Hi, I’m Hazel. Welcome to my story page.
Life has certainly thrown me a few curveballs, and they’ve entirely shaped who I am today. In fact, September 19th is a date that forever altered the course of my life – not just once, but twice. The first time was in 1989; the second was in 2011.
Back in 1989, I was 20 years old, living in Sidmouth, and working as a chef – which was all I had ever wanted to do. But on the evening of September 19th, a single moment changed everything.
A life-changing accident
A friend and I had gone for a drive. On our way back from Exmouth, driving up Four Elms Hill near the Bowd Inn, we were suddenly faced with an oncoming car travelling at 100mph on our side of the road. The last thing I remember is the headlights. My friend swerved, but there wasn’t time. We collided head-on, right on the passenger side where I was sitting.
While the drivers escaped with minor injuries, I was left fighting for my life.
Putting the pieces back together
I was actually pronounced dead as they cut me out of the car, and twice more in the ambulance. When I finally arrived at the hospital, my injuries were extensive: a snapped femur, shattered left elbow, broken legs, hip, ankle, forearm, heel, lower back, and ribs. To make matters worse, my right arm – initially thought to be the only limb left intact – was also found to be broken.
My prognosis was bleak. The doctors warned that I might never walk without a limp, would likely be in a wheelchair by 40, and would probably never be able to have children. It was a dark time, and honestly, my coping mechanism was sheer denial – I simply refused to believe them..
Back to life (and proving them wrong)
While still in plaster, I started trying to bear weight. As soon as the casts came off, I began the long, painful process of learning to walk again. It took immense determination and perseverance, but I did it. And today, I don’t limp.
Because of the physical toll and being considered an insurance risk, I could no longer work as a chef. It was devastating, but I adapted. I took a job waitressing at the same hotel and was quickly promoted to head waitress – all while navigating multiple follow-up surgeries and post-traumatic stress.
Slowly, I built my life back up. I travelled, got married, and had my two beautiful daughters. The doctors were wrong about a lot of things, but proving them wrong gave me a resilience I didn’t know I had.
A new journey into SEO
As my daughters were growing up, I retrained in tech, completing diplomas in computer applications and web design. This led to a role with a prominent local web company, where I took my first steps into the world of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).
Back then, SEO was a completely different landscape – many small businesses didn’t even have a website yet! I spent several years as their in-house consultant, managing keyword strategies, writing content, and learning how to predictably improve Google rankings and conversions for a massive variety of industries.
And every September 19th, I made a point to celebrate the fact that my legs still worked by going out dancing with my friends.
An unexpected pivot
In July 2011, I took my daughters on a weekend getaway to Bude. My marriage had broken down by this point, so it was just the three of us having fun, surfing, and exploring beaches.
But on the second day, my phone rang. It was a colleague with devastating news: the web company had gone bust overnight. I was out of a job.
As a single parent, I panicked, but I knew I needed a solution fast. On the drive home, a spark took hold: I’m genuinely good at what I do. Why not build something of my own?
SEO+ is born
Failure wasn’t an option. I juggled business and family life, making plenty of mistakes but refusing to give up – my daughters were my “why.” Exactly 22 years to the day after my car accident, on September 19th, 2011, SEO+ was officially born. It was a beautiful, life-affirming coincidence.
Without a network or a budget to find clients, I put my money where my mouth was and did the one thing I knew: SEO. I figured if I could rank my own website on the first page of Google, the right clients would find me.
It worked. After optimising my site locally for businesses in Devon, the rankings climbed. Within a few short months, the site began attracting clients from all over the UK. I was absolutely thrilled when I landed my first US client.
Milestones and reflections
By the time September 19th, 2019 rolled around, I hit a milestone I once thought impossible. I turned 50, marked 30 years since the accident, and celebrated SEO+’s 8th anniversary. Not only was I still walking, but I was running again.
Today, SEO+ has grown into a multi-award-winning ethical SEO agency, supporting service-based businesses, coaches, and consultants globally.
Looking back, I am incredibly grateful for the challenges that shaped me. They taught me that I’m tougher than I ever imagined. Of course, I didn’t get here alone – from my parents and friends to the doctors, physios, and brilliant clients who have trusted me along the way, every single one has played a part in this story.
Rough seas (and a lesson in business resilience)
In March 2020, my partner and I flew out to St. Lucia for our dream beach wedding. But the world had other plans. We arrived to find the resort closed, and our holiday, wedding, and flights home were instantly cancelled without warning.
We ended up stranded on the island for nearly 12 weeks. Dealing with strict 24-hour curfews, food shortages, and total uncertainty was incredibly tough. But storms don’t last forever, and we looked for the positives where we could. Armed with just my iPad, I continued supporting my existing clients, helping them keep their digital doors open when the physical world was completely locked down.
That experience was a masterclass in business resilience, and it cemented my mission to make high-impact, ethical SEO accessible to everyone – not just corporations with massive agency budgets. It was during those quiet, uncertain weeks on the island that the blueprints for a dedicated SEO resource hub were born.
SEO: Your key to visibility
I talk about SEO a lot because it truly levels the playing field. The better your optimisation, the more visible you are – bringing predictable opportunities, leads, and sales. With a smart, ethical strategy, a small independent business really can rank alongside massive, household-name competitors, capturing the perfect-fit clients they might have otherwise taken.
Unlike a brick-and-mortar shop, the internet never closes. A strong online presence is the ultimate insurance policy for your business, ensuring you can consistently attract customers even in uncertain times.
How I can support you today
I’m in my zone of genius when I’m decoding Google’s mysteries for service-based businesses, coaches, and consultants. Depending on where you are in your business journey, there are two ways we can work together:
- Empowering You to Take Control: If you prefer a template, guide, or checklist you can implement yourself, I have poured my 20+ years of knowledge into a comprehensive, up-to-date hub of SEO Resources. Designed to strip away the jargon, these tools give you clear, actionable steps to turn your website into a client magnet.
- Done-For-You Ethical SEO Services: If you want a hands-on partner to act as an extension of your team, I provide a fully managed ethical SEO service, website audits, and content creation tailored entirely to your goals.
Where next?
If you’re ready to grow your visibility naturally and with confidence, let’s get started.
Know you need professional support but not sure which service fits? Schedule a complimentary call with me here to map out your next steps.
Not sure where to begin? Start by downloading our free Modern SEO Roadmap + Checklist
It’s a practical guide to helping your small business get found, understood, and chosen by the right people.
The Charity I Support
Supporting CADD (Campaign Against Drink Driving)
Giving back is an integral part of how I run SEO+. I am a proud supporter of CADD (Campaign Against Drink Driving), a charity dedicated to educating the public and raising awareness about the dangers of driving under the influence of drink or drugs.
Because of my own life-changing accident in 1989, this cause is incredibly close to my heart, and SEO+ regularly donates to support their vital work.
