After witnessing a mentor's success in the SEO industry and being guided by their expertise, I was inspired to start my own SEO business. Their proven strategies and mentorship motivated me to follow in their footsteps and establish a business of my own. With their guidance, I gained valuable insights into the industry, learned best practices, and built a strong network. Their mentorship provided me with the confidence and knowledge to offer effective SEO services to clients, ultimately shaping the foundation of my SEO business.
Got Swindled on a freelance platform. It’s true that nobody loves being made a fool of. But some unscrupulous dude managed to swindle me of my hard-earned dollars on a freelance platform some years back. Paid him to run a full-fledged seo campaign to push my kid’s store business but dude ended up getting me flagged by Google. My fury from that experience pushed me into learning about SEO myself and how it’s done. Safe to say I didn’t quite get things right the first few months but later I found courses from Brian Dean and Neil Patel and that changed the game for me. After working on my store, I assisted a few other folks I had met on Xenforum - a Shopify forum community and they all appreciated me with a token. After those experiences, I thought: why not? If I can help a few folks, why not many more? And that was the birth of Rankwisely.
In early 2019, I was made redundant by my then employer. It came as a rude shock and I felt rejected & upset for months. In hindsight, it was the tipping point that led me to pursue entrepreneurship. I bounced back by upskilling in Digital Marketing and as an analytical person was especially drawn to the field of Search Engine Optimisation. I immersed myself in learning all I could and started to volunteer my time for probono SEO projects. Soon after, I landed a job at an agency. After learning the ropes, I helped multiple clients achieve stellar results and grow their online brand via SEO. At this point, I felt confident in my ability to start a business. In 2020, just on the cusp of the Covid pandemic, I launched my SEO business. It's been one of the best decisions of my life and I haven't looked back since.
In the midst of a civil war in Libya, I found myself transitioning from a stable role as a telecom engineer with Huawei to the uncertainty of my hometown. This tumultuous phase ignited a revelation: the perils of relying solely on traditional employment. As I navigated this crossroads, my quest for online opportunities began. Initially lured by programming's allure, I quickly discerned its pitfalls - it felt like another salaried trap. But then, a glimmer of potential: monetizing websites. How? SEO was the answer. My passion ignited, I delved deep, encountering the transformative "Authority Hacker Site System" by industry legends, Gael and Mark. Gael's insights, coupled with valuable lessons from Ahrefs, sculpted my prowess in SEO. From the ashes of adversity, I emerged as an SEO expert, now commanding my own websites and aiding clients in their digital journeys.
My SEO story starts a long time ago, in fact even predating Google by a year. I was working for an engineering company and they asked me to make them a website - this was back in the day when having a website for your company was not that common. So, I learnt HTML, produced a site I was reasonably happy with and fired up the best search engine of the day Lycos.co.uk and was astonished to find that the site ranked in position 6 for the company name. This started my fascination with organic search - I had to know why it didn't rank number 1 and more importantly, how to get it there! I knew absolutely nothing about SEO (as did almost everybody else in the world at that time circa 1997) but I had to learn. Fast forward a lot of freelancing, working with web design companies and agencies, helping to form an agency in the UK before moving to the US, I started STOLBER Digital Marketing Agency January 2019. Its been a fun ride and is a great industry to work in.
Nowadays, You do not have to spend money if you want to learn any skill. Same went for me when I started my SEO Business. You can learn a lot if not all the basics through free videos and articles online. It takes time, effort and a bit of luck to rank high on search engines. I started with learning the basics like On-Page, Off-Page, and Technical SEO, Went into the full depth of each topic. While continuing my theoretical knowledge I was doing the practical simultaneously. Step by step guides are available on Youtube. It is expected from a SEO specialist to have adequate knowledge of Content creation, Coding, Graphic designing etc. I will suggest if you are new then start with On-Page(Including Technical) and then going ahead with off page. All this self effort gathered knowledge helped me boost my confidence to take live projects, and get the exposure. And to be fair you can never learn SEO completely you will have to keep learning with your experience, new articles, blog etc.
