Good Enough to SEO?

[staker2]

Hi Everyone:

I have recently taken up freelance writing with an SEO bent. As I get into it, I realize that I have much more SEO skill than I was previously giving myself credit for. I have only done a few websites, but the one website that I worked with was extensive. I have also been around since 1996, and I know what works, what doesn't, what gets you banned, etc.

I do not have a Google engineer on speed dial (I actually heard on a podcast that if you don't have this on your phone you weren't possibly a good SEO expert - which seemed mildly insane to me but you can confirm or deny), I do not have excellent relationships with quality websites that will just drop links on their PR 5 sites at my beck and call, and I don't have a background in computer science - just practical experience.

My main question is at what point can I honestly, 100%, sell my services as an SEO partner? Currently I feel that I can do a good job just looking over a sites structure & content, do redos where necessary, or better yet build a site from the ground up with sound SEO principles in mind. However, there are some people (quite a few on this forum) who are absolutely scary good and I would think much better than I am at this.

I have tested in the top 20% on Odesk for their SEO optimization test, but I have a feeling a monkey pushing a button may be able to do the same. I also conducted constant SEO for 10 years for the main, larger site I worked on that is still propelling it into the top 10 in Google despite a serious lack of updating and maintenance for the two years it has been since I left that company.

Is there a valid, bona fide way I can test my current skills before live-testing on someone else's site, that would be considered a good place to do so by all of you scary good people on here?

Thanks!

[Peter (IMC)]

Wow, you need to start believing in your self a bit more. Don't worry so much about others being better than you. Just learn from those that have something to say that you didn't know yet and share your own knowledge as well when you get the chance. So you may be wrong sometimes, who cares? If you make sure you never make mistakes, you'll have lots of free time on your hands.

You know how good you are. Why are you searching for confirmation? Just start and you'll get even better, if you allow your self.

[erikko]

if i were you, try your seo skills first in your blog and when you think you can, then handle a site. I've also been there I'm a web writer first then became a blogger and now doing SEO

[jabo]

I agree with ^^. blogs are great ways to test your seo skill. But you already had the experience, I think the only thing to do now is to start using this experience. Use it well and apply every bits of knowledge you have acquired in your experience, and gather more tips and techniques from fellow SEOs.

[staker2]

Thanks for the helpful replies - I guess there is no one central place to go for testing, otherwise everyone would be touting it on their websites. Probably a good thing - SEO is such a mutable industry that such a test would be out of date before it went live.

I am doing well enough as a writer right now, but when my projects run out I will definitely do some more work on both my blogs and optimizing a friend's business site for local search. And yes, confidence is something I definitely need to work on, so I will take special note of that very valuable advice and "get going".

Thanks for your input and if anyone has any further advice for someone starting out I'd love to hear it here or via PM.

[ArticleMaster]

We in the industry don't put much stock in SEO/SEM 'certifications', because we know there isn't any magic bullet for either certifications or technique, but your prospective clients may and they are the ones you're trying to sell to. Most clients are so unfamiliar with SEO/SEM and they want some sort of 'assurance' that you know what you're doing before they hire you. Personally, I've been doing this work for 4 or 5 years, but have had trouble selling the service because 1)it's expensive and 2)I'm not as good at my salesmanship as I could be. I've also been looking into testing and
'certification' because I'm convinced it will help sell my services.

My second thought is this: get some hard data on the results of your work to really prove your worth. Ask for and make sure you get analytics and stats reports for those site you've had success with, then put that data into something understandable by your 'average' client.

And lastly, Peter was right: You KNOW how good you are. If you believe in yourself and your skills, it's so much easier to sell what you do.

[mikeb56]

Hi staker2
I am not an SEO by any stretch but I have been doing my own sites since 2001. My SEO experience has been reading articles pertaining to first page placement. Things have changed since I built my first 4 websites. I recently started another online business and created a website for it. I thought I understood how big the online category was. It is much bigger than my initial research results indicated.
The category is pet tags or dog tags. I have a simple site. I haven't expanded it because I have been working to get better indexing with google. The old techniques don't necessarily work today and so I am having a little trouble getting the indexing objective accomplished.
I saw your post and thought that you might like to give my project a try. If your successful I would be happy to write a testimonial to add to your portfolio. My website is Best Friend Tags
You can email me from the website if you are interested.
Thanks
Mike

[Dubbya]

staker2, the proof is in the pudding.

While it may be true that there are several experts around here, the fact that you have a repertoire of proven sites with which you've honed your skills should more than adequately serve as proof of your talents.

Bear in mind that, for every dozen self proclaimed SEO experts, there's probably only one that can back up their claims. (Then again, an expert seldom needs to.)

If you're worried that a lack of certification will lessen your monetary worth or professional credibility with a potential client, again I say, you have a repertoire of proven sites serving as evidence with which you can back up your claims. Put some documentation together that outlines where the site was, what you did and where it is today.

Like "quack Doctors", there are tons of "Certified SEO Experts" with placards, diplomas and paperwork hanging on their walls, none of which serve any real purpose other than to take up wall space.

I don't think there's ever been an SEO that struck it rich overnight. To the contrary, I think most would agree that it's a profession, like any other, that requires time in which to establish oneself, gain experience and build credibility.

Start small, work for reasonable rates on manageable sites and deliver consistently on what you promise. Do these things and you'll be the "Go-To-Guy" in no time.

