Welcome to the third series of the untitled SEO podcast, hosted by Andrew Laws of Yeseo. In this live action networking series, we're diving deep into conversations with SEO professionals, learning from their experiences and insights. This episode features a special guest, Matt Dickinson, who shares his journey into the freelance SEO world.
#### Key Points Discussed:
- **Matt's Freelance Journey:** Matt Dickinson talks about his transition into full-time freelance SEO work, detailing how what started as a favor for a friend snowballed into a successful freelance career.
- **The SEO Industry's Challenges:** Both Andrew and Matt discuss the common pitfalls within the SEO industry, including the issue of sales teams making unrealistic promises and the importance of maintaining integrity and setting correct expectations with clients.
- **The Value of Personal Connection:** Andrew emphasizes the significance of personal connections and the personality of the agency's team in retaining and satisfying clients, highlighting Matt's success as living proof of this principle.
- **Freelance Challenges and Opportunities:** Matt and Andrew explore the nuances of freelance work, from the initial struggles to the benefits of being able to select clients and work on terms that align with personal values and schedules.
- **Navigating Client Expectations:** A significant portion of the discussion revolves around managing client expectations, especially the unrealistic ones set by the industry at large. Both guests share their experiences and strategies for dealing with such challenges.
- **LinkedIn Strategies and Personal Branding:** Matt shares his approach to leveraging LinkedIn for generating work and establishing a strong personal brand. He stresses the importance of authenticity and engaging genuinely with the audience.
- **SEO Misconceptions and Strategies:** The conversation delves into common SEO misconceptions, the importance of content quality over gaming the system, and the evolving landscape of SEO strategies in response to Google's updates.
#### Conclusion:
The episode wraps up with a reflection on the enriching and insightful conversation, with plans to reconnect in the future for further discussions. Andrew and Matt highlight the importance of authenticity, integrity, and the human element in SEO and freelance work.
