Connection Over Clicks: Inside Our Team Retreat

On this special episode of From Keywords to Connections, we’re stepping away from screens and into real life.

Our fully remote team came together in person for a week of connection, collaboration, and intentional time together—and the experience reminded us of something important: while the work we do is digital, the relationships behind it are deeply human.

In this episode, you’ll hear from all the members of the Simplified SEO Consulting team as we talk about what it means to finally meet the people we work with every day, how in-person connection builds trust within a remote team, and why strong internal relationships lead to better collaboration, creativity, and outcomes for our clients.

We explore how team support fuels confidence, why understanding each other’s strengths matters, and how real connection helps teams communicate more honestly—both internally and with the clients they serve.

Whether you’re part of a remote team, leading one, or building a business rooted in values and people-first practices, this episode is a reminder that connection isn’t just a “nice-to-have.” It’s the foundation of meaningful, sustainable work.

Transcript

Simplified SEO Admin (00:00)
On today's episode from Keywords to Connections, we're going to do things a little different. Our team works remotely all over the United States and most of the time we only see each other through screens. But this week, we have come together for team building and planning for the rest of the year and some of us are meeting in person for the first time. Some of us are old friends coming back together.

And while the work we do is digital, the relationships behind it are very real. This week gave us the chance to spend intentional time together and we wanted to talk about what that meant for us as a team and for the clients we serve. So when you work remotely, you can collaborate really well without ever meeting in person. But I have to admit personally that there's something different and wonderful about finally being in the same space.

So we want to start by talking about what it means to actually meet the people that.

you work with every day and how that changes the way you show up for each other.

So joining us first is Liv. Will you introduce yourself and give us your job title? Hi, I'm Olivia and my job title here at Simplified is the social media manager and I'm also an SEO specialist. Perfect. My question for you is all year round we work from our homes scattered throughout the United States which makes a week like this one so special when we're all in one place.

What has being together in person reminded you about the people behind the scenes or the screens? think that even though we haven't seen each other in a year and a half, probably more for some of us, that it doesn't even feel like we skipped a beat in the middle. We saw each other in team meeting and then boom, we're all together in person, but we all know about each other's lives, personal business, work business, clients, families, and that's what I love the most. Is that what we've seen each other forever, but you could never tell.

And I think that's been a common theme of it just feels like we all fit really well. there was no like awkwardness. was no like catching up, getting fettled again. We just kind of fell into our old routines. Like we were just having a team meeting and just chill it out. Absolutely.

Simplified SEO Admin (01:59)
mean, wait a minute. I looked crazy. Okay. Okay. Joining us now is Carrie. So Carrie, introduce yourself and what your title is. I'm Carrie and I am a mental health SEO specialist. So Sunday was the first time in real life that you got together with everybody. What's one thing that surprised you about meeting your coworkers face to face? I think the value of eye contact because when you're on zoom meetings, you can't really make eye contact with others. You're kind of looking all over the screen.

And I think that eye contact gives you a stronger connection and conversations. Absolutely. I love that. And I think that that's true because you can actually see who they're looking at, who they're focusing on, where the conversation's going, how they're reacting. That's a good point because whenever we're on Zoom, all looking about our desk, looking at our dogs. Yeah, up on your screen. There's always other going on. Then you're more focused on the people you're with instead of being distracted by everything going on

Absolutely. All right. That was easy peasy. You did wonderful. ⁓ no, it's fine. was crushing me all night last night. Selma was better in comparison to Ed. Sterling. Sterling.

Simplified SEO Admin (03:10)
Now we have Sterling joining us. I reference him as our guru for quite a few things, but Sterling, you introduce yourself and tell us your title? Yeah, my name Sterling Humbert Cage. I've been with Simplified for five years now, and I am the technical SEO director. is also, we also refer to him as our local SEO guru, our technical SEO guru, our go to everything, go to everything, the adjusted guru.

So my question for you is how does spending intentional time together impact the way we collaborate once we're back home? Yeah, I think that comes back to really feeling more connected with one another. know, it really helps, feel like, whenever it comes to like, you know, normal workplaces, not feeling like connected or not feeling like you can really talk to one another in like a really natural way and kind of cause some of like communication issues. I feel like after things like this, just, the walls come down.

