Becoming a freelance SEO expert is one of those decisions that can radically transform your social and professional future, opening the doors to a dynamic and constantly evolving industry, where the demand for optimizing online visibility continues to grow. In this article, we’ll take a look at what it means to be an SEO expert, how you can become one, and above all, what steps you need to take to get started as a freelancer.
- Here's the program
- Who is an SEO expert?
- 6 steps to becoming a freelance SEO expert
- How do you find customers?
- What skills and qualities are needed to become an SEO expert?
- Tips and tricks for becoming a successful SEO expert
- Conclusion
- EcoTips
- Pros and Cons
- Information recap
Who is an SEO expert?
In today’s digital world, being at the top of search engine results is not just an advantage – it’s a necessity, even a matter of survival for some companies. This is where the SEO (Search Engine Optimization) expert comes in. This increasingly sought-after activity relies on a combination of technical skills, digital marketing and content creation, aimed at improving a website’s ranking and visibility in search results.
But why this growing popularity? Simply because SEO is one of the most effective levers for generating quality organic traffic to a website, without resorting to paid advertising. An SEO expert masters the strategies for optimizing a site for search engines such as Google, based on in-depth keyword analysis, technical optimization of the site, and an appropriate content strategy.
If this is your first time stumbling upon SEO with this article, I’d like to warn you right away that if you’re thinking of going down this path, you’ll need to go through an intensive learning phase, as there’s a lot to learn on this vast subject. SEO encompasses many different aspects, from on-page optimization to link building (backlinks), keyword research and user behavior analysis.
Please also note that this article is not intended to make you an SEO expert. Becoming an SEO specialist takes time, patience and a willingness to learn continuously. But the good news is that I’ve written a fairly comprehensive article on digital marketing, which will provide you with a solid foundation for acquiring the fundamentals.
Here are the main concepts that every SEO professional needs to master.6 steps to becoming a freelance SEO expert
Let’s take a look at the steps involved in becoming a freelance SEO expert. It may seem daunting at first, but you’ll find that with the right tools and a clear methodology, it becomes much more accessible. I’ll try to avoid using complex jargon, and focus on what’s really involved and the concrete steps to get there.
1 Understanding the basics and learning about SEO
Obviously, mastering the basics of SEO is essential. It starts with a clear understanding of how search engines work and what influences a site’s ranking. SEO falls into three broad categories:
- Technical SEO, which ensures the health of a website.
- On-page SEO, focused on content and its quality.
- Off-page SEO, which focuses on external links and their impact.
These three concepts are the fundamental pillars of SEO, and you need to start by mastering them before you can ever claim to be an “SEO expert”.
So, how do you learn to become an SEO expert? There are several possibilities. For a start, there’s the classic route, which involves taking courses in digital professions, marketing and web copywriting at a school or university. This is undoubtedly the most effective way of getting there, as you’ll benefit from a comprehensive, structured education and then earn a diploma on completion.
However, this requires an investment of time, which can last anywhere from several months to several years, and also of money, as enrolment at certain reputable establishments can cost several thousand euros a year. And there’s no guarantee that such a school will exist in your area, unless you’re prepared to travel, or even expatriate, to attend and complete your studies.
An alternative to traditional courses is to use an e-learning platform. There are many such platforms, including Udemy, Coursera, LinkedIn Learning and Skillshare. They offer a variety of courses to suit all levels, from SEO fundamentals to the most advanced techniques. All courses are taught by experts in the field, and accessible anytime, anywhere, via a simple Internet connection. This is an excellent solution if you want to learn at your own pace, or prefer to focus on a more specific aspect of SEO.
What’s more, these platforms often offer up-to-date content, reflecting the latest trends and best practices in the field. You can also benefit from a variety of additional resources, such as discussion forums, practice assignments and certificates of achievement. These platforms therefore offer a practical, flexible and effective alternative to traditional courses, enabling you to develop your skills at your convenience.
Finally, you can opt for self-taught training in SEO expertise. This approach offers total freedom in terms of content and pace of learning, allowing you to tailor your course to your specific needs. It also encourages initiative, research and independent problem-solving – invaluable skills in SEO and web copywriting.
