2012 has been an exciting year. Bas van den Beld asked the State of Search bloggers what our highlights have been for 2012. I started thinking what my greatest achievements have been this year and what my plans are for 2013.
1) Working for SEO Jo
I have been working freelance for just over two years and one year full time. I spent the first 3 months of 2012 in Australia, staying with my sister Ruth and her husband Matt (who both took part in the 20km Rottnest swim). I worked for a search agency in Perth, WA, helping them with some of their key accounts. I also did some freelance SEO work for a couple of agencies in London. I really enjoyed working across different accounts, in the different cities.
2) Blogger for State of Search
After being introduced to Bas by Anna Lewis at SMX London, I suggested I interview SEOs during my 31 day tour of Europe. I wanted to combine work and travel and share it with others and I interviewed 16 SEOs on State of Search. After the success of the Euro roadshow which also coincided with the Euro football, I was invited to blog for State of Search. Since then I have continued to meet other SEOs and was fortunate to go to SMX New York in October and Brighton SEO blogging for State of Search.
3) Search London grows to over 1,000 members
The Search London meetup group I took over from in October 2010, saw its member numbers nearly double in 2012. The last meetup, taking place on 27th of November had the highest numbers of 291 RSVPs to date. Every meetup, the number of attendees increase and now we have speakers asking to talk at the events instead of me going out to find new presenters. The last Search London event, I had a Search London organising team. It is a lot of work to put on an event (but I enjoy it) and therefore more hands were needed to make sure the meetups continued to run smoothly.
4) Guest posting
I was really pleased that my post on Google Local was published on SEOmoz. It did not make the SEOmoz blog, but that takes time, 2013 will be the year for me to work on more posts for SEOmoz. I was honoured to be asked my opinion on what 2013 has in store for search. The experts’ opinion for next year was put together by Clarissa, a fellow State of Search blogger who also works for Linkdex. I was also asked to write for the Koozai blog and following on from my tour round Europe, I wrote one about “how to begin working in international SEO“.
5) Travel blogging
I am passionate about search and travel. I set up a travel blog last year and have been writing a lot about my travels round Europe, Australia and the United States. I have also been working with Rick Jeffries, the owner of Global Good Group and we have set up Global Travel Hunter, a travel site which has tips and recommendations on places to visit all over the world.
So what is install for 2013? I have relocated to Australia and will be working in Sydney in the New Year. If you or your company are looking for freelancers or even full time members of staff to join your SEO team, feel free to contact SEO Jo. I will also continue to blog for State of Search, taking part in the Australia Roadshow, meeting fellow SEOs in Australia. Please get in touch with me if you would like to be interviewed.
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.