Category: Written Interviews

What is the name of your company?

1st In SEO   

https://www.1stinseo.com/

What got you interested in starting your own digital marketing company? Share your story

We stumbled into this unexpectedly. Our friend and fellow firefighter (myself and my business partner work for a large metropolitan fire department in the Southwestern United States) had started a number of successful businesses his latest venture was an SEO company. Fortunately for us he prefers starting businesses to running them so he sold us the company last year. I’m also very fortunate that my business partner Jerrad has a very deep understanding of all the technical intricacies of on-page SEO and front and backend web development.

What types of strategies are you using today to help your clients rank their businesses on Google?

We focus on great content, user friendly websites, building quality backlinks, getting sites optimized for Accelerated Mobile Pages and building our clients presence on social media. Keyword research is also important but not in the conventional sense, we’ve been focusing on voice search and looking at keywords from a customer centered perspective. Basically trying to imagine how a customer would search for your clients products or services as well as ancillary products or services the client offers.

How have you gone about finding new clients? Do most come through word of mouth or do you advertise your services elsewhere?

Most of our new clients come from customer referrals and organic search. We spend almost nothing on marketing other than occasionally boosting posts on Facebook. Lately we’ve been getting quiet a number of customer inquires from Instagram.  

What tools do you use to organize client tasks and stay organized within your agency? 

Staying organized can be difficult, Jarred has a ton of different apps he uses too many to even mention. I tend to write everything down in a notebook. We use Slack, DropBox, Evernote, FreshBooks, Stack Overflow, HootSuite, just to name a few.  We tend to be very organized and efficient just based on our backgrounds.

What is the #1 challenge you face today when it comes to productivity, task management and getting more work done for your clients?

The number one challenge is probably cell phones, responding to emails and social media. Although social media is part of our work its easy to get distracted. I try really hard to do things in batches, so for instance I will set a timer for 30 minutes  and just respond to emails or comments and DMs on social, otherwise I will put my phone on airplane mode and get the work done I need to accomplish. I also tend wake up pretty earlier usually around 5 am, just a habit from being in the Army. I find waking up early gives me a few hours to exercise, read or code, work on business stuff, ect.  Jerrad on the other hand works best in the evening, everybody is different.

What are your future plans for 2017 and beyond with your company? 

Artificial Intelligence is going to effect this industry significantly in the next five years and as cliche as that sounds to say, sub fields of AI like deep learning, neural networks, speech and natural language processing are already do. Right now we’re both trying to learn everything we can about neural networks, we’ve been experimenting with different software with varying results. That being said we will be expanding within the next year and we’re looking to work with more companies in renewable energy and the legal/medicinal cannabis sectors.

Today I’m sharing an interview I did with the owners of Hospital Careers, a job board for people seeking work in the healthcare industry.

1.       How did HospitalCareers.com get started? Why the job industry?  

HospitalCareers began as a recruitment advertising agency in 2006.  Our main focus was to help hospitals and systems with targeted recruitment advertising to local colleges and universities.  After a few years, we were approached by a state Hospital Association who asked us to develop a platform for their hospitals to use to recruit healthcare professionals.  After 4 months, we had 85% of all the hospitals in the state using the site.  From there, we kept launching in other states.

2.       What has it been like competing with larger job platforms such as Monster or Indeed? How do you stand out from these platforms?  

A niche oriented career site is much more of a career hub for a partiular industry.  HospitalCareers still does partner with sites like Monster and Indeed.  However, we use them solely as another outlet for advertising the job openings.  Our goal is to attract quality candidates.  Sites like Monster, Career Builder, and even Indeed now, are too big and broad.  They have positions from all industries and from thousands of corporate websites.  With this, comes a lot of spam posts and posts that candidates don’t exactly know who the actual company is that they are applying to.  We cut down on this noise by focusing on one specific industry.  Our jobs are purely from hospitals throughout the country.  We are more of a career hub for healthcare professionals rather than a Jack of All Trades.

3.       How have you gone about marketing the platform and what has worked for you so far?  

We have marketed the site through colleges, universities, local news outlets, partnerships, press releases, etc.  There isn’t really once specific strategy we have used to get to where we are now.  Marketing a national site is really a lot of trial and error.  Analyzing what works and what doesn’t.  However, a huge part of our traffic comes from organic searches.  We are #1 in Google for hospital careers and top 5 in Bing/Yahoo for hospital jobs.  This goes a long way as 80% of job seekers start their jobs search on a search engine typing in specific phrases that relate to the job or industry they are looking for.

