Today at ‘Expert Speaks‘, we have Shiv Gupta, CEO and growth strategist at Incrementors Web Solutions.
In this Interview, Shiv talks briefly about his Journey toward Success, With over 13 years of experience in the digital marketing space. He had worked with some of India’s most renowned companies.
We express our gratitude to Shiv for sharing his words of wisdom, and we hope that you find his informative answers enjoyable to read.
Hello Shiv, It’s a pleasure to have you here on LearnWoo! Can you tell us about your background and how you became a founder and SEO expert?
Hello, thank you for having me here on LearnWoo! My name is Shiv Gupta, and I am the CEO and growth strategist at Incrementors Web Solutions. With over 13 years of experience in the digital marketing space, I have had the privilege of working with some of the most renowned companies in India.
My journey in the SEO field began at the age of 17, and I have been a marketer for over 13 years with a specialization in SEO. Working with various companies in India, I have helped them achieve their digital marketing goals and understand the importance of SEO in the industry.
With my expertise and experience, I founded my own business, offering professional SEO services to businesses across India. I am passionate about helping businesses thrive in the ever-evolving digital marketing world and achieving their goals.
How do you stay up-to-date with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes?
To stay up-to-date with the latest SEO trends and algorithm changes, I use various online resources such as industry blogs, forums, and newsletters. I also attend relevant conferences and workshops to stay informed and learn from industry experts. Additionally, I regularly check search engine websites and read the official documentation to stay abreast of the changes.
Can you walk us through your process for developing an SEO strategy for a new client?
Yes, I can certainly walk you through my process for developing an SEO strategy for a new client. Throughout the process, I strive to understand and deliver the client’s core objectives, build the right keyword and content strategy, ensure technical optimization, and align their existing assets to maximize their search engine visibility and ROI.
The process typically includes five steps:
Step 1: Keyword and Content Research – Identifying the right set of keywords is essential and most importantly understanding their search volume & competition before including them in the content. Additionally, we need to ensure that the content is tailored according to the client’s product and/or service category, audience, goals and of course SEO.
Step 2: On-Page Optimization – Optimizing the content, title tags & meta description tags according to best practices ensuring visibility across different search engines.
Step 3: Off-Page Optimization – Strategically building quality links, to drive more organic traffic and boost the SERP rankings of the website
Step 4: Tracking and Reporting – Tracking the performance of keyword ranking and traffic to the website along with monitoring the quality & source of the incoming links.
Step 5: Planning for the Future – Optimizing for Long-term growth and planning for changes as algorithms & technology evolve.
I hope this helps to give you a better understanding of my process for developing an SEO strategy. If there is anything I can do to answer any other questions or provide more information, I am always glad to help.
How do you balance the technical and creative aspects of SEO?
Balancing the technical and creative aspects of SEO can be a difficult task. It is important to understand the technical aspects of SEO and its creative elements of it in order for it to be successful. The technical aspects include keyword research, on-site optimization, and link building, which all require knowledge and expertise in the website’s structure. The creative side of SEO involves content creation, social media activities, UX/UI design, and leveraging influencers.
Finding the ideal balance between the technical and creative aspects of SEO is crucial for getting the best results. This is how I strike a balance between the technical and creative aspects of SEO.
Can you share an example of a particularly challenging SEO problem you faced and how you solved it?
Yes, I can share an example of a particularly challenging SEO problem I faced and how I solved it. Recently, I was working on a client’s website to improve organic search rankings. One of the issues that I noticed was that there were significant discrepancies between the internal linking structure of the website and the external linking structure of the website. To solve this, I first identified all of the internal links that were either outdated, irrelevant, or duplicates. Then I updated the existing links and created additional internal links to pages I deemed to be important to the website’s message. Finally, I proposed new external link-building campaigns to help bring more authority to the website. The combination of these tactics was able to help improve the website’s organic search rankings significantly.
How do you approach keyword research and analysis?
I approach keyword research and analysis by first conducting comprehensive market and competitor research to identify target keywords and search trends. I use a variety of keyword research tools to analyze search engine optimization (SEO) and my own search volume of keywords. I use LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) and search query autocomplete to identify related keyword terms to aggregate relevant search terms. Lastly, I analyze organic and paid keyword performance to determine which terms present the best opportunities and how they should be organized into an effective keyword strategy.
How do you work with other teams or departments, such as creative or development teams, to execute digital marketing campaigns?
