Comments on: The SEO Career Kickstart Guide : How to get a Job in SEO

By: MikeM

MikeM — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 22:57:34 +0000

Excellent information and great links too – well researched.
I moved into IT just over two years ago having switched from a career in a real hard-nosed, competitive sales industry. I managed to get two MS certifications and work in a support based role – I can’t stand it! I feel totally out of place amongst geeks who posses no social skills whatsoever.

My hobby is writing and I’ve been published several times – I also have blogs and sites and I’m trying to learn SEO (this site will definately help). I spent over 10 years in a customer facing business where personality opened the door for you. Here’s my dilema: At 41 years of age, am I too old to look for work in SEO? Is it a young person’s business when starting out?

By: Nadeem Anjum

Nadeem Anjum — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:52:12 +0000

Well done. You have created a timeless post, this is a high quality resource for beginners in SEO. I agree on many points, especially understanding the basics and then practicing it – experience is the best way and will be a positive point to an employer.

I wish I had found this a lot sooner, although I got lucky anyway! People shouldn’t be wary of taking a “lower end job” in an SEO agency, if you have the knowledge and passion you will quickly rise up.

By: craig

craig — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:46:40 +0000

did you ever get your foot in the door and get a job in seo?

By: Connect Free

Connect Free — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:04:15 +0000

Very useful information and definitely still valid in 2010.

Thanks for the information.

By: richardbaxterseo

richardbaxterseo — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 16:24:38 +0000

Thanks for your comments – it’s good to hear your feedback

By: SEO Manchester

SEO Manchester — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:43:41 +0000

Good write-up and good post, its important for people to bear this sort of stuff in mind when conducting SEO-we are on the top of an SEO boom right now in the UK and the above mentioned will be extremely useful for any beginner and intermediate SEO in the game today.

By: SEO Manchester

SEO Manchester — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:03:16 +0000

This is a great post to give people information on SEO. I’m glad you have includede SEOMoz becasue this is an excellent place to get info on SEO

By: Al Mackin

Al Mackin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 18:59:22 +0000

Everyone who works in SEO will, at one point or another, have to work with a client. Some roles involve daily conversations, so one of the key things that we look for in a candidate is someone who can explain things clearly, be open and honest and who has an understanding of commercials. It doesn’t come naturally with a lot of SEO’ers so it’s one key skill that could help you stand out from the crowd when you get in to an interview.

By: Tag44

Tag44 — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:21:57 +0000

Nice post, very useful information on SEO and career in SEO. Thanks for sharing such information with all of us.

By: themoan

themoan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:30:45 +0000

Excellent article Richard, especially as this is pretty much how I got started in SEO. F.A.O Mit & Mark - the key is to keep going, all the basic pointers are detailed as above but be careful over the fact that some websites, like some Media companies, can be out of date regarding SEO techniques so its best to search around (try job sites such as Total Jobs). Web Confs has a good SEO quiz to test you as you learn or you can run the risk of continually p@ssing in the tent.

By: Mit Saipen

Mit Saipen — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:35:55 +0000

Hello Richard,
First of all I congratulate you for this awesome article targeted for SEO newbies.I have very keen interest to learn SEO and would like to build up my career in SEO very soon. Please suggest me the main factors that must I follow to strengthen my SEO career. What are the job roles available in SEO industry ? What are the career options available after one completes the SEO training ? Which country provides better job opportunities in SEO sector ? How abt the salary outlook in SEO ?

Thanks & Regards,
Mit Saipen

By: SEO Manchester

SEO Manchester — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:57:08 +0000

Thanks Nate.

By: Nate Wood

Nate Wood — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:05:49 +0000

There’s plenty of tips around on the net and many dedicated resources. To be honest most of us in this industry learn by speaking with peers and generally trying stuff out, the same way that you have with SEO. You might even benefit from taking some training in PPC with a reputable training program.

Sign up and engage in forums and groups wherever you can. Post questions and ask for opinions. SEOers are a vain bunch, and like to demonstrate mastery. You can learn from this. Same for PPC. Attend conferences if possible and affordable. Lots of good info for the beginner is given away there. If you can’t attend, wait for the slew of blog posts that come out after an event.

By: SEO Manchester

SEO Manchester — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:45:14 +0000

Hi Nate, thanks for your advice.

I have dabbled on a small scale with PPC without too much success. I suppose that as it appears to be a fast way to lose your shirt if you’re not careful that I’ve not given it much priority and stuck to SEO methods of generating organic traffic.

Can you recommend any resources for learning PPC?

By: Nate Wood

Nate Wood — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 09:25:39 +0000

Mark,

Can I suggest spending some time getting to grips with PPC also? Having both SEO and PPC skills is a real asset, and most of the SEO jobs out there right now kinda want this duality. Core SEO is still a must, but having some solid knowledge of PPC can really add that little bit extra. Plus all the skills you’ve picked up for SEO are applicable to some degree. It’s a natural extension and demonstrate a further passion for search engine marketing.

Nate

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:10:32 +0000

Richard, I really appreciate your very fast response.

I’ve not even managed to get to the interview stage yet! I’m 49 and have been teaching myself SEO. It really started to pee me off that I was being knocked back all the time. My seomanchester.org.uk site was a bit of a challenge I set myself to see how well I could rank a new site against the SEO professionals in Manchester. Sour grapes I know but it’s helped!

I’ll just keep learning and doing my own thing. I’m going to concentrate on building my own niche affiliate websites.

I’ve subscribed to your feed and will be regularly checking on your site. I’m really glad I stumbled across it this evening.

By: richardbaxterseo

richardbaxterseo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:44:32 +0000

@Mark – Keep trying. You’re obviously headed in the right direction – I’d suggest two things.

1) ask for feedback after your interviews. What areas could you improve in? Take everything they say boldly – some of the feedback might be hard to hear, but could really help you.

2) Look in areas outside of Manchester for work. Have you considered applying for jobs further south?

Hope that helps and good luck

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:29:08 +0000

Richard, this is a goldmine of SEO resources.

Everything I know about SEO has been self-taught over the last 6 months. I’ve looked for trainee SEO jobs and applied for a few vacancies where experience has been stipulated and got nowhere.

It seems really difficult to get your foot in the door.

By: DaDa

DaDa — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:56:56 +0000

Gaz – i started in seo on £20k (i had done a few freelance sites by then and got a clothing retailer into google top 10 for competitive phrases) and a year later left and went to another employer and got 28k.

By: richardbaxterseo

richardbaxterseo — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:44:02 +0000

@Matt

Thanks Matt, I’ve seen the video – can’t believe I left it out! I’ll add when I get a second.