I can’t remember the exact moment I decided that I wanted to become an SEO writer. It wasn’t a sudden revelation or anything like that, but it was part of a slow and steady realization that this was my passion.
As the years went by, I watched from afar as others made their transitions from boring day jobs into successful freelance careers and then back again!
But for me, things weren’t so simple. My family needed health insurance and other benefits, which meant I had to keep working at my day job as long as possible. However, this didn’t stop me from dreaming about what could be if only I had more time on my hands.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Embrace the journey of SEO writing as a learning experience. |
| Start by understanding the basics of SEO and its significance. |
| Develop your writing skills while integrating SEO techniques. |
| Set realistic goals and milestones for your SEO writing journey. |
| Research keywords relevant to your niche and target audience. |
| Focus on producing valuable, engaging, and user-friendly content. |
| Build a strong online presence by sharing your content on platforms. |
| Continuously analyze and adapt your strategies based on results. |
| Don’t be afraid to experiment and evolve your approach over time. |
| Connect with the SEO writing community for insights and support. |
Create Your SEO Writing Website
Now that you’re familiar with the basics of SEO writing, it’s time to start your journey.
You’ll need a website at least one blog and email marketing software. Your blog is where you will showcase your writing; it can also be used as a portfolio for your other work and expertise. You may want to create additional blogs or websites for specific purposes (e.g., an email list).
The best way to get started is by creating an account with WordPress or Blogger both offer free accounts that are more than adequate for starting!
Building a successful career in SEO writing while managing your current commitments? Our guide on becoming an SEO writer on the side provides valuable insights and strategies to help you achieve your goals without overwhelming yourself.
Reach Out To SEO Agencies For Work
If you’re just starting, the first thing to do is reach out to SEO agencies in your area. Find out what they do and what they’re looking for. Ask them if they’re looking for freelancers and if so, how often.
Also, ask how long it takes from start to finish on a project and how much they pay per project. These are important questions because they will help you figure out whether or not this is something worth pursuing further down the road.
Use Job Boards To Find SEO Writing Jobs
This is the first place that you should look for SEO writing jobs. Job boards are a great way to find freelance work, and many of them will let you sign up for their mailing list so that they can send you new opportunities as soon as they come out.
Some job boards are better than others, though so how do you know which ones are worth your time? Here are some questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not a particular job board is worth signing up for:
Speak With Other SEO Writers At Conferences And Events
If you’re thinking of becoming an SEO writer, the best way to get started is by networking with other SEO writers. Here are a few ways to do that:
Meet other SEO writers at conferences and events. If a conference or event is coming up in your area, make sure to attend it! Meetups are another great way to meet people who share your interests and goals in life.
You can also follow them on social media platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn where they’ll post updates about their work lives and give advice on how others can succeed as well (just be careful not to send them private messages asking for help that could make it seem like you’re desperate).
Writing content naturally is an art that takes practice. Explore our advice on becoming a more natural content writer to enhance your skills and connect better with your audience through authentic content.
Read The Top SEO Blogs
As an SEO writer, your job is to stay up-to-date on all the latest developments in this fast-changing field. The best way to do this is by reading the top SEO blogs that cover everything from keyword research, content creation, and link building.
SEO blogging is a great way for you to learn what works and doesn’t work in your industry. It’s also a good way for you to learn about new trends in the industry and who doesn’t love staying on top of their game?
Take The Right Courses And Learn The Right Skills
Here are some of the most common ways that people learn SEO writing:
Courses and training. There are several courses and training available on the market, both online and in person.
Usually, these courses will teach you how to write for search engines, with some going into specific areas like keyword research or technical writing. Most of them have certification programs you can take part in if your employer requires it or if you want to show off your knowledge (and maybe get a promotion).
Certification programs. If you’re thinking about getting into this field but don’t know where to start, one option is taking an online certification program through one of the leading providers like HubSpot Academy or Copyblogger Bootcamp.
These programs can be completed at your own pace or as fast as possible depending on how motivated (and busy) you are and they’ll give you all the skills needed to become an SEO copywriter!
