In this episode, we discussed the gender gap in SEO. We talked about new research, experiences of women in SEO and solutions for improving female representation and pay equity in the search industry.
Our panelists included:
- Nicole DeLeon, Founder and Lead Strategist of North Star Inbound.
- Aleyda Solis, International SEO Consultant & Founder at Orainti.
- Amanda Jordan, Director, Local Search, Locomotive Agency.
New research from DeLeon and North Star Inbound shows that women account for roughly 30% of SEOs globally — a stat that hasn’t budged in five years. Across the board, whether by retainer, project or the hour, women are charging and making less than their male counterparts, according to the survey data. This echoes a BrightLocalsurveyof local SEOs that found a pay gap of roughly 14% between men and women.
In addition to talking about their own experiences as women in the industry, we discussed DeLeon’s research on (the lack of) representation and pay equity, the importance of intentionality in affecting change, why men should be part of the conversation, the benefits of building a network of female and male allies and resources
Watch the full episode above or skip to topics via the timestamps below.
- 0:00 – Introduction
- 3:16 – Amanda Jordan and her move to a female-majority agency
- 5:13 – Aleyda Solis on her career and gender gap perceptions in South America
- 8:00 – Nicole DeLeon on starting her agency and facing discrimination from VCs
- 11:49 – Survey data on the persistent gender gap in SEO
- 15:49 – Ways to close the compensation gap
- 21:32 – How lack of representation affects equitable pay, events
- 27:00 – Why intentionality is crucial for progress
- 29:13 – Leaning in isn’t enough to overcome entrenched biases
- 31:23 – What it means to be a good ally in the SEO industry
- 37:44 – Thoughts on identifying your own value and getting others to recognize it as well
- 43:35 – Lessons and advice for women overcoming career roadblocks
BIPOC and LGBTQ+ survey. To better understand the experiences of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ SEOs, North Star Inbound is currently fielding a diversity and inclusion survey. Take the survey here.
Watch our recent session on diversity, equity and inclusion in the marketing and advertising industry:
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