However, the main challenge lies in the need for self-discipline and effective time management, as well as the risk of missing important information or wandering off in irrelevant directions without the guidance of a trainer. It’s up to you, but you can also opt for several of the solutions suggested here.
Starting out as an employee?
You’ll have acquired a solid theoretical grounding during your training, but embarking on a freelance career straight afterwards is a bit like diving into the ocean without a buoy and learning to swim among the SEO sharks. You’ll be on your own, confronted with the realities of the field, fierce competition and demanding customers who want concrete results. Lack of practice is therefore a serious disadvantage that can have deleterious consequences on your performance.
Perhaps it would be wiser to start out as an employee in a digital marketing agency, large company, startup or even an NGO. You’ll be able to apply and expand your SEO knowledge on a variety of projects, while enjoying the security of a monthly salary. It’s a great way to gain valuable experience, gain an in-depth understanding of SEO issues in different professional contexts, and build a network of contacts that can benefit you in your future freelance career. Think about it.
2 Practice and experiment
Theory, however sound, is no substitute for practice. Once you’ve learned the basics of SEO, it’s crucial to take action. Start by applying what you’ve learned on personal sites, or offer your help to acquaintances who own websites. Experience is an invaluable teacher. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different SEO strategies to see which techniques produce the best results. Remember, every site is unique, which means a personalized approach is often necessary.
3 Mastering SEO tools
No SEO expert can do without specialized tools. They’re essential for analyzing site performance, carrying out in-depth keyword research, and tracking page rankings in search results. Start by familiarizing yourself withGoogle Analytics and Google Search Console, two fundamental tools that will give you valuable insights into your site’s traffic and performance in Google searches.
Also explore more advanced tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, , or Moz, which can help you with keyword research, backlink analysis, and much more. You’ll find a more comprehensive list of the best SEO tools in my article on learning the basics of SEO, so be sure to check it out.
In its free version, SEMrush already offers a series of very useful tools.4 Specialize
Finding a specialty in the vast world of SEO is a decisive step towards success and excellence. While the fundamentals of SEO are applicable to a multitude of cases, deepening your knowledge in a specific sector can significantly increase the value of your services.
And there’s no shortage of choice. For example, you can specialize in:
- Technical SEO, which requires a good understanding of aspects such as optimizing page loading speed, URL structure and ease of navigation on mobile devices.
- Content SEO is based on the ability to create content that appeals to users, but is also optimized for search engines.
- Local SEO is essential for businesses looking to gain a foothold in local search results, requiring mastery of Google My Business and local citation strategies.
- SEO for E-commerce, which basically consists of optimizing online stores to increase their visibility and sales.
This specialization forces you to dive deep into your chosen subject, keeping you constantly up to date with the latest trends and algorithm adjustments from search engines such as Google, Bing or Yahoo. This not only equips you with valuable expertise, but also enables you to forge a reputation as an authority in this distinctive field of SEO.
You can choose to focus on a single specialty or master several, and your ability to offer tailor-made solutions will be a major asset in your career as a freelance SEO expert.
5 Technology watch
Staying abreast of the latest trends and, above all, keeping abreast of algorithm updates from Google and other search engines is an absolutely crucial factor in this business. After all, algorithms are constantly evolving, directly influencing effective SEO strategies.
This means that if your knowledge in this field becomes obsolete, the efforts you put into maintaining and improving the rankings of your customers’ sites will be useless. So use resources such as specialized blogs, newsletters and SEO webinars to keep abreast of changes and current best practices.
In addition to online resources, attending conferences can also be very beneficial. Not only do these events offer valuable information on current SEO developments, they also provide an insight into the future direction this sector may take.
6 Create a professional network
Networking with other SEO professionals can open doors to collaboration opportunities, advice exchanges, and even the acquisition of new clients. Online forums, LinkedIn and Facebook groups, and SEO conferences are excellent starting points for meeting other experts and sharing experience and knowledge.
Actively participating in the SEO community, both online and in person, helps you build a reputation and establish your personal brand. By sharing your own findings and contributing to discussions, you increase your visibility and strengthen your credibility as an SEO professional. This network also becomes a valuable resource when you encounter challenges, enabling you to seek advice and benefit from different perspectives.