I was a digital marketing associate for an agency with a specialization in SEO. After doing this for a couple of years, I realized that "if I'm so good at SEO," I should start a meaningful project on my own. So I built a music school through digital marketing. My wife and I had masters degrees in music (I had changed careers), so I built a website, optimized it, built links, did PR and so forth, and after 11 months, we ranked #1 on Google for piano lesson terms in a major city. Then I launched https://www.musicstudiomarketing.com/, a search marketing service for music schools. I've worked with dozens of schools at this point. Now, in addition to music schools, I work with doctors, contractors, consultants, travel agencies and more through my private SEO business. Right now, I have 27 clients. I've grown my practice by starting lead gen websites long before I needed them to rank (letting it happen over time) and networking with talented developers - they always have SEO referrals.
I was in the second year of my engineer college (2017) when I started blogging using the free blogger platform. As a college student I was trying to identify ways to make money online and found that blogging is one of the ways. Out of curiosity I started publishing articles that I was studying in my college. Interestingly, the blog started getting visits across different countries - which fascinated me the most. Then started learning more about blogging and SEO. After 2 years of part time hustle in SEO and content writing, I then took SEO as a full-time role and since then there is no looking back. Currently, I am building an SEO team and in the time period, I have worked with 40+ clients all across the world.
My SEO business began with a passion for digital marketing and a determination to help businesses thrive online. Recognizing the growing importance of search engines, I immersed myself in learning SEO techniques. Starting small, I offered free services to friends and family, delivering impressive results. Word-of-mouth referrals expanded my client base, prompting me to formalize my business. I created a website showcasing my expertise and success stories. Social media and networking played a vital role, allowing me to connect with potential clients. By staying updated on industry trends and consistently delivering value, my business gained credibility. Hard work, dedication, and a commitment to client success laid the foundation for my SEO venture's remarkable growth.
I had worked at an agency for 4 years. They had me managing 40 clients and I was doing just about everything (managing content creation, coding, site edits, graphic design, link outreach, budgeting, reporting, etc.). The only thing the agency was really providing was clients for me to work on. I thought, "If I can just fill in the gap and create my own inbound funnel, I could really be running an SEO business myself". So I designed, wrote, and coded my own website. I then created a Google Business Profile, and started to conduct link building. It took about 3 months to start getting some inbound leads, but the first 3 inbound leads ended up being my first 3 clients. Those clients helped me quit my agency job. They're still clients with me now and the referrals they send has helped my grow my client base.
The SEO business started through a white label partnership with an established marketing agency. By collaborating with this agency, I gained access to their resources, expertise, and client base. This partnership enabled me to kickstart my SEO business quickly and efficiently. I focused on delivering high-quality SEO services while the agency handled other aspects such as sales, marketing, and client management. This strategic collaboration allowed me to establish a strong reputation in the industry and scale my operations rapidly. For example, I worked closely with the agency's existing clients, optimizing their websites and significantly improving their search rankings. Over time, as my business grew, I gradually transitioned to operating independently. The white label partnership was an unconventional yet effective approach that expedited my journey into the SEO business.
Hey there, ready for a journey into the world of starting your very own SEO business? Let's dive in and uncover the origin story that led you here! Picture this: It all began with a spark of curiosity and a dash of excitement. You found yourself captivated by the idea of helping businesses shine in the vast online landscape. So, armed with determination and an eagerness to learn, you embarked on a quest to become an SEO maestro. Think online courses, blogs galore, and expert advice – you soaked up knowledge like a sponge in a sea of digital wisdom. With each lesson, you felt more equipped to crack the SEO code and unlock the secrets of ranking high on search engines. So there you have it, the heartwarming origin story of your SEO venture. It all began with a sprinkle of curiosity, a dash of learning, and a whole lot of passion. Your journey continues, a tale of growth, adaptability, and a sprinkle of SEO stardust that's turning dreams into digital reality! 🚀🌟
I had worked in digital marketing for a number of years before I started my SEO business. By that point, I knew I had the technical skills to run the actual SEO side of things. I was looking to do something where I had greater control of the entire process and where I had a real investment in the business's success. I wanted to take control of my future. Obviously, this came with greater risks than working for somebody else, but the upside of being my own boss and having the opportunity to build a business from nothing was very appealing. I don't regret it at all.
