- Country of Origin: Kenya
I believe in the power of education and self-education.Â
Buckle up, for this journey isn’t just about SEO; it’s about defying limitations, embracing the unknown, and proving that, with unwavering will, anything is within reach.
My journey started in a small village called Mbita Point. I grew up in this little Kenyan hamlet that sits on the eastern shore of Lake Victoria.
It is a remote fishing village where computers did not exist, let alone the internet. I knew nothing about them, but I was always curious and eager to learn new things.
My first steps
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This is how it all began. When I was 18, I moved to our Kenyan capital, Nairobi, to attend college. I was majoring in business and was interested in learning more about marketing and advertising. One day, while browsing the internet, I came across the term “SEO.” I had never heard of SEO before, but I was intrigued by the idea of being able to help businesses grow their audience by ranking higher in website search results.
I started doing some research on this fascinating topic. I read books, articles, and blog posts, and also watched online tutorials. I quickly realized that SEO was a complex and ever-changing field, but I was determined to learn as much as possible.Â
I began playing around with what I was learning on a friend’s website. I optimized the website by including relevant keywords and wrote blog posts that were informative and engaging. Within a few months, I began to see results. This website started to rank higher in search engine results, and more people were visiting it.Â
I dared launch my own turbine
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I was so motivated and excited by my success that I launched my own SEO consulting business. I started by helping my friends and family with their businesses. I also offered my services to local businesses and owners who needed traffic on their websites.
Quickly, word spread about the new magician in town, someone who could make potential buyers “walk” into your website and make purchases. My clientele list grew rapidly. I helped businesses of all sizes improve their online visibility. I also started writing articles and blog posts about SEO. I evolved into a well-known expert in the field.
Today, I am a successful SEO consultant. I have helped dozens of businesses boost their online visibility and I am now a regular speaker at industry events. I am passionate about helping businesses succeed online, and I am always looking for new ways to improve my skills.Â
My takeaways for you
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How did I overcome the challenges of self-education? I will share that self-educating is not easy. It requires a lot of motivation, discipline, and perseverance. Along the way, I faced many difficulties and pitfalls that tested my resolve and my confidence.
Take the inevitable challenges in stride. One big challenge was finding reliable and up-to-date sources of information. SEO is a dynamic and competitive field, and the best practices and strategies change frequently. I had to constantly update my knowledge and skills to keep up with the latest trends and developments. I also had to be careful about the quality and credibility of the information that I found online. There are many sources of misinformation and outdated advice that can harm your SEO efforts.
To overcome this, I used a mix of tools and methods to find and verify the information that I needed. I used Bing to search for relevant and authoritative websites, blogs, and articles. I used Google Scholar to find academic and scientific papers on SEO. I subscribed to newsletters and podcasts from reputable SEO experts and SEO agencies. I also joined online communities and forums where I could ask questions and learn from other SEO professionals and enthusiasts.Â
Another challenge for me was balancing my time and energy between self-education and other aspects of my life. Self-education can be exhausting, especially when you must juggle it with work, family, and social obligations. I often felt overwhelmed and stressed by the amount of work that I had to do and the deadlines that I had to meet.
With time, I learned to prioritize and manage my time and energy more effectively. I used a calendar and a to-do list to plan and schedule my tasks. I set realistic and specific goals and deadlines for myself. I also used a time-management app to break down my work into manageable chunks and intervals.
I made sure to take breaks and reward myself for completing my tasks. I also outsourced some of the work that I could not do or did not enjoy doing.
Who wants to learn?
Anyone who wants to learn needs to have a passion for learning. I started with no knowledge of computers or the internet, but I learned the nuts and bolts of SEO and turned my understanding of it into a successful business. I believe that if I can do it, probably anyone can.Â
To all those interested in embarking on their educational journey, you could stop worrying about where to start. Multiple resources are available: books, articles, blog posts, and online tutorials. You can also find more knowledge through workshops and seminars. The most important things are to start learning and never give up. Education is a complex but rewarding journey. Once you start traveling on its roadway you will achieve your goals. For this, you must be willing to harness and sustain your relentless effort.Â
So what are you waiting for?
Thank you to Tripti Mund, Yosef Baskin and Emily Delnick for their inspired edits on this piece.
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Maurice Kirindoh
Maurice Kirindoh is a certified SEO specialist and a Search Engine Optimization Society member. His services address business owners who want to improve their website’s search engine ranking. He is also a regular contributor to industry publications, has been featured in several online and print media outlets, and is a member of Documentation and Technical Writing Management on LinkedIn. He worked as a volunteer at Boychild International, where he helped youth develop their skills and talents.
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