SEO & Grow 🌱 Case Study Interview: Dr Cecily Moore

podcast

Nov 7

Written By Brittany Herzberg

“I feel like a savvier business owner because of SEO.”

If you:

Consider yourself a chronic learner
Have ADHD or even ADHD tendencies
Feel like you already have a lot of balls in the air
AND have been burned before by service providers
Wonder if programs actually deliver on what they say they will
Want to feel like a savvier business owner who makes strategic investments
Are ready to tighten things up & get serious with your business

…this episode is for YOU!

You met Dr Cecily in last week’s case study mashup episode (she was the first interview clip). But there was, naturally, SO MUCH MORE to the conversation. And now—you get to hear it!

Cecily is a mom, a professor, a military spouse, a therapist, & an amazing human with a spunky personality which I just adore. She was in the last round of SEO & Grow—and I’m so glad because all I want to do with this SEO thing is help more people help more people!

You’ll discover what drew Cecily to SEO, what her experience has been working with me & being in the SEO & Grow group coaching program, AND what she’s up to next!

There’s SO MUCH in this conversation, so let’s get to it. I’ll see you on the flip side!

Topics covered in this podcast episode:

Why Cecily decided it was time to lean into SEO
How Cecily met Brittany (and how they’ve collaborated)
What the experience of the program was like for her
How learning SEO has helped Cecily in business
Advice for anyone new to SEO

If you want your website to do that elusive thing of “working hard for you”—SEO is the ticket!

Just like Cecily shared—”alignment collapses time.” And that’s precisely why I will not let you pass go (🤭)!

You will be answering those BIG 3 Q’s of:

Who do you help?
How do you help them?
What do you want to be known for?

Because those answers become your North Star.

Not just for bringing your website up to speed so it becomes a beacon for those right-n-ready clients, but also for your business—enabling you to make smart investments that you feel good about & know will help you get to that next level!

FIND THE BASIC B ON YOUR FAVORITE PODCAST PLAYER

Mentioned Resources:

SEO Mini Audit

DFY SEO Website Optimization Service

SEO Data Dashboard (use code BRITT20 for 20% off)

SEO & Grow 🌱 (group coaching program)

This episode of The Basic B podcast is brought to you in partnership w/ Leah Bryant Co.! Help me reach more service providers like you by following the show & leaving a rating or review on Apple & Spotify!

