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Fonthip Ward, SEO consultant and founder of Search Studio, Brisbane
About

Hi, I'm Fon.
I do SEO.

Fonthip Ward  ·  Search Studio, Brisbane

I'm a Thai SEO consultant based in Toowoomba, Queensland. I've been doing this for over 14 years, first working behind the scenes for Australian marketing agencies, and now running Search Studio, where I work directly with service businesses who want real, lasting results from search.

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By the numbers
14+
Years of SEO
experience
2
SEO agencies
across 2 countries
300+
Clients worked
with to date
Fon Ward working at a cafe in Brisbane, natural light
My story

14 years in SEO.
Still learning every week.

I started in SEO back when Google was a very different beast. Algorithm updates were less frequent, content was thinner and a lot of what passed for "SEO" then would get a site penalised today. I learned the hard way, through the updates, the penalties, the recoveries and the wins, what actually works and what doesn't.

For years I worked behind the scenes for Australian marketing agencies, handling the SEO work they sold to their clients. I learned to deliver to a brief, communicate clearly with business owners who weren't SEO people and produce results that justified the investment. That background shapes how I work at Search Studio.

I'm Thai by background, Brisbane by choice. I moved to Toowoomba with my family and launched Search Studio's Australian operation here in Queensland. Working with clients in different countries has given me a broader perspective on international SEO and different competitive markets.

What drives me is the same thing it's always been. SEO is one of the few marketing channels where the results genuinely compound over time. Done right and done patiently, it becomes one of the most reliable sources of leads a business can have. I find that satisfying to build.

LinkedIn
Career highlights

A track record built
over a long time.

SEO experience isn't something you can shortcut. Here's the timeline that brought me to Search Studio.

2012 to 2014
First steps into SEO and digital marketing
Started working in digital marketing in Thailand, learning SEO from the ground up during a period when the fundamentals were being established. Built an understanding of on-page signals, keyword research and content strategy before many of today's best practices existed.
2014 to 2018
Agency SEO: behind the scenes for Australian brands
Worked with Australian marketing agencies delivering SEO campaigns for clients across industries including eCommerce, hospitality, professional services and retail. Learned to translate complex SEO strategy into clear communication for business owners, and to produce results that justified ongoing investment.
2018
Started my own SEO business
Started running my own SEO business, serving clients across Southeast Asia and internationally. This gave me experience managing campaigns across multiple markets, languages and competitive landscapes at the same time.
2020 to 2024
Deep dive into AI search and generative optimisation
As AI search platforms began reshaping how people find information, I dedicated significant time to understanding Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO), entity-based SEO and how to optimise for visibility in ChatGPT, Gemini and Google AI Overviews. This is now a core part of every campaign I run.
2024 to now
Search Studio Australia, Toowoomba, QLD
Launched Search Studio's Australian operation in Toowoomba, focusing on service businesses in Brisbane, Toowoomba and Queensland. The same direct, ethical, results-focused approach as always. Now with a local focus and 14 years of experience behind it.
How I work

Three values that shape
every engagement.

These aren't marketing words. They're the things I come back to whenever I'm making a decision about how to work with a client.

Results that pack a punch
Outstanding outcomes are the priority. Not activity for its own sake, not vanity metrics, not impressions that go nowhere. Leads, rankings, visibility, things that actually move your business forward. Everything I do is measured against that standard.
Genuine and ethical
I don't use shortcuts that put your site at risk. I don't make promises I can't keep. I don't send inflated reports full of metrics that don't matter. You get honest communication about what's happening, what's working and what's not, even when that's not what you want to hear.
Adaptable
SEO in 2026 looks nothing like SEO in 2015. The platforms, the signals and the way people search have all shifted dramatically. I stay current, not by chasing every trend, but by understanding which changes actually matter and adjusting strategy accordingly.
Fon Ward outdoors with iced coffee, Brisbane
My approach

How I think about
SEO in 2026.

Search has changed significantly. The way I work reflects what actually matters now, not what worked five years ago.

Search-led strategy
Every strategy starts with how your customers actually search, ask and discover. I align your website with real demand, across Google, AI Overviews, ChatGPT and every other platform your audience uses.
Full visibility framework
I focus on three pillars, discoverability, understanding and trust, so your brand isn't just found, but understood and referenced. This is what separates sites that rank briefly from those that hold rankings over time.
Long-term thinking
SEO compounds. Shortcuts erode. I build strategies designed to grow consistently over 12 to 24 months rather than spike and crash. The clients who stay with me longest are the ones who understand that patience is part of the process.
Skills and specialisations

What I know well
and do every day.

After 14 years these aren't just things I'm familiar with. They're things I've done hundreds of times across dozens of industries.

Managed SEO AI Search Optimisation Generative Engine Optimisation (GEO) Technical SEO On-Page SEO Link Building Content Strategy E-E-A-T Optimisation Schema Markup Core Web Vitals Local SEO White-Label SEO SEO Consulting Keyword Research Competitor Analysis Google Search Console Google Analytics 4 Ahrefs Screaming Frog Site Migrations
What clients say

Don't take my word for it.
Take theirs.

★★★★★

Fonthip is an excellent digital marketing professional who I would (and do) recommend to anyone who wants real results. Whenever we have any available marketing budget we turn to Fon and it feels like she waves a magic wand and then the leads start pouring in. Fon is always patient and informative with non-marketers who need help understanding things. Don't look anywhere else!

Sonja Meyer
Founder, Ethical Design Co.
★★★★★

Used this consultant for a SEO project for a Brisbane-based business a few years ago. Was able to get the increases to organic traffic desired, under budget and with a good timeframe. Would recommend them now they are also servicing Toowoomba.

Archie Ward
Search Manager, Stan
★★★★★

Fon audited our new website and built us an SEO strategy that finally gave us a clear direction. She has a way of explaining SEO without the jargon. My only regret is not bringing her in during the build phase. If you're planning a new website, talk to Fon before you brief your developer. You'll save yourself time, money, and a lot of headaches.

Tegan Guthrie
Head of Operations, Hemisphere Medical
See all reviews →
Fon Ward walking confidently through a Brisbane cafe

If this sounds like
what you've been looking for,

Book a free 20-minute strategy call and let's talk about your site, your goals and whether Search Studio is a good fit. No hard sell, no jargon. Just a straight conversation.

Book a Free Strategy Call