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 Bekkah McFarland!
Name: Bekkah McFarland
Position: SEO Manager
Location: Temecula, CA
When did you begin working at JDM?
July 2024.
How did you know JDM was the right fit for you?
I loved that the entire company was remote. I have worked for companies before where only some members were remote and some were at HQ and it definitely created some favoritism and separation. That isn’t a problem at JDM; everyone is remote, and everyone is treated equally.
What’s your favorite part of the workday?
Logging on and getting myself organized with my tasks and meetings I have throughout the day/week. It helps set me up for success and get me organized, which reduces stress.
What’s the most gratifying part of working with your clients?
For me, it’s building the relationship. I love the part of client relationships when we know how to work well together, get things done, and have fun doing it.
In a remote company, how do you stay connected with your team?
Slack is obviously a great tool for staying connected. I think the SEO team in particular has a lot of the same spooky interests, so we share a lot of things with each other and have fun back-and-forths about it.
What three words would you use to describe the JDM culture?
Organized, hard-working, fun!
What's something you love about JDM?
You can really be yourself. It feels like no one really takes themselves TOO seriously so you can really be yourself and not worry anyone is judging you.
Can you recall a time when JDM challenged you, and how we supported you through that time?
I think onboarding in general is pretty challenging because there are high expectations and a lot that we do for our clients! My director and team were there to support me with any questions I had and to provide examples that I could draw from.
What’s the best thing you’ve done with your unlimited PTO?
I am yet to use it since starting. However, I do have a 4-night, 5-day spa retreat planned with my mom and sisters that I am very much looking forward to!
What's something you love about the marketing industry?
It is ever-changing. Especially in the world of SEO, you will never get bored and will always be challenged!
What do you think has been the most interesting change in the marketing industry or in your channel this year?
I think the addition of AI Overviews within the SERP has been really interesting. It’s another opportunity to make it to the top of the SERP but also pushes down organic listings. So understanding how that might impact rankings and traffic has been a fun journey.
What digital marketing platform, technology, or skill do you see gaining the most traction in the next 1-2 years, and why?
I am interested to see how forums (like Reddit) and social media platforms (like TikTok) that now are becoming their own forms of search engines start to play into the SERP results within Google. We already see the integration of “discussion and forums” and Reddit content as some top results.
What are the names and ages of your kids (or furbabies)?
I have two young sons. Heath is currently 2 years old, and his little brother, Lucas, is 9 months old.