Stephanie Long shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Stephanie, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Would YOU hire you? Why or why not?
As an SEO expert, I spend my days analyzing data, writing blogs, reading about the latest SEO and AI trends, taking client calls and doing everything else it takes to stay relevant in this ever-changing online landscape.
Staying on the cutting-edge of SEO takes a lot of time, energy, and effort, but I absolutely love it and am energized by the challenge. I work tirelessly for my clients—honestly, my life is my work. I always want to give results and I won’t give up until I get them. (I joke that I’m like a dog with a bone!)
When I work with contractors, I’m always seeking a certain level of dedication and expertise, and I feel that I bring both of those things in spades, so in short, yes, I would hire myself! And I hope you will, too.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
In the tech world, I’m known as “Mrs. SEO,” and I run a business of the same name. At Mrs. SEO, I offer SEO services, team training and consulting to businesses of all types—primarily spanning tech, e-commerce and healthcare.
I’m also the founder of Junction Jack, an online marketplace that directly connects SEO experts with the businesses who need them. My goal with Junction Jack is to elevate the options available to entrepreneurs who need SEO help beyond what’s typically seen in our “gig economy;” I do that by providing access to my own network of high-quality, strictly vetted service providers. I’m also driven by the chance to give women in the tech industry a voice and spotlight their work in a space that is often highly male-dominated.
I’m a total nerd for networking—you’ll often see me at conferences such as Create & Cultivate, Women in Tech SEO, and POSSIBLE (where I took the stage as a speaker in 2025 and will be doing so again in 2026). I also spend a lot of time working to become a thought leader in my field, and I’m proud to say I’ve been featured in publications such as ForbesWomen, Thrive Global, Scottsdale Magazine and more.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Without a doubt, I felt most fully in my power when I left the corporate world in 2022 and quit my stable job with a full benefits package. It was then that I was inspired to start my own thing as “Mrs. SEO,” and I haven’t looked back! I’ve always known I wanted to be an entrepreneur; I just didn’t know when or how it would happen. My grandpa had come over from Norway and built his own business, and I always admired and wanted to emulate that. I definitely inherited my strong work ethic from him, and I’m glad I found the courage to leave corporate and make my own way in entrepreneurship.
When did you last change your mind about something important?
The last time I changed my mind about something important was while building my startup, Junction Jack. About halfway into the process, I had a few important conversations that pretty much turned everything I’d already done upside down. A trademark lawyer warned me that the name I’d selected for the business could have a significant conflict of interest and urged me to find a new one—even though the branding had already been fully developed for the prior name. I also spoke with a tech consultant who felt that it would make more sense for Junction Jack to function as an online marketplace rather than an app.
Taking their advice meant essentially starting from scratch, even though I’d already invested a lot of money and time. While it was scary and admittedly frustrating, I’m glad I was able to find the courage to make the necessary changes. Making those key decisions helped me move forward with clarity and momentum, and looking back, I’m so glad that I was willing to trust the process and do what was right for me and my business. (And I’m grateful that I was able to recognize these important changes before I launched instead of down the line!)
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I’m committed to growing and nurturing Junction Jack, no matter what it takes. I won’t lie — it’s not easy. I have a full-time business in Mrs. SEO on top of building Junction Jack as a startup, and I’ve learned that balancing two ventures that demand a lot of your time, effort and energy isn’t for the faint of heart (especially when you’re a solopreneur).
But I’m fully committed to my mission of creating options for small businesses and entrepreneurs who need reliable and experienced SEO and AI practitioners—which seem to be in short supply in our current gig economy. I want to create opportunities for SEO experts who get it to shine, and Junction Jack helps me do just that.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I used to follow the path of what “I should do” in life and I have now created the life I was born to do. I’m a natural boss bitch and this is my legacy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.junctionjack.co
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steph-l/
