In this episode of SEOs Getting Coffee hosts Sean and Emina, and special guest Josephine Rudolph explore a recent career shift: moving from SEO to social media management. Josephine, a social media manager at Trezorit and a freelancer for Women in Tech SEO (WTS), shares her journey, the challenges she faced, and the lessons she learned.
If you’re considering a similar transition or just curious about how SEO and social media overlap, this is a must-read.
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Transitioning from SEO to Social Media | SEOs Getting Coffee Ep.36
How Josephine Began Her Journey
Josephine’s story isn’t a typical one. She didn’t plan her transition from SEO to social media; it was a blend of opportunity, talent, and a bit of luck.
Early Start in Social Media: Before diving into SEO, Josephine briefly worked in social media.
Falling in Love with SEO: She secured an internship in SEO, which led to several opportunities and a growing passion for the field.
Returning to Social Media: Her work with WTS Fest Berlin reawakened her love for social media. She excelled at covering the event on social platforms, which led to more opportunities.
Full Transition: By January, Josephine secured a full-time role as a social media manager, embracing her creative side.
Why Josephine Chose Social Media Over SEO
Josephine’s shift wasn’t just about preferring one field over another; it was about recognising her strengths.
SEO’s Growing Technical Focus: As SEO leaned more towards technical SEO skills, Josephine, a creative at heart, felt less aligned with the field.
Creativity in Social Media: Social media offered her a space where creativity thrived, making it a more natural fit for her talents.
Stronger Connection with Audiences: Josephine loved the direct, interactive nature of social media, something she felt was missing in SEO.
The Overlap Between SEO and Social Media
Josephine openly shared her struggles with imposter syndrome, a common challenge for anyone switching careers.
How She Managed It:
Mapping Out Skills: She wrote down her transferable skills, which helped her realise she wasn’t starting from zero.
Highlighting Experience: During job applications, she showcased her social media experience with WTS, even though her main background was SEO.
Positive Self-Talk: She reminded herself that she was hired for a reason. Her skills and experience were valuable.
Practical Tips for Switching Careers
If you’re thinking of leaving SEO for another field, here are Josephine’s best tips:
Don’t Burn Bridges: Keep connections in your old field. You never know when they’ll be helpful.
Try It First: Consider freelancing or volunteering in the new field before making the leap.
Highlight Transferable Skills: Frame your experience in a way that matches the new role. For example, “SEO keyword research” becomes “content research.” Plus, it can be super helpful when working in collaboration with other marketing functions – as we should be!
Stay Open to Learning: Switching careers means being a beginner again. Embrace it.
Is Social Media Harder Than SEO?
One of the most interesting parts of the conversation was comparing the challenges of SEO and social media.
Algorithms: Josephine found social media algorithms to be less predictable but more forgiving.
Technical Errors: Mistakes in SEO (like accidental noindexing) can be disastrous, while social media errors are more visible and fixable.
Reporting Challenges: Tracking success in social media can be harder because of its focus on branding rather than direct conversions.
The Value of Audience Research in Both Fields
Josephine emphasised that successful marketing, whether in SEO or social media, comes down to understanding your audience.
Social Media as a Search Tool: Platforms like TikTok, Reddit, and even Amazon can provide valuable audience insights.
Collaboration is Key: Josephine shared how sharing audience research across departments improved efficiency and content quality.
Parting Advice: Don’t Mistake a Bad Job for a Bad Career
Josephine’s final words of wisdom were a reminder to be sure you’re unhappy with your field, not just your job.
Toxic Work Environments: A bad job can make you doubt your career, but the problem might be the company, not the field.
Skills Are Never Wasted: Even if you switch careers, your experience will always bring value.
Believe in Yourself: Learning by doing is the key. Trust that you can adapt.
Room 404: What Josephine Would Banish Forever
In the fun “Room 404” segment, Josephine chose to banish “boring, soulless B2B content.”
Her message? Even in B2B, you’re still talking to people. Your content should have personality and energy. No one wants to read something that feels like a funeral speech on LinkedIn.
Final Thoughts
Josephine’s journey from SEO to social media shows that career changes are less about abandoning what you know and more about building on it. Her story is proof that even if you change fields, your skills, experiences, and network will always be your greatest assets.
Thinking about switching from SEO to something else? Remember, it’s never too late, and you’re never starting from scratch.
For more insights and in-depth conversations on the latest in SEO and digital marketing strategies, stay stuned for upcoming episodes of “SEOs Getting Coffee.” Subscribe to our channel for regular updates and expert opinions.
