How Ben Rojas Rose from a Developer to the President of AIOSEO
Ben Rojas is the President of All in One search engine optimization (AIOSEO) and a self-taught WordPress and PHP developer with over 25+ years of expertise. Though he began as a developer at Superior Motive, he rapidly rose via the ranks to steer your entire AIOSEO firm.
On this interview, Ben Rojas explains how his background in WordPress improvement paved the best way for changing into the president of AIOSEO. He additionally shares his ideas on how he would begin his profession if he have been to begin right this moment.
“My primary piece of recommendation is be teachable, be adaptable … so that you could at all times continue to learn, after which you’ll develop higher via that.”
Ben Rojas – President of All in One search engine optimization
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Video Interview with Ben Rojas
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Meet Ben Rojas, President of All in One search engine optimization
Earlier than changing into the President of All in One SEO, Ben acquired his begin in IT and buyer assist. However lengthy earlier than that, he started his journey as a developer. In actual fact, he wrote his first strains of HTML code on the age of 13 after studying from library books.
When chatting with James Agar from the WPBeginner crew, he fondly remembered his household limiting his laptop time (youngsters must go exterior and play) and dealing round this impediment by writing code by hand on lined paper. He’s even stored information of those early efforts!
Since then, Ben has maintained an id as a lifelong learner, which has helped him turn out to be a frontrunner within the WordPress neighborhood right this moment. Subsequent, let’s speak about how he found WordPress.
A WordPress Journey: From Help to Net Improvement to President of All in One search engine optimization
After laying the foundations for a future in net improvement at an early age, Ben acquired a job in IT at a nonprofit group in 2008. This was when he began tinkering with WordPress for the primary time.
Quickly after, he transitioned to a buyer assist function for a WordPress eCommerce product, which was referred to as Cart66 (now a part of WP EasyCart). His plan was to get extra aware of WordPress code.
Ben rapidly began to work on his improvement expertise and finally grew to become a developer on the Cart66 crew. Throughout this time, he additionally began his personal aspect enterprise of writing PayPal plugins for Easy Digital Downloads (EDD), which is now an Superior Motive product.
Then, after a quick profession shift and a departure from WordPress improvement, Ben returned to his roots. He reconnected with the EDD neighborhood and joined the Awesome Motive crew in 2016.
He began as a software program developer for Envira Gallery however rapidly transitioned to OptinMonster to leverage his strengths in PHP improvement.
At that time, he determined to begin leveling up. In accordance with Ben, throughout this section of his profession, he was consistently constructing, iterating, and excited about tips on how to give again to his crew.
“That was my mentality. That was the hassle that I put in each day making an attempt to point out up, do my greatest to have the ability to … get off work after I did, and return to my household and say, I did the perfect I may right this moment, and I’m going to return again at it tomorrow.”
At WPBeginner, we love to listen to this from business leaders!
Throughout this enhanced section of productiveness, Ben was proactive as a contributor and helped his crew transition to a brand new JavaScript framework to spice up effectivity.
After proving himself in his function and capabilities at OptinMonster, Ben was requested to run All in One search engine optimization (AIOSEO). “Mainly, I went from simply being a developer at OptinMonster straight into this function of being President at All in One search engine optimization.”
Though he had no administration expertise, Ben rose to the event. When discussing his early days as President of AIOSEO, he jokingly mentioned, “It wasn’t with out its challenges … it was similar to consuming from a fireplace hydrant for the primary couple of years.”
Along with studying tips on how to run a enterprise, Ben talked about how his largest problem as president was inheriting a really outdated codebase.
The AIOSEO crew needed to determine whether or not to construct on high of unhealthy code or begin over. With Ben main the best way, they selected to rebuild the code from zero, which was more difficult however finally extra sustainable.
His crew was capable of rewrite AIOSEO from the bottom up inside 11 months. This manner, they might supply customers the perfect product shifting ahead.
Inside All in One search engine optimization
Now, let’s speak extra about what Ben is engaged on at AIOSEO right this moment. However first, right here’s slightly background on the product and its evolution.
With over 3 million customers, All in One SEO (AIOSEO) is likely one of the hottest search engine optimization instruments for WordPress. When chatting with WPBeginner, Ben additionally reminded us that “It was the primary and authentic search engine optimization plugin for WordPress.”
At WPBeginner, we love AIOSEO and apply it to all of our web sites. You may try our complete AIOSEO review for extra data on this highly effective search engine optimization plugin.
Because the starting, AIOSEO has helped WordPress customers enhance their on-page search engine optimization with meta tags, sitemaps, and far more.
The unique plugin had a powerful basis, however Ben’s crew has consistently been creating the software and its options over the previous few years. They’ve constructed out new function units to assist customers with redirects, inside hyperlinks, local SEO, and far more.
Most just lately, the AIOSEO crew launched Search Statistics to assist folks see how their search engine optimization is working for them. This new native AIOSEO software integrates WordPress with Google Search Console.
Right here are some things that Search Statistics can do:
Basically, Search Statistics provides folks actionable insights into tips on how to enhance their content material.
Ben and his crew have acquired quite a lot of optimistic suggestions about Search Statistics. “We’ve had lots of people who mentioned that is what they want. They love the flexibility to see all of that proper of their WordPress dashboard.”
