SEO Specialist

This is an Intern position. It offers free training from IBM Certified SEO Professional who has a MBA in eCommerce Management, and pays a small stipend. One of the challenges in obtaining a high paying job in this profession is that specialized training and experience are required. With us, you can not only receive free training, but gain valuable experience as well.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a fast-growing field which has spawned many types of professionals over the last decade or so. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialists is but one.

SEO Specialist: Job Description

The first thing you should know is that what an SEO specialist does can vary from company to company. Following is an in-depth job description that details the majority of skills that are required by De Luz Farms & Nursery for this profession.

“Hard” Skills Required to be an SEO Specialist

• Website Analysis: Review and analyze our websites and stores for areas that need to improved, deleted, revamped, etc.; Prepare detailed SEO strategy reports.
• Keyword Analysis, Research & Copywriting: In-depth knowledge of keyword research. This includes knowing how to identify the least expensive, yet most profitable keywords for our sites – whether we are running a pay per click (PPC) campaign, or want to improve our organic search results.
• SEO Copywriting: This includes the aforementioned keyword research, as well as SEO writing guidelines, eg, where to place keywords in copy so that it gets the most SE traffic, how to write effective headlines and how to write effective call-to-action statements.
• SEO specialists are also responsible for creating (or overseeing the creation) of original SEO content for our sites, in addition to implementing off-page SEO content strategies like coding (eg, when and how to effectively use header tags (ie, H1, H2, H3)).
• Search Engine Guidelines: Keeps abreast of white hat and black hat tactics so as not to run afoul of search engine guidelines.
• Liaison: SEO Specialists liaise with many different departments and professionals, inside our company, with the Marketing Director and with independent contractors.
• For example, they may work with our Marketing Director to strategize ways to improve and track site performance; they may compile reports for our company’s management; and they may consult with independent web designers to improve the navigation of our sites so as to enhance its search engine ranking.
• Technology Skills: A minimum of 1-3 years of web experience is required. Specific skills include knowledge of HTML; CSS; blogging platforms like wordpress; more advanced programming languages as needed; and MS Office.
• The SEO Specialist will also be expected to know the “language of SEO,” eg, organic search, PPC marketing, CTR, CPC, SEM, ROI, keyword density, long-tail keywords, etc.

"Soft” Skills Required to be an SEO Specialist

• Communication Skills: As indicated above in the “Liaison” section, an SEO specialist interacts with many different parties, hence, they must have excellent communication skills (written and verbal).
• Self-Starter: As the position entails so many elements, an SEO Specialist should be a self starter; someone who doesn’t require handholding. They should be able to assess a situation, develop a plan, get approval and run with it.
• Analytical Thinker: Piggybacking on the last skill, it’s imperative that SEO Specialists possess critical thinking and analytical skills. They should be able to readily identify problems and formulate practical solutions.
• Cool Headed: The ability to work well under pressure; keep a cool head and demeanor.
• Prior Experience: Many firms want you to have previous experience in this position, however if you can demonstrate that you possess all the above, you should be able to land a position as an SEO Specialist.

Salary: How Much Do SEO Specialists Make?

This varies according to region, skills possessed, previous experience, company and previous salary. Following are some “average” salaries listed for SEO Specialists from randomly chosen cities across the country. [Source Used: Indeed.com salary calculator].