Keep Your Education Going
Education is a lifelong commitment. You should never stop learning and growing in your field. When you’re just starting, there are plenty of free or low-cost ways to improve your SEO writing skills:
Take courses offered by reputable organizations like HubSpot Academy or The On-Demand University. These courses will help you learn the basics, but they won’t necessarily teach you how to get into the mind of an SEO client or give you real-world experience on how to write headlines that convert.
Find mentors within your industry who have been in business for a while and have seen what works (and what doesn’t). Ask them questions, but don’t be afraid to challenge their ideas if it means helping them grow as well.
Attend conferences and events, especially ones that allow networking with other professionals in the industry.
There’s nothing like meeting someone face-to-face for making meaningful connections!
Boosting website traffic through effective SEO copywriting requires understanding the do’s and don’ts. Our article on SEO copywriting do’s and don’ts provides key insights to help you craft content that attracts and engages your target audience.
Don’t Be Afraid To Start At Low Rates (If You’re Just Starting And Have Little Experience)
If you’re just starting and don’t have a lot of experience, it can be tempting to try to jump in at the top of the market. But not everyone is in a position to do this. If you find yourself in that situation, don’t be afraid to start at low rates if it means getting your foot in the door and gaining experience.
I’ve done this myself many times, and I’ve never had anyone complain about my rates being too low—in fact, most people are grateful for my generosity! And if they were disappointed with me for charging less than expected?
That’s okay they didn’t have any obligation to hire me (and neither do you). You can always raise your rates later on when they see how well you perform, or if they like working with you so much that they want an ongoing relationship with your business.
Ask Clients For Reviews And Testimonials To Boost Your Credibility
Ask clients for reviews and testimonials. This might seem obvious, but it’s a good idea to ask your clients for reviews as soon as you complete their project or service. You can do this by simply saying “I’d love to give you my card with my website address on it if you have time to write a review of how I did on [insert project here].”
Create an email sequence asking people in your network if they know anyone who could recommend you. If your site is new, this is not an easy task but don’t give up!
There are tons of ways to reach out and connect with potential leads, even if the only thing you currently have going for yourself is that awesome personality that everyone loves so much (like yours truly).
Use social media hashtags like #SEOwritingjobs or #SEOcopywriterJobs when posting about jobs available at your company.
It’s no secret that many people are searching social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram for job postings; keep in mind though that many companies now use these platforms exclusively as recruiting tools rather than hiring channels (so unless they’re actively looking at those hashtags too there won’t be much success here).
Build A Solid Portfolio
Your portfolio is the foundation of your business. It’s a collection of your best work, and it can serve several functions:
- Show clients what you’re capable of doing (and how quickly)
- Give potential clients an idea of how much time you’ll spend on their projects
- Demonstrate your expertise in a particular area
- Provide tangible evidence that you’ve completed past projects for past clients who are happy about them
Build Up Your Network Of Contacts (Especially Freelance SEO Writers)
As you work on your SEO writing skills, it’s important to build up your network.
As a freelance SEO writer, I have been able to grow my business by building relationships with other freelancers and companies.
These relationships also help me find new clients. When working with people in this industry, I share information that they may not know or haven’t heard of before. People appreciate it when you share something new with them because it helps them get ahead in their business too!
Even if you’re not a freelancer, networking is still important for any professional who wants to succeed in the field of writing.
By networking at conferences and events like WordCamps or Meetups (in-person), via social media groups on Facebook and LinkedIn (online), and by attending workshops offered by professional organizations like [Society of Professional Journalists](https://www.spj.org/) (SPJ) or [Society of American Business Editors.
Know How To Charge For Your Work, And How To Raise Your Rates In A Way That People Won’t Object To
In the first segment of this article, I talked about how to raise your rates by billing for more hours. Now it’s time for you to take what you’ve learned and apply it to the next step: knowing how much money you should be making from your SEO writing work.
I know what you’re thinking: “How do I know how much money I’m worth?” And that’s a valid question!
But there are ways of figuring this out without having an MBA or doing deep research into the economics of online marketing. There are two things we need to keep in mind when determining our rate: our experience and our skill level.
