Marcus Howling, the SEO Doctor, is a SEO strategist at Amuse Digital. As one of the largest full-service digital marketing firms in Houston, the company has the ability to help you increase your online visibility. Marcus excels at on-page optimization, natural link building, keyword research, and analysis.
Please introduce yourself and where you work.
Marcus Howling, (The SEO Dr.) 34 year old SEO Strategist at Amuse Digital. I have been in the industry for 5 years. I am Google Analytics and Link Research Tools Certified. My favorite SEO tools are SpyFu, Link Research Tools, Screaming Frog, and WebCEO.
How do you think SEO has changed over the last 10 years?
SEO hasn’t changed it has evolved and will continue to grow as platforms change and black hat SEO’s learn new tricks. With that being said, to me, the biggest shift in the past ten years, has been with the inclusion of Google’s “Mobilegeddon” update.
The reason being, this change also brings other concerns because devices are getting smaller and voice search is starting to dominate the market. This transition is creating a new challenge for marketers like myself. While pushing us to be more creative on less space, we also have to think more about what’s next.
The reason being, this change also brings other concerns because devices are getting smaller and voice search is starting to dominate the market. This transition is creating a new challenge for marketers like myself. While pushing us to be more creative on less space, we also have to think more about what’s next.
How did you get introduced to digital marketing, more specifically SEO?
This career path was truly an accident for me. While studying for my Master’s degree in Business from Full Sail, I stumbled across an internet marketing program. I knew the shift to digital was well upon us and having a website was something any business looking for continued success needed, so I started taking more classes.
While in the program they briefly, and I do mean briefly ran through the different phases of digital marketing and website optimization. I learned about SEO and PPC, then shortly after completing the program got my first freelance client for SEO. Since then I haven’t looked back. Became a sponge for knowledge and started researching agency life because it truly takes a team to implement and manage the different aspects of digital marketing efficiently.
While in the program they briefly, and I do mean briefly ran through the different phases of digital marketing and website optimization. I learned about SEO and PPC, then shortly after completing the program got my first freelance client for SEO. Since then I haven’t looked back. Became a sponge for knowledge and started researching agency life because it truly takes a team to implement and manage the different aspects of digital marketing efficiently.
What are the services you provide to your clients?
Here at Amuse, we are a full-service agency which means we offer everything under the marketing sun. Those include the following and are not limited to: SEO, PPC, SEM, CRO, User Experience, Branding, Social Media Marketing (Including You Tube), Content Marketing, Video Marketing, Email, and traditional Print advertising. We are not limited because of the size and knowledge of our team you can literally work with Amuse for all your marketing needs.
What strategy according to you will prevail in 2017 for SEO?
This question is always interesting to me because there really isn’t an amazing answer. Success in SEO is more about what you don’t get involved in than it is what you are actually doing. Companies who do not engage in black hat techniques will normally see gradual levels of growth over time unless they manage to create that ever so impossible viral content.
Best thing I can recommend is don’t cheat the system. Build a highly optimized website that follows Google best practices while catering to your end user with engaging useful content on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The more quality content the better. The key in that last sentence being “quality.” Tip: use a 360 marketing approach if you have the budget, implement paid techniques with SEO to help your business grow faster.
Best thing I can recommend is don’t cheat the system. Build a highly optimized website that follows Google best practices while catering to your end user with engaging useful content on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. The more quality content the better. The key in that last sentence being “quality.” Tip: use a 360 marketing approach if you have the budget, implement paid techniques with SEO to help your business grow faster.
What would your advice be to people who are looking to take up digital marketing as a career choice?
Do it. Digital marketing is the new wave. I know Amuse is under Hearst, one of the largest traditional print companies but the reality is, digital marketing is taking over. Why do you think they have invested energy in buying companies like Amuse?
Also, don’t expect to learn everything in school, a lot of collegiate programs are just now catching up to this digital era so use the internet to research and read all the digital magazines. Follow and read top influences like myself to get a step ahead of the competition.
Also, don’t expect to learn everything in school, a lot of collegiate programs are just now catching up to this digital era so use the internet to research and read all the digital magazines. Follow and read top influences like myself to get a step ahead of the competition.