It's like I'm able to kind of like better meld like that business sterling with sterling. And like really ⁓ meld those together. Like you don't have to put on a face or be yourself because we all we've all seen ourselves and we're relaxing and playing and you don't have to like put a mask on and pretend like you're feeling something you're not. Yeah, I totally agree with that. Absolutely. I'm excited to go back and see what February feels like. Yeah.

after working together and collaborating together after having spent this week. Just being ourselves in person. I think so too. I think it's going to be a fun experience to see how things kind of progress and change. Great. Yeah. Well, thanks for joining us. Thanks for having me. Yeah. All right. Cool. OK. Next, you send in Brianna? And I think you have another question too later, doesn't Yeah. We will pull you back.

Simplified SEO Admin (04:50)
I know for me and for Winnie, for the whole team, this week has really been about creating more connections between our team and the culture that Simplified really strives to have. So let's hear from some more of our team on how this team building week has changed the team dynamic. So this is Brianna joining us. And introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your title. Yeah. My name is Brianna. I am the lead SEO specialist here at Simplified. I am here to really just help off the team and just

answer questions and do a lot of things. Absolutely. So as our local SEO ninja, as we call her, what does Strong... let's start over. So as our lead SEO ninja, as we call you, what does Strong Teamwork look like to you when everyone is working kind of remotely? Honestly, it's just being there for each other. And then we're not in this weird environment and we can actually support each other and uplift each other. So, yeah.

Awesome, and I agree with that. think that supporting each other is one of the biggest things that we focus on, is trying to support each other, not just professionally, but personally, with everything that's going on with life. So I agree with that 100%. I think you do a great job of that, because I know the whole team goes to you quite often for questions. sometimes that can be really hard to do remotely, especially when there's some things I'm like.

There were a few things. I'm like, we can talk about this when we're together. it's going to be easier to talk when we're together. you do, and I think the whole team does a great job of supporting each other over Zoom. Absolutely. We do see each other succeed. Absolutely. I that attitude. Wonderfully said. All right. Thanks, Brianna.

Simplified SEO Admin (06:24)
Next joining us is Alex. Can you please introduce yourself and tell us your title? Hi, my name is Alex. I'm an SEO specialist at Simplify SEO consulting. Perfect. So what is something? And this is your first time meeting really everybody about Mary and not well, not Mary and I, but just Mary and I, but the first time meeting the whole team. So what's something you've learned about a teammate this week?

that you wouldn't have learned over chat or Zoom? I think just seeing everyone in their day-to-day life has been really different because over Zoom you can't see how tall everyone is. We have a lot of short team members, so I was totally aware of how short they were and I love that because I'm kind of tall. know Winnie is too, so that's been fun. But just getting to see everyone and how they function in their day-to-day meeting their families, it's really been a...

a good team building experience, think, to new perspectives. Yeah, I think that's my favorite part, is the interaction between families and see how people get along. And just meeting the people that everybody talks about in their daily lives during team meeting and stuff. That's been fun. So getting to know those people has been a fun part for me. full picture of it. Because you don't, like, height. Like, you don't know until you're standing there with them and other, and how they kind of do things. Yeah. It's been a lot of fun.

Absolutely. Thanks Alex. Absolutely.

Simplified SEO Admin (07:45)
No. Joining us now is Lindsay. So Lindsay, introduce yourself and what your title is. Hi, I'm Lindsay. I am the SEO content specialist here at Simplified. Awesome. So how does knowing your teammates better and getting to know them in person really change the way that you communicate or problem solve at work? I definitely think that improves my knowing of their strengths and weaknesses.

not that we have any weaknesses, but like, I can definitely know like, hey, if I need more optimization, like help, can go to Breanne or like if it's technical, I can go to Sterling. If it's social media packages, obviously I can Liv But like, I just think knowing everyone in person, I can kind of know more like what they feel confident in and what they don't. And so it's really fun to talk about that in person and bring that knowledge back. Cause also I learned a lot.