The unedited podcast transcript for this episode of The Basic B podcast follows

Brittany Herzberg: Hello, and welcome to the Basic Bee Podcast. I'm your host, and go to SEO strategist Brittany Herzberg. And if you consider yourself a chronic learner, have ADHD or even ADHD tendencies, feel like you already have a lot of balls in the air. Have been burned before by a service provider. Wonder if programs actually deliver on what they say they will want to feel like a savvier business owner who makes strategic investments, are ready to tighten things up and get serious with your business. This episode is for you. You met Dr. Cecily in last week's case study mashup episode. Try saying that 10 times fast. She was the first interview clip that you heard. But naturally, there was so much more to this conversation. And today you get to hear that Cecily is a mom, a professor, a military spouse, a therapist, and an amazing human with a spunky personality, which I just adore. And she was in this last round of SEO and Grow. And I'm so glad, because all I want to do with this SEO thing is help more people. Help more people. You'll discover what drew Cecily to SEO, what her experience has been like working with me and being in the SEO and Grow group coaching program, and what she's up to next. There's so much in this conversation, so I'll let you get to it, and I'll see you on the flip side. Let's start off with what's your name and what do you do? Cecily: I'm Dr. Cecily Moore, and I am a therapist, and I specifically serve black professional women, helping professionals who are trying to either unlearn the strong black woman narrative or leave a toxic job or work environment. Brittany Herzberg: Your work was fascinating. Like, I know I told you that throughout the whole program, but, like, your work is fascinating. And there was so much that I was like, yes, just, like, cheering silently in the background. What was it that made you just go, yeah, now is the time that I want to dive into SEO. Cecily: I think that I'm one a chronic learner, and I feel like I've bought a lot of programs and have not completed them. And so I started, like, really tracking, like, what are the things I'm spending money on in my business from first? And I was like, okay, the tax professionals looking at me every year like, you're really just buying courses, like, is this really a business? And I was like, okay, I need to figure out, like, marketing and systems. That needs to be my focus this year. And so I said, okay, I'm gonna, you know, deep dive into what marketing looks like. I Also, like, I'm a full time professor. And so I was like, marketing has to feel sustainable for me. And I kept coming across SEO. I kept hearing your name also. Brittany Herzberg: I love that. Cecily: But also like googling you. It's a thing. So I'm like, well, obviously this SEO thing is working because when I Google, this is what's coming up. But also other people in like other trusted communities were mentioning you. And so once I kind of found your website, it was a no brainer. I did the SEO taster and I think I like message you, like late one night and you like message me back and you're like, yeah, sure, like we can do it, let's jump in. And I was like, okay, I like the vibes here. But even after the SEO taster, I didn't know what I didn't know. Right. And so in reading the document that you sent me, I was like, this makes a lot of sense. I don't know if I have the capacity to implement it for myself. And so you kind of like walked me through all of your offerings. And I think you actually did it a couple of times. Because at first I was like, let's just do the done for you thing. But I've been burned a couple of times by businesses like hiring the stuff out. And you were like, based on what you're saying you need Cecily, like, I really think you should do this so you can like learn SEO. And as a learner, I was like, well, hell yeah, let's do do the thing. So it was a no brainer in that way for me. It made the most sense. And even before joining the program, you had given me like, way more like knowledge that made me feel like this was something that made sense for my business, but also it was something that I had the capacity to tackle and implement. Brittany Herzberg: I remember the part of the story where you were like, I'm gonna do done for you. And I was like, okay. And I asked a few more questions. Cause you kept saying something that I was like, it sounds like she wants to learn and do. And I think that would really benefit you. Plus, I mean, there's a price point difference too. Like, let's be real. Yeah. Cecily: So, yeah. Yeah. Brittany Herzberg: So I was like, this just seems to maybe just like be a better fit. So you said something just, I think this week where I wanna tease this out of you, but at the same time I'm like, you said something about just feeling like a more savvy business owner because you've been through this. So could you speak to that, yeah, Hell, yeah. Cecily: I was actually telling this other person that I'm working with another coach. Like, your program and their programs are only two programs that I've ever completed. And I feel like y' all are, like, educators. Like, you want to make sure that we understand why we're doing the thing, why the thing works. And so now that I'm, like, thinking about SEO and. And, like, thinking about the copy on my website, because I'm also, like, redoing some copy for some of the pages on my website, like, before, I would absolutely be like, okay, let's just, like, throw some money at the problem, get somebody else to do it, and then I get to check off a box. No idea if they're doing the thing. Right. Brittany Herzberg: Right. Cecily: And now I understand they were not really doing the thing and probably knew that, like, I didn't know that they were not doing the thing. And so I feel like it has one saved me a ton of money because now I know what I need and I understand what the things are supposed to do. Like, I understand the functionality of my website and the copy on the website. And so many times, especially starting in business, I would hear people say, you need a website that's working hard for you. And I was like, what in the hell does that mean? Say more. Brittany Herzberg: Sounds great, but what do you. What? Cecily: Yes. And so now I feel like I have a thorough understanding of what that means. And because I know my website, how the different parts need to, like, work together, I'm able to make better decisions about, like, the