Dora Jonsdottir
Q What do you do?
“I’m an SEO specialist and content writer – I analyse and optimize your website and copy to make the little search engine bots happy so you can purposefully show up in front of your audience in search results at the perfect time.”
I perform a complete analysis with recommendations as well as implement the changes needed on your website to get it ranking in search results. With search engines happy and killer content for your audience, I help you build your brand’s authority and trustworthiness.
I love the combination of SEO and writing, because, why write if no one can find it and read it?
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I started doing it myself.
When I graduated I knew I wanted to work in digital marketing but I was stuck in a loop of ‘no experience = no job’ and living in a foreign country where I didn’t speak the language just didn’t help the ‘sitch’. So, I started dabbling in SEO for startups to get going.
However, after a few months, endless applications and interviews for roles I didn’t want, and constantly coming up short, I got offered a corporate job. It wasn’t in digital marketing.. but a girl’s gotta eat so I accepted.
And man alive did I dislike having an absolute 0% interest in what I was doing only to collect a paycheck. When I then lost my job during covid I reassessed and got back to what made me happy - SEO and content writing!
I already had client experience from sales and consulting roles, a master’s degree in international marketing and management, plus courses, certificates, and real-life projects in SEO. So I thought to myself, “Whatcha doin’ pretending you don’t know enough to just do it by yourself? Who’s approval are you waiting for?” I put myself out there and took the leap into freelancing full-time.
Today that’s also what I do for my clients. Instead of waiting around hoping customers find them, I help them put themselves out there and in front of their audience.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I approach my work with a collaborative mindset. My clients know their brand and unique selling point and it’s my job to understand what their audience is looking for and where they come in to help them.
Instead of working for clients, I work with them.
Q What are you working on right now?
I’m working on a collaborative SEO course that mixes my personal and informal relationship approach with clients. Also, funnily enough, I am only now starting to offer services in Iceland, my home country. So there’s a lot of translation of my own work happening atm.
Apart from that, I am creating a content strategy and writing optimized content for a fashion tech company, and collaborating with a saas company, a large affiliate website, a travel company, a marketing agency, and a mega cute online baby boutique.
This and that going on and all fun!
Q What’s your style?
Transparent, personal, and result-driven. Unlike writing where I produce copy and the client sees it, a lot of what I do happens in the back end of a website so it can be difficult to ‘show’ clients what I have created. It doesn’t help that search engine optimization is a long-term investment that takes time.
That’s why I’m transparent in what I do by providing updated reports and making sure my clients understand what’s happening by including performance measures.
That way they don’t just take my word for it that their website is now for example faster, but I’ll actually show them in numbers and explain what that means for performance. www.Grid.is www.Easysize.me
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
My goal is to work more with sustainable organizations that have a positive effect on our world. I don’t just mean organizations that talk about being sustainable. I mean the ones that are walking the walk. I am talking about animal welfare, equality in education, sustaining forests, and innovative environmental solutions. When I use my knowledge to help those that help others, it makes my day!
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Time and impatience are my two tiny devils.
I’d like to take two months off and only work on my own business. Redesign my website, finish creating a course, write all the articles I want to finish, and get everything in order to have fully set up my company (accounting, taxes, insurance, etc.)
I am making headway but I want it to have happened yesterday.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I’d send them over to question 7 and ask them,“Pretty Please With A Cherry On Top take care of it all.”
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I would tell my 20-something-year-old self to start DOing.
Don’t wait for someone’s approval, just start connecting with like-minded people, learn, and start applying your knowledge. When you do what makes you happy and you mold your life on your own terms everything else follows.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
On the work side of things, I’d have a more senior SEO sit down with me and deep dive into the more advanced technical side of SEO. I’d love to pick their brain on that.
Personally, I’d want to have a conversation with an archaeologist about human history and prehistory. I’ve had a fascination since I was a kid. Anything that is now bones or dusty objects, OMG I'm a fan!
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I am looking to work with online brands that either haven’t invested in SEO before or are looking to revamp their website and online presence.
For Example:
-Brands that have a great website but no one’s visiting
-Brands that have a blog but no one’s reading
-Brands that have organic traffic but no one’s buying
I am also looking to collaborate with clients that want to learn SEO by applying it to their websites with my support.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
My ideal client is a person or brand who’s up to collaborating with me and understands the long-term value of search engine optimization on brand awareness, authority, and trust. To level up, the ideal client also has a mission that reaches beyond money to make a positive impact on the world.
Q: What is your rate?
SEO Packages for keyword research and audit start at 700EUR. The final price depends on the size of your website.
Written and Fully Optimized content starts at 500EUR. For consulting and smaller projects, my hourly rate is 120EUR.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Email is best! That way we are immediately connected and I can take a look at your website from the get-go. The more I know about your business, your needs, and your budget, the better I can determine if we’re a good fit and get workin’ together!
Q Who is a creative you admire?
For Copywriting: Erin Balsa / linkedin
She writes engaging content with personality. None of that ‘we chose a boring neutral corporate tone for your brand voice’ BS. She's the bomb!
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
With a cappuccino in my hand there’s no stopping what this girl can do!
This member profile was originally published in June 2022.