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Hi, I'm Cecil Merkerson, an SEO Editor and Digital Content Creator based in New York. I specialize in crafting optimized content strategies that boost audience engagement and drive growth. With experience working across news media and sports industries, I enjoy collaborating with teams to deliver timely, relevant, and evergreen content that truly resonates with readers. I am passionate about leveraging SEO tools and data analytics to inform content creation and marketing strategies. Whether it's researching keywords, optimizing website copy, or managing content calendars, I strive to produce impactful digital content that enhances visibility and audience connection.…Hi, I'm Cecil Merkerson, an SEO Editor and Digital Content Creator based in New York. I specialize in crafting optimized content strategies that boost audience engagement and drive growth. With experience working across news media and sports industries, I enjoy collaborating with teams to deliver timely, relevant, and evergreen content that truly resonates with readers. I am passionate about leveraging SEO tools and data analytics to inform content creation and marketing strategies. Whether it's researching keywords, optimizing website copy, or managing content calendars, I strive to produce impactful digital content that enhances visibility and audience connection.

Cecil Merkerson

Copywriter, Content Creator, Content Strategist, +2

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Hi, I'm Cecil Merkerson, an SEO Editor and Digital Content Creator based in New York. I specialize in crafting optimized content strategies that boost audience engagement and drive growth. With experience working across news media and sports industries, I enjoy collaborating with teams to deliver timely, relevant, and evergreen content that truly resonates with readers. I am passionate about leveraging SEO tools and data analytics to inform content creation and marketing strategies. Whether it's researching keywords, optimizing website copy, or managing content calendars, I strive to produce impactful digital content that enhances visibility and audience connection.…Hi, I'm Cecil Merkerson, an SEO Editor and Digital Content Creator based in New York. I specialize in crafting optimized content strategies that boost audience engagement and drive growth. With experience working across news media and sports industries, I enjoy collaborating with teams to deliver timely, relevant, and evergreen content that truly resonates with readers. I am passionate about leveraging SEO tools and data analytics to inform content creation and marketing strategies. Whether it's researching keywords, optimizing website copy, or managing content calendars, I strive to produce impactful digital content that enhances visibility and audience connection.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Cecil Merkerson, an SEO Editor and Digital Content Creator based in New York. I specialize in crafting optimized content strategies that boost audience engagement and drive growth. With experience working across news media and sports industries, I enjoy collaborating with teams to deliver timely, relevant, and evergreen content that truly resonates with readers.

I am passionate about leveraging SEO tools and data analytics to inform content creation and marketing strategies. Whether it’s researching keywords, optimizing website copy, or managing content calendars, I strive to produce impactful digital content that enhances visibility and audience connection.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Intermediate

Work Experience

SEO Editor at News Corp

March 1, 2023 - Present

Coordinated ongoing content development and execution of audience strategy, growing the audience by 23%. Consult with journalists and section heads via Slack about trending search terms, breaking news, and relevant keywords, ensuring most up-to-date and relevant content in real time. Strategize future evergreen articles and events by building out topics and performing keyword research via SEMRush for upcoming exclusives or events, yielding the audience team’s highest engagement. Monitor daily output and ensure articles have relevant cross-linking, correct tagging, and forward-linking previous traffic-driving pages to more recent articles, encouraging circulation and ensuring 100% update accuracy.

SEO Content Specialist at Sports Illustrated/888 Holdings

February 28, 2023 - July 28, 2025

Directed website copy and media by gathering information from Google Trends and integrating data from other departments to distribute content to online channels and social media platforms, increasing engagement by 21%. Used Jira CMS to analyze user engagement, website traffic metrics, and audience data comprehensively, generating reports and offering recommendations for optimal growth and impact. Maintained content marketing calendar to schedule in HubSpot for creation and delivery deadlines to produce website content for sportsbook and media sectors, averaging 13 new items per week and 100% on-time delivery. Stayed updated on the latest trends in sports and pop culture using Parse.ly, translating insights into well-crafted scripts and articles.

Content Editor at Prince George’s Suite Magazine

January 31, 2022 - July 28, 2025

Worked jointly with writers and content marketing strategists to create optimized copy for search engines, driving a 35% increase in web traffic and aligning with leadership goals. Conducted editorial meetings with 15 staff members to collaborate and review proposed publication suggestions based on Google Analytics data, geographical targeting, and keyword planning, increasing readership by 18%. Wrote and edited high-quality content and visually impactful programs under deadline pressure with exciting, captivating, and authentic approach. Optimized content with key search terms to drive traffic and online visibility, improving website content rankings.

Contributing Editor at La Tonique Media

January 31, 2021 - July 28, 2025

Supported design team by helping develop layouts and working closely with production professionals to create 20+ publications, social media posts, and creative SEO-friendly headlines per week. Assigned stories, led content development meetings, and reviewed completed stories to guide execution of conceptions and tone. Worked closely with the Managing Editor via Trello to oversee editorial planning and workflow with optimized multitasking and prioritization. Monitored breaking news for information on incidents, events, and topics of interest to quickly assign coverage to staff, resulting in consistent turnaround time of 30 minutes or less.