4.       There are health and medical jobs all over the country, how do you monetize a platform such as this?  

There are many healthcare openings as the industry is poised to grow at a tremendous rate over the next 20 years.  Thus, more and more healthcare professionals will be needed for the demand.  HospitalCareers monitizes the platform through employers paying to post their job openings.  We then allow employers to post their hard to fill positions or scrape their jobs and drive candidates back directly into their applicant tracking systems (ATS).

5.       What are your future plans for 2016 and beyond?  

We are trying to become more of a unique hybrid of a career site.  We would like to be more involved in the education side for healthcare professionals.  A place they can come to engage with other healthcare professionals online, look for jobs, and take courses to maintain their educational requirements.  A Linkedin of sorts but only for healthcare.  We want HospitalCareers.com to be the go-to place for everything related to healthcare and careers.

Today on the blog I’m sharing an interview with a travel agency based out of Bali called Villa Concierge.

Check out the interview.

1. What got you interested in starting Villa Concierge? Tell us your story.

• I have always been interested in helping people essentially. If I can help to put a smile on someone’s face today I’ve done a little bit of good in the world. So I guess I’ve naturally been drawn towards the hospitality sector – probably without really knowing it.
• Thinking about it now, I guess it stems from my earlier years as a child. Growing up in eastern Java was tough. Children get separated from their parents at an early age to go and live with relatives or grandparents – people who can afford to look after you. It’s every child’s (and parent’s) nightmare. You’re immediately thrown into a whole new world, where you have to adapt. Sometimes from the age of 3 or 4. You learn to survive. Quickly.
• In my case, I lived with my grandmother. As she was old, I had to help her. Even at such a young age. So, right from the start I was helping someone – and learning how to survive. Those qualities have never really left me. They have helped me in life and business.
• So, I’ve always looked upon helping people as a natural thing. It’s why I’m here. Villa Concierge was born out of wanting to do my own thing. I’ve always been incredibly independent – from the age of three! After working in the Middle East and the US briefly, I returned home but couldn’t settle after experiencing a new life overseas. I had to do something. I guess I’ve always beed very driven. In part due to my childhood experiences.
• The island of Bali offered an escape. You have a wonderfully exotic island where tourism (and hospitality) feature highly. So it was the natural thing to do – make my own way across eastern Java. Find a job – any job. And look for opportunities. I worked for an event company briefly. A wonderful experience. Again – helping people. But that need and want to do my own thing was never far from my mind. With an events business in Bali, you come into contact with villa owners and villa management teams. Hence the transition began!
• I worked for another villa rental (and management) company first. Managed to learn the ins and outs of the business before setting up Villa Concierge. And the rest, as they say, is history – my history 🙂

2. What is it like vacationing in bali? What is most appealing about the area compared to other vacation spots?

• I think, the island of Bali has always been seen as this mystical destination from years and years ago. An exotic, far away, island that we only saw in films. A once barely inhabited island that’s now become more accessible of course. It’s always had that mystic and intrigue I guess. I’ve lived here for over 10 years. So I’ve seen many, many changes. Roads that were once rice fields and dirt tracks. Whole areas that were fields are now shops and villas and hotels. Some would say, the development of the island is too much. But delve deeper and you still find the older Bali – the towering palms and terraced paddy fields.
• I listen a lot to guests’ feedback. Guests that return year-on-year. They love Bali. Once you have settled into your luxurious villa, you’re a million miles away from the stresses and strains of daily life. Villas here are so spectacular. Visit with your loved ones – as a family or a couple or a group of close friends – and it really is a wonderful holiday experience. Bali is easily accessible now too. Especially from anywhere across Asia and Australia. So, you have an exotic island that is just so different from anywhere else. You can stay in the most luxurious surroundings and yet, dip your toes in local Balinese life at the same time.
• The nature of the place offers a certain calm and tranquility. Once you’ve settled into a villa you really do start to relax. It’s that mix of being in luxurious surroundings. And then being surrounded by such varied landscapes. And having the beach and all these chilled bars and restaurants as a bonus.

