SEO stands for ‘search engine optimization’. It refers to the process of optimizing or improving a website so that it appears in a higher position when people search for products or services related to the business on Google, Bing, or other search engines.
When a website is more visible in search results it will have a strong digital presence and attract more traffic and customers. For that reason, SEO is an essential element of online marketing and every business should have an SEO strategy in place.
There are many SEO strategies used to help increase a site’s visibility in search engines. These might include content creation, site optimization, link building, and more. An SEO department is usually in charge of implementing these strategies and work can be outsourced to writers, link builders, and developers.
There are two types of SEO: onsite and offsite. Onsite SEO, also called on-page SEO, includes crawling a website, updating URLs, page titles, and meta descriptions, and optimizing a webpage to include relevant keywords. Offsite SEO strategies include link building, social media marketing, guest posts, podcasting, and video marketing.
No, it’s not! Since SEO strategy is essential to the online success of every business, there is no shortage of positions available. Every business that wants success should have an SEO department, consult with an SEO expert, or hire a digital marketing agency to implement SEO. As a result, you can work as a freelancer, within an agency, or for a business. Set up a job alert to find jobs in SEO as they come up.
In-house SEO teams refers to a department within a business as opposed to freelancers or people employed by a digital marketing agency. An in-house SEO team will need someone who can come up with ideas to improve search engine rankings, conduct keyword research, use SEO tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console, and outsource tasks such as content creation to other workers when needed.
It is not hard to find a good SEO specialist, however you will want to assess their credentials through appropriate testing. It’s important when hiring an SEO specialist to ensure that they follow white hat practices that result in long-term results for your site rather than quick wins.
There are several employment opportunities within SEO, including:
SEO Strategist: This person is in charge of managing SEO projects and creating the strategies that improve a website’s ranking on search engines. An SEO Strategist will work with a business to understand its goals and tailor an SEO strategy that reaches their target audience and objectives. SEO Strategists must have profound knowledge of the industry and keep up with algorithm changes. Their role will include delegating off page SEO tasks, following up on results, and altering the strategy when needed.
SEO Specialist: This is the most common job position in SEO and can include entry level roles as well as seniors in the field. An SEO Specialist is responsible for implementing various tasks to improve a website’s ranking on search engines. They may conduct keyword research and optimize a website to add more relevant keywords, as well as work alongside SEO Content Writers and Link Builders. SEO Specialists who work in-house may play a more general role and take on other aspects of SEO, including strategy. An Associate SEO Specialist is someone who might work alongside the SEO Specialist.
SEO Analyst: An SEO Analyst is a job position that may involve numerous SEO-related tasks, including analyzing website performance data and implementing strategies to improve the online presence of a business. As an SEO Analyst you might be in charge of coming up with ideas to improve performance of a website and increase organic traffic.
Technical SEO Specialist: This person is involved with the backend of the website, such as improving sitemaps, page speed, URL structure, site navigation, and more. All of these aspects are important in allowing search engines to crawl your website effectively so it can rank for relevant keywords. Technical SEO may be done by an SEO Specialist if they have the know-how.
SEO Content Writer: Content is an essential part of SEO and this person must have great writing skills as well as a sound understanding of SEO rules. The SEO Content Writer could produce blog articles, guest posts, landing pages, website copy, and more.
Link Builder: Link building is a strategy that helps a website grow more authority and improve rankings as a result. A Link Builder will conduct outreach and build links to a website to enhance its credibility. Link building experience is valuable as it can help elevate a website’s rankings quickly.
An SEO freelancer is someone who works independently with several businesses or digital marketing agencies to conduct search engine optimization. The tasks of an SEO freelancer might include:
Luckily, there is no shortage of opportunities for freelance jobs in SEO. If you already have SEO experience working within an in-house team or for a digital marketing agency, you can transition to freelance easily. If you’re just starting out, you must build up some experience to prove you are an expert before you can start applying for remote SEO jobs. Set up a job alert to be aware of opportunities for freelance roles as they come up.
Here are our best tips to becoming an SEO freelancer. If you already have SEO experience, skip to step 3:
Not every business can afford to hire an experienced SEO expert. There are many positions available for entry-level SEO Specialists to break into the field. Entry level SEO positions can be great for training, experimenting with different tactics, and understanding how the industry works.
SEO is an excellent remote job that can be done from anywhere around the world. Many SEO freelancers work from home or coworking spaces, creating a great life work balance that doesn’t exist in many other careers.
All you need for a successful SEO job is a computer with good internet. Once you have that, the world is your oyster. Set up a job alert to be notified of remote SEO jobs as they come up.
According to Search Engine Journal, more than half of SEO professionals earn the same or more than the U.S. median. Nearly 20% of people working in SEO earned more than $100,000 per year while 3.38% earned more than $200,000 per year.
The most common pay rate for people working in SEO is between $50-75,000. Junior roles in SEO are expected to start between $35,000 and $49,000. An SEO Specialist or Manager can earn between $50,000 and $74,000. Nearly half of freelancers earned below $34,000.
SEO is a slightly technical job. While it is not as technical as coding or programming, it still requires a strong understanding of websites and how the internet works.
There is a world of opportunity out there for jobs in SEO. Google is going nowhere and search engine optimization remains an essential part of any successful online marketing strategy. This means that businesses everywhere need your help!
Stay up-to-date on the latest SEO jobs both in-house and at marketing agencies with our job board below. We’ll be posting opportunities as they arrive, so set up a job alert to be the first to know.