Yeah, I think we really do learn a lot by engaging with each other, like just on the on the personal side and just relaxing and talking about things. And I think you open up more and get more relaxed and are more apt to share like what you like to do and things. So I think that's absolutely true. And the just general, genuine ideas that when we're just sitting together, yeah, pop up and you say it where like, we're on zoom, you might not have told anyone the idea.

but then you say it out loud because we're all sitting together. And it turns into a social media post or, hey, let's do this. Let's do the next thing, which is always really Otherwise it turns into a chat draft and no one sees it. Yes, exactly. Yeah, exactly. All right, well, thank you for us, Lizzie. Awesome.

Simplified SEO Admin (09:18)
Carrie is back with us and we're going to build off of what Lindsay said, which what we asked her was how does knowing your teammates better change the way you communicate or problem solve at work? And she mentioned that everybody has their specialty and that, you know, getting here together helps us kind of learn about that a little bit more and kind of flush out ideas that might not make it out of the chat room drafts.

So my question for you is building off of that is how do moments like this and being together help us build trust within a fully remote team? I think because when we are working remotely, we usually talk mostly about work, which is good. You know, we're at work. But and we have those different water cooler meetings and different times we get to interact. But being here on on the company retreat, we get to talk to each other about different things to get to know each other on a deeper level.

and build a stronger connection which in turn builds trust as well. Absolutely, I think that's so true. And you're trusting us to get to know your family too. Right. Know the people in your life that you care about. So think that's also building that trust with the people in your life that you care about. Agreed. And I think especially with the three of us, but with our whole team, we all have like our partners here. And I think, I mean, they're a big part of our lives.

And so also getting, I'm glad that everybody's gotten to meet my partner. We've gotten to meet your partner and your family. so much at a non-meet. Even at. Even at. And I think that matters because that's a part of my life. It's a part of what makes you who you are, really. Exactly. The other piece of you, really. Which is a great part.

All right. Thank you for joining us again. You're All right. And also, you're wonderful, because I know you like it when we tell you that. Yes, I do like it. We're going end every meeting now. By the way, Carrie, you're wonderful.

Simplified SEO Admin (11:09)
I'm really proud of the teamwork we have here at Simplified that we collaborate, that everything is kind of in sync, or we rely on each other. ⁓ I also love what Carrie just said about kind of the connection. Yeah. And I think.

our whole team has brought up a lot of great points. do too. And I think that not only does the teamwork really create a stronger team, but it really also helps us help our clients out. The relationships that we have formed as a team, they really translate to how well we can help our clients because I think we have a better understanding of who needs to be put where, how to apply certain talents. so I think that really helps us help our clients better.

Sterling is back with us again as you can see so we're gonna ask him another question. So how does a connected team do you think translate into better outcomes for our clients? I think you really hit the nail on the head there. It really I think comes back to you you're able to better understand everybody's strengths. And kind of when to incorporate those strengths in order to help the clients in a better way.

Yeah. I think that we, and I agree with that because I think that if we have like somebody who maybe doesn't mesh quite well or, or there's a, somebody needs a special, a special niche, maybe we know exactly who to plug into that spot. Yeah. Cause not everyone's going to be a hundred percent of a great fit. And I think our team works really hard. A part of the teamwork is getting the right client with the right person for each question. Cause everybody has different questions and sometimes it's.

coordinating that I think is really great. That's synergy. Yeah, that is great word. That is a great word. Synergy. All right Sterling, thank you very much. you Sterling.

Simplified SEO Admin (13:08)
We have Liv with us again. My question for you is why do you think relationships matter just as much internally in our team as they do in SEO strategy? I believe that relationships matter just as much because a good relationship means that you can be more honest and I know it's easier to have those hard work conversations when you have that connection, you have that one on one relationship. It's easier to come to you and say hey.

the client didn't like this, we need to redo their strategy, their copywriting wasn't correct or wasn't what they were looking for. It's easier when you have that one-on-one good relationship to communicate better. think that ties back to, Charlene was just talking about synergy, user synergy, I really like that I like that word now, Exactly, that's what we said. that having that synergy in the team allows us to communicate and then having that synergy with your clients.

