Since it is a fairly recent marketing burst in the industry, not much is offered in universities regarding a career in SEO. However, panic not. I’ve a nice guide here to help you understand how to start and develop a rock-star SEO career in a few easy steps.
Are You Ready For This?
Step one is to be absolutely sure you want to step into the constantly changing, dynamic SEO/ digital marketing industry. Do you have the scope, skills, qualification, and interest required for this field? If so, it is a perfect choice. If not, you may want to reconsider.
Start with Basics
Do you want to apply for a direct job as a newbie or trainee in the industry, or start as a freelancer? Do you have the necessary technical skills, communication skills, research skills, and creative skills? Educate yourself on all the basic concepts through online courses, events, seminars, conferences. Explore.
Tools and Resources
Take some time to get together everything you’ll need. SEO involves a range of options and plenty of aspects, including keyword research, link building, and auditing websites. Do your homework on the tools and resources you’ll need, some basics which are:
- Screaming Frog
- Ahrefs
- Google Keyword Planner
Get Your Content Ready
Time to offer your skills! Create your own website and write content for several businesses, on-page SEO audit, link building, or social media promotion to competitor analysis. Brainstorm and come up with new ideas.
Experiment and Web Portfolio
Try new things. Expand your personal blog. Network with people aside from SEO, build your profile and get involved in the community. List the industries you want to work for and increase your web portfolio by writing for their products. Keep learning.
Interact with Experienced SEO writers
Get yourself out there. Connections are just as important as experience in this industry, go out and socialize at meet-ups and presentations, talk to as many people as possible, industry experts, influencers, writers, at conferences and events. Use social media networks and find SEO forums to make yourself visible online.
Apply!
Now that you have some personal experience and confidence, you can present yourself in all your entrepreneurial spirit. Don’t be picky and apply to a handful of particular jobs you’d like. Apply endlessly, in as many places as possible. If you get one you don’t like, you can always choose not to take it.
It may be important to consider that while choosing a career in SEO is a great decision, it may not be for everyone. Weigh the pros and cons carefully. If you like predictability and are not ready to try new things, it may be unwise to go for this. But if you like to keep moving and evolving in a changing, challenging environment, this will be the best decision you’ll ever make. Best of luck!
