Remote Internship, Real Growth: My SEO Journey at PDM

When I first accepted a remote internship with Power Digital Marketing I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would I feel disconnected? How will I know if I’m doing a good job? It turns out that working remotely has pushed me to become more independent, resourceful, and communicative. This blog post reflects on what I’ve learned, both about the industry and myself while working from behind a screen.

Power Digital Marketing is a growth marketing firm that combines marketing expertise, consulting, and data analytics to boost revenue and enhance brand visibility for its clients. PDM offers a comprehensive range of services, including SEO, content marketing, paid media and more.

As an Organic Search Intern, I support the team by optimizing and editing website copy. My responsibilities include writing title tags and meta descriptions, identifying internal linking opportunities, and collaborating with the team through platforms like Slack and Google Meet.

Throughout this internship, I’ve gained valuable knowledge about navigating platforms like Asana, Google Analytics, and SEMrush Enterprise. I’ve also learned the importance of brevity and clarity in communication. When working remotely, being a strong communicator is essential. I’d say communication is one of the biggest skills I’ve improved during my time here. From reaching out to multiple strategists about assignments to collaborating with interns from other departments on our end-of-semester project, I’ve truly learned the value of effective, efficient communication.

Ever since Professor Bex introduced me to the concept of Search Engine Optimization, I’ve been curious about it and wondered whether I could see myself pursuing it as a career. From my experience in this role, I’ve learned that I genuinely do enjoy working in SEO.

I really admired and was impressed by how connected everyone at the company is and how much they care about employees’ lives outside of work. During my internship, I had the chance to attend the company’s quarterly kick-off, and I was amazed that part of the event was dedicated to celebrating employees’ personal milestones: whether it was buying a house, getting engaged or married, having children, running a marathon, or even getting a new dog. I’ve never seen or heard of a company that values its team’s wins outside of work in such a genuine way.

I think what I’m trying to say is this: I expected this internship to be mostly logging in, doing work every day, and maybe joining a meeting here and there. But this company proved me wrong in the best way. Not only did they surpass my expectations, but they also gave me a first internship experience I never could’ve imagined.

If I had to give any advice to students starting a remote internship, here’s what I’d say:

• Stay organized. I kept all my meeting notes in one notebook, which made referencing things easy.
• Stay up to date with your Google Calendar. Meetings can shift or overlap!
• Communication is key. There won’t always be time for a call so make sure your written messages are clear and concise.
• Have a dedicated workspace, or two! It helps your brain separate work from your personal life and minimizes distractions.

To wrap things up, I’m incredibly grateful for my time at this internship. I feel like I’ve learned so much, not just about SEO, but about professionalism, remote collaboration, and the kind of company culture I want to be a part of in the future.