We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mikayla Taylor a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Mikayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I started my online business in 2019 out of the need to make additional income while on medical leave. During this time, I turned to my lifelong love for writing and saw an opportunity to create a business where I could write for others.
My path to entrepreneurship was less a financial decision, but a creative and emotional outlet during a trying period of my life.
As my blog grew and I began to learn more about successful copywriting principles online, I found myself increasingly drawn to the complexities and ever-changing landscape of search engine optimization. It wasn’t long before my customers began to recognize this passion too. They came to me not just for compelling copy, but for strategies to elevate their own online presence.
More and more, I was becoming known less as a “copywriter” and more as the “SEO girl”.
So, I made a shift in response to a clear demand. My clients are small business owners like me, seeking to carve out their own space in the online world and build community.
What sets my approach apart is my background in copywriting, and storytelling, and my lived experiences of community building online. I’ve used SEO and my platforms to create my own community of people with similar interests.
I’m not just optimizing websites, I use my expertise to weave narratives that resonate with both search engines and real people.
As a blogger & SEO strategist, my specialty is to demystify these strategies for clients. I help women entrepreneurs articulate their own stories in a way that resonates with their target audience and motivates them to take action. It’s not where I thought I would be, but I’m so glad it’s where I ended up!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My journey into SEO and blogging is as unconventional as it is fulfilling. In 2019, during a period of medical leave, I turned to my passion for writing and storytelling. This marked the beginning of my journey in the world of online entrepreneurship, starting with copywriting and later developing a specialized focus on SEO strategy.
Through the journey of sharing my story online, I’ve connected with dozens of other women with similar stories and similar paths, demonstrating the power of online community.
As my blog grew, I delved deeper into the complexities of search engine optimization, driven by a desire to enhance my online presence. Soon, I found that my clients, primarily small business owners, were seeking more than just engaging copy, they needed comprehensive strategies to improve their digital footprint.
Recognizing this need, I began to offer tailored SEO services.
What sets me apart in this industry is my unique blend of copywriting skills and SEO expertise. This combination allows me to not only optimize websites for search engines but to do so in a way that tells a compelling story.
My approach is deeply rooted in understanding the narrative of each brand and using that to create content that resonates with both search engine algorithms and audiences of the real people that you desire to connect with.
It’s not just about website traffic or sales, it’s about building communities and fostering engagement with your people online!
I’m grateful to provide a path to enhanced online visibility with authentic storytelling and strategic optimization. My goal is to help businesses be seen and visible on Google, but also serve their audience with content that is appreciated and moves them closer to making a decision.
I am particularly proud of how my work empowers women entrepreneurs. By demystifying SEO, I enable them to articulate their stories and connect with their target audience more effectively.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Building my audience on social media has been a journey intertwined with the growth of my website.
When I started, my primary focus was on creating valuable, SEO-optimized content for my blog. This foundation allowed me to extend my reach beyond social media platforms on a platform that I own 100%.
My blog serves as a content hub where I can repurpose rich, authentic content to share on social media platforms. A blog post can be repurposed into a static post, short-form video content, and long-form content across multiple platforms. This approach not only drove traffic back to my website but also helped me establish authority in my niche as a blogger.
People who discover me through Google often become part of my community by following me on social media. This synergy between my blog and social platforms allows for a dynamic engagement with my audience. It’s rewarding to see how leveraging various platforms can not only grow my audience but also foster a vibrant and interactive community around my content.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
The book “We Should All Be Millionaires” by Rachel Rodgers significantly impacted my perspective on money, finance and business. As a black female entrepreneur, I recognize there are systems designed to hinder my success. On top of being a coach and service provider for other women in the online space, there at times when I felt “guilty” for desiring to make a lot of money in my business. This book changed my perspective – not only is it okay to make money as an entrepreneur, but it’s actually something I deserve to do. The more money I make in my business, the more money I am able to put back into my communities and make this world a better place. Especially in this world where it sometimes feels slimy doing lead generation or selling yourself online, this book was necessary for me to feel confident in selling myself, products, and services as an online business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mikaylataylor.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bymikaylataylor/
- Other: https://pinterest.com/bymikaylataylor
Image Credits
Kay Hillman Photography