The world is growing and evolving digitally. In this digital world, a single click can either boost your decision or make you reconsider it. SEO, aka Search Engine Optimization, is the real game in the digital world that will push your money.
So, if you want to make money and be the architect of this digital era, you are at the right place. Search engine optimization skills will open multiple doors to your success. You will know how the search engine works and what is most crucial.
This article will guide you about the depth of search results optimization skills from its basics. What are an SEO freelancer’s responsibilities? Which skills do you need to learn, and how do you get your first client? You will be guided in every aspect related to skill.
What Does an “SEO” Freelancer Do?
An SEO professional is a person who optimizes web content and creates ways to engage an audience. Multiple strategies and methods are used to rank the website on the search engine. The ranking of website on hard keywords is actually the skill of these professionals. That’s the whole story.
An search engine optimization is not a single skill but a set of skills with multiple responsibilities. Those responsibilities are mentioned below, along with their actual work.
1. Keyword Research
Content writing for a website is uploaded, and ranking depends on keywords. Therefore, finding the right keywords that target the customers and make your website rank is important.
As an SEO freelancer, you need to do in-depth keyword research based on your niche for your website.
2. On-page Optimization
Setting up the front page content the user can access is on-page. Keyword incorporation, Image alt text, title tags, meta descriptions, internal links, and much more are included in On-Page Optimization. Google and Bing love well optimized page with white hat techniques.
3. Off-page Optimization
Off-page is like a back-end of website rankings. It includes stats, strategies, and analysis that can increase the website’s growth and allow it to rank high on Google and other search engines. It has guest posting, backlinks, and social media marketing. In other words, off-page optimization means building authority and trust of the website.
4. Technical SEO
As the name suggests, technical SEO means fixing technical errors on a website like page speed, cache, cookies, programing bugs etc. As an SEO service provider, it’s your responsibility to identify these issues and solve problems that are causing hindrance in search engine crawling. It includes increasing website speed, reducing page load time, improving the responsiveness of mobile, and resolving the issues of crawlers.
5. Tracking and Analysis
Uploading is not only enough for website ranking, but keeping the track record of each metric is also important. It will help you grow your website in every way and monitor where it needs improvement.
6. Client Communication and Reporting
As an SEO freelancer, you need to update your client’s progress on whether the site is growing or not. A proper discussion will lead you to create strategies and address the potential concerns of the website.
Skills You Need to Become an SEO Freelancer
As mentioned above, web page optimization is not a single skill but a bunch of skills. It requires communication, technical, and management skills in one go. Your communication skills will help you grab multiple projects, while your technical skills will lead the sites simultaneously.
Multiple skills that you will need as an SEO freelancer are mentioned below.
1. SEO Knowledge
As an SEO freelancer, you must have all the essential information related to keyword research, on-page, off-page, and technical SEO, along with the strategies to grow the website.
2. Analytical Skills
Analytical skills are another important one for SEO freelancers. It will help you grow the website with the latest trends and engage the audience with the uploaded content.
Google Console, Analytics, and multiple tools can help track websites’ records and performance.
3. Communication Skills
While connecting with your clients worldwide, it’s crucial to enhance your communication skills. This way, you can engage with the clients and discuss the performance of their website along with the recommendations.
4. Project Management
SEO is a high-paying skill, and your project management skills will help you to manage multiple websites. Your commitment to deadlines, up-to-date trends, and resources will help you grow in this field.
5. Adaptability and Continuous Learning
SEO trends and updates change with every Google update. You need to stay updated with each trend to understand the algorithm and rank the website with the industry.
6. Technical Proficiency:
As an SEO freelancer, you must know the basics of developments like HTML, NLP and many others. These high-paying skills require technical knowledge to rank well on Google pages.
How to Become an SEO Freelancer in 7 Steps
To become an SEO freelancer, you need to learn skills, platforms to sell your skills, and communication stats to make yourself top-rated. So, start becoming an SEO freelancer with our seven-step guide.
These steps will help you in your growth journey and give you a seamless pathway.
1. Become an SEO Expert
The first thing is to get skills from any learning platform. Learn SEO in depth to make your roots in it. Stay updated with trends and Google algorithms and attend multiple courses and webinars. Get some low-cost projects to get hands-on experience and skill enhancement.
2. Find Your Niche
You can’t accomplish the whole SEO at once. Therefore, it’s better to be an expert in only one domain. Initially, you might find it interesting, but as soon as you learn, you will see a river of knowledge that can confuse you. So, choose a niche you want to be an expert in.
Niche-specific SEO services will also help you find some clients. You can get a master’s in the areas below.
- On-Page SEO: Working on on-page SEO, you will work with the front-page stuff, like content, meta description, image alt text, and internal links.
- Off-Page SEO: If you offer off-page services, you have to build the website’s credibility by making backlinks for the site.
- Technical SEO: Here, you will be responsible for fixing technical issues of the site, for example, website speed, etc.
- Local SEO: As an SEO freelancer, you will optimize the client’s store perfectly.
3. Grow Your Network
Being an SEO freelancer doesn’t mean you have to struggle alone. It’s better to stay active in the same community you choose your service from. Your network will help you get clients and build your online presence.
4. Create a Professional Website
A portfolio is a must to prove your skills. It will help you in building credibility on freelance platforms. An SEO freelancer must have a professional website to present your work expertise and services.
Your website must consist of an About page, a services section, portfolio details, reviews and client attestation, your contact information, and a section for blogs.
5. Build Your Personal Brand
When you think your work is enough to get clients, reach the potential platforms and set your profile to start hunting high-ticket clients. Set your personal profile as a personal brand to reach users and multiple professional people. LinkedIn, Google my business and .com domain for your services are mandatory for your personal branding.
6. Implement the Right Pricing Strategy
Set your pricing plan because, being an SEO freelancer, your pricing must be compatible with the services you provide to your clients.
If you are a beginner, set your pricing low to get some work. As soon as you get work, gradually increase your prices and start growing.
7. Establish Your SEO Toolkit
Find and use the tools that work for you and you have hands-on experience with them. The tools must be efficient in keyword research and performance checkers and give insights into your website’s health.
Your tool box should have SEMrush or Uber suggest, LSI finder, Google Analytics, search console, social media, backlinks, internal links etc. This list keeps on adding new items.
Conclusion
In freelancing, ranking web pages on SERP is a high-paying skill that will set your career and make you a brand. But it takes more work than you think to become an SEO freelancer. It needs patience, consistency, dedication and a whole lot of effort.
Stay connected within your network, post insightful content on professional platforms, and let people know of your skills and services to get referrals and clients. Also, make a professional website to showcase your work and prove your skills.
FAqS – frequently asked questions
What is Content Marketing?
Content marketing is a part of SEO, where the generated content is used to market the company’s services. As an SEO freelancer with expertise in content marketing, you can make the most out of your field and satisfy your clients.
Does Networking help in getting clients?
Absolutely Yes! If your network includes potential people and skilled professionals and you market yourself with suitable themes, Your network will benefit you. It will help you in the form of referrals to get clients and increase credibility.
What are the platforms to work on as an SEO Freelancer?
Being an SEO freelancer, you can make your profiles on Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, and Freelancer. Make sure your profile is optimized, with a professional image and portfolio to showcase your previous work.
