Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
the truth is the real guys who can drive traffic, and get you high in the SERPS do NOT like being called that.
Its one of those "Buzz words" which the media like to use, and then before you know it, Auntie Margaret says she is a SEO consultant.
I get calls from would be SEOs every day, most do NOT know the first thing about optimisation, in fact a lot still think there are 300,000 search engines out there.
and as for it being easy, well try it and see.
Shak
(disclaimer: I am NOT a SEO or whatever they call them, however having worked with a number of Traffic Drivers gives me the right to post the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth)
So what are the skills necessary to be a paid SEO consultant?
Money is always nice, a steady flow of money is even better IMO
If you can get the top positions and stay there for a decent length of time then you can call yourself anything you like I imagine ;)
if you get to the top of the serps, its NOT what you call yourself.
instead, its what all around you (including your competitors) are calling YOU :)
Shak
instead, its what all around you (including your competitors) are calling YOU
Spammer isn't it?
That's probably one of their lighter choice of terms.
When the competitors are at webmaster boards complaining about the spam "at the top of the SERPs" then you end up a spammer ;)
Must be tough at the top :)
Like those involved in the oldest profession.
To your customer, make 5 minutes seem like 5 hours.
.
Also, I think that seo is indeed a bit difficult. In some cases there's a degree of subtlety needed in the way a page is seeded.
If you have a widget page, and your client's marketing guru has every word in the universe in those pages but "widget," you now have the task of introducing it into the copy in a way that rings the search engine's bells, but doesn't set off alarms.
Tip it too much, and your page may not rank. Not work it enough, and your page may not rank. Then there are other factors to consider. Like a link campaign.
I loathe conducting link campaigns: It's a lot of butt-kissing with a low percentage of success. Even if you're getting paid by the hour, kissing butt is unglamorous work.
Still, it beats digging a ditch.
It seems that all anyone needs to do is read through these forums.
No1. if you think it is easy then you should'nt even think about doing it!
No2. it is time consuming when you first begin, but it is worth the long term investment.
No3. you need to learn the skills and keep up to date with them.
No4. you need great sales and marketing skills too!
No4. learn business administration.
No5. go and work for a SEO and REALLY learn the business because it will always be around and you will always earn a good living from it. But only when you are prepared to INVEST your time and effort in doing it right.
Easy, my foot!
Tony Perry
1. Being here (youre off to a good start)
2. Decent web design knowledge (you will not have to design website, but you will have to tinker with them)
3. An understanding of marketing (its one thing getting the traffic in, but converting the sales is another. You can convince clients all they need is the traffic, but at the end of the day, the chances are they dont have what it takes to convert web sales - thats why theyre paying you)
4. A good understanding of how the search engines work (ie the relationships they have with each other - who feeds data to who)
5. Good sales skills (you need to "woo" your clients)
6. Determintation (you will not always achieve what you aim to - you need to persevere)
7. Time or money (if you are going to freelance you need the time to do it, or the money to support yourself while you do it)
8. Literacy skills (you really need to be able to write good content. If you can include your keywords in content that is useful for your visitors then youre sorted! Also you need to be able to convince other webmasters to link to you)
Eh...im out of ideas..anyone?
JOAT :)
Are you involved in SEO?
Design concepts - most importantly site navigation, and usability.
Primary marketing concepts - issues involving awareness, interest, motivation, and action. (SEO really only accomplishes the first two - but site owners really need the latter two). If you develop yourself to accommodate all, your unique selling points sets you apart from average SEO's and/or amateurs.
W3C Standards - an definitive understanding of W3C is mandatory in my book.
Ethics - understanding what not to do and avoiding these techniques "at all costs" produces long-term fruition.
What SEO skills do I need? where do i go to learn these skills?
Every piece of knowledge or skill you need to understand, know, or learn can be acquired right hear. Site Search helps alot.
I can't find much info online other than these forums.
Asking lots of specific questions (under the "widget" frameworks) works quite well.
However... like most anything else anyone can learn and do the basics for just about anything.
There is a big distinction between an expert and a professional. The professional continues the learn all the time, the expert knows all and quickly becomes stagnet -- working on principles that are obsolete.
Good post JOAT! ;)
[edited by: fathom at 4:21 am (utc) on Dec. 21, 2002]
Most of my clients are Web agencies. I work as a consultant for them. Wich means a lot more than nodding at corporate meetings! It is surprising what amount of elbow grease is needed to cut your way in, when you are some 'outsider' of a team...
Your credibility is based on results. You where hired to give results. Your responsability is to fullfill the task. This is not as simple it can seem in some corporate environnements.
Here is a link to super dooper thread about it.
[webmasterworld.com...]
Enjoy!
