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1,061 viewsDavid Hunter, Managing Partner of full-service Pennsylvania website design and digital marketing firm Epic Web Studios, has demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit since he was about 12 years old. Growing up in Erie, PA and living in other parts of the country has given David an aptitude for understanding how local business translates to both the regional and the national stage. He brought this knowledge to Epic Web Studios when he and Shaun Rajewski opened it in 2009.
David also serves on advisory panels and boards for a few private companies in PA. His ability to synthesize complex data and information is key to the successful development of client projects and the advancement of organizations throughout Pennsylvania.
How do you think SEO has changed over the last 10 years?
Google, and others, are much more intelligent ten years later. They are faster, more lean and far more powerful than ever-before. As a result, they’ve really cracked down on spammy tactics like keyword stuffing and link farms. This makes the web a lot less like the ‘Wild West’ it once was, and the average user is having a much better experience because of these new policies and better technologies. Do you remember what the Google SERP looked like even just five years ago in 2011, let alone ten?! I remember how thrilling it was to look for our little Pennsylvania website design and internet marketing business on Google back then. The SERP’s showed images with almost every result, it was great! I still have a screenshot from back then (here: https://www.epicwebstudios.com/uploads/Google-SERP-in- 2011.png ). In looking at it today, I am definitely happy they moved toward the “material design” look. Oh yeah, I am pretty sure these things called “mobile devices” are now gaining some traction, too, haha 🙂
How did you get introduced to digital marketing, more specifically SEO?
I got started almost by accident. I had a degree in business administration and marketing, but was not putting it to use. One night I was picking up some dinner at a restaurant I worked in during my undergrad. One of the regulars recognized me, recalled my marketing degree and mentioned needing a website. Having never written a line of code my response was, of course, “Yes I can probably figure that out!”. Later that night my buddy told me I should speak o his neighbor, Shaun Rajewski. Shaun was young but knew how to write code. We decided to split the earnings and take the project for some side money. From there, I was hooked. I started calling everyone I knew and selling new websites left and right. Before you knew it, we were a real company and Epic Web Studios was born. With a few clients under our umbrella, we quickly realized a top-notch website is useless if no one can find it! That was the birth of the SEO team and the Digital Marketing Department. Today, almost ten years later, we are still a strictly digital agency with Website Design + Development, Paid + Organic SEO and Digital Marketing as the three core departments.
What are the services you provide to your clients?
Website Development Website Design Search Engine Optimization Google AdWords Creation & Managment Facebook Ads Creation & Management Digital Marketing Strategy & Management Content Marketing Copy Writing Mobile Websites App Development(iOS and Android) Photography Video Production Email Marketing & Strategy Website Hosting Pennsylvania Web, SEO & Digital Marketing Epic Web Studios · [email protected] · 901 French Street Erie, PA · 814.746.6987 www.EpicWebStudios.com
What strategy according to you will prevail in 2017 for SEO?
Depending on your organization, there are a few areas of focus for 2018. Everyone needs to stress maximum site speeds, strong content, responsive design security (SSL Everywhere) and a great link strategy. Local business, however, really need to look at their Local SEO Strategy. Having a really great Google My Business listing with really hard-hitting citations and structured data is more critical than ever. Review management has also become one of the best things a local brand can implement to help with its visibility.
What would your advice be to people who are looking to take up digital marketing as a career choice?
This world is consistently changing, often unannounced. Be sure to always stay current with your strategy. Never stop learning and find a method to determine tried-and-true vs. latest-and-greatest because there is nothing worse than steering a client to the new shiny object only to have it fail miserably
(think: “The ‘new’ MySpace”; remember that? haha).
(think: “The ‘new’ MySpace”; remember that? haha).
Learning about David Hunter, the managing partner of Epic Web Studios, his background and vision for Epic Web Studios has not only increased my admiration for their work but has also inspired me in my own entrepreneurial journey. Thanks for sharing this valuable glimpse into David’s world.