• Phoenix, AZ: $47,000 (Note: Average SEO Specialists salaries for job postings in Phoenix, AZ are 17% lower than average SEO Specialist salaries for job postings nationwide.)
• New York, NY: $69,000 (Note: Average SEO Specialists salaries for job postings in New York, NY are 23% higher than average SEO Specialist salaries for job postings nationwide.
• Detroit, MI: $54,000 (Note: Average SEO Specialists salaries for job postings in Detroit, MI are 3% lower than average SEO Specialist salaries for job postings nationwide.)
• Jackson, MS: $63,000 (Note: Average SEO Specialists salaries for job postings in Jackson, MS are 12% higher than average SEO Specialist salaries for job postings nationwide.)
• Atlanta, GA: $58,000 (Note: Average SEO Specialists salaries for job postings in Atlanta, GA are 5% higher than average SEO Specialist salaries for job postings nationwide.)
• Nashville, TN: $47,000 (Note: Average SEO Specialists salaries for job postings in Nashville, TN are 16% lower than average SEO Specialist salaries for job postings nationwide.)
• Los Angeles, CA: $54,000 (Note: Average SEO Specialists salaries for job postings in Los Angeles, CA are 3% lower than average SEO Specialist salaries for job postings nationwide.)

Chicago, IL: $55,000 (Note: Average SEO Specialists salaries for job postings in Chicago, IL are 1% lower than average SEO Specialist salaries for job postings nationwide.)
• Observation: What really stood out to me is how relatively well this position pays no matter where you live ($63,000 in Jackson, Mississippi – really!) Remember, you only need one to three years experience; not bad.

Career Prospects for SEO Specialists

The job outlook for SEO professionals is rosy. Proof?

In 2009, a corporate recruiter in the DC area said that a whopping 80% of the openings she sees are Web-related in some way, such as programming, SEO, copywriting, etc.

The number of job listings for these type of SEO professionals has tripled in just the last five years.

The Bottom Line on SEO Specialists

In the Clickz.com article, SEO Generalists vs. SEO Specialists, Sheri Thurow summed up this profession in a nutshell when she writes:

[An SEO Specialist delivers a] . . . Web site that meets user goals, business goals, and search engine goals. A truly great SEO professional is a person who can apply his or her skills to attain all of those goals.

Freedom Writer

The popularity of the Internet opened the door of opportunity to many established and aspiring writers alike. When writing for the Web, it is the content that matters. Writing for the Web is very different from writing for print. Web visitors are quickly scrolling through sites seeking specific information and will not always take the time to read every word. Traditional writing techniques and standards are less of a priority, as multiple headings, bullets and lists are needed to aid scanning readers.

Writers not writing for a living often find enjoyment and small payouts from Web sites seeking material to raise their sites higher in the search engine rankings. Although this is a legitimate practice, the writing being published on the Web can often be less than professional. This lack of professionalism distorts the line between qualified and amateur writers. Writing standards are often not the highest priority as Web sites seek to drive traffic to gain advertising exposure.

Also, it seems as if readers are not as concerned about the writing quality, as long as they find a relevant account on a particular topic.

Writers’ advocates believe the Internet has led to a lower level of writing standard. While new modes of communication through the Internet are constantly advancing and changing, the issue of writing quality questions the very definition of writing in the Internet age.

At De Luz Farms & Nursery, writing standards are their highest priority, so is professionalism. Yes, they seek material that will raise their sites higher in the search engine rankings, and yes, they want their articles to be relevent. Their goal, however is to have articles so well written that readers will consistantly come back for more, and that their readers will have a difficult time finding anything better elsewhere.

If your writing skills are proven to be exceptional, you will be invited to partner with us on your chosen project.  A partnership will allow you to earn income that can help you reach financial freedom. You will then truly become a "Freedom Writer". BTW, one of my favorite movies of all time is Freedom Writers, starring Hillary Swank (the Million Dollar Baby). If you watch it, you'll be glad you did. ~ Don Cook, Marketing Director (and Writer)

To become a writer for De Luz Farms & Nursery is easy.  Simply send us an Email request. You will then be provided with a list of projects. You get to decide what project you want to work on. Afterwards, you will be provided with a list of topics for that particular projcet. You get to decide which topic you want to write about.

You do the research and write an article about your chosen topic. You then submit your article for evaluation. If accepted, you will be asked for your BIO and references. If eveything checks out, you will be rewarded with an Independent Contractors Agreement which will allow you to earn approximately 4 times the industry average from your writing.