Celebrating 7 Years of Learning and Growing as a Freelance SEO Consultant
What does it take to succeed as a freelance SEO consultant? As I look back on my seven years in the industry, I've realised that it's all about persistence, dedication, and a willingness to learn and grow. This journey as a freelance/consultant/business owner has been an incredible ride, full of challenges, successes, and most importantly, the support of my clients, colleagues and friends.
Although I’m still not exactly sure which job title I should use after all this time, I thought I’d take you on a trip down memory lane and share with you some insights about this journey.
To celebrate this milestone, I took my partner and friends out for a very French evening at a local wine bar. 🍷
Photo credit: Julie Capon
Back in 2016, I started working as a digital marketer for international markets in Paris. I was excited to learn more about the field and make a difference in the industry. The same week I started working there, I got my first client and started freelancing on the side. At the time, I was doing a bit of everything, testing the waters, and working a couple of evenings and weekends here and there.
After two years of hard work, my freelancing business brought me enough income to consider a different lifestyle. This meant that I could work from anywhere in the world, on my own terms, and make a living out of it! So my partner and I left Paris to travel around Europe, and set base in Strasbourg 3 years ago.
The first years were not easy, and this job is still pretty challenging. I can’t say I’m the worst boss I ever had, but I’m certainly not the kindest! As a independent consultant, I had to work hard to establish myself and build a reputation in the industry - as well as learning about the intricaties of admin life. I spent countless hours researching and experimenting with different SEO techniques, watching webinars, reading blog posts or newsletters and traveling to conferences to make sure my clients were getting the best service possible. With persistence and dedication, I slowly began to build a loyal client base, to attract fun projects to work on, and to grow confident in my skills as an SEO consultant.
Over the years, I've had the privilege of working with some amazing clients, from small startups to large corporations, businesses or agencies, and from all over the world. I've helped them improve their website rankings, increase their online visibility, and ultimately, grow their businesses. I've also had the opportunity to collaborate with some incredible colleagues in the industry, who have challenged me to learn and grow as a consultant.
I have always strived to be as transparent as possible with all my clients, setting realistic expectations and creating solid SEO strategies that stand the test of time.
My consulting path even lead me to start sharing my knowledge a couple years ago, whether by teaching classes to students or speaking at conferences.
Of course, there have been challenges along the way as well. The SEO landscape is constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices is a never-ending task. But I've always been passionate about this field, and I've always been willing to put in the work to stay ahead of the curve (hello AI!)
As I celebrate my 7th anniversary as a freelance SEO consultant, I'm proud of what I've accomplished, but I'm also excited about what's yet to come. I'm constantly learning and growing as a consultant.
Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey, from my clients and colleagues to my partner, friends, and family. I couldn't have done it without your support, and I look forward to many more years of growth and success in this amazing field.
PS: Mom and Dad, I think I turned out to be an actual business owner!
Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey as a freelance SEO consultant. If you're in need of SEO consulting services or have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me through my website or social media channels. Let's work together to take your business to the next level!