Relating to Search Statistics, we fully agree. Right here at WPBeginner, our editorial crew makes use of the software on daily basis to assist enhance our content material and increase rankings.
Equally, the brand new Keyword Rank Tracker helps you perceive key phrase rankings on a deeper stage, permitting you to research the SERPs extra successfully.
That mentioned, the most recent and most enjoyable function on Ben’s thoughts is AIOSEO’s Writing Assistant. It integrates seamlessly with SEOBoost to provide in-depth insights into your content material, together with scores for readability and key phrase utilization.
It even reveals you as much as 30 examples of competitor web sites rating effectively for a selected key phrase that you just’re focusing on. This may give you tremendous helpful insights and assist you crack the highest 10 rankings together with your content material.
Recommendation for Aspiring WordPress Builders: Ben on Adaptability and Doing Your Greatest
For Ben, buyer assist for a technical product was an incredible entry level into WordPress improvement. However when requested, he mentioned one key piece of recommendation to aspiring builders is: “Get began and by no means cease studying.” He pressured the significance of schooling and utilizing free on-line assets.
For freshmen who need to become WordPress developers, he recommends beginning by studying PHP and JavaScript to get a powerful understanding of the applied sciences that the platform is constructed on.
Ben additionally wouldn’t advocate neglecting JavaScript since WordPress continues to depend on it extra closely, particularly because it strikes towards a block modifying method.
In accordance with Ben, if each PHP and JavaScript, then studying all the opposite vital programming languages and frameworks shall be a lot simpler. As an illustration, a powerful grasp of JavaScript will make studying jQuery a breeze.
Ben additionally encourages aspiring builders to proactively hunt down alternatives in improvement, even when it’s on a really small scale to begin. As an illustration, he mentioned you can supply to assist family and friends who might have help with their web site or take into account the freelance route to get began.
In his opinion, this sort of expertise could make you extra aggressive when making use of for junior developer roles.
When chatting typically about recommendation for builders, Ben additionally mentioned, “The largest factor is adaptability.”
In sensible phrases, for instance, if you end up engaged on a product with a codebase that doesn’t align together with your preferences, adapting and writing your code to that normal will nonetheless assist you be taught one thing new.
In fact, he doesn’t assume you ought to be afraid to ask why issues are carried out the best way they’re. As a substitute, he mentioned, “My primary piece of recommendation is: be teachable, be adaptable … after which you’ll develop higher via that.”
“Get began and by no means cease studying.”
Once we talked with Ben additional about his time at OptinMonster and mentioned the significance of perspective and mindset, he cited his household as a significant motivator behind his work.
“I attempt to instill that in my kids. On the finish of the day, that is going to make our world higher if that is the mentality and perspective that everyone has within the jobs that they’re doing.
Going to work every day with that perspective, you’ll change the office that you just’re in. I do know it. I’ve seen that, I’ve felt it, and that will be one other piece of recommendation actually for somebody beginning out … being adaptable additionally has to do with this … it’s not simply the code.”
Wanting Forward: The Way forward for WordPress and All in One search engine optimization
So what’s subsequent for Ben Rojas and AIOSEO? Right here’s what he needed to say:
“We’re going to proceed to work on issues round our AI writing assistant, to increase that, to make that higher. We’re going so as to add new options and enhancements.
After which our key phrase rank monitoring software that we simply launched. We’re going to proceed to enhance that, make adjustments there as effectively to proceed to cater to our prospects.
Moreover that, we do have another superb issues within the works that I can’t actually say proper now, however we’re very, very enthusiastic about these.”
By way of the WordPress community as a complete, Ben is equally excited.
“As a developer at coronary heart, I’m actually loving what I’m seeing, the work going into safety and efficiency enhancements. I feel that ought to have began lots sooner, and I’m actually glad that it’s taking place proper now.
After which the block editor—it has quite a lot of room for enchancment, however it’s being improved.“
Last Ideas
Early on within the interview when discussing his WordPress journey, Ben jokingly mentioned, “I’m not likely the sort of individual that has a 5-year plan.”
However later, when requested about what’s subsequent in his skilled life, Ben mentioned, “I’m loving what I’m doing. I’m excited to remain right here. I’m gonna be right here for the lengthy haul.”
He additionally took this as a possibility to speak once more about his earlier message of progress. “On the similar time, to sort of tie again into the place we began, I’m gonna be persevering with to be taught alongside the best way. And I push my crew to do the identical factor.
On the finish of the day, that’s what’s going to assist us to proceed to develop and to remain forward. And that’s what I’m enthusiastic about … that’s my 5-year plan.”
At WPBeginner, we’re trying ahead to watching carefully as Ben Rojas continues to steer the AIOSEO crew with a optimistic, forward-thinking, and customer-centered mindset. We really recognize him taking the time to talk with us and for bringing us a product that helps us on daily basis.
Bonus: Knowledgeable Guides for WordPress search engine optimization
We hope you discovered some helpful insights from Ben Rojas, the President of All in One search engine optimization. You might also be involved in a few of our guides on WordPress search engine optimization:
Just a few of those WPBeginner articles have been even written by Ben himself.
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