Amanda (AJ) Greenwood
I started my career in digital marketing in June 2006 during a time when I needed to build a stable path forward for myself and my young son. I didn’t have a traditional marketing background at the time. My experience was mostly in customer service and sales, but I was determined to learn something new and build a career I could grow with.
I joined an SEO startup and was introduced to the world of search engine optimization during a period when the industry was changing rapidly. Google was rolling out major algorithm updates like Big Daddy, Panda, and Penguin, and the constant evolution meant I had to keep learning, adapting, and rethinking strategy. What could have been overwhelming actually became the part of the job I loved most. The challenge of figuring out how search works and helping businesses succeed through those changes hooked me early on.
Over the years, I’ve spent most of my career helping local businesses grow online, especially in the home services industry including HVAC, plumbing, construction, and remodeling. My work focuses on creating unique, strategic content, building strong link partnerships, optimizing Google Business Profiles, and making sure marketing campaigns reflect the language and needs of the specific communities they serve. I rely heavily on data to guide decisions and I’m never afraid to pivot when something isn’t working.
What has always meant the most to me is the real impact this work can have on someone’s life. I helped grow a one-man HVAC company into a team of twelve technicians over five years, allowing the owner to step out of the field and focus on running the business. I’ve also worked with clients who set long-term goals to sell their company and retire, and together we were able to reach that goal years ahead of schedule.
For me, SEO has never just been about rankings or traffic. It’s about helping people build businesses that support their families, achieve their goals, and create the kind of future they’re working toward.
• Google Analytics (GA4)
• Local SEO
• Google Search Console
• Screaming Frog
• High school graduate
• Approximately 1.5 years of community college (secondary education focus)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to persistence and perseverance. My husband jokes that it’s really just stubbornness, but I’ve always believed that if a problem has a solution, I’ll find it.
In digital marketing, especially in SEO, things change constantly. Algorithms evolve, strategies stop working, and new challenges appear all the time. Instead of getting frustrated by that, I’ve always leaned into it. If I can’t immediately solve a problem for a client, I’ll keep researching, testing, and learning until I figure it out.
A lot of that happens outside of normal working hours. I’ve spent many evenings digging into data, testing new ideas, or learning something new simply because I want to deliver better results for the businesses that trust me with their marketing.
At the end of the day, my motivation has always been the same. I want my clients to succeed. Knowing that my work can help someone grow their business, support their family, or reach their long-term goals is what keeps me pushing forward.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my dad. He always told me, “If you do what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life.”
At the time, it sounded simple, but it’s something that has stayed with me throughout my career. When I first started in digital marketing, I didn’t know that SEO would turn into a long-term career. But the more I learned, the more I enjoyed the challenge of it. Search is constantly changing, and there’s always something new to figure out.
Because I genuinely enjoy the work, I’m always curious to learn more, test new strategies, and solve problems for clients. That mindset has helped me stay engaged in the industry for nearly two decades and continues to push me to grow professionally.
Looking back, my dad’s advice was right. When you find something you truly enjoy doing, the effort you put into it feels less like work and more like purpose.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, find something within the industry that you truly enjoy. Digital marketing and technology are incredibly broad fields. There’s organic search, paid advertising, social media, web development, analytics, technical SEO, and so much more. You don’t have to be an expert in everything. My advice is to explore the different areas, find the ones that really speak to you, and go deep in those.
I would also encourage women entering the tech and marketing industries not to get discouraged. It can still be a challenging space for women at times. I’ve experienced moments in my career where I was passed over for opportunities or underestimated. But those experiences didn’t define my path. What mattered was continuing to learn, improving my skills, and staying committed to the work I cared about.
Today, I’ve grown from an assistant account manager at the start of my career to an SEO Manager responsible for leading strategy and performance for a wide portfolio of client campaigns. If sharing that journey helps even one young woman believe she can build a successful career in this industry, then it’s worth telling.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Artificial intelligence is both the biggest challenge and the biggest opportunity in digital marketing and SEO right now. There’s a lot of concern that AI will replace SEO professionals, but in reality it’s becoming a powerful tool that can enhance the work we do.
AI can help analyze large amounts of data quickly, identify patterns, and assist with content creation or research. When used correctly, it allows marketers to work more efficiently and spend more time focusing on strategy, creativity, and solving complex problems for clients.
The real opportunity is learning how to integrate AI into existing workflows while still maintaining the human expertise that search engines ultimately reward. SEO has always been an industry that evolves alongside technology, and this is simply the next phase of that evolution.
For professionals who are willing to adapt, continue learning, and embrace new tools, AI has the potential to make our work more effective and impactful than ever before.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
In my personal life, family is the most important thing to me. I believe it’s important to be present for the everyday moments, not just the big milestones. The small, ordinary moments are often the ones that matter most, and I try to make sure I’m there for those whenever I can.
In my professional life, I value honesty, trust, and reliability. I believe the best business relationships are built on transparency and integrity. Clients trust you with something that directly impacts their livelihood, and that responsibility should never be taken lightly.
I also believe strongly in doing things the right way. In marketing, it can sometimes be tempting to take shortcuts or chase quick wins, but long-term success comes from ethical strategies, thoughtful work, and a commitment to delivering real value. I want to work with people and organizations that share that mindset.