How to build a successful career in SEO
By the end of this blog, you’ll be able to:
- List Dos and Don’ts of managing website accounts
- Identify what certifications are suitable for you
- Identify marketing functions and skills required
Top Do’s and Don’ts
To start a successful career in SEO you should remember some important do’s and don’ts.
Firstly, to perform SEO, whether you are doing it for a small business or a large enterprise, you will need to have the website credentials handy.
You will also need to access some useful tools such as Google Analytics and webmasters tools.
Also to optimize for social media, ensure you have social account credentials.
These are especially applicable when you are working on client accounts.
The best practice is that the client creates the account and then adds you, the SEO, as a collaborator.
Secondly, is to do your research thoroughly.
You need to start with finding problems as soon as you can.
Finding website problems after you complete your optimization reduces your expertise.
Thorough research will help you set proper expectations, it will help you prioritize necessary work related to the programming, design, and optimization.
While you do your research, you need to audit the website for programming, SEO, and other needs first.
The next step is to set proper expectations.
Identify the trending keywords, understand the status of the website, whether it is new or old, what is lacking, and how the links compare to other similar websites.
When setting expectations with your client, don’t over promise; be realistic.
Tell your client upfront to be patient as sometimes metrics don’t show improvements for many months.
Client expectations are the main cause of dissatisfaction.
So, be careful what you promise.
The best practice is to educate your client on the process so that they understand the obstacles and the issues.
Career paths
With companies
When you start your career as an SEO, I’d recommend working with an SEO company or a marketing agency first as this will help you gain experience while working with many types of websites.
You’ll be able to learn from others in the industry and learn additional techniques or tactics.
You can gain knowledge from others with different skill sets and you’ll have to learn many different tools and software.
To start your SEO business
If you are running your own SEO business, it may become difficult to handle all the areas by yourself.
You will need a trusted network of providers for programming, copywriting or managing.
You might have to learn sales and accounts management and find tools for SEO and project management.
Maybe it’s free or low-cost.
Also, remember that you will be responsible for your own marketing.
Certifications
There are some recognized certification bodies that will help you gain the extra edge.
For example OMCP, Online Marketing Certified Professional.
You can find more information at omcp.org.
Also, the OMCA, Online Marketing Certified Associate, also at omcp.org, and the digital marketing institute at digitalmarketinginstitue.com.
These certifications show that you have taken the initiative to learn and gain experience in the industry.
There are some other certifications that may add value to your profile and these are the Google partner, more on search advertising, and the Google Analytics Academy.
Key takeaways
- Set proper expectations with your clients and associates while working on their websites.
- Maintain and manage clients’ accounts correctly.
- Look for an enriching experience of working on a variety of websites, business types, and challenges.
- Certification enhances your knowledge and ensures growth in the industry.