About Me
I began my organic marketing career “by accident” in the mid-2010s. While originally pursuing a career as a television writer, I woke up one day broke, with no real prospects of employment, and realized it was time to make some decisions. As a Crew Member at a nearby Trader Joe’s, I managed to save money and put myself through an advertising program at SVA. It seemed that copywriting at an ad agency was in my sights…but life had other plans.
I struggled to secure so much as a cup of coffee with anyone who worked at an agency in New York. With a little bit of research (a common theme aligned with my professionalism), I discovered the hottest job market for creative professionals was in Austin, Texas. Off I went! Within a few months, I landed a role at a software company with a blossoming in-house marketing department, and the rest is history.
Today, as I evolve as a marketer, so too does organic search beyond what we know as traditional SEO. I have over a decade of experience and have witnessed search marketing mature into its current state. What’s kept me afloat in this new frontier of SEO, GEO, and organic marketing in general is a naturally ingrained curiosity about what my clients do and who they are, combined with the comfort of research and data analysis, and topped off with the innate human function of being competitive. If my client’s competitors are performing well, I want my client to perform better. If my client’s competitors are lacking somewhere in the organic space, I go to work!
To elaborate, I find that I take pride in my ability to discover otherwise overlooked opportunities. This entails more than keyword research fueled by search intent and more than technical SEO housekeeping, both of which are strengths of mine. By “overlooked opportunities, ”I’m referring to content strategies that reinforce my clients as authorities in their field. I’m referring to building a large and looming presence with local SEO efforts. I’m referring to optimized YouTube channels, leveraging Google Business Profiles, and even UX enhancements such as interactive infographics or cost calculators to boost engagement with a site.
As with any marketing professional, I’ve adapted to the world around me, working with, instead of fighting against, change. I’ve executed effective strategies that netted clients placement in AI Overviews and generated answers in LLM-driven searches by users. I am unafraid of AI tools and know when to lean on them to reach my marketing goals.
Throughout any campaign, no matter the industry a client is in, I balance the analytical with the creative. I pore over the data, recognize patterns, identify problems where there may be solutions, and strategize accordingly. At the end of the day, it’s all about performance and progress. Once familiar with the data, I set forth on applying my fine-tuned ability to creatively problem-solve. It begins with understanding the audience, what they’re looking for, and how we provide that info for them. Simply put: Data can tell me what is happening. Creativity helps me figure out what to do about it.
In my spare time, I like to watch movies from all eras of all genres. I made sure my Sling TV package included TCM, and I am a proud, card-carrying member of Regal Unlimited, so I never miss anything at the theater. I love to cook at home and once created a recipe for turkey chili that netted me second place in a local cook-off! I’m also known to partake in improv and sketch comedy on stage and as a writer. How do all of these tie into my marketing? With an SEO campaign, there’s always a story to tell, much like the first, second, and third act of a movie. With cooking, sometimes you don’t need to change anything, but rather, find that one ingredient to enhance a dish, much like an addition to a website or digital presence. And with improv comedy? I’ve never been more at ease speaking to clients or presenting decks.
Going forward, what I want most out of my career is the ability to keep growing, keep collaborating, and keep strategizing!