Working from home?
Let’s face it, working from the comfort of your own home, in your old Dragon Ball Z pajamas and mismatched socks, gives you a very pleasant feeling of freedom. But this is not necessarily the wisest choice, as working alone exposes us to serious disadvantages such as procrastination, lack of motivation and social isolation.
Fortunately, there are alternatives to counter these problems. Co-working spaces, for example, offer a shared professional environment that encourages exchanges and meetings with other professionals. They help recreate a dynamic office atmosphere and establish a clear separation between home and the workplace, which can improve productivity and personal balance.
Participating in local professional networks or freelance groups is another beneficial strategy. These communities often organize events, workshops and get-togethers that can break isolation and offer valuable networking and collaboration opportunities. In addition, they can provide moral support and practical advice in your freelance career.
Finally, adopting a structured daily routine, with defined working hours and regular breaks, can help you maintain discipline and separate your work time from your free time. Setting up a dedicated work space at home, separate from relaxation areas, also helps reinforce this separation necessary for healthy time management.
How do you find customers?
When you feel you’re ready and you have acquired enough experience to offer professional quality work, it’s time to start looking for your first customers. This task will be more or less difficult, depending on the market niche you’ve chosen, but also on the current demand for the services you offer.
The easiest way to get started in the world of SEO expertise is to use a freelance platform. There are several, and the most popular are Fiverr, UpWork, Toptal, PeoplePerHour or ComeUp. Registration is generally free, and they have all the tools you need to communicate and work with your new customers.
The great advantage of these sites is that they offer you a showcase for your services to millions of potential customers, all over the world. This means immediate access to a vast market of customers actively seeking SEO services like yours. What’s more, these platforms facilitate the invoicing and payment process, making business management much smoother.
However, competition on these platforms can be fierce, and it can be difficult to stand out among the many SEO freelancers offering the same services as you. The commissions charged by these platforms also reduce the share of revenue you receive. It’s therefore crucial to optimize your profile and the page describing your services, show your previous work and gather positive reviews to improve your visibility and attract more clients. I’ve also written a fairly comprehensive article on “How to get started on Fiverr”, so I encourage you to read it.
But using these platforms isn’t the only way to kick-start your career as a freelance SEO expert, and there are of course other strategies for finding clients. Networking, both online and in person, can open many doors. Participating in specialized forums, LinkedIn groups, or SEO conferences can help you make valuable contacts. Creating quality content on your own blog or via social media can also attract customers by demonstrating your expertise and positioning you as an authority in the SEO field.
Many freelancers are also prospectors. They scan the web for sites that are poorly positioned on search engines and contact their owners to offer their services. Others contact local businesses directly to offer their help.
Finally, don’t underestimate the power of word-of-mouth and personal recommendations. Providing exceptional work for a customer can often lead to new opportunities thanks to these recommendations. By diversifying your efforts and maintaining a high quality of work, you will gradually increase your base of satisfied customers.
The future of SEO is not link building. The future of SEO is a great user experience, so focus on it.
– Neil Patel, CEO of UbersuggestWhat skills and qualities are needed to become an SEO expert?
To successfully navigate the SEO field and establish yourself as an expert, it’s essential to combine a diverse set of technical, analytical and creative skills, while cultivating certain personal qualities. Here’s an overview of the essential skills and qualities.
Technical and analytical skills
- Mastery of how search engines work: A thorough understanding of how search engines index and rank web pages is fundamental.
- On-page and off-page optimization: Knowing how to optimize elements on the site as well as external factors influencing SEO.
- Data analysis: The ability to interpret data from tools such as Google Analytics is key to assessing site performance and guiding SEO strategies.
- Technical web knowledge: Understanding HTML, CSS, and in some cases JavaScript, helps identify and solve technical problems that can affect SEO.
Content marketing skills
- Optimized content creation: Produce content that is not only engaging and relevant to the target audience, but also optimized for search engines.
- Keyword research: Identify the keywords and phrases your target audience uses to search for information online.
