What happens when a developer falls down the SEO rabbit hole?

Hello, StudioHawk! I’m a self-taught software developer transitioning into SEO and digital marketing.

I know my way around HTML, JavaScript, website architecture or fixing frustrating bugs. But lately, I’ve been asking a different question: what makes a website discoverable in the first place?

Rather than just updating my CV and calling it a day, I decided to build something that combines my development background with my growing interest in search.

And if I’m writing about SEO, I might as well practise what I’m learning.

Note: no promises of first-page rankings.

I understand what’s under the hood

My background in web development has taught me to learn new things, think outside of a box and find practical solutions.

I believe those skills translate naturally into technical SEO.

I’m interested in how search engines discover and render pages, how website architecture influences crawlability, and how technical implementation supports search visibility.

I’m currently developing my skills across technical SEO, keyword research, on-page optimisation, and content strategy.

I don’t have years of agency experience to claim. What I do have is a technical foundation, a habit of learning independently, and the ability to turn ideas into working implementations.

Keyword research: Guessing is not a strategy

Google’s algorithm is an algorithm. In other words, it all comes down to one thing, and that is Math. While nobody has a magic formula, there’s plenty of things we can do to better our chances for improving ranking position. The most important on-page signals would be including our primary keyword in:

- URL

- Title tag

- H1 Tag

- Body content / First paragraph

Once we do these 4 things, Google will crawl and index our page. Kyle Roof even demonstrated this by ranking number one in Google with a page consisting of gibberish text and only a handful of target keywords. In a matter of weeks he beat legitimate websites that were SEOing for years. Pretty impressive IMO.

Plot twist: I’ve also built a business

Alongside development, I’ve owned and operated a local service business that grew to $135k in annual revenue.

That meant building our online presence, defining our unique selling proposition, working on Local SEO, and running Meta advertising campaigns to attract new customers.

It taught me a lot about customer acquisition, understanding customer behaviour, and turning enquiries into paying clients that stays with us.

More importantly, it showed me that marketing isn’t just about getting attention. It’s about attracting the right people and contributing to real business outcomes.

That’s what draws me to SEO: the combination of technical problem-solving, understanding people, and helping businesses grow.

Why StudioHawk?

I’m looking for an opportunity to learn from people who genuinely care about SEO, work on real problems, and develop my skills in an environment that values curiosity and continuous improvement.

StudioHawk stood out to me for exactly those reasons.

I’m early in my SEO career, but I bring a technical foundation, and a genuine desire to keep improving.

I enjoy getting into the details, solving problems, and building things that serve a purpose.

So, here’s a little something beyond my CV and cover letter.

If you’ve made it this far, I’d love to have a conversation. I’d be happy to discuss how I could contribute to StudioHawk, where my current skills could be useful, and what I should focus on developing next.

I’m also open to internship opportunities if that’s a better fit. My priority is to get hands-on experience, learn from people who know their craft, and prove what I can bring to the table.

Please see the following links for more info about me:

- CV

Adam.