So, you want to get into SEO. Here’s where to start

So you want to work in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)?

Are you new to the world of SEO and looking to kickstart your career? Well, you’re in luck! In this article, I’m going to talk about some of the basic considerations you can make in order to improve your chances of landing your first role in SEO. So, what’s the secret sauce to landing a job in SEO, you ask? Let me break it down for you step by step.

Grasp the basics of SEO

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be an SEO master or have a degree to land an entry-level SEO job. What matters most is your passion and attention to detail. But, importantly, you can’t skip the basics. Depending on how you prefer to learn, you should proactively go out and take a course or two, read a book, or check out videos on Youtube. You want to nail down your understanding of the basics so that you can build upon them through execution. Here are some go-to’s:

• The Art of SEO
• Hubspot’s SEO certification
• Udemy SEO courses
• Moz blog

There are dozens of other potential resources out there, so have a quick Google search and you’ll find loads.

Master the SEO essentials

First up, Excel or Google Sheets. You don’t need to be a spreadsheet wizard, but knowing your way around formulas and features like VLOOKUP and pivot tables will give you a leg up. Next, familiarise yourself with popular SEO tools like Google Search Console, Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google Analytics, and Screaming Frog.

By doing this, you’ll be equipping yourself with a variety of tools and skills that will enable you to hit the ground running so to speak. Understandably, some of these tools may cost money to access. However, a lot of them offer free versions or trials just to get the gist of things.

Start your own website

If you don’t already have your own website, set one up using platforms like WordPress, Wix, or other similar CMS. This will not only provide you with a platform to experiment with SEO, but will help you to develop basic website design skills and the use of content management systems. Start building pages and writing content in order to try to rank for a few keywords. Even helping out friends and family with their sites counts as valuable experience.

Depending on what platform you use, again, as with anything, there will be free and premium versions. Wherever possible, try to pay for premium versions so that you have full access to features and functionality.

Start conducting keyword research

Keyword research is a cornerstone of SEO. So, wrap your head around it early on. By using some of the resources I listed above, you’ll cover keyword research early on. Don’t worry, it’s not rocket science and is actually a combination of art, science, and experimentation.

Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner and Ahrefs to conduct basic keyword research for your website.

Learn about Google’s algorithms

Google is the most popular search engine and because of this they sort of call the shots when it comes to SEO. So, familiarise yourself with Google Search Essentials (formerly Webmaster Guidelines). Playing by the rules is always going to be more effective than trying to game the system. Grey and black hat SEO as it’s commonly referred to, oftentimes results in penalties and bans. So, stick to the rules.

Now the boring part, your CV.

Don’t overcomplicate your CV. Keep it concise, and no more than two pages. Be sure to highlight your website and discuss what you’ve been doing in terms of developing your skills and knowledge. Make sure to replace you “fluffyk869@hotmail.com” email as well. Make sure it’s professional…

Start applying for roles

Look at agencies, in-house roles, and recruiters. Your best route would be marketing agencies however as they tend to work with a wide array of clients and industries. This will enable you to fast-track your experience and gain additional perspectives on what works and doesn’t.

Persevere

Getting your first job in any field isn’t easy. And, because you’re applying for niche roles in SEO, you’ll potentially be up against other individuals who have focussed in on SEO as well. So, it’s important to preserve and continue to learn, work on your website and experience, but also keep applying for roles.

We’ve written a couple of other articles on things like freelancing which may be useful. But the ultimately, don’t give up, keep at it, and eventually, you will get your foot in the door.