How Hannah Wells and I Worked on My SEO Strategy

At this point , I've officially gone from assigning the Off Campus characters marketing roles to imagining what would happen if they actually worked on my blog with me. Naturally, the first person I had to recruit was Hannah Wells.

Unfortunately for me, Hannah takes SEO very seriously.

I , on the other hand, tend to start my blogging process with a random idea and hope for the best.

So, our first meeting probably wouldn't go smoothly.

"So , Wellsy. I have a blog post idea," I tell her.

"Great", Hannah says. "What's the keyword?"

I stare at her.

"The what?"

She closes her eyes. The meeting is already off to a great start.

While I'm explaining my latest content idea , Hannah is already opening her spreadsheet.

A spreadsheet.

There are tabs- multiple tabs.

I don't trust it.

"Okay," she says. "Who are you writing this for?"

I laugh and joke- "People Hannah."

She just looks at me with that I'm done with you look.

She pauses and inhales. "Anisha".

I smirk. "Yes Hannah"?

She laughs. "That is not a target audience girl!"

Because according to Wellsy here, "everyone" is not a valid SEO strategy.

Who knew?

A few minutes later she's showing me keyword research.

Meanwhile, I'm daydreaming about the Briar U hockey team- because the next person that I'm working alongside is a hockey player from the team.

Hannah just shakes her head at me. "Anisha. Focus".

I look at her. "I am focusing Hannah. On the next client for the UGC portfolio".

Hannah laughs and says "Who? Mr 22 aka John Logan?".

My mouth widens. "Hannah! Just work on the SEO stuff with me. We can discuss this after lunch".

Hannah notes something down. I think it may be along the lines of never working with me again.

As the day goes on, I become more serious with SEO.

According to Miss Hannah Wells here, people search things with a purpose. They're looking for answers.

Solutions.

Information.

Not just random thoughts that appeared in someones brain at 2 AM.

She meant me. And suddenly, I feel attacked.

"Hannah. What do you mean that I can't title it "Random Thoughts I Have While Watching TV"? I ask.

"Because no one cares what thoughts you have. Especially about Mr-" she laughs.

"Stop there right now no one needs to know that! Now on SEO not off SEO!" I go red in the face.

She laughs looking at my red face and we work on SEO.

It's at this point that I realise Hannah and I approach blogging very differently.

I start with creativity.

She starts with strategy.

I want to write first and organise later.

She wants a plan before a single word is written.

Surprisingly, though, the combination starts working .

While Hannah helps me figure out keywords, headings , and content structure. I focus on making sure the post still sounds like me. Because one thing I have learned is that SEO isn't about removing personality from your content.

It's about helping people find it.

By the end of the day, we have a finished plan.

The keyword is chosen.

The heading makes sense.

Everything seems organised and Hannah looks pleased with what we came up with.

I still don't tell her that my ideas are still coming from random conversations and TV shows.

3 Minutes Later...

As I'm packing up my notes, Hannah looks at me from across the table.

"So, what's your keyword for tomorrow's post?"

I immediately stand up.

"Nope. Meeting's over."

Hannah laughs.

I gather my things as quickly as possible before she can ask any more SEO-related questions.

For someone so organised, she asks a lot of difficult questions.

As I leave the room, I turn the corner and accidentally walk straight into someone.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!"

The person steadies me before I can completely embarrass myself.

"It's okay."

I look up.

And immediately forget what I was about to say.

Hannah, who has now witnessed this entire interaction, suddenly becomes very interested in pretending she's not watching.

I glance back at her.

She says absolutely nothing.

Not a single word.

Just a knowing smile.

Which is somehow worse.

I clear my throat and try to act normal.

Keyword: try.

"You're... him."

The stranger raises an eyebrow.

"Him?"

I mentally cringe.

Excellent start, Anisha.

I try again.

"John Logan. You're John Logan, right?"

"Depends who's asking."

I can practically hear Hannah trying not to laugh behind me.

I decide to ignore her.

"You're here for help with your UGC portfolio, right?"

Logan nods.

"That's the plan."

"Perfect."

I immediately switch into professional mode.

Or at least what I hope looks like professional mode.

"Follow me."

As we walk away, I can feel Hannah's eyes on me.

I refuse to turn around.

Because I already know exactly what expression she's wearing.

And I am not giving her the satisfaction.