How to become SEO Professional
13.05.2009
Few years back, cool kids used to do hacking; now they do SEO. For the very fact that you are reading my article in my blog, let’s talk about me. When I was a kid, I used to search “how to be hacker”, when I grew up, I searched “how to be seo”.
There are so many valuable resources available online on this topic from some of the top marketing experts. The ones which helped me the most at the time, and are still very useful are:
How to Become an SEO Professional – SEOChat
How do I become SEO - SEOBook
Becoming a Search Engine Optimizer – Job Seekers Advice
Thanks to the marketing Gurus for their time and generosity, for where I am today. I guess this is about time for an updated version of this topic. Let’s start from the beginner level to the advance level…
SEO Associate
Description: This is the entry level SEO with very basic or no knowledge of internet marketing. They can be fresher, and should have some basic knowledge of HTML and how to deal with websites.
Responsibilities:
- Directory submissions
- Blog/RSS Submissions
- Content publishing
- Link requests
Useful Resources:
Directory of over 120,000 directories
Getting listed in DMOZ
List of RSS/Blog Directories
List of CMS
Try Open Source CMS without installing them
Link management and software reviews
Sr. SEO Associate
Description: The individual will have above average HTML knowledge and have a basic understanding of how websites and WWW works. Should be known to basic functionality of search engines and bots.
Responsibilities:
- Onpage optimization
- Link requests (drafting)
- Content Optimization
- Making list of directories to submit
- Basic Keyword Research and Filters
Useful Resources:
Onpage Optimization
How to make link requests
Content Optimization
Free Keyword Research Tools
SEO Engineer
Description: The individual should have good HTML knowledge and good understanding of how websites and WWW works. Should be able to take decisive actions about planning strategies for smaller campaigns. This may include choice of blog posts to be submitted to various Social bookmarking website, making lists of directories to submit a website to, deciding keywords to highlight for onpage optimization, choosing Titles and link text for blog posts etc. Basic knowledge of web analytics and PPC.
Responsibilities:
- Keyword Research
- Basic Competitor Analysis
- SEO campaign management
- Campaign strategy planning
- Finalizing and filtering keywords
- Basic web analytics and site performance optimization
- Basic PPC keyword research, campaign setup and management
- Social Media Optimization
Useful Resources:
Top Free/Paid Keyword Research Tools Reviews
Keyword Research HowTo pdf by Wordtracker
Sorry, couldn’t find any useful article on SEO campaign management. If you know any, please recommend, or else I will write one for you soon.
Planning SEO Strategies
Web Analytics Basics
PPC Basics
Social Media Marketing
Sr. SEO Engineer
Description: The individual should be able to decide strategies for complete campaign. Should have good knowledge of HTML and basic knowledge of other web languages, and should understand the impact and affects of various technologies. Should employ good logic and come up with tailored solutions as per the situation and site. Should have average to good PPC knowledge. Understanding of traditional marketing principles is a plus.
Responsibilities:
- Advanced Keyword Research
- Market Research
- Competitor Analysis
- Email Marketing
- Affiliate Marketing
- PPC strategy planning
- PPC campaign management
- Web analytics analysis
- Usability Optimization
- Social Media Optimization
Useful Resources:
Market Research Tools Comparison
List of Competitor Research Tools
Affiliate Marketing
Free Analytics/Usability Tools
Ideavirus – Viral marketing ebook by Seth Godin
PPC Manager
Description: Should have good knowledge of various PPC management tools like Google Adwords, Microsoft Adcenter, Yahoo Overture etc. Basic knowledge about other ad management tools like OpenX, Google Ads Manager, Doubleclick etc. Should understand the role of web analytics and usability in PPC campaigns.
Responsibilities:
- PPC Keyword Research
- PPC Campaign Structure Implementation
- PPC Campaign Management
- Monitoring Campaigns
- Competitor Monitoring
- Landing Page Optimization
- Usability Optimization
- Ad management
- Analytics Report Generation
Useful Resources:
List of PPC Tools
Google Adwords Learning Center
SEM White Papers by Coremetrics
Business Analyst
Description: Business Analyst takes care of various reporting responsibilities for business operations. They mostly deal in coordinating with different teams to get ensure that deliverables are in time. They analyze various reports and help teams understand them better. They continue to give their inputs to improvise over existing analysis and research infrastructure.
Responsibilities:
- Proficient with MS Excel
- Familiar with Analytics Tools like Webtrends, Google Analytics
- Familiar with Ad management Tools (especially Report generation)
- Familiar with Email and Survey Management Tools
- Familiar with Newsletter Tools
- Good logic to derive various useful graph and comprehend them
- Good presentation skills
Useful Resources:
Web Analytics Comparison
How web analytics softwares work
Ad management software comparison
Internet Marketing Manager
Description: Should have updated knowledge about latest online marketing tools. Should be able to decide long term strategies and have a foresight about market trends. Ability to manage various teams working on various projects and to provide useful feedback to all of them. Should be able to define deadlines and strategies to meet these deadlines.
Responsibilities:
- Managing many teams and defining goals and deadlines for their projects
- Coordinating with sales teams to cut new deals with potential prospects
- Defining strategies for business development and inhouse branding
- Offering consulting services to clients
- Reviewing reports made by different teams for the clients
- Designing report templates
- Making infrastructure more efficient by employing latest tools and techniques
- Hiring and Training of staff
Useful Resources:
How search engines work
Search Engine Relationship Chart
Ultimate Marketing Resource – I might be biased, but I recommend this
I hope not to be criticized for using too many “shoulds” above 
. I will keep updating the resources links to keep them up-to-date and will post a changelog for your convenience below.
Great Work keep it up, Nice article, Very Helpful
Hi,
Nice Article. You have mixed both SEO and PPC. As per my knowledge is concern, SEO and PPC both are different. It would be better to hire a SEO Manager for SEO tasks and PPC Manager for PPC tasks. Why because the guy who concentrated on both SEO & PPC, may not have complete Knowledge in both. Of course few guys are there, who were working on both, but they are not up to the mark.
Thanks
Sankar
@Pritesh… thanks
@Sankar… generally people who work as Jr. SEO executives later become PPC managers, because someone would hardly rely on a PPC newbie to spend their money.. and my intention to write PPC under SEO profiles was to ensure maximum chances of cracking the job.. for e.g. I was once rejected for an SEO job because the other guy was Adwords Certified…
Hey there, Wassup Sandeep remember me.. this is Amol… nwayz your post is really superb keep going ….
iamol
Interesting!
I feel like there is a scarcity of good marketing today. Good marketing means which can convert the leads into sales. The only marketing that has moved me in the last couple of years is Social Media Optimization.
@Edward… very true.. as I read somewhere, “nowadays, making prospects is just not good enough, we must make relations”
i want to become seo can u help me
professional
I will be more than happy to do so… you can start with reading the above article