SEO & PPC

My first "proper" job was through a PPC apprenticeship that eventually evolved into an SEO/PPC role instead, lasting for around a year and a half in total. This got my foot into the door of both fields, and it's been invaluable for not only my own projects (including this very website), but other jobs and freelance work I have taken on since then. As a side note, it also helped me shape the way I looked at advertising, social media and the internet as a whole, a personal experience that I'm glad to have had.

Pay-Per-Click Advertising

My SEO and PPC work began all the way back in 2017 with Ascent Digital, which also involved me taking all of the standard Google Partners-level PPC training for various ad-management tools (Google AdWords, Keyword Manager, etc). Google Partners was replaced by Academy for Ads/Skillshop, which I also re-took and passed in 2019.

My actual PPC experience covers quite a few different areas, and more than just the basics. I've worked on ad scheduling, created heatmaps, keyword and negative keyword research, the various Google ad networks and a range of different advertising techniques, such as remarketing.

The current qualifications I have in PPC-related fields are listed on my CV page and on my standalone CV document.

Search Engine Optimisation

During my time with Ascent, I was eventually moved from a purely-PPC role to one that combined a mixture of both Pay-Per-Click and Search Engine Optimisation duties. Because of this, I consider the two very closely linked, although SEO was the reason I found myself interested in educational and informative technical writing.

My SEO work involved creating specially-managed content for a range of businesses, some large (major clothing brands, national car dealerships) and some small (fancy dress websites, tourism groups). This also includes specialised subjects that required a lot of research, such as telematics (the equipment used in vehicle convoys) and niche plant care (growing and caring for long-lived olive trees).

​In each case, I made sure to get everything as accurate as possible, double-checking all my research and refusing to copy any wording from other documents unless there was no other way to form a particular phrase.

Ascent Group

During my time at Ascent Digital Media Group, some of the most noteworthy companies I worked with included:
  • Donaghys Shoes
  • Amtico International
  • Bespoke Interiors
  • Olive Grove
  • Victoria Plum
  • Total Water Solutions
  • Masternaut Fleet Telematics
Since the role with Ascent was also part of an apprenticeship, I also completed a full 67-page Occupational Breakdown document as part of my training. Although I wasn't able to complete the full apprenticeship due to scheduling problems (I couldn't find another role before the test date), I still earned all of my training, which included a Level 4 award from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

Freelancing Work

Companies I have worked with as a freelance copywriter and/or regular content writer include:
  • GetMediaWise

Companies I have worked with as a freelance SEO and PPC assistant/advisor/etc include:
  • The Ink Spot (Newbiggin-by-the-Sea)