Our Founder started an e-commerce venture aged 24, retailing large white goods online. He spent a lot of time learning and practising SEO on the website - this was before SEO was a well known marketing channel! The business grew very quickly and most of the success was on the back of the great Google rankings he achieved. The site ranked number 1 for hundreds of phrases, including “kitchen appliances” “cookers” and other high-volume search terms. After 3 years larger players entered the market, forcing prices down, and it became clear that there was little margin in the industry for a smaller business. So he started The SEO Works from a small office in Sheffield, using the knowledge he had built from that experience. The mission was to help other businesses to gain the traction he had achieved online. From there we have scaled, added structure, and experience over 14 years - growing to a team of over 90. But our mission remains the same - to get our clients online growth!
In 2009, I started a blog. By 2011, that blog had become one of the top SEO blogs in Eastern Europe. It brought in so much traffic that I was able to fully support myself from the income I made from that blog. So… I decided to start my first company. That same year, I sold it as a Ukrainian agency. And in 2012, I founded SeoProfy. Our team wrote about 200 blog posts per year on SEO. And by 2014, our hard work had paid off: the SeoProfy blog had become the #1 SEO blog in Eastern Europe. Today, our agency has a team of over 200 SEO specialists, working with clients across 45 countries, 12 languages and all time zones.
To start my SEO business, I initially offered pro bono SEO services to local businesses and nonprofits. By demonstrating my expertise and providing tangible results, I gained credibility and trust. These initial clients were so satisfied with the value I delivered that they referred me to others, helping me establish a solid client base. For example, I worked with a small non-profit organization to optimize their website and improve their search engine rankings. They saw a significant increase in organic traffic and online visibility. Impressed by the results, they referred me to other non-profits, leading to more clients and the foundation of my SEO business.
I started my SEO business with a passion for digital marketing and a keen understanding of search engine optimization's potential. Recognizing the growing demand for online visibility, I decided to offer my expertise to businesses looking to boost their online presence. As a result, I launched my own SEO agency, focusing on delivering tailored strategies, keyword research, content optimization, and link-building services. The journey began with a determination to help businesses thrive in the digital landscape, and that commitment remains at the core of our operations today.
After mastering SEO techniques for years as a hobbyist, I have this opportunity to turn my passion into a profession. Now I am armed with a deep understanding of algorithms and content strategies, I founded my SEO business. I began collaborating with small local businesses, ensuring that they get tangible results, which helped fuel my reputation. Over time, I’ve fine-tuned my skills, embraced industry shifts, and expanded my clientele. In the current situation, my overall journey from curiosity to expertise results from my zeal for relentless learning in the dynamic world of SEO.
As a CEO of an SEO business, the origin story of how I started my company is rooted in my passion for digital marketing and my belief in the power of SEO to drive significant results for businesses. The journey began when I worked as a digital marketing specialist for a reputable agency, where I honed my skills in various aspects of online marketing, including search engine optimization. During my time at the agency, I witnessed firsthand how SEO could transform struggling businesses into successful ventures by improving their online visibility and organic traffic. This experience sparked the idea of starting my own SEO business, where I could provide customized and result-driven solutions to help businesses thrive in the competitive digital landscape. To kickstart the venture, I conducted extensive research to understand the market demand and identify the unique value proposition I could offer.
In the beginning, I was just a humble content writer, scribbling out articles and blog posts for various clients. I enjoyed the work, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something more, something bigger I could tap into. As I started learning more about the digital world, I stumbled upon SEO - the art of optimizing content to rank higher on search engines. It was love at first sight. I began voraciously consuming every piece of information about SEO, and it wasn't long before I was implementing these strategies into my writing. The transformation was incredible. My content wasn't just readable; it was discoverable. That's when I knew I had found my calling. With a renewed sense of purpose, I launched my SEO business - and haven't looked back since.