27 replies to this topic

[seo_bright]

Hi,
I have been working in this field for nearly three years. A company recruited me and some others and we were given some basic training and put to the task of seo for new site. At present this is the third company I am working with. I dont do freelance projs so the projs given to me is all the experience I gain. So it looks like I have not more than 6 - 8 potential projs and in some cases the websites have been either closed or have been redesigned spoiling all my seo efforts in it.

In such a scenario, I just ask myself whether SEO alone is sufficient to gain a living for me. Or like I should learn something related like designing, web programming etc. I have once gone to interview where they told that pure seo alone is insufficient and that you have to learn the web design part also. As of now since my experience is in only seo and work as seo analyst in a firm I am confused whether I should rely on this alone or go in for other related/unrelated areas. I am masters in computers applications so I have basic programming and html knowledge.

Any advice please?

[Jill]

I think there are many companies out there that are looking for, or will be looking for an in-house SEO expert. So I think if you get plenty of experience, especially within a company, you'd probably have plenty of jobs to choose from.

[dicksonree]

SEO is a good career. But you need to be an all round SEO. Since you have the basics of HTML, that can be a good start for you to go into web design.

But if you want to be a successful SEO, keep reading! Be updated on almost every aspect of SEO. You need to regulary visit the forums like this one.

Its through these platforms that you will learn that some guys earn only through SEO!
If you exhibit your expertise, they could pick you up!

[mcanerin]

SEO alone can get you a low paying job doing link building, etc, but there are so many other things that SEO's encounter that only knowing SEO isn't good enough, IMO, unless you know SO much that you are a renowned expert or something.

I'm constantly running into problems with server configurations, for example. Bad robots.txt, DNS settings, redirects, etc. So you need server knowledge.

I'm also constantly being asked if a script is spider friendly. That's pretty easy to tell, but if it isn't then I get asked how to fix it. Some scripting knowledge (or at least a library of snippets) is needed.

Also, if you don't understand HTML code, it's often really hard to figure out what is wrong with a page that isn't displaying properly. I've had issues where the server includes where the issue, but unless you looked at and understood the code, there would have been no way to figure out what was happening.

Yes, you can only do SEO, but IMO being a one trick pony isn't the best career plan, unless you are really, really good.

I only do SEO, but I also know the basics of scripting, database design, HTML, server configuration, etc. I might not be an expert in all those fields, but I know enough to fix/advise on most problems, and I know when to call an expert. IMO, you need at least that level of knowledge, honestly.

If all you did was a single trick, like cloaking or keyword research, then you could only know a specific area, but organic SEO is about making the SITE the best it can be, not the SEO, which means you are best served by knowing how to make a site great, as well as being great at the SEO-specific stuff.

My opinion,

Ian

[Raphael]

Since good SEO touches on all aspects of web page serving, from server setup to client-side scripting, you have to at least have a grasp of the concepts involved in all of that. No, you don't have to have the same skills as a server admin in order to be a kick-ass SEO, but it does help to understand what a 404 result code is, and why it's different than a 200 result code and why that's important to a search engine spider. (for example)

[mcanerin]

You know, I re-read your post and it appears you have been trained as a working SEO - that being the case, the above post still applies for being an independent consultant, but with a work history (assuming you have good references, etc) you should be able to get a job as an SEO nowadays, if you are living in the right area (or willing to move there, or can find a telecommute-friendly employer).

But I still recommend becoming conversant in other web related technologies - it makes you a better SEO, honest.

Ian

<added> Yeah - like Raphael said!

[MCinfo]

SEO pro's are going to be included in the future for big projects next to the coder, designer, project leader. Real big webdesign firms are also about to hire inhouse SEO pro's so that might be something to look into.

[robmarketshare]

IMO you need to combine your SEO and webuilding knowledge with a good understanding of marketing and communications too.

If you're optimising, it is not a technical trick; you will need to understand your clients goals (and even help him to define them in many cases). In a lot of projects the main people you talk with, will be of marketing origin, and you will need to talk their language.

(If SEO was purely technical a program could do the trick as well.)

[seo_bright]

Thank you guys for taking the time inspite of the Christmas and New Year Holidays to guide me. As you said I have to learn HTML coding as well as basic scripting and server knowledge and basic html designing also would be good. So that in any sort of situation I may have a clue of where it went wrong. Can these basic knowledge be gained by studying tutorials online or should I go out and do a course and gain real time experience?

[qwerty]

Tutorials are good, and so are classes, but actually getting in there and doing it is the only way to really learn it.

[Jill]

Can these basic knowledge be gained by studying tutorials online or should I go out and do a course and gain real time experience?

There aren't too many courses that could really give you the information you would need. However, our twice a year High Rankings® Seminar would probably be extremely helpful to you. Next one will probably be in March some time.

[high85]

I think you really have to learn at least a little about everything. You may be the world's greatest link builder but it would really help to learn about how to find the best keywords for example.

I agree that a one trick pony won't get you far and I would even go so far to say that SEO is moving very fast making some aspects obsolete within months. That said, your specialty may disappear from the "important" list at any time.

[Bri]

I work for a company as SEO alone with two other designers we are creating a new brand in travel which markets a destination. we specialize in italy and egypt travel. Some people ask me "Do you find enough work?" My response is that there is so much more than what people think there is to SEO. We are really focussing on conversions as well. climbing the search rankings is only part of the battle. we are very much interested with learning what people are doing on our site keeping them there or coming back and following our "Call to action" Search Engine Opitmizing isn't just getting #1 rankings, it is also getting people to click on your site and stay there. if they don't like what they see, whats the point of being #1?

[high85]

"...Call to action" Search Engine Opitmizing isn't just getting #1 rankings, it is also getting people to click on your site and stay there. if they don't like what they see, whats the point of being #1?

Correct! It's about marketing! The website at the #1 spot that happens to look like a $1/hour web designer built it will not get nearly as many inquiries as a professional designed site at the #2 spot.

[dbmasters]

I have seen a lot more interest from companies in hiring designers and developers that have SEO as one of their skills...it seems many more companies are starting to realize it as a necessary skill to have on a team, but I have not seen many companies yet that want to hire exclusively and SEO with only a couple exceptions. I dunno how many can make it as ONLY an SEO, though I am sure some can, but it is certainly a worthwhile skill to have as a compliment to any existing related skillset.