Working remotely, like we do at JDM, doesn’t mean being disconnected from colleagues. As part of our culture-building initiative, and to introduce the digital marketing world to our awesome team members, we regularly peel back the curtain on the lives of JDMers. This week, we’ll get to know SEO Manager Amber Soworowski!
Name: Amber Soworowski
Position: SEO Manager
Location: Birmingham, AL
When did you begin working at JDM?
April 2023.
How did you know JDM was the right fit for you?
Honestly, when I applied, I had that initial creep of imposter syndrome setting in. During my first interview that feeling was still there, buuut I started to get positive gut feelings along my onboarding process, like, “Hey, I really connect with these people I’m meeting, and these interviews are really comfortable for me,” and “Everything about how this company prioritizes their employees and their clients is really aligned with how I’m feeling about my work and things I want to change about it,” and “WOW this actually seems like a perfect fit for me! Is this too good to be true?!”
Spoiler: It wasn’t all too good to be true! I’m glad that I followed my gut despite my fear of not fitting in somewhere new, or of having a hard time settling into new processes. What sold me officially was meeting several of the team members and then getting assigned my trial task. It was an awesome challenge and allowed me to present my findings and speak at a really high level about strategy and analysis of my research with the team. When we were all aligned during that call and agreeing on possibilities for off-the-cuff strategies and not just the standard SEO approach to things, I knew JDM was the place for me to grow further in my career.
What’s your favorite part of the workday?
Early mornings, especially on call-heavy days. It’s really helpful for me to start my day out by scheduling tasks, checking communications, checking to make sure my agendas are filled out, and getting prepared for what exciting changes or good news we have that day/week for clients. Being a bit of an R&S (research and strategy) nerd, reporting is always fun for me!
What’s the most gratifying part of working with your clients?
Hmmmmm…one thing that I really enjoy is when I’ve put a lot of time into research and developing a strategy, the client loves it and implements it, and then we see killer results. When the client’s happy and excited, it’s super gratifying for me.
In a remote company, how do you stay connected with your team?
I sufficiently bother my teammates via Slack :) I’ve also done a few one-on-one meetings with others just to check in and catch up on accounts and personal lives.
What three words would you use to describe the JDM culture?
Cooperative, Supportive, Individualistic.
What's something you love about JDM?
That no matter what issue or roadblock I come to, someone here has expertise in that area or at least a proven strategy for overcoming it.
Can you recall a time when JDM challenged you, and how we supported you through that time?
One of my biggest challenges so far (I’ve only been around a few months now) is actually currently happening: there’s a client I help with that’s a new niche for me. There’s been lots of patience and guidance shown to me while I learn the ropes, and as I get better at narrowing down what’s best for the client and perfecting my techniques for them.
What’s the best thing you’ve done with your unlimited PTO?
I went to Callaway Gardens for the 4th of July! It was a great quick getaway. Took the previous Friday off and stayed until that Tuesday.
What's something you love about the marketing industry?
That it constantly challenges me and my creativity. I haven’t stopped learning new things for years. When I was in my early ’20s, I was dead-set on doing art school and then doing something creative with my life as an artist or illustrator, game developer, something of that sort. But I’m also naturally a very logical and problem-solver type of person. When I was 25, I got moved into the Marketing department of the company I worked for (on my then-boss’s hunch that I’d be a good fit), and the rest is history – I fell in love!
What are the names and ages of your kids (or furbabies)?
I’ve got 2 furbabies at the moment. Nana is about 4 years old, and she’s a short-haired Husky. Then we’ve got Pig, who’s about 9 months old. She’s a Cattle Dog mix!