Problems with Employer

prebillionaire

prebillionaire

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For context, I am a hired employee, this isn't a client of mine.

I found a full-time job on a job board, a marketing and SEO position that I've always strived for. I don't have a college degree or university education, I have only grown my own sites.

During the interview process, I rigorously checked their site and found they were using Wix - which is honestly horrendous for 2000+ products. I told them this would be one of the first things to tackle, since navigating their site is a chore (and their aware of it).

Now, I spent hours to code and implement an advanced filter option for their website, which they turned down because it would "take too long".

I get it, you don't have a lot of people to drop all hands and start working on this. But I had time and offered to work on it, still no.

On to the marketing aspect, I have ZERO budget. ZERO budget for marketing outreach, efforts, advertising, etc. They sometimes spend $30 on Facebook ads, which has little to no effect.

Before I was hired, they hired an outside SEO agency to "skyrocket" them. It didn't turn out so. Within 9 months, they actually managed to lower our rankings. And after dismissing them of their duties, I managed to grow traffic clicks by 73%. This was all done with free methods or some other efforts I PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR OUT OF FEAR OF LOSING MY JOB. I have twin baby boys, I can't afford this.

Now they are diving into an unrelated niche and implementing it into their already niche established website - I told them to spin it off in it's own website, and we could work with SEO for it. NOPE. They wanted to use Wix again...

Now you may say, "why don't you just quit?"

The answer is simple: I don't wanna go back to warehousing and hardworking labour jobs, I love sitting at my computer and learning something new everyday. I don't have a education in marketing or SEO, I am all self-taught throughout the years.

-

What's some advice you can offer me? I'm just ranting, I know, but I just need some motivation or someone who can relate to what I'm experiencing.
 
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You clearly are talented and have the ability to make an impact at an organizational level. I would keep doing what you are doing and look for something else outside of your current company. If they don't value what you bring to the table, someone will. While I don't know if a SEO certification would help you, I know some who have benefited from it.
 
Eheheh, clients like this are relatable (I'm freelancing). I know you're desparate for a job, but paying out of your own pocket was a big mistake. Now they'll think it's possible to achieve results you achieved without investment and will be even more unwilling to invest in seo or ads in the future, they'll think hiring skilled worker without having any marketing budget is enough. This later applies to how they hire both employees and freelancers, outside agencies, etc. Not blaming you because obviously you're fighting for survival here, but doing this has catastrophic long term consequences. Next time just tell them they need to allocate x amount of budget and you'll manage it, spend it in best possible way to increase their sales.

PS:
Agency fucked up your rankings probably because budget was low so they bought cheapest backlinks possible, blasted that to have anything to show.

PS2:
I was on 9 to 5 interview (recruiter found me on linkedin) and once I started talking about needing proper tools, etc, manager said they'll allocate some budget. I didn't get this job (and happily so because it turned out to be shitty) but yeah, it's normal to have budget for stuff in a company. Zero budget - big red flag.
 
we've all seen clients (employers in your case) like this. nothing you do will satisfy them. they don't value it. no budget explains it all. willing to bet they are under paying you too.
just do your job as they describe the duties. definitely don't spend your own money on them. put in a purchase request. don't go above and beyond.

go back on the job hunt, brush up your CV showcasing your achievements. start your own site. or do all 3. you're obviously talented and motivated. you know how to drive traffic. making a website is the easiest part.

my first job was similar. luckily the owner had budget for all the top-end seo tools. took what i learned and quit. taking what i learned to work on my own websites.
 
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What the point of that job. It doesn't pay off. Only problems from it...

$50 per day here minimum wage... No reason to make more off a job.

It's not even a career. As SEO is not skill that is maintainable. It's more like being Sherlock who hacks Google. I hope you get the reference.

You should run a real business if you want to do SEO.
 
prebillionaire said:
The answer is simple: I don't wanna go back to warehousing and hardworking labour jobs, I love sitting at my computer and learning something new everyday. I don't have a education in marketing or SEO, I am all self-taught throughout the years.
Click to expand...
Lol. These are easier than SEO and computers.