I have experience collaborating with a variety of teams and departments while working in digital marketing, such as creative and development teams. I aim to create a framework of cooperation and understanding between team members, fostering a shared vision and collaborative approach focused on results. To this end, I prioritize communication, as it is key to ensuring the successful execution of a digital marketing campaign. My goal is always to work together to maximize the impact of a campaign and deliver results that everyone is proud of.
How do you use content marketing as a part of your overall digital marketing strategy?
When it comes to content marketing as a part of my overall digital marketing strategy, I plan the content based on my target audience and use a range of distribution channels to reach my audience. I ensure the content is tailored to their interests, informs them about my products/services, and engage them in conversations. Additionally, I track metrics like page views, time spent on a page, downloads, etc to measure the performance of content and use the feedback to inform future content marketing plans. The ultimate goal is to effectively communicate with my target audience and increase my brand’s visibility.
Can you discuss any notable challenges you’ve faced in your digital marketing career, and how you overcame them?
One of the most notable challenges I have faced in my digital marketing career was understanding the vast nature of the digital world. While I was familiar with certain aspects of digital media, such as search engine optimization, I needed to expand my knowledge in fields such as website design, content strategy, and social media marketing. To overcome this challenge, I spent countless hours studying websites, following industry thought leaders, attending webinars, and getting certification in various digital marketing topics. By expanding my knowledge, I was able to better understand the digital marketing world and take on any challenges I faced by utilizing my newfound knowledge.
How have you grown your company since its inception, and what were some of the biggest challenges you faced along the way?
Since its inception, our company has grown significantly and our success is due to our dedication to continuous improvement. Over the years, some of our biggest challenges were maintaining scalability, staying up to date with technology, and finding the right resources to help us grow and succeed. To ensure we are able to reach our goals, we have established a strong foundation of customer service, while investing in innovation and emerging technologies to ensure our business remains competitive. We are also focusing on keeping up with emerging trends in our industry to remain ahead of the competition and remain relevant in the global market.
How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance while running your own company?
As an entrepreneur, having a healthy work-life balance is instrumental to success. Managing both the personal and professional aspects of life can be difficult but is achievable. Here are some tips that have helped me maintain a healthy balance while running my own business:
1. Schedule time for yourself—I make it a priority to schedule time for taking care of my physical and emotional well-being, such as meditation and exercise. This ensures that I am able to remain productive and focused.
2. Prioritize tasks—At the start of the day, I identify what needs to be achieved and prioritize my tasks. This helps me to manage my workload more efficiently and avoids overworking.
3. Take regular breaks—Importantly, it is important to take regular breaks. Taking 5-10 minute breaks throughout the day helps me stay energized, reduces stress, and enables me to work effectively.
4. Outsource when possible—In addition, I outsource tasks that need to be done, but I am unable to do them myself. This helps me focus on the tasks only I can do. By following these strategies, I have been able to successfully maintain a healthy work-life balance while managing my company.
How do you stay ahead of industry trends and ensure your company is always evolving and improving?
As a professional, I stay ahead of industry trends by staying vigilant and proactive. I read industry magazines and articles, attend industry conventions and seminars, and consult with industry experts. I also make sure to stay ahead of the competition by analyzing their current strategies and keeping a pulse on new products, services, and technologies that are being developed. Additionally, I actively look for opportunities that can help our company evolve and improve and I am open to taking risks to help our company remain competitive.
How do you measure the success of your company, both financially and in terms of impact?
Measuring the success of our company is an ongoing process for us, both financially and in terms of impact. Financially, we track the key performance indicators that demonstrate our overall financial health and look for comparatives with our industry peers. Increasing sales, improving margins, attaining profit targets, and reducing debt are all tracked against financial goals.
In terms of impact, our success may be measured by customer feedback, completion of key projects, and how our products and services have contributed to the development of our customers, industry, and community. In addition, keeping tabs on internal investments, such as employee training programs, will help assess the quality of our strategies and the development of our company.
Overall, we believe that both financial performance and making a lasting positive impact go hand in hand.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in starting their own company?
My advice to anyone interested in starting their own company would be to do their research, create a business plan, and understand their desired market and customers. Moreover, it is important to seek out experienced advisors and mentors in the field, who can provide valuable advice throughout the process.
I also cannot emphasize enough the importance of capital planning and budgeting, as it is crucial to maintain the right financial balance when starting a new business. Lastly, consistent hard work and determination can lead to success in any venture. I wish all the best to those interested in starting their own businesses.
