Meet Our On-page & Technical SEO Manager: Lazerta Rista

Lazerta has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s in Applied Computer Science. They currently work as an On-Page & Technical SEO Manager at Web20Ranker, where they focus on optimizing websites and improving their rank in search engines using a results-driven approach. In their spare time, Lazerta gives private courses and lectures on SEO, programming, and digital marketing at various training centers in Durres.

Lazerta has experience working as a frontend and backend developer with several platforms, programming languages, and frameworks such as PHP, Java, C#, .NET, Angular, JavaScript Knockout, and Vue.js. Their experience working with digital agencies has allowed them to build upon their computer science background and develop new skills and expertise. They have designed and developed websites/content that is search engine optimized (SEO) for multiple clients from diverse industries.

Professional Bio (3-5 sentences):

As an On-Page & Technical SEO Manager with 6+ years of experience, I have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in optimizing websites for search engines. My background as a web developer has provided me with a solid understanding of the technical aspects of website development, which has been invaluable in my role as an SEO specialist. My passion for staying up-to-date with the latest trends and algorithms in the field has helped me deliver measurable results for clients. I am a results-driven professional dedicated to helping businesses achieve their online goals.

How long have you worked with Web 20?

For almost two years now. I was hired in March 2021, post-covid period, when Web20 started expanding overseas and hiring remote workers.

What does your job entail?

As an On-Page and Technical SEO Manager, my job entails a wide range of responsibilities that are critical to the success of a website’s online presence. My primary focus is optimizing a website to improve its ranking on search engines. This includes researching and implementing the most effective keywords, optimizing meta tags and header tags, creating high-quality content that is both engaging and optimized for search engines, and implementing a website structure that is easy for search engines to crawl.

In addition to these on-page optimization tasks, I am also responsible for ensuring that the website is free of any technical issues that could negatively impact its search engine rankings. This includes identifying and fixing broken links, removing duplicate content, and optimizing page load times.

As a manager, I am also responsible for leading and motivating the team, managing performance, building a positive team culture, providing development opportunities, managing conflicts, communicating effectively with team members and clients, and making important decisions that will impact the team. I also have to set the team goals, create standard operating procedures, delegate tasks when necessary, and ensure that the team is aligned with the company’s goals and objectives.

In summary, my job as an On-Page and Technical SEO Manager requires a combination of technical expertise and leadership skills. The goal is to optimize the website for search engines and to create an environment where the team can work effectively to achieve their goals.

What do you like most about your job?

As an SEO specialist, I find my job incredibly fulfilling and enjoyable. One of the things I appreciate the most is the flexibility it offers. As a web developer, I used to be confined to a physical office and found the monotony of staring at a screen programming for 8 hours a day to be quite stressful. I can work from anywhere with a reliable internet connection at my current job. This allows me to have a better work-life balance and to be more productive.

Another aspect of my job that I enjoy is the opportunity to work with colleagues from all over the world. Web 20 Ranker has a diverse team of people from different cultures and backgrounds. This not only allows me to learn from others but also gives me a chance to share my own knowledge and experiences.

The company culture is also something that I appreciate. The team is friendly, helpful, and proactive. The management is well-established and supportive, making it a great workplace.

Lastly, I love that SEO constantly changes, requiring me to stay updated with the latest trends, algorithms, and techniques. The challenge of staying ahead of the curve and delivering results for our clients makes this job exciting and motivating.

What motivates you to wake up and go to work?

I love to make people happy. My job as an On-Page & Technical SEO Manager allows me to do just that by helping businesses improve their online visibility and reach their target audience. Seeing the positive results of my work, such as increased website traffic, higher conversions, and a stronger online presence, is a motivating factor to wake up and go to work and do it all over again for another client. Finding solutions, problem-solving, and implementing strategies for a website’s optimization, is a challenging and exciting process that keeps me motivated and engaged. Overall, the desire to make a positive impact on others and bring happiness to my clients, team members, and family is a strong motivation to wake up and go to work as an On-Page & Technical SEO Manager.

How has Web 20 helped you in your career development?

Web 2.0 has significantly impacted the field of SEO and has changed how websites are optimized for search engines. In the last two years, Web 2.0 has become more prominent and has helped SEO professionals and me to be more effective in their work. 

I began my career as an On-Page SEO Specialist and quickly established a reputation for delivering high-quality work. I was fortunate to have access to various training opportunities, including workshops led by experienced industry professionals such as Chaz and online courses that I could take for free. These resources provided me with a solid foundation in SEO best practices and allowed me to stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends. Additionally, I gained hands-on experience through SEO testing and case studies, which helped me develop my skills and improve my performance.