things that I need in place to support this hardworking website for me. Brittany Herzberg: And I know that you weren't on the final call, but there were a couple other people that echoed that same sentiment of, like, I had hired this out, and now I can see that it wasn't done. And they were giving me. I think one person was saying that they were given a list of keywords by an SEO pro. Well, sure, that happens. But they didn't know what they were. They didn't know what they were looking at, what it meant, if it was good or not. And one thing that I shared was that I would much rather have looms out the wazoo than then you feel like you don't know what's going on. I don't want to just be like, here's a list of words. Best of luck to you. Like, what does that mean? Cecily: Yes. And I think, too, especially, like, being a newer business owner, like, the fluffy, fun stuff. It's fluffy and fun. Right. You can get distracted with that stuff. And so, yes, I would always get, like, really good compliments. Like, you have a beautiful website. And I'm like, yeah, it's beautiful, but ain't nobody seeing it. Nobody's seeing. See it. Brittany Herzberg: Could you send some people there? Cecily: Yes. Do you know somebody else that would like to look at it and purchase? Brittany Herzberg: One thing that I want to definitely highlight with you in particular, and your experience through the program is it really seemed like you were able to refine your offers because you could see some stuff that was going on. Speak to that one. Cecily: Yeah, most definitely. Well, I think it goes back to, like, being a more savvy business owner in working through the copy and even just, like, learning, like, what keywords are, how to find them. Like, that whole process, it made me start thinking about my work differently. But you kept asking us those three questions. Who do we help? How do we help them? What do we want to be known for? I was like, damn, okay, Clearly I'm not going to be able to move past this point. But even as late as, what, two weeks ago, you asked me that question again. You were like, cecily, I know you're thinking about, like, adding this other specialty page to your website. You were like, take a beat. What are the things that you really want to do? And, like, let that inform what you're doing here. And so it's one forced me to slow down and really get clear on who do I help? What do I want to be known for? How do I help them? But, like, that's informing the strategy. I have adhd, so the strategy could get real all over the place real quick. And so not only has it been grounding for me, but when I go back into, like, doing SEO search, keyword search, all the things I'm like, oh, okay, like, this is the strategy. It makes sense. Get back on the yellow brick road, Cecily. And it's been super, super helpful because even one of the specialty pages that I was telling you I was thinking about adding, like, I immediately went in to do keyword search, and I was like, oh, this is madness. I'm gonna leave this one where it is. Like, I'm not even really that excited about this work. But it goes back to those three foundational questions. And so it just kept, like, bringing me back and giving me a grounding place that was super helpful for me, even while, you know, sometimes I had to do this work late at night while the kids were asleep when I had some free time. But I had a solid foundation that guided what I was working on. Brittany Herzberg: I Love hearing that. You actually, I saw you moving through, but it's great to hear again that like this was one of those programs that you did complete and you saw all the way through. What would you say to anybody? Like, let's think of like your biz bestie who is thinking about SEO, maybe even thinking about the program. But just like SEO in general, I would say, what would you say to them now that you're on the other side of it? Cecily: Yeah, funny enough, don't judge me here. You know, I never do because I need accountability and I have, you know, the ADHD and all that. All the things. I've literally been thinking about going through the program again. No, it sounds. And I know that I know what I'm doing. Right. But it was so helpful for me and how you like built in the pacing. So first I would tell the person to do it. Especially if you're like starting out and you're throwing spaghetti at the wall and you keep hearing people say you need a part working website. Well, this is what they're talking about. They're just not saying all the things. They're not finishing the sentence. That's neither here nor there. It's a soapbox now. But I can appreciate when someone has taken the time to curate a learning experience where I can one learn to retain the information. And I feel like, yes, I can absolutely do this stuff on my own, but do I want to? No, not really. Brittany Herzberg: Which is why the done for you service was so top of mind and you were like, program. Okay. Cecily: Right, right. And that's the other thing, Brittany. I'm not a group program shorty. Like, I'm really. Nope, I'm really not. So the telegram, y' all be blowing the telegram up with the wind. And I just, I read them. I don't ever share. I'm just like, oh my gosh, like a lot is happening. There's a lot of movement. Like, I know that I feel like I'm making progress, but to see that it's a collective experience, I'm like, this program really does what it says it's. Brittany Herzberg: Gonna do, which shouldn't be such a mind blowing thing. And yet here we are. Cecily: It couldn't be such a mind blowing thing. And I think that is something that for me, an educator, somebody who teaches on a daily basis, like being a part of coaching programs that honor the program promise, but it's teachable. One, you can learn it, but two, you can retain it. Like that's going to eat down every time in my mind, like that's the type of experience that I want to be a part of. And I like the accountability. I liked coming to the group calls. I like reading everybody else's wins. I liked just sitting in the calls, listening. Like, on the days where I felt like I was at capacity, but seeing where other people were and what they were doing, I was like, okay, momentum building. And so I would leave the call, and it was like I got a second wind, and I would go do the thing that I needed to do for myself. It was paced really well. Not only am I glad that I completed the program, this is one of the programs that I feel like I have gotten the most done in. Like, it has moved the needle