Digital marketing is one of the fastest-growing industries in the business world, and one of the most important digital marketing skills is SEO (search engine optimization). This guide will teach you how to start a career in SEO.
Learn how to set up and configure your own website
SEO has become an essential skill (and marketing tactic) for all businesses. Learning to optimize your site for search engines is the first step in SEO for beginners. Just set up a simple blog site, start creating content, and use it as a testing ground to learn SEO.
Master Google Analytics and SEO tools
To start a career in SEO, it’s essential to master the tools. Google Analytics is one of the most important SEO tools out there. You can download free analytics software from Google or use a tool like Moz that incorporates many others into one package. Learn how to navigate this tool and you’ll become well versed in SEO analysis.
Learn advanced technical subjects like web crawling, indexing, and site speed
You can’t start a career in SEO without learning the finer points of technical terms like crawlers, indexing, and site speed. It’s not enough to know that Google has over 200 factors for ranking websites. You need to be familiar with the details on why those factors are so important.
Acquire keyword research skills
Keyword research is a key SEO tool. You can use it to analyze the competition and find content ideas for your site. Mastering keyword research means not only knowing all of the factors associated with this process but how to apply them to your own projects.
Learn about on-page optimization for various devices
On-page optimization has become very important in SEO. To start a career in SEO, you need to learn how to optimize your site for specific devices like smartphones and tablets. A good way to get started is by updating your website with SEO responsive layouts.
Learn about off-page optimization strategies
The importance of link building has increased over the years so it’s essential for a career in SEO to understand how to acquire and leverage links. There are many strategies and tactics that fall under the general term “link building”. A good place to start is by learning about broken link building.
Get some coaching and mentoring from SEO experts
A good way to start a career in SEO is by getting some help from professionals. There are many online sources of guidance and support for beginners. Some of them even offer complete training choices. These include Udemy, Skillshare, Coursera, and Codecademy.
Start developing SEO content strategies for clients
To start a career in SEO, you need to have a proven track record. One of the best ways to get your name out there is by developing SEO content strategies for clients and getting client testimonials. This will be a great way to showcase your expertise.
Build some social influence on platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook
Learn how to build your personal brand on social media. A good way to start your digital marketing career is by creating an online following that can be leveraged for other purposes, like promoting your work or even finding employment opportunities.