and the people that you're working on their website. I think that's really important, makes the whole thing run a lot more Yeah, for sure. Yeah, absolutely. I agree with that because we want to, you our ultimate goal is to have a happy client. know, and, sometimes those conversations are difficult because it is a huge investment. is a budget, you know, it's a thing to consider with your budget and we want to have- as hard. Yeah, waiting as hard. Yeah, and seeing results, I understand why you know, being able to have those honest-

Conversations because you have a good working relationship and you're able to communicate effectively. It's hugely important I agree with that And I think that by communicating better within our team we communicate we learn how to communicate better with our clients. Yes. Absolutely. Yeah, I agree.

Simplified SEO Admin (14:42)
Hi guys, so Brianna is joining us again and we have another question for you. So how does feeling supported by your team impact your creativity or confidence in your day-to-day work? It impacts my confidence so much. Just knowing that I have some support from the team and you guys just always makes me

like thrive and knowing that I have that I know I can take risks and do whatever I need to do to like get things accomplished but also know that you'll have my back. So yeah and then just honestly building my confidence but knowing that it's just us supporting each other is what's going to help simplify and our clients kind of thrive. Yeah and I think that we've definitely built that that

we're not gonna throw anybody under the bus type of mentality. It's not a dog eat dog environment that we have. So I think that that helps a lot too. For sure I can see how that would make it much easier to kind of just spread your wings a little bit and explore and do things that need to be done. Yeah, learn new things. Yeah, absolutely. Love that. Well, perfect.

I

Simplified SEO Admin (15:44)
So I think what we learned from our whole team, and we are on 100 % agreeance is that our clients benefit the most from having a strong team that can collaborate together. And one person of that team who works a lot in the background that most of our clients in community have not necessarily had the chance to meet is co-owner Ed.

So I have some specific questions for him next and you as well. Welcome to the podcast, Edward. Yeah. Thank you, Mary. Welcome to OnAir Podcast. I know you've heard us recorded a lot. Now you're on it with us. And my first question for you is, why is it important to you as the 49 % co-owner of Simplify to invest in in-person connection?

for a remote team. Well, when you're missing that 2%, you really need to catch up. OK. Lord have mercy. Answer the question. I mean, it's important to catch up with your teammates just because we are remote. And being that remote team, you don't get those water core moments. I don't know you from anybody else over Zoom.

Yeah, I know Winnie's face and I know her being busy during that time, but I don't know Winnie. I don't know, you know, what's going on in her life. And it's a lot easier to work with your coworkers when you actually have that personal connection. I agree. agree with that 100%. Absolutely. All right. My next question is for both owners, Mary and Ed. How do team relationships influence the long-term success of Simplified SEO consulting? Or how do you see it?

I for me, one of the big ways I see it impacting Simplified is that if we build a cohesive team and people are actually looking forward to coming to work and happy about coming to work, we're not going have people quitting constantly because they're unhappy. So we're not going to have turnover constantly, constantly having to teach people the way to do things and retraining and constantly having to catch up with all of that. And I think that that's a great thing because we have a team that genuinely likes to come to work and genuinely likes each other.

by fostering that connection and fostering that communication, we really foster that sense of belonging and that sense of like, they're an important part of our team. And we always say we're a family first company. And I like to think that we really don't just talk the talk, we walk the walk. Okay. And when it comes to that, I mean, just having those connections, it's, if somebody's having a bad day, we can actually talk about that, get through that, help each other. Where, if...

you know, so and so's, you know, having a rough day, we can kind of help them out along with the workload. Right. And it's not just, ⁓ well, they're not pulling our weight. It's everybody's here to get the work done together. Yeah, think it helps prevent burnout. Yeah, absolutely. talk a lot about burnout. Yeah. And I think that connection helps make sure that we can spot signs of burnout because we know it's going on in the personal life.