the most in my business. Brittany Herzberg: I love hearing that. And I love hearing that you thought that it was paceful because, like, especially you're a professor, like, you teach, and for that mic drop, I'm just so happy. Cecily: Yeah. Curriculum and like, pedagogy and like, adult learning styles, like, that's my whole world. So joining a group program where it feels like somebody has intentionally thought out, like, these are the steps. This is the formula. This is what people need to leave with. Like, you need to have a tangible, but you need to also understand why I'm telling you to do these things. It was definitely one of the better, if not the best, learning experience that I've had. And in a group coaching program. Brittany Herzberg: Cecily's gonna make me cry, everyone. What the heck? No, it's so sweet. It means a lot. Cause I worked really hard to do that. And I'm over here with, like, you know. Cause you've been through this. We've got Zoom calls, we've got telegram for the community. We have stuff in Google Docs. I don't have an official, like, Kajabi or Thinkific portal for the class, but. Cecily: You can send me a Google Doc any day. I'm a raid at front and back. Brittany Herzberg: That's so appreciated because not everybody does that. But, like, I know that there are people who will do that. So I just. Thank you. Cecily: Yeah, like, it might be on my desk now, which is so funny because I was thinking, yeah, here they are. I was thinking about adding those specialty pages on my website, and I went back to the very first email that you sent in SEO foundations and printed out all of the SEO strategy sheets. Because I'm gonna be flying to work and I'm like, I'm not gonna be able to use my computer, but I'll have my phone and I'll be looking up keywords Filling out the strategy sheet so I can add this specialty page. Brittany Herzberg: Like, yes, you're getting it done. I'm so proud of you. Cecily: I'm proud of myself. You should be. Brittany Herzberg: You have rewritten copy. You have done SEO strategies for. I don't even know how many pages you got headshots done in this time. You were like, how do I title them? Cecily: I'm telling you, Brittany, there has been so much forward movement in my business after being a part of this program, and it has informed the business decisions and other things that I've joined. Like, I joined a copywriting program, and they had a section on SEO, and I was like, oh, I can skip this. My SEO is tight. And so we, like, joined the call to do the SEO week. And I was like, my stuff is good. And so I'm actually ahead in that program because I didn't need that foundational knowledge that everybody else needed. Like, I'm writing copy pages, and so. Brittany Herzberg: I love hearing that. Was there anything you felt like was challenging or, like, that you were resistant to or anything like that come up that was, like, sticky? Cecily: No, not challenging. I think my. My biggest challenge within the program container is my own, like, time management. I got a lot of balls in the air. Brittany Herzberg: You've got a lot going on because you teach, you're a therapist, you're a mom, your wife. Like, you have some stuff. You were solo parenting for a while. Cecily: Like, yeah, I think in SEO foundations, Ivan was deployed and came back, like, in the middle of that. Yes, there have been a lot of things. Brittany Herzberg: Right. And then your little went to school for the first time. Right? Cecily: Your little went to the school for the first time. Actually, I was laughing because at this point, I do feel like I have just kind of stalked your website. Brittany Herzberg: Thank you. I appreciate that. Cecily: I did not realize how valuable the blogging course for business owners was. And so now that I understand what I need to be doing for sustainable marketing in my business and, like, talk to other business owners, you know, been around the block a little bit. I'm really getting into blogging. And so, you know me, educator, learner. I was like, well, let me find a course to teach me blogging. And I kid you not, I went into my, like, email, put blog in there. Don't really know why I did it. And you came up, and I was like, wait, I took a course with Brittany about blogging. And I'm laughing because I remember being in the course. It had snowed, my kids were at home, and you had us, like, introduce ourselves. And I was like, Listen, I don't know if I have the capacity to pay attention. It is snowing outside. My kids are tracking snow in the house, and I am stressed out. Like, I'm gonna try, but we'll see. And so that's what I've been doing over the past two weeks is I went back re. Listened to the course a couple of times, and that's why I, like, sent you that message. I was like, okay, I sent a homework assignment in, like, just to get it done. Cause I felt like, the urgency of the course ending. And I was like, but scratch that, because I went back and listened to the blogging course. Like, everything I need is there. And so, yeah, Brittany, you can sell me just about anything. And I'd be like, okay, I need it. I was telling my coach yesterday, I was like, I listened to Britney's podcast, and I think I'm going to start a podcast. And she was like, really? She was like, one episode convinced you. I was like, yeah. Which episode was it the one with you and Leah? Brittany Herzberg: Oh, yeah, Yeah, I love that one. And that was on her show. And then we dropped it on my show. Cecily: It was on her show. You dropped it. I listened to it. And then you made the warm introduction to a previous client. I'm meeting with her to talk about being a therapist, using a podcast, and, like, potentially being on her show. And so I was like, okay, nugget. It all feels like it's falling into place. I have previously been, like, worried that I, like, was slow to learning business, growing, scaling, all the business terminology, but I truly believe alignment collapses time. And you said something about the energetics of SEO. I had to listen to that episode a couple of times because I was like, that's real. And so it really now feels like the pieces of the puzzle are coming together. Brittany Herzberg: That makes me so excited for you. I just can't wait. And then I was laughing too, because you were like, you could tell me just about anything. I'm like, well, Cecily's in the maintain membership too. Cecily: Maintain membership, too. Gonna see what we're talking about there. I also bought the SEO dashboard, so good. Brittany Herzberg: Yeah, I'm obsessed with that SEO data dashboard because it just pulls everything in and, like, it actually, since it's cute, I'm like, I want to go check it out. Like, what's going on over there? Cecily: Yeah, go see what's happening over there. Brittany Herzberg: Right? Let's see how my SEO's doing. And then it's motivating because you're like, oh, okay. I see the opportunities oh, yesterday I gave a group talk and there was someone that I've been connected with for a few years. I had sent her a message about how her SEO is doing. Just some quick stuff because I happen to be stalking her site. And she's like, I felt so ashamed when you sent me that message. Cecily: I'm like, no, no, no, that's. Brittany Herzberg: It's not the shame. She's like, but I went in there and I took action and that stuff's fixed now. I'm like, that's what I want. Like, I want me to be able to say this, this, this. You go take some action on it and then feel good and move forward. And like, like you said, all the dots are connecting, all the dots are connected. Cecily: And that's the funny thing, Brittani, like, I don't care if it's the best salesman in the world. I truly don't believe that there has been a point in my life where anybody could sell me a dashboard, that a dashboard was helpful. When I hear the word dashboard, my eyes start to glaze over. Brittany Herzberg: So I'm with you. Cecily: I think it was the call where you had the person on talking about the dashboard. Like, I just, I sat there like, I didn't talk or anything or participate because what was happening in my mind, I was like, oh, I think I understand this. Like, I think I understand what's happening. And again, the functionality and like, why this is useful and why I need it for SEO, which for me that was a mind blowing moment because again I hear dashboard and I'm like, mm, mm, that's the birds. Brittany Herzberg: You're like, no, it's funny, I'm so glad that we did this call because half the time, like, you just said, you're like, you're on the call, but you're not necessarily participating. And I'm like, like, I'm hanging out with the group and saying stuff and leading things and doing hot seats. And I'm like, is Cecily good? Cecily: Are we okay? No, I'm definitely soaking it in. I'm a note taker. And so the way in which I learn, like, I have to write one to keep me grounded, but also to be able to recall, like, what's being said and the information that's being disseminated to me. And I appreciate it in SEO foundations because hectic time in my life, that man was gone, them kids were here. It was a lot going on in the background. And you normalize that from day one. You were like, some people are like, just going to have to be here to, like, soak it all in and listen. And because that's not my, like, natural preference. I want to be active. I want to be taking notes and asking questions. I didn't know if I was retaining the information or if I was learning anything. And so I don't think I really talked at all in that program. Like, I would just show up to the calls and, like, listen. But it was amazing because I was like, oh, like, I actually understand what's happening. And so even the transition from SEO foundations to SEO and Grow, the pacing felt right, but it felt like the natural right steps. You know, sometimes, you know, we just be making offers out here because they feel good and there's no rhyme or reason, but it made sense. It made doing the next thing thing a natural. Yes. And I'll even say that with maintenance, like, I think I started asking you almost halfway through SEO and Grow, like, what's next? I. I think I'm getting the hang of this. How we gonna keep this up? Brittany Herzberg: What else am I joining? What else am I doing? Cecily: What else am I supposed to do? Brittany Herzberg: And that's been one of the cooler things on my end of just having people who are asking about, like, what's the next step? What's happening? Like, where can I go next? That's been really cool because I'm like, oh, you actually do like it. This is actually working how I intended for it to. I'm just so grateful you were in there and that you've done those different steps and we've gotten to spend 2025 together and we get to hang out in 2026. Cecily: A time has been had. You're not going to be able to get rid of me. Brittany Herzberg: Thank you so much for everything that you shared. Cecily: You're welcome. Brittany Herzberg: I could literally talk with Cecily all day long. You might have caught her saying she's in the maintain membership. If you're wondering what that is, this is the next step for anyone who's worked with me to implement an SEO strategy on their site, whether that was in the group coaching program or in a done for you capacity. In this monthly membership, we have two calls. One to generate and review our SEO reports and one for even more hot seat coaching, because we just love that. And the entire point of this is to keep the momentum going with SEO and to hold you accountable to doing those teeny tiny things you need to do on a monthly basis, like optimizing content and fixing SEO errors. I'm so excited to see where Cecily goes now that she's got some solid SEO on her site. If you want your website to do that elusive thing of working hard for you, SEO is the ticket. Just like Cecily shared alignment collapses time. And that's precisely why I will not let you pass go. You will be answering those big three questions of who do you help, how do you help them, and what do you want to be known for? Because those answers become your North Star. Not just for bringing your website up to speed so it becomes a beacon for those right and ready clients, but also for your business, enabling you to make smart investments that you feel good about and that you know will help you get to that next level. If you're ready to take a step deeper into the world of SEO, you're either going to want to join SEO and Grow or or get your done for you website SEO service booked. You'll find those links below, of course, and if the doors are closed for SEO and Grow, when you check it out, find me on Instagram brittneyherzberg or fill out the inquiry form on my contact page so I can help you get set up for the next round. Of course, if you have any questions about anything you heard today, you can also find me on Instagram or my website and we can chat. Thanks for joining us for this conversation and as always, I'm over here cheering you on on your SEO journey.

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