Anyone I asked has said that.

But maybe you had bad luck in warehousing. Or your warehouse was outdated and you didn't even have a proper forklift.

Computer is one of the most dangerous tools as you already see... People think it will make them rich just because they hired you - a computer operator.

No, it's like everywhere. You need a ton of resources to build anything.

I have never felt more exhausted than as freelancer and a webmaster. These are the worst jobs I can think of. Boss literally didn't want to pay people because "no results" wtf. He would pay but then fire all people and the cycle would go on.

Basically it's waste of time. Become an engineer or someone with real qualifications. Or Focus on sales, not marketing.

All I've got off doing SEO for someone is headaches and bad relationships. i also seemed to them like a clown cause it doesn't bring fast results like sales or engineering.

@uncutu but aren't you into cyber security or some it stuff now? It's tad diffrerent from SEO. I have never seen SEO on 9-5 end up well. Similar with ads. But just my experience.
 
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prebillionaire said:
For context, I am a hired employee, this isn't a client of mine.

I found a full-time job on a job board, a marketing and SEO position that I've always strived for. I don't have a college degree or university education, I have only grown my own sites.

During the interview process, I rigorously checked their site and found they were using Wix - which is honestly horrendous for 2000+ products. I told them this would be one of the first things to tackle, since navigating their site is a chore (and their aware of it).

Now, I spent hours to code and implement an advanced filter option for their website, which they turned down because it would "take too long".

I get it, you don't have a lot of people to drop all hands and start working on this. But I had time and offered to work on it, still no.

On to the marketing aspect, I have ZERO budget. ZERO budget for marketing outreach, efforts, advertising, etc. They sometimes spend $30 on Facebook ads, which has little to no effect.

Before I was hired, they hired an outside SEO agency to "skyrocket" them. It didn't turn out so. Within 9 months, they actually managed to lower our rankings. And after dismissing them of their duties, I managed to grow traffic clicks by 73%. This was all done with free methods or some other efforts I PAID OUT OF POCKET FOR OUT OF FEAR OF LOSING MY JOB. I have twin baby boys, I can't afford this.

Now they are diving into an unrelated niche and implementing it into their already niche established website - I told them to spin it off in it's own website, and we could work with SEO for it. NOPE. They wanted to use Wix again...

Now you may say, "why don't you just quit?"

The answer is simple: I don't wanna go back to warehousing and hardworking labour jobs, I love sitting at my computer and learning something new everyday. I don't have a education in marketing or SEO, I am all self-taught throughout the years.

-

What's some advice you can offer me? I'm just ranting, I know, but I just need some motivation or someone who can relate to what I'm experiencing.
Click to expand...
Willing to spend on an outside marketing agency while giving their in-house team 0 budget for the same job seems crazy to me.

They just seem completely ignorant of how anything related to your job works in general. Probably unwilling to listen, understand and learn.

As previously mentioned, keep looking for a different job in the same position while still working there.
 
AshOasis said:
Willing to spend on an outside marketing agency while giving their in-house team 0 budget for the same job seems crazy to me.

They just seem completely ignorant of how anything related to your job works in general. Probably unwilling to listen, understand and learn.

As previously mentioned, keep looking for a different job in the same position while still working there.
Click to expand...
Plus there should be commission on that type of job... Many don't give commission. It's pointless for me.

Edit: my friend had commissions as an engineer. So you should as an SEO. NO? Learn to negotiate and understand value.
 
Using your own money is not a problem.

But you need to get something out of it.

Can the money buy you time so you can practice SEO skills, experiment SEO myths with their sites, or you can have more time for your own side hustles?

If so, it's fair. You practice and become a senior SEO with working proofs then you can get a better job.

If not, good luck.
 
I would advise you to take some online courses relevant to marketing and SEO, that way, you can look elsewhere and move on to the next.
 
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