Experience: We all start somewhere and right now, no one will expect seasoned veterans in the field (or maybe they do). The point is that if you only have a year or two under your belt, don’t expect clients will give up their hard-earned cash without batting an eye at what feels like “too low” pricing.* Skill level:
This is something people always talk about but rarely discuss openly how can someone know if they’re charging enough? Well, we can get a rough idea by looking at other professionals who have similar experience levels as us.*
Don’t be afraid to ask for raises or more work! Sometimes asking for money doesn’t mean being greedy; sometimes it means living up to your potential and asking for what’s rightfully yours.* Don’t let fear keep you from asking for more clients again and again if necessary.*
Start Building An Email List Now
Email marketing is the best way to grow your business and gain customers. In this first section, you’ll learn how to build your email list and why that matters for your business.
Whether you’re a freelance writer looking for new clients or a blogger who wants to start making money from their blog, building an email list of loyal readers is one of the most important parts of running an online business. Why? Because it allows you to connect with potential clients before they even see your work!
If someone subscribes to your newsletter, they’re saying that they like what you have to say (or at least have something worth reading).
That’s awesome because then when it comes time for them to hire someone or purchase something from someone else on the internet, they’ll think about whether or not hiring/buying is worth their time based on what they’ve read in previous newsletters.
Mastering the art of writing like an SEO wizard can greatly enhance your online visibility. Dive into our comprehensive guide on writing like an SEO wizard to learn essential techniques and strategies for optimizing your content.
The Best Time To Start Building Your Seo Writing Business Is Before You Quit Your Day Job, But It’s Never Too Late To Start!
If you’re ready to take the leap and become a full-time SEO writer, then I’m here to tell you that it’s never too late. The best time to start building your SEO writing business is before you quit your day job, but it’s never too late!
The most important thing about growing your business is building a solid foundation and learning the right skills.
You could have all of these things going for you: a great portfolio, some experience in paid writing or content marketing, and contacts at companies where there are opportunities for freelance work (even if they don’t know about it yet).
And even an idea about how much money you want to make per month or year from now but without knowing how much time will be involved with each client project (or even worse…not knowing what “client project” means!), then figuring out what makes sense financially can be overwhelming.
So here are my top three tips on how to get started on building an awesome SEO writing business:
While there are various rules for SEO writing, some are simply ridiculous and counterproductive. Learn about the 15 ridiculous SEO writing rules you should never follow and discover a more effective approach to creating search-engine-friendly content.
Conclusion
As you can see, SEO writing is a fast-growing field. If you’re interested in starting your SEO writing career, there are many resources available to help you get started. The best thing about this job is that it has no age requirement and the only qualifications required are an internet connection and some basic grammar skills!
Further Reading
Beginner’s Journey into SEO: A personal account of a beginner’s experience in the world of SEO, offering valuable insights and lessons learned.
SEO Writing: The Ultimate Guide: A comprehensive guide that covers the fundamentals of SEO writing, providing practical tips and strategies for creating content that ranks.
SEO Writing for Beginners: A beginner-friendly resource that breaks down the essentials of SEO writing, helping newcomers grasp the key concepts.
And here’s the “FAQs” section with questions and answers:
FAQs
What is SEO writing and why is it important?
SEO writing involves creating content that is optimized for search engines while remaining engaging for readers. It’s important because it helps your content rank higher in search results, driving organic traffic to your website.
How can I improve my SEO writing skills?
Improving your SEO writing skills involves understanding keyword research, creating valuable and relevant content, optimizing headings and metadata, and ensuring your content is user-friendly and shareable.
What are the key components of SEO-friendly content?
SEO-friendly content includes well-researched keywords, clear headings and subheadings, relevant images with proper alt text, internal and external links, and a user-friendly structure that encourages readability and engagement.
How does SEO writing differ from traditional writing?
While traditional writing focuses on creativity and storytelling, SEO writing combines creativity with optimization. SEO writing integrates strategic use of keywords, formatting, and structure to enhance search engine visibility without compromising on quality.
Can I learn SEO writing without technical expertise?
Yes, you can learn SEO writing without in-depth technical expertise. While understanding basic SEO concepts is helpful, many resources provide step-by-step guidance that simplifies the process for beginners.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.