Jessa Lynn is an SEO specialist and petite blogger at Dollface Diaries living in Chicago. Read on to learn how she fell into this interesting mix of professions, the thing she’s going to teach herself next and why – and what her favorite place in all of Chicago is.
- Name: Jessa Lynn
- Location: Chicago, IL
- Role: SEO specialist & petite blogger
- Reason for Waking Up Every Day: Her team
- Next Thing She’s Going to Learn: PPC advertising
- Go-To Learning Resource: Marketing Over Coffee & SEO websites
- Favorite Place in Chicago: Logan Square
- Find Out More: Dollface Diaries
Tell us about your background and how you got to where you are now.
I went to school for marketing at a small state school in central PA – I really wanted to get into advertising after school but had a hard time finding a job. I had started blogging in 2014 but really had no clear direction for it – it was really just a hobby to share my outfits somewhere. Then I finally found a job at a growing startup that was hired to build backlinks for SEO; we would reach out to bloggers to ask them to create blog posts on topics our clients could be associated with to acquire relevant backlinks.
From there I learned more about the blogging world and that’s really where Dollface Diaries became something real for me. But I also loved the world of SEO and saw value in not only a steady job, as I build my community, but knowing the ins and outs of search engines helps my blog as well! From there I’ve worked at a couple of other digital marketing agencies providing SEO knowledge to clients for the last eight years.
What made you want to pursue your profession/area of focus?
It’s funny – essentially, I fell into it. I loved blogging when I took the job, but knowing nothing about SEO, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. But I think what made me stay is how much it challenged me. It’s a bit of a mystery trying to crack Google’s code. And of course, it’s also beneficial to my blog.
I think what made me stay is how much it challenged me.
What gets you excited to wake up every day?
Right now, it’s my team. I’m on my fourth marketing agency and ES99, is – I feel like – the best of all my jobs in one. I work in the strategy department, we have a team of eight incredibly talented and knowledgeable people. I’m able to lend my expertise in the influencer marketing space as well as SEO, and my opinion and hard work is always appreciated from my team.
What’s the best/most important thing you’ve learned or taught yourself? Why?
I think the most important thing is to trust myself. I have always had a hard time thinking I was knowledgeable and would always second guess what I knew about SEO. The last year and a half I have learned to trust the amount of experience I have and to be confident when I’m speaking to coworkers as well as clients.
What’s the next thing you’re going to learn or teach yourself? Why?
Right now, because our team is so overwhelmed, I’m actually learning PPC or Pay Per Click (advertising), where companies pay Google to show up at the top of the search results. It follows some of the same basic principles as SEO, but you have a budget you need to keep track of.
Do you have advice for finding a strong mentor/ building a relationship with one?
Go to small panels or coffee chats. I know there are groups of SEO specialists who have monthly gettogethers to network and talk about the industry – so getting out there and connecting with others is so important. I’m also a gut feeling kind of person. Your mentor doesn’t have to be in your industry, you just have to admire what they are doing in their career and get along well.
Favorite resources for ongoing learning?
For marketing in general, I love the podcast Marketing Over Coffee. If you’re looking for SEO tips, Search Engine Land and MOZ’s websites are an SEO’s bibles.
Your mentor doesn’t have to be in your industry, you just have to admire what they’re doing in their career & get along well.
What’s your favorite spot where you currently live & why?
Oh man, that’s such a good question! I moved to Chicago just two years ago and I’ve never been so in love with a city. I think my favorite place is Logan Square; the neighborhood is so cute and they have so many incredible restaurants and neat bars. I’m a big concert gal so I can also be found and any of the amazing concert venues around the city.
Out of all the places you’ve been, which has been your favorite and why?
This past Christmas my family traveled to Barcelona, Spain and I just fell in love. The history in the city is so breathtaking, I could stare at the architecture for hours.
Bonus: What’s the one thing you wish people would ask you?
I love this. I love being asked where my clothes are from. If someone tells me they like my dress or something, I will go into the details of where I got it, even if they didn’t ask…
Learn More About Jessa Here:
- Website: https://dollfacediaries.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjustjessa/
Photo courtesy of Jessa Lynn, taken by Chloe Camille.