and the work life and we can help kind of steer away or implement things as needed to help keep that I mean you have a much more efficient team that way as well. It's people who know each other. I mean they can work together more efficiently than people who are just looking at each other on a screen. I think another thing that I think of is that it also fosters the generation of ideas. Because people are comfortable saying what they

and saying, I have this idea. And we're not, you know, we don't tramp that down. We don't say, no, you can't, we don't care what you think. Or we're always like, please tell us your thoughts. And that helps us, that's helped us come up with a lot of new things that we offer and a lot of new processes and all of that stuff. And I think that's really essential to the growth of a business is listening to the people who actually do the work, who are in the trenches doing the stuff, saying, how can we make this process better? Yeah, there's some companies that are top down companies and we're

try to keep everything on an even playing field because anybody could have that idea that's gonna help our clients reach their patients that they wanna reach or their client base they wanna reach. And that could come from anywhere. Wonderful you said that. Awesome, so thank you for joining us Ed. And now that we have heard from the whole team, I think we should do something fun. I think we should do a lightning round before we wrap the episode up so we can kind of hear from everybody one last time.

So I think for the next set of questions, we're going to go around the room and have everybody give their answer just real quick and see how everybody is the same different answers. Yeah, I like that.

Simplified SEO Admin (20:29)
All right, for our first ⁓ round robin question, it is what's one word you'd use to describe this week? One word to describe this week.

Winnie (20:29)
All right for our first ⁓ round robin question it is what's one word you'd use to describe this week? One word to describe this week.

Simplified SEO Admin (20:40)
One word I would use to describe this week, I think is family, because I feel like that's what we are here at Simplified. We really are more than just a work team. It feels like we're all family. And we've definitely been able to bounce off a lot of great ideas on each other and just get to know each other better as the family we are.

Winnie (20:40)
One word I will describe this week, I think, is family because I feel like that's what we are here at Simplified. We really are more than just a work team. It feels like we're all family and we've definitely been able to bounce off a lot of great ideas on each other and just get to know each other better as the family we

So

that's my word, I choose.

Simplified SEO Admin (20:58)
That's my word, I choose.

Winnie (20:59)
I was tempted to say full because of all the food that we ate today.

Simplified SEO Admin (20:59)
I was tempted to say full because of all the food that we ate, instead,

Winnie (21:04)
I'm going to say fulfilling because it's been very fulfilling to get to know everyone on a better level.

Simplified SEO Admin (21:04)
I'm going to say fulfilling because it's been very fulfilling to get to know everyone on a better level.

Sorry Brianna.

I'd probably have to say rejuvenating because it's just been really nice to be able to talk with everybody in a different, in a different sense, you know, not being over, you know, video remotely, being able to talk with everybody in person and just really having a good time with.

Winnie (21:10)
Yeah.

Simplified SEO Admin (21:25)
I think I'm gonna go pretty basic and say fun because it has been a lot of fun getting to hang out with everybody, going on different experiences, seeing people try different foods and seeing their reaction. But I think it's just fun in general. Like it doesn't feel like work when we're sitting here making jokes, but also having fun coming up with strategies and like new ideas.

Winnie (21:25)
pretty basic and say fun because it has been a lot of fun getting to hang out with everybody, going on different experiences, seeing people try different foods and seeing their reaction. But I think it's just fun in general. Like it doesn't feel like it worked when we're sitting here making jokes, also having fun, having other strategies and like new ideas.

Simplified SEO Admin (21:45)
Honestly, meaningful. Having the opportunity to hang out with everyone in person has been so great. We talk all the time online, but there's something different about being together in real life. So I feel recharged and reconnected with everyone after this week. I think we're all feeling extremely grateful.

Winnie (21:45)
Honestly, meaningful. Having the opportunity to hang out with everyone in person has been so great. We talked all the time online, but there's something different about being together in real life. So I feel recharged and reconnected with everyone. Awesome. I think we're all feeling extremely grateful.

It's all he's going to say. Fantastic.

Simplified SEO Admin (22:04)
What's one thing you're excited to bring back with your day-to-day work into your day-to-day routines that you've learned as we spent this time together?

Winnie (22:04)
What's one thing you're excited to bring back with your day-to-day work into your day-to-day routines that you've learned as we've spent this time together?

