What inspires the leaders and experts in the search engine marketing industry and community? In our new “Interviews with Experts” blog series, Anvil features fellow experts in an interview-style post discussing what inspires them, how they got into the search engine marketing industry and more.

We’re excited to have the chance to interview Megan Rivas and look forward to sharing her insights and passion. Megan is Project Logistics Manager at aimClear, where she manages and supports holistic online marketing projects, and also serves as their in-house Pinterest expert.  Megan spoke at the 2014 SEMpdx SearchFest in February in Portland and was kind enough to share her insights with us.

And now for the interview, enjoy!

When did you know that the SEO industry was your chosen career path?

I came to aimClear from a more traditional marketing agency where I mainly focused on helping to create and place print ads, billboards, and write radio and TV commercials. That was an awesome experience, and I learned a lot when I was there.

Once I became aware of what aimClear was and what type of marketing they did, I was blown away.  It was literally a whole new world of marketing that they didn’t teach you in college.  Understanding where the world is headed, and that the online marketing/social media scene is only going to continue to grow, I knew I was headed in the right direction for a fruitful career path.

Why and what keeps you passionate about the industry today?

I’m intrigued by the ever-changing landscape of all online marketing platforms. We really need to be on our toes and keep our ear to the ground all the time. A part of this industry is being in the know and on top of all updates to keep our clients well informed about new developments in social channels and social PPC, search, and anything that can benefit their bottom line.

The people that make up the online marketing industry are amazing. I love attending industry conferences and getting the chance to talk to people that are so creative, passionate, and very smart. I am proud to be a part of this community.

What is your greatest success and/or failure (what accomplishment are you most proud of)?

To date I would have to say speaking at semPDX SearchFest this year. Also, being a part of a team for a client and seeing the success for the client from our work is really rewarding.

What is the best piece of advice you have for folks looking to get into the search industry (or best piece of advice that you ever got)?

The best thing you can do for yourself is to be able to wear many hats. In our industry, it can be quite a juggling act between production in all paid channels, leading a team, managing the client relationship, and project management and logistics.  The more you know how to do, the more comfortable you will be, and the more valuable you will be to an employer.

What new digital trends can we expect to see in the next few years?

We should expect the visual trend to become even more prevalent. At semPDX, I spoke on the panel Trending Visual with Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. Image and video based sharing are very important to consumers and brands. Imagery has proven to be extremely successful and a part of daily life for many. 90% of info submitted to the brain is visual, and posts with visuals receive 94% more page visits and engagement than those without. People today want their information quickly. They don’t have a lot of time to read. Rich media helps users share, communicate, and consume content easily and fast. We will also start to see more businesses advertising across Pinterest and Instagram.

What industry blog or book has influenced or inspired you the most?

The Great Game of Business by Jack Stack, MOZ, Search Engine Land, Marketing Land, Search Engine Journal, Search Engine Watch, Pinterest’s blog, Oh So Pinteresting Webcasts from Cynthia Sanchez.

Where can we find you online?

Twitter: @MeganLRivas
Blog: www.aimClearblog.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/megan_lichty/

What do you love most about your city?

Our Zenith City of the Unsalted Seas (Duluth) truly is beautiful. It is really, really insanely cold for about 4 months out of the year… but I still love it. The lake is gorgeous to look at every day, and I am lucky to be able to see it from work and home. One of my favorite things to do is to go to Park Point, a 3.5 mile long sand beach and just relax with a blanket and book in the warmer months. In the winter, it turns into a crater-looking surface, like walking on the moon with all the snow and ice built up.