Personal qualities
- Curiosity and willingness to learn: SEO is a constantly evolving field, requiring constant updating of knowledge.
- Patience and perseverance: Significant results in SEO take time and long-term commitment.
- Adaptability: Be flexible and ready to quickly adjust strategies in response to changes in search engine algorithms.
- Communication skills: Present strategies and results clearly and convincingly to customers.
What other career prospects are there?
Beyond working on website optimization, becoming an SEO expert opens the door to a diverse range of careers. For example, SEO expertise can naturally lead to a career as an SEO consultant, where you have the opportunity to audit and advise companies on their SEO strategies. This position enables you to have a significant impact on companies’ online success, guiding their strategic decisions and helping them navigate the complex digital marketing landscape.
But the opportunities don’t stop there, as your SEO experience is also highly beneficial for roles such as content manager, where the ability to produce and optimize content for the web is essential. The same goes for a digital marketing specialist, where SEO skills are complemented by an understanding of other online marketing channels. The possibilities are endless…
Tips and tricks for becoming a successful SEO expert
Finally, I’d like to offer you a few practical tips and original strategies to help you excel in the field of SEO and distinguish yourself as an expert. These tips are designed to enrich your career path with concrete actions and innovative perspectives.
- Create experimental SEO projects: Launch your own websites or blogs on niche topics to test different SEO strategies and observe results in real time. This allows you to innovate and document your experiments with real-life cases.
- Use machine learning to your advantage: Learn the basics of machine learning to analyze SEO trends and search behavior. You’ll find accessible courses on Kaggle or Udemy. Programming language like Python can be used to collect web data or analyze keyword performance, giving you unique insights and a head start.
- Develop international SEO expertise: If you’re lucky enough to be a polyglot, specialize in optimizing for different linguistic and cultural markets. This means understanding the nuances of localization and content adaptation, as well as the specifics of local search engines.
- Master the art of SEO storytelling: Learn how to integrate narrative elements into your content to improve engagement and social sharing, while optimizing for search engines. Storytelling can transform SEO-optimized content into a memorable experience for users.
- Deepen your understanding of UX and SEO: Study how user experience (UX) influences SEO and vice versa. The aim is to create sites that are not only optimized for search engines, but also extremely intuitive and engaging for visitors.
- Explore the potential of SEO for mobile apps (ASO): As more and more users access content via mobile apps, learning the basics of App Store Optimization (ASO) can open up new avenues for your SEO skills.
- Participate in SEO hackathons: Join or organize SEO hackathons to collaborate on intensive projects, meet experts from different disciplines and stimulate your creativity under pressure.
- Develop SEO plugins or tools: If you have development skills, consider creating SEO tools, plugins or even SaaS that address unmet needs. This can not only add to your portfolio but also position you as an innovator in the field.
- Develop a niche specialty: Beyond general SEO specialization, focus on a specific niche within SEO, such as SEO for e-commerce, local SEO for small businesses, or even a particular industry like tourism or finance. This allows you to become the undisputed expert in that particular field.
- Master advanced tools: While the basics of SEO tools are essential, diving into the advanced features of tools like Screaming Frog, Lumar (DeepCrawl), or SEMrush can help you provide deeper analysis and solve complex problems.
- Practice SEO auditing regularly: Offer free SEO audits for NGOs, startups, or small businesses. This gives you the opportunity to practice, add value to organizations in need, and potentially convert these projects into case studies for your portfolio.
- Establish strategic partnerships: Collaborate with professionals from other digital marketing disciplines, such as PPC (Pay Per Click) specialists, social media experts, or web designers. These partnerships can lead to beneficial synergies, where you can offer comprehensive services and increase your value in the eyes of customers.
- Invest in continuing education: Beyond webinars and online courses, consider professional certifications or hands-on workshops. Some professional organizations offer recognized certifications that can add credibility to your expertise.
- Build your personal brand: Use social media, a personal blog, or even a YouTube channel to share your knowledge, successes, and thoughts on SEO trends. This can increase your visibility in the industry and establish you as a thought leader.
- Adopt a data-driven approach: Learn how to create and interpret customized reports in Google Analytics and other analytics tools. Knowing how to draw actionable insights from complex data is a major asset for any SEO expert.