Last but not least, no matter what you come across in terms of SEO, someone else here will have already conquered it and be willing to share their knowledge and the benefit of their experience. In some instances, that's worth more than any diploma or community college certificate.

.02

[Serrbiz]

You sound qualified.

However, the best proof is in the results themselves. If you can point a prospective client to a specfic keyword and they can find you (or client of yours) from their computer in top 10, or better, SERPS, that will usually sell them.

*Specific keywords should have 1m, plus competitors to significant.

SEO, of course, is just 1/3rd or less of effective eMarketing. Who cares if you get all the traffic and no one calls, or completes a form, or buys a product?

Be ethical, work all phases of eMarketing, and be concerned about your clients ROI. A long term relationship will result and that's better than 100 angry customers.

Best of luck.

Michael.

[vwickam]

Hi Staker2,

If there is one thing that I have learned doing websites over the last 10 years is that most people who claim to be experts at SEO are not!

It sounds like you have a much better idea of how the web works than many of the so called experts who resort to keywords stuffing and deceptive copy.

There is no magic bullet, and experience is more important than any number of certifications. Write good relevant copy, use a pertinent Title and Description - and write about something that people will care about enough to link to.

If you can do those things, any site will be a success.

Keep your chin up; create some examples of your capabilities (using your own blog is a great idea), and don't be afraid to toot your own horn!

Good Luck!

<in your signature only please>

[SemAdvance]

I ranked my own sites first for some competitive keyword terms then offered SEO to prospective clients at a very low fee.

However SEO is good for some businesses but a waste for many others.

That may be the biggest hurdle you will face....knowing when to say to a client, I like you and your money, but you won't like the end result. Turning away those clients is hard to do but at times very important.

#1 rankings are very nice, but when they don't generate leads or drive sales, then it's akin to giving a starving dog a rubber bone.

As for certification, until an accredited college / university has a major course selection in Search Marketing, what most have is a piece of paper from someone, who thought it better to try and teach SEO, than actually practice it.....

Good luck in your quest..

[craigmn3]

The field of SEO is a bit like the Titanic when it's sinking. The playing field is constantly shifting, we're all scrambling and survival is based on equal parts of luck, skill and a willingness to step on the face of someone else to get yourself to the top of the heap.


Get educated on the basics, but never rest on that education. Results will bring you customers, so go out an optimize and get results

[Duncan Pollock]

staker2: The writer in me waves a hat to the one in you. So go for it, says I!
There's no doubt that SEO is important, and the more you know -- and understand -- about it, the better you'll be able to create a website and have it earn a worthwhile appearance in the SERPs.
However, I've long thought that a way with words is no less essential, just as an awareness of salesmanship is a desirable additional quiver to your bow.
Critical to any web success is an ability to realize the need for a Unique Selling Proposition, which is, to my mind at least, a focus that a writer, as much as if not more than anyone else, can capture. In turn, a good website recognizes the WWIIFM that the visitors are interested in learning -- and this, too, is a case of coming up with the right words no less than a well conceived navigation.
In effect it isn't just what you say. It's the way you say it. And this is a separate -- and relatively rare -- attribute among SEO folk.
You have something somewhat unusual to offer, so don't hesitate to make prospects know it.

Duncan

[bj]

staker2, you've received some interesting advice. I think Duncan Pollock's observation about your skillset is especially insightful. I also don't think he takes it far enough.

craigmn3 also points up how competitive the SEO field is.

So, if you take both those opinions into account, there is a third option. Might I suggest that if your strength is in your writing, that you consider doing web copywriting? Though it is also competitive, from what I've seen there are only a handful of people who are truly good at it. The rest I've seen are truly awful. I recently had need of this service, and routinely saw grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, phrasing issues, and an overall feeling of "snake oil salesperson" in the copy that the so called web copywriters used to promote themselves on their own websites, and in the samples of their work they provided. So my feeling is that there is a need. And if you have good writing skills, and an overall knowledge of SEO, this should be within your ability, though it may need a bit of work to develop those particular writing muscles.

I also don't think that the web copywriting field is as prone to rapid change as the SEO field, though there will always be changes in any field. So I think it's a more stable way to make a living. Just my two cents.

[Fitank]

Hi Staker2

I am in much the same position as you are - I have taken the plunge and have my website set up, although in fact my current SEO writing clients have found me by a different route.

I agree it is very scary to offer SEO services, especially when you follow all the chats between pros and they all sound so on the ball and brilliant!

I think the edge you have (and I hope I have) is your writing skills. I've noticed that because you find something easy (like I'm sure you do with writing) it doesn't mean other people do. I have been astounded at the poor quality of some of the web writing out there, but not everyone can put pen to paper - or mouse to keyboard - easily. That is definitely a skill worth having and when you combine that with your obvious SEO knowledge it's a powerful combination. (I'm still scared though.)

Anyway - the very best of luck and here's to being scared but going for it anyway!

best wishes from Italy
Fiona

[kronikmedia]

I think that at the end of the day we are in a result driven market. If you have some experience and above all if you can demonstrate that you have achieved first page rank for even one or two websites whether yours or your clients then you should be able to confidently market your services as an SEO consultant. Of course I am not advising you to be dishonest with your clients. Clients should be able to appreciate whatever experience you have as long as you can show some results that can be measured. Searching for the websites you have optimised on Google and displaying a first page rank is a good start. Back it up with reports generated by statistics software like Google analytics and you should be able to market your services.