Alex Galinos is the Head of SEO and SEO Product Manager at Hopper. Based in Greece, Alex is a seasoned SEO professional with a unique journey from a background in language studies to becoming a key figure in SEO at Hopper. His expertise lies in revenue-focused SEO, technical SEO, and managing SEO products, emphasizing practical business impact.
Episode Summary
In this episode, Alex shares his journey into SEO, his approach to revenue-driven strategies, and his experiences managing Hopper’s SEO with a product management mindset. He discusses the challenges of cutting through AI-driven noise, the importance of high-intent traffic, and the impact of skill diversity in SEO. His focus on aligning SEO with business goals and working collaboratively with development teams offers valuable insights for SEO professionals aiming to drive measurable outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- Revenue-Focused SEO: Prioritizing strategies that contribute to revenue rather than vanity metrics.
- SEO Product Management: Managing SEO as a product by aligning it with user experience and business objectives.
- Skill Diversity: Leveraging a diverse skill set to streamline SEO operations and reduce dependency on other teams.
- Data-Driven Strategy: Using metrics like ROI, net profit, and revenue to guide SEO priorities and communicate value to C-level executives.
- Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Working closely with other departments, especially development teams, to enhance SEO performance.
Timestamped Summary
- 0:12 – 1:15: Introduction to the guest, Alex Galinos, and overview of the episode’s focus on SEO.
- 2:29 – 3:37: Alex shares his thoughts on 2024 SEO challenges, focusing on AI noise and the need for revenue-driving SEO.
- 4:28 – 6:00: The evergreen approach to SEO, emphasizing user-centric strategies over technical distractions.
- 6:29 – 8:17: Alex’s background in language studies and how he transitioned to SEO, landing his first role as an SEO copywriter.
- 9:20 – 12:41: Journey into technical SEO through previous roles, highlighting skill diversity.
- 17:09 – 18:11: Introduction to Hopper and its core services as a global ground transportation aggregator.
- 18:56 – 21:31: Defining the role of an SEO Product Manager and its importance in aligning SEO with business needs.
- 23:44 – 28:10: Alex’s initial challenges at Hopper, managing post-COVID transitions, and undertaking major code and CMS migrations.
- 29:02 – 31:03: Planning and forecasting SEO initiatives at Hopper using data-driven approaches.
- 34:07 – 37:43: Communicating SEO’s impact to C-level stakeholders by aligning with business metrics.
- 41:34 – 42:38: Experience as a judge at the Global Search Awards and the exposure to diverse SEO cases.