- Actively participate in the SEO community: Whether online in forums, blogs, or in person at conferences, sharing your knowledge and learning from others is essential. Debates, case studies and discussions can offer new perspectives and stimulate your professional growth.
- Establish technology watch routines: Define times in your week dedicated to reading and researching the latest SEO trends, algorithm updates, and best practices. Using content aggregators or specialized newsletters can facilitate this process.
Social networks, especially Reddit and Twitter/X, are excellent ways of keeping abreast of developments in the field of SEO.Conclusion
The demand for SEO skills is constantly growing, as companies in all sectors recognize the importance of an optimized online presence to stay competitive. What’s more, the SEO field offers the flexibility to work freelance, start your own agency or join in-house marketing teams at companies in a variety of industries. This versatility makes a career in SEO an attractive and viable option, even when other paths seem blocked.
The path to becoming an SEO expert illustrates this dynamic of constant evolution in digital marketing. In this article, we’ve explored the various stages and strategies essential to getting started and excelling in SEO, from acquiring the fundamentals to specializing in specific niches, mastering advanced tools and building a solid professional network.
So, if you’re interested in this idea, are young and/or have time on your hands, opt for a complete classical training course, where you’ll learn not only SEO techniques, but also marketing, web copywriting and other very useful concepts. In two or three years, you’ll acquire a solid foundation that will stand you in good stead throughout your career. Alternatively, the fast-track route of online self-study can get you up and running in no time.
What about you? Do you have any specific SEO experience or advice to share? What challenges did you face when starting out in SEO and how did you overcome them? Feel free to share your thoughts and questions in the comments below. Your journey and insights can inspire and guide other aspiring SEO experts.
EcoTips
Environmental and climate change issues are more than ever at the heart of the concerns of this 21st century, which is why I am proposing a few ideas that will enable you to limit the negative impact that the implementation of this idea could have.
These solutions that I suggest are sometimes largely insufficient to compensate for these negative impacts, such as carbon offsetting. Unfortunately, there is not always an ideal and 100% efficient solution, far from it. And if you have others, please do not hesitate to share them in the comments below.
Becoming an SEO expert involves intensive use of digital technologies and web servers, which by their very nature consume a significant amount of electricity. This energy consumption is mainly due to the data centers that host websites, SEO analysis platforms and online tools required for search engine optimization.
These data centers, operating 24 hours a day, require constant cooling to prevent overheating, thus contributing to a high carbon footprint. The growing reliance on these technologies for SEO purposes therefore raises significant environmental concerns.
To mitigate this negative impact, it’s possible to steer your choices towards eco-responsible web hosting solutions. Numerous providers such as Greengeeks, Hostpapa, DreamHost, or Krystal offer green hosting options, using renewable energies or offsetting their carbon footprint through various ecological initiatives.
Optimizing the efficiency of websites is another interesting avenue. By reducing file sizes, improving page loading times and limiting the use of energy-hungry resources, we can reduce the amount of energy needed to run a website, while improving its SEO.
Note that this move towards greener SEO not only helps to protect the environment, but can also offer a competitive advantage, by meeting the growing expectations of consumers and businesses in terms of sustainability.
Pros
- Flexible working, with the possibility of working remotely.
- High market demand for SEO skills.
- Diversified career opportunities in digital marketing.
- High income potential with proven experience and success.
Cons
- Strong competition, making it sometimes difficult to stand out.
- The ability to adapt quickly to new trends and technologies is essential.
- Possibility of long and irregular working hours, especially for freelancers.
- Risk of stress due to pressure to achieve and maintain high search engine rankings.
Info
- Location: At home or in a co-working space
- Investment: Time, above all, to acquire the necessary skills.
- Earnings perspective: Potentially very high, especially if you achieve real results.
- Required: Curiosity, adaptability, perseverance, and strong analytical skills to navigate the constant evolution of digital marketing.
- Risk level: No particular risk
- Implementation time: : This will depend on your current level of knowledge, but you could be ready in a few months if you’re new to SEO.
- Material needed: Laptop and smartphone.
You can also Login or Register to comment