Simplified SEO Admin (22:12)
I definitely think like just taking in the fact that we are a team and like everyone is very supportive of everyone else. Like I don't think I'm ever going to be like, no, I have to email when he about something. She's like, I think it's going to be, you know, not that I ever thought that, like just strengthening the fact that we are a team and we're all very supportive. And you know, we're always there for each other.

Winnie (22:25)
think it's gonna be, you know.

strengthening the fact that we are a team and we're all very supportive.

Simplified SEO Admin (22:34)
even if it's personal, that's really cool.

I think the momentum and reminder that we're all building something together. We've been brainstorming and talking about different ideas this whole trip. ⁓ So I'm excited to keep some of that creative energy going when we're back to our normal routine. It's easy to get caught up in our own tasks when we're remote. So this week kind of reminded me that we're all working toward the same goal.

Winnie (22:36)
I think the moment and reminder that we're all building something together. We've been brainstorming and talking about different ideas with Silverbread. So I'm excited to keep some of that creative energy going. And when we're back to our normal routine, it's easy to get caught up in our own chats over remote. So this week kind of reminded me that we're all working through the same goal.

Simplified SEO Admin (22:57)
I am excited to bring back the content that we got to film this week because it's probably hours of it. So I'm excited to put that all together and see what I can create for social media.

Winnie (22:57)
excited to bring back the content that we got to film this week because it's probably hours of it. So I'm excited to put that all together and see what I can create for social media.

Nice.

I'm excited to bring some new fresh perspectives just from getting to hang out with everyone. And kind of like Lindsay said, just that feeling of support, a newfound sense of being able to go home and remember that we're all here to support each other and how that translates and how we treat our clients. I'm excited to implement some of the things that Mary and Winnie talked about in some of our previous meetings, talking about SEO and some of the different directions we'll be taking this year. Awesome.

Simplified SEO Admin (23:07)
I'm excited to bring some new fresh perspective just from getting to hang out with everyone and kind of like Lindsay said, just that feeling of support and a newfound sense of being able to go home and remember that we're all here to support each other and how that translates and how we treat our clients. I'm excited to implement some of the things that Mary and Winnie talked about in some of our previous meetings talking about ⁓ SEO and some of the different directions we'll be taking this year.

excited to bring back a renewed kind of sense of connection and trust in each of the members of the team, especially kind of just going into doing what is best for our clients, but also making sure we're doing what is best for our team, making sure that we have that longevity in mind to make sure that we can continue doing our best work.

Winnie (23:34)
So can bring back a renewed kind of sense of connection, trust in each and every members of the team, especially going into doing what is best for our clients, but also making sure we're doing what is best for our team. Absolutely. And making sure that we have that log generally in mind to make sure that we continue doing our best work.

Mm-hmm. I like that.

I'm just kidding. I actually have a good answer. would say the direction, the ideas we came up with as a team to help us, help our clients and move them forward and grow them, to pick up the people, their client base that really needs the help. Absolutely.

Simplified SEO Admin (23:55)
Fantastic. I would say the direction and the ideas we came up with as a team to help us, help our clients and move them forward and grow them, ⁓ to pick up the people, their client base that really needs the help.

All right, everyone has been fantastic answering questions. So I have one last one. And then you're released from podcast reporting duties. what does connection mean to you after this experience, after this past week?

Winnie (24:19)
All right, everyone has been fantastic answering questions. So I have one last one. And then you're released from podcast. Yeah. So what does connection mean to you after this experience after this past week?

Simplified SEO Admin (24:34)
laughing with my team members are probably about anything other than work, which is just the best laughter in my opinion.

Winnie (24:35)
to me means laughing with my team members probably about anything other than work which is just the best laughter in my opinion. Yes.

Simplified SEO Admin (24:42)
Similar to what Liv said is talking with everyone and laughing about things outside of work, getting to know people's families, eating with them, and just sharing special moments with them. I think connection to me just means the strength overall that we have that we can support each other through the good and the bad, and that's shown over the last week of the time we've spent together.

Winnie (24:42)
Similar to what Liz said is talking with everyone and laughing about things outside of work, getting to know people's families, eating with them, and just sharing special moments with them. I think connection to me just means the strength overall that we have that we can support each other through the good and the bad. And that's shown over the last week of the time we've spent together. Awesome.

