SEO Specialist

Cyrus Shepard Portfolio

Founder of Zyppy SEO, former Moz and Ahrefs team member, known for original SEO research and data studies (e.g. on internal linking and click-through rate). His site anchors around original studies rather than generic advice.

SEO ResearchData StudiesInternal LinkingCTR Optimization

What makes it work

A breakdown of the choices that make this portfolio stand out.

1

Original research as the core credential

Publishing his own data studies (rather than summarizing others' findings) is a much stronger credibility signal than generic advice content.

2

Prior in-house credibility at known SEO tool companies

A career history at Moz and Ahrefs gives instant recognition and trust within the SEO industry specifically.

3

A tight thematic focus per study

Each study answers one specific, narrow question (e.g. does X actually affect Y) rather than covering SEO broadly and shallowly.

What SEO Specialists can take from this

Specific, actionable tips to apply to your own portfolio — no generic advice.

  • Publishing original data research, even small-scale, is far more differentiating than restating well-known SEO advice.

  • If you've worked at recognized industry tool companies, that affiliation carries real weight within the SEO community specifically.

  • Keep each research piece narrowly scoped to one specific question — depth on a narrow claim beats breadth on general topics.

Ready to build your portfolio?

Follow the SEO Specialist roadmap — skills, projects, and timeline to get hired.

SEO Specialist Roadmap