After a year of excelling as an On-Page SEO Specialist, I was promoted to Manager. Even though I had already gained a lot of knowledge and experience, I still had to take some additional training for managers to help me understand the new responsibilities of this role. These trainings helped me understand the management aspect of my job and develop my leadership skills.

All in all, the combination of training opportunities, hands-on experience, and the opportunity to take on new responsibilities have helped me to become a better professional. I have improved my performance in my job and delivered results for my clients. I am grateful for the support and resources that Web 2.0 Ranker has provided me, which have helped me advance in my career as an On-Page & Technical SEO Manager.

If you could switch your job with anyone else within Web 20, whose job would you want?

This is the best place to be, considering my background and experience.

What advice do you have for prospective Web 20 candidates?

1. Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and algorithms: SEO is a constantly evolving field, and it’s important to stay informed about the latest changes and updates to stay ahead of the curve.
2. Understand the importance of user experience: Search engines place a high value on websites that provide a positive user experience, so it’s important to understand user-centered design principles and how they apply to SEO.
3. Develop a solid understanding of data analysis: SEO requires analyzing data and making informed decisions based on that data. It’s important to develop skills in data analysis, including using tools such as Google Analytics and SEMrush.
4. Learn to communicate effectively: SEO requires the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders, including clients, colleagues, and other members of the marketing team.
5. Be persistent and patient: SEO takes time to produce results and can be a long-term process. It is important to be persistent and patient and focus on the goals.
6. Get hands-on experience: The best way to learn SEO is by doing it. Look for opportunities to work on real-world projects and gain hands-on experience.
7. Be a team player: SEO is a team effort, and it’s important to collaborate effectively.
8. Be curious and creative: Always be curious and creative. SEO is a creative field; new ideas and thinking outside the box keep it interesting and help improve results.
9. Keep learning: SEO is constantly changing, and it’s important to keep learning new things. Attend workshops, read industry blogs, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.
10. Be passionate: SEO requires a lot of hard work and dedication. It’s important to be passionate about your work and enjoy learning and improving.

What drew you to Web 20 originally? And how has Web 20 changed since?

I was drawn to Web 20 originally due to its reputation as an international SEO company. The company’s reputation for delivering high-quality work and staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in the field would have been a major factor in drawing me here.

Since then, Web 20 has continued to grow and evolve. The company has expanded its services and capabilities and has become known for its ability to deliver client results. Additionally, the company has invested in new technologies, training, and tools to help deliver even better results for clients. The company has expanded its team and started working with clients from different parts of the world. With this growth, the company has become an even more exciting and dynamic workplace, with more opportunities for professional development and career growth.

What have you gained from working at Web 20?

Working at a company like Web 20 has given me hands-on experience working on a variety of projects, exposure to a diverse client base, professional development opportunities, the chance to collaborate with a team, opportunities for career growth, and access to the latest tools and technologies in the field of SEO.

What do you like to do when you aren’t working?

Traveling

One quote you live by

You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.

How do you define success?

By living in peace and doing things that make me happy, like not being stressed at work or in general, being safe financially, maintaining healthy relationships with family and friends, and progressing professionally and as an individual.

What has been your favorite project at Web 20?

All projects are interesting and appealing in their way. I can’t distinguish one.

What is your greatest fear?

Spiders lol

Where is your favorite place to be?

Somewhere warm and near the sea

What’s the weirdest job you’ve ever had?

I had the opportunity to work for a small digital agency early in my career. The company started with only two employees, including a friend from university and myself. The manager, who had no background in the IT field, tasked us with a wide range of responsibilities, including website design, marketing, and programming. We were responsible for building websites from scratch and setting up and maintaining a Linux server to host them.

While the workload was demanding, it was also an incredibly valuable learning experience. I had the opportunity to learn graphic design software such as Photoshop and Illustrator, which helped me to develop my design skills. Additionally, I was exposed to the world of SEO for the first time, which sparked my interest in the field and ultimately led me to pursue a career in it.

Despite the challenges, it was an exciting time to be a part of the company, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work with a close-knit team and to have the opportunity to learn so much in such a short period. It was a great starting point for my professional journey and helped me to develop a strong foundation of skills that I still use today. However, I don’t recommend working for such companies and being requested to do tasks out of your job scope.

What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?

I would be a therapist.

If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?

Not sure. I don’t follow famous people a lot. On second thoughts, probably Nikola Tesla, he seemed to know some secrets of the universe.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

Mind reading and psychology

What are three words you’d use to describe Web 20?

Innovative, Results-Driven, and Reliable.

What is something you learned in the last week?

Cyrillic Alphabet. I am passionate about foreign languages.