SEO

10 Women In SEO & Marketing On How To #BreakTheBias

On this International Women’s Day, Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) is a high priority.

why? Well, women are expected to make up 47.2% of the workforce by 2024.

However, there is still a long way to go for the gender pay gap. Only women were paid 82.6% of the average man as of the first quarter of 2021, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

International Women’s Day focuses on a specific message each year, and this time around #BreakTheBias.

Employers cannot rely on their teams to naturally promote diversity, equity, and inclusion on their own.

It is up to each of us, from the front lines to the leadership, to actively speak out about sexism, discrimination, and stereotypes wherever and whenever we see them.

What else can you do to foster an inclusive culture in your organization—especially if it wasn’t an area of ​​focus before?

And how can you, as a woman in industry, combat bias in work relationships and attitudes?

These women in the field of SEO and marketing have some tips to share with you.

some of the hadeethShow SEO: Women are making wavesA panel discussion I attended, while others were shared with SEJ via email.

I hope each one inspires you to find creative ways to break down prejudice when you see it – and to learn more about it as it happens.


Know the value of your skills

Julie Adams, Affiliate SEO

Women are sometimes used as a barrier in industry or in meetings.

Sometimes women are seen as bloggers or a body double without offering any value to the conversation.

I busted my ass for 5-6 years learning SEO at an agency, managing 80-90 clients. Affiliate marketing has been my way of making money without having to deal with clients.

I am able to make money based on my skills not my customer retention skills.

You have to exude confidence.”


You determine what you think you deserve. Then double it.

Baby Raven, Baby BuzzBaby Crow from Bibibuzz.

Worried about asking for a raise or that your worry rate might scare off a potential customer?

“When showing your work to potential clients, try to be as transparent as possible. Show them, ‘This is how I work, this is what you get, and manage expectations from there.’”

I keep everything on my website so potential clients know what to expect. From there, send them a survey to see if they are a good fit.

You determine what you think you deserve, then double it.

People sometimes see rising rates as a life-or-death situation. It’s amazing if you raise your price, you get better customers.”


Learn about the non-negotiables

Cassandra Low, Twisted Pineapple StudioCassandra Lou from Quirky Pineapple Studio

“Removing gender is a great start to inclusivity when writing. Refer to people as people.

With the way the world is currently moving, it’s best to be thorough. There are a lot of people who identify with different races, and they are more in line with who they are.

The more inclusive you are, the larger the audience you can reach.

If you’re a freelancer, sometimes your values ​​don’t align with your clients’ ideology or language. So think about what are the non-negotiables.

Sometimes there are values ​​that can be negotiated or flexible depending on the situation.

Sometimes it’s best to end the relationship with a client if they breach your non-negotiables.”


Get used to women in search engine optimization (SEO)

Mary Yessis, control your ratingsMary Lysis

To be successful in SEO, consistency is key.

Stubbornness is another quality that must be possessed. You can’t give up and you have to want to keep going, no matter what.

Having a support system is very beneficial in this industry because you have a safe group of people to talk to, who you know will support you.

Sometimes clients feel like they know more than you, but they hire you. If I can’t run the show because they do it their own way, I part with them immediately.

We need to speak up and be ourselves. Let’s get used to women in these situations and taking up space.”


Speak up and share your expertise

Kyle Larkin, Marketing Analytics ConsultantKyle Larkin

“I used a male pseudonym earlier in my career. I was young in space and it was tough.

I also hid behind the name of my agency. When I started my own business, I didn’t want to be the face of the company.

The people I work with now want to work with me because of my skills. My alter ego wasn’t respected at the start of my own business as much as it is today.

Sometimes what you think you intend to do actually provides the opposite effect.

Don’t be taking notes. Be the speaker.

You will tremble, your heart will pound, but the more you talk and show your experience, the more people will trust you and stop questioning everything you have to say.


Challenge your biases – we all have them

Chiara d’Ambra, ClearbearChiara d'Ambra from Clearbear

“A gender balance and workforce diversity is important, because the more diverse the group, the more wisdom it contains.

Everyone has assumptions and biases, it’s human nature. Unfortunately, it is not healthy and beneficial.

This is why awareness is so important.

Whenever I fall into a bias, I try to switch points of view and have a rational view of things.

When someone has a bias towards me, I try not to take it personally.”


Own your mistakes and actively move your career forward

Alina Dobrzinsky, Spyke Media GmbHAlina Dobrzinsky from Spyke Media GmbH

“If you stand behind your work with passion and creativity, you can achieve anything. Always follow your goals.”

When we are aware of our strengths and weaknesses, we can better adapt to different circumstances and situations.

We can only fully exploit our potential if we dare and are not afraid to take responsibility.

Every woman should actively influence her career rather than waiting for others to do so. We don’t have to be perfect as long as we do our best.

Don’t let setbacks or bad decisions lower your self-esteem. Everyone makes mistakes, including men.

Stand by your resolutions and show passion for the job.

Be confident and open to learning new things, because in order to continue to be successful in marketing, you must keep in mind that technical understanding is increasingly required.

Always create an overview and stay on top of things, and don’t be afraid to confront.”


Find your mentors

Yuliana Popa, ads and moreYuliana Popa ads and more

“If you want a job in tech, start as early as possible. Be flexible and do the best you can.

Pursue your idea no matter what and seek advice from people who have started something similar or who have achieved what you want to achieve.

And always remember that nothing is perfect and it doesn’t have to be: Problems happen, and good things too.

It’s always a smart idea to have someone who knows technology on your side: it could be a tech person you hire, a good tech solution, or a tech consultant.

This is the industry of today and that is why it is so fickle.”


Go where your talents are appreciated

Oleksandra Gipsh, ApptrustOleksandra Gipsh from Apptrust

I think the best advice I could give my younger self is – don’t be afraid to speak up.

Often, our fears of being judged or misunderstood prevent us from contributing our opinion. I think this advice comes with the phrase “don’t doubt yourself” too.

All ideas are valuable and all ideas are worth hearing – and if your work environment doesn’t value your input – you may be in the wrong place.

I am happy and proud to work in an environment that welcomes ideas – processes there must be changed and developed.

The source of my energy at work are people.

Seeing our team succeed, seeing trainees grow professionally – is what makes me happy at work.

I think my main priority was building a real team and I love seeing how people connect and create real connections at work.


Shatter your glass ceiling

Yogita Chinani, SwarmYogita Chinani from Swarm

“Confidence and self-confidence are the main qualities that I would attribute to success in any industry.

Women can be held back for various reasons, including a lack of recognition and trust from colleagues and peers – but also because of their self-doubt.

My most important advice to them is to shatter the glass ceiling of social norms and mentalities and flaunt their self-confidence.

Nobody else will believe in them if they don’t believe in themselves.


Thank you to each and every one of the women listed above for participating in this campaign and advocating for DEI in the workplace!

We have a lot of work to do together.

The organizers of IWD 2022 are asking women to do the following this year:

“Hit at IWD 2022 and #BreakTheBias share a photo, video, resources, presentation or articles on social media using #IWD2022 #BreakTheBias to encourage more people to commit to helping create an inclusive world.”

You can learn more about IWD-accredited charities, fundraising activities, and cause-related marketing at www Official Website.

More resources:

  • Women in SEO: How to know your worth, negotiate raises and more
  • I’m a Woman SEO: How to Create My Own Seat at the Table
  • Link building questions and answers with experts in marketing and search engine optimization

Featured image: Shutterstock/Southworks

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