3. How have you gone about marketing your business so far and what’s been working for you?

• In the early years, we did very little in the way of marketing the business. People just seemed to know us. And know me which was lucky. I managed t get a lot of referrals from working in the events business and previous villa management company.
• As the competition has increased we’ve had to start trying various things. But it really has been word of mouth most of the way. France has provided a lot of business with referrals from the French community in Singapore telling their friends and family back home in France. I have a lot to thank them for!
• We’ve tried all sorts of things really. But the one thing that is constant – people appreciate having someone actually based here that they can book their holiday with. I know Bali very well. So does my team. We are all Indonesian. So we really do offer that insight and that feedback that perhaps you don’t get with agents overseas or other online agents.
• People across the world often tell me, that is the reason why they book their villa with us. We always welcome them to Bali too. Waiting for them to arrive at their villa or meeting and greeting guests once they’ve settled in. It makes a huge difference. Knowing you have someone here for you, especially if you are a family with children.
• So we’ve tried to push this aspect a bit more – whereby guests have someone they can really rely on. Before and during their visit. It’s often quite scary to book a villa and not really know where it is or who owns it or how is it managed. Plus, when you spend such a lot of money to book, it helps to have someone you know actually here. Trust is huge. So it’s that aspect that I want our guests to know is here.
• I like to think we also do a very good job in sourcing the right villa for the right price. We try to go that extra mile in finding something that genuinely suits a family or a couple. Guests often tell me, you know what I like, Lulu, so please go ahead and find something. It’s that level of trust that people appreciate. Especially if they have no time to search and select.

4. What has it been like as companies like AirBnb have come into the picture for a travel agency such as yourselves? How do you stand out from those that offer rooms in the same area?

• It’s been very tough for every villa group here in Bali. And I dare say for those people in similar locations across the world. Airbnb has been the biggest thing to affect our business in 10 years. It’s certainly disrupted things, which is what they set out to do, right. But you can’t afford to be bitter about these things. It’s the same for everyone. I guess it’s about progress. Now we have to find other ways – other disrupters. And so on. But no doubt, it’s been tough. Business has been affected.
• Providing genuine local insight is now more important than ever. Airbnb don’t come close in that respect. We’ve had guests who have booked through Airbnb, only to change villas once they’ve arrived. Either the villa didn’t look like it did on airbnb or the pool is too small or the area is not safe. Etc. With someone based here, you get your villa vetted, looked over, checked, before you arrive. And if any problem, we tell you and find you another villa. It’s a must. Your holiday here is too valuable. Time is too precious. And we understand that.
• No matter how effective and efficient online booking engines are, I don’t think we can really replace real people. Not in this industry. Face-to-face contact with real human beings is vital. Guests appreciate that contact. That will never go away. I hope!

5. What are your future plans for 2016 and beyond with Villa Concierge?

• We’re going through a phase where we are improving our online presence – redesigning our website to highlight the ‘genuine local insight’ theme. Much of our communication will highlight this. We are also going to provide that insight to people through a series of well researched topics about Bali. And also about things related to vacations, relaxation, recuperation, etc. It’s our responsibility to provide content, not only about Bali villas. And then make that content easy to access. People need and want more than just a booking site. We all seek to soak up more content. So this is now a big part of our work. Our blog will become a central feature of our website now – It’s about insights.
• Our online presence will be continually improved and updated. We are working with experts overseas now, in the US and Asia, to improve our offering online. This is the first time we have worked with help outside of Indonesia. So you can say, we are very serious about providing the best (and most trusted) resource available.
• We would like to offer more exotic villa vacations elsewhere. We have over 300 listings in Phuket. So this, along with other destinations, will become more prominent and accessible. And we already have people on the ground in those destinations. Which is key to what we offer.
• It is getting tough out there, especially with the likes of airbnb. So we need to find new ways of attracting people and offering alternative services. Whilst we have villa listings that cater to everyone’s need, we are also fortunate in that we cater to HNWIs. This is a market that is set to continue increasing at an enormous rate – vacations and vacation experiences for HNWIs. So this is also something where we are looking to offer more.
• Research into how we can compete will feature heavily. And whilst we have steered away from any kind of partnership scenarios, perhaps we will look at something there. But this will only happen if both parties share the same values of course.