Why I Still Do SEO After 20 Years — And Why You Might, Too

20 years in SEO taught me one thing: Most people quit too soon. Here’s why the long game always wins (and how to play it).

My relationship with SEO started with curiosity, a desire to
understand how people search, how search engines crawled and indexed
websites, and how businesses get found.

Twenty years later, I’m still here.

Because while the algorithms have evolved and the platforms have changed, the mission has remained the same: To help businesses grow because they’re seen.

This industry demands constant evolution. And I’ve adapted—because I had to.
But truthfully, adaptability was in me long before SEO.  I’m an
immigrant. Reinventing myself, learning fast, and navigating the
unknown has always been part of my story. That’s why this field felt
like home.

When I started, Google and SEO looked nothing like it does today.

Algorithms were simpler. Tools were fewer. I was there when link
exchanges were the norm, and massive article and directory submissions
were considered the strategy. I’ve submitted to more directories than I
can count—and stuffed more keywords than I care to admit. Because back
then, that’s what worked.

But SEO grew up. And so did I.

I’ve worked across industries—from gambling to retail to today, thriving inside an agency I love.

Every chapter sharpened how I approach strategy and the full customer journey.

What was once a numbers game—“get all the links”—is now about quality, relevance, and trust.

And I’ve grown alongside it. More strategic. More confident. Still
just as curious. I still get excited by ranking movement, results from a
test, or a great SEO chat like it’s year one.

SEO today is smarter, more strategic, slower… and yes, more
expensive. But it’s also more human. It’s about real partnerships, not
quick wins.

And through it all, I’ve stayed. Why?

Because SEO is about helping businesses grow by becoming visible to the right customers, at the right time.

Over the years, I’ve survived Google penalties—remember Penguin? That
one hit hard. But the aftermath? Even harder. It changed the game
forever. Still, we adapted. We helped clients recover, rebuild, and
rise.

I’ve watched core algorithm updates reshape the industry. Each one
forced a shift in strategy and every time, I adapted, so my clients
could stay ahead.

I experienced mobile-first indexing—it meant rethinking user
experience, prioritizing speed and responsiveness. We started optimizing
how people truly live and search today.

And now, I’m integrating AI into my workflows. By surfacing insights
faster and guiding smarter content decisions, AI helps me deliver
greater value to clients. It’s about evolving strategy to stay ahead in a
digital world that never stands still.

What has not changed?

I’ve seen SERP layouts change over the years—but one thing still stands out on page 1: local map results.

From the original 7-pack to the tighter 3-pack… from keyword-stuffed
business names (yes, that still works) to stricter guidelines… from
postcard verifications to business video verification—local has evolved,
but it has stayed. I don’t see it going anywhere.

Another constant? Links.

They may look different, but the foundation trust, authority, and
relevance remain the same. Links are still one of the strongest signals
Google uses to determine whether your site deserves to rank.

To this day, about 80% of my time is still dedicated to link building.

Some might ask: “After all these years, shouldn’t you be doing
something else?” Maybe. But I’ll tell you this—link building is still
the core of ranking.
Ranking is what moves the needle for clients.
And ranking is what drives revenue.

And I don’t do this alone. The agency I work with, and the team I
work alongside, have also become known as authorities in the SEO
industry. That didn’t happen overnight. It took resilience, years of
refining our approach, lifting each other through the setbacks, and
celebrating the wins together. The people are a big part of why I’ve
stayed. We’ve grown side by side. That kind of trust and collaboration
is powerful—and I’m proud to be part of it.

So why do I still do SEO? Because it keeps me curious. It challenges
me to think critically, adapt quickly, and solve problems creatively.
But above all—it’s where I know I make a difference.

I help businesses get found by the right customers.
I help founders tell their stories, sell with confidence, and scale their dreams.
That’s what keeps me going.

So if you’re standing at the starting line of your SEO
journey—welcome. You’re entering a space that never stops moving, never
stops teaching, and never stops growing.

No, you won’t know everything at the beginning. And that’s okay.

Because this field doesn’t reward perfection. It rewards persistence.
Curiosity. Intention. And a heart that’s in it for the long game.

SEO is more than a marketing strategy—it’s a chance to make a real impact.
To help someone’s dream get discovered.
To help a small business become a household name.
To make things work—quietly, strategically, powerfully—behind the scenes.

That’s why I’m still here.
That’s why I keep showing up.
And maybe… that’s why you will too.