loading time. Once I started paying attention to these details and optimizing my website's structure and user experience, I noticed a significant improvement in my search engine rankings and a decrease in bounce rate. It was a powerful lesson that showed me the importance of considering both technical and user-focused elements in my SEO strategy.
My proudest industry achievement is being a speaker at a digital marketing conference in Ahmedabad. It was a great opportunity for me to share my knowledge and experience with the marketing community, and to network with some of the most innovative and successful professionals in the field. Attending conferences in different cities such as Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bangalore has also helped me to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in digital marketing and to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about this exciting industry. Overall, my experience in the digital marketing field has been incredibly fulfilling and I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to contribute to its growth and development.
My advice for women starting out in SEO would be to never stop learning and stay confident in your abilities. The digital marketing industry is constantly evolving, so it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices. This could involve attending conferences, participating in online communities, or taking courses to further your education.
I would encourage women in SEO to network and build relationships with other professionals in the industry. This can not only provide valuable support and mentorship, but it can also open up new opportunities for growth and advancement.
My advice would be to stay informed, stay confident, and stay connected. With hard work and determination, you can achieve success in this exciting and rewarding field.
One woman in the SEO industry who truly inspires me is Olga Andrienko, Vice President of Global Marketing at SEMrush. I had the privilege of meeting her at a conference in Bangalore, and I was blown away by her passion, knowledge, and expertise in the field of digital marketing. She has a wealth of experience in SEO and has played a significant role in driving SEMrush's growth and success.
In addition to Olga, Yulia Aslamova, Head of Asia at DRIM, also inspires me with her incredible work-life balance. As a mother of a beautiful daughter, Elina, she is a true inspiration in the way she balances her demanding career with her parenting responsibilities. She is a true role model for women everywhere and shows that it is possible to have a successful career and family life.
Both of these women have made a huge impact in the SEO industry and have been instrumental in helping to shape the future of digital marketing. Their hard work, dedication, and expertise serve as a source of inspiration for me and many others in the industry. They are a testament to the incredible contributions women are making in SEO, and I am honoured to be a part of this community.
My motto for empowerment is "Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." This reminder to trust in one's own abilities and inner strength can be a powerful source of motivation and inspiration, and can help individuals overcome challenges and reach their full potential.
----
Thanks Aesha for a truly insightful interview! You can connect with Aesha on LinkedIn.
To view more interviews with brilliant women, check out our Interviews page. If you've enjoyed reading this interview, then 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! 🙌🏽