I remember attending Google events at their Gurgaon office in 2010 as an SEO executive.
I would walk in with questions and come back with pages of notes.
SEO was still finding its feet in India. At least in my circle, there were few experienced practitioners we could turn to. We were learning, experimenting and figuring things out together.
Sixteen years later, that community has grown up.
I’ve now spent 18 years in this industry. For the last six, I’ve been building Digi Acai, working with 70+ brands and growing a team through everything this profession throws at us.
Algorithm updates. Traffic drops. Client expectations. Hiring. Training. And now, explaining why a brand appears in an AI answer but doesn’t get a click.
And I’m one of many.
I recently came across a post by Amit Tiwari, a well-known voice in India’s SEO community, about his decision not to attend Google Search Central Live Bengaluru.
His concerns about Indian representation got me thinking.
Across India, professionals have spent years building agencies, leading teams, mentoring people and helping businesses grow through search.
Some have large followings. Others are quietly doing excellent work.
Yet I feel the recognition for that experience hasn’t kept pace.
I value Google’s contribution to our learning. I’ve benefited from it since those early Gurgaon events.
Today, I would love to see more Indian practitioners help shape those conversations too.
An event in India should reflect the realities of doing SEO in India.
The regional business whose customers search in a mix of Hindi and English.
The D2C brand competing with marketplaces that dominate its search results.
The small team implementing recommendations with limited budgets and developer support.
At Digi Acai, these are everyday conversations. Other Indian practitioners have their own experiences, evidence and lessons to bring.
Recognition could take some practical forms:
• Invite Indian practitioners to shape agendas and lead sessions.
• Feature Indian case studies, including constraints, failures and lessons.
• Give regional-language search and smaller businesses meaningful attention. •
Look beyond follower counts when identifying expertise.
• Recognise people who have spent years mentoring others.
After 18 years, I still attend events to learn. I still take notes.
I would just love to see more of the people who grew alongside this industry standing on those stages.
The SEO executives attending Google events in 2010 now have something valuable to teach.
And yes, a good lunch would be appreciated too. Some of us have been listening to “it depends” since 2010. At least let the menu give us some definite answers. 😄
proudly flaunting the Google tee back in 2013 in my office after attending a Google event.
#SEO #IndianSEOCommunity #DigiAcai