I actually have to echo that. I think it's really coming back to supporting each other.

Simplified SEO Admin (25:02)
I gotta actually have to echo that. think it's ⁓ really coming back to supporting each other,

making sure that everybody is kind of seen and really understanding each other on a better level than, you we're remote, you know, so we're on different points in across the country, but being able to see everybody in person really helps to strengthen that. That that was the word.

Winnie (25:07)
making sure that everybody is going to see each other and really understanding each other on a better level. We're remote, so we're on different points in the cross-country. But being able to see everybody in person really helps to straighten that, that, what's the word?

Bond? That bond. Yeah.

Simplified SEO Admin (25:24)
that bond. Yeah,

that's a good word.

I definitely think that connection is. I had it and it went away. Did I mention I write for a living? It's great. No, I think the connection is also just realizing like we're all people, like Sterling said that we are remote and so like we feel connected online and like when we're in Zoom, like we talk about like what's going on in our daily lives and things like that. when we're person, like.

Winnie (25:26)
think that that should be.

Go.

remote so like we feel connected online and like...

like we talk about like what's going on in our daily lives and things like that but when we're a person like

you know it makes it real like whenever we're behind the screen stuff like that we kind of like feel those a little bit of this set so when we're in person it makes it more filling and like it makes it more personal so that way like when we do have get together it's like it just is kind of like having a big family gathering like it makes it real that we are experiences when there's other than one another

Simplified SEO Admin (25:47)
you know, it makes it real. Like whenever we're behind the screen, stuff like that, it kind of like feels a little bit distant. So when we're in person, like it makes it more fulfilling and like it makes it more wholesome. So that way, like when we do have these get togethers, like it just is kind of like having a big family gathering. Like it makes it real that we are a team. Like we're very supportive of one another. And

like, it's not just this connection because we have work in the same place and so we're real people.

Winnie (26:10)
not just this connection because we think we're going to stay in place. And all the real people.

I'll echo probably both of you as well, but the action is just showing up for people and actually caring. This week reminded me that yes, we work remotely, but we're not just co-working on the stream. We're real people who support each other and generally want the best for one another.

Simplified SEO Admin (26:15)
I'll echo off of both of you as well, but Connection is just showing up for people and actually caring. This week reminded me that, yes, we work remotely, but we're not just coworkers on a screen. We're real people who support each other and generally want the best for one another.

Winnie (26:31)
Fantastic. Now I'll say the strengthening of bonds. mean getting to know people on a professional and a personal level really strengthens that teamwork bonding where you know at this point you know we go into challenges as a team as a whole and we can meet any challenge that

Simplified SEO Admin (26:31)
Fantastic. Now I'll say the strengthening of bonds. I mean, getting to know people in a professional and a personal level really strengthens that teamwork bonding. we're, know, at this point, you know, we go into challenges as a team, as a whole, and we can meet any challenge that way.

Simplified SEO Admin (26:49)
So at the end of day, the work we do may be digital, but the way that we do it is deeply human. Whether a team is working in the same office or remotely across the country, strong collaboration doesn't happen by accident. It's intentional. It's built through trust, communication, and a shared commitment to showing up for one another. This week was really a reminder that behind this, every strategy, every audit, every recommendation that we make is a team.

When people feel connected and supported, they communicate more clearly, solve problems more effectively, and bring more care into the work that they do. and that collaboration matters because our clients don't just benefit from individual expertise, they benefit from a team that works together, challenges each other, and shares knowledge openly.

Strong internal collaboration leads to clear strategies, better outcomes, and relationships built on trust. So whether you're leading a remote team, working as part of one, or building a business of your own, remember this, isn't just nice to have, it's a foundation. When teams invest in connection, they create work that's more effective, more sustainable, and more meaningful. I want to thank our entire team for joining us on this special episode, and thank you all for joining us and listening to From Keywords to Connections.

We appreciate you being a part of the conversation and we'll see you next time. Bye. Bye. All right. Yay. ⁓