SEO in Freelancing: If you’ve spent a lot of time online, especially if you’ve written content online, you’ve probably come across the word stale. Many buyers and sellers cite SEO knowledge or skills as a requirement when looking for writers for their blogs or websites.

But what is SEO and how can you as a freelancer bring the right skills to your application? Why do companies and clients need dedicated SEO writers? How do you enter this world and become a freelance SEO?

In this article, we’ll discuss what SEO is, what freelance SEO is, and how you can pursue this industry part-time or full-time. If you’re looking for a quick way to find out how to become an SEO expert, then you’ve come to the right place.

What is SEO in Freelancing?

SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is part of a broader digital marketing strategy that involves updating content published online so that it is easily accessible when using search engines.

You may not be familiar with using search engines like Google or Bing. People use it all the time to find information. The search engine uses a complex algorithm to provide, in order of importance, the best recommendations for websites that contain the desired content.

When you write an article or create content that you plan to publish online, you want it to rank high enough for internet users to find it easily – to improve your organic traffic results. The problem is that there is already so much information on the internet that what you post may be limited. SEO is the way you make your article or website visible to users.

When the user’s search is complex and continuous, algorithms decide what content to return. Because of this, a successful SEO campaign requires quite a bit of skill and expertise. For this reason, companies are willing to pay freelancers who specialize in navigating websites and improving search engine rankings.

What is the Job of an SEO Freelancer?

An SEO freelancer creates and produces content for the web. In concrete terms, different strategies are used to create content to appear in the top search results. Their goal is to encourage people to visit the site.

Basic SEO techniques freelancers use include:

• Keyword Research: Put, keyword research is the process of identifying search queries that bring searchers back to your website. Once you’ve identified the keywords or phrases you’re using, you can add those specific words and phrases to the title, subject, and body of your content. The goal is to use these keywords correctly in your content to rank higher on Google.
• Competitive Analysis: Competitive Analysis compares your content to top competitors. With professional SEO analytics, you can know what you’re already ranking for and spot potential differences in your competitor’s rankings, allowing you to prioritize specific keywords in your SEO strategy.
• On-Page SEO Resources: On-page SEO refers to SEO techniques that can be applied to websites or web pages where you publish content. Some of these on-page optimization techniques include detailed metadata, structured data within content, adding relevant internal links, and more.
• Marketing and Link Building: Link building means getting other websites to link to your content (links are often referred to as backlinks). Search engines treat links as trusted votes, and many outside sources index your site, resulting in higher rankings. There are many ways to build backlinks, including promoting your content to publishers who want to link articles to your site or who are looking for guest posting opportunities.

SEO strategies are popular with businesses and individuals that rely on an internet connection. For some businesses, especially e-commerce businesses, the way to get customers or get people to know about their products or services is to attract more people to their websites.

How do I Become a Freelance SEO Expert?

If you’re looking to become a freelance SEO expert, you’re in good company. It’s a popular choice for freelancers and high-demand industries. Every website wants its website to appear in the top search results. It can make or break your business or your income.

Here we explain the steps to become a successful SEO freelancer and get more clients.

Become an SEO Expert in Freelancing

It’s a good idea to learn all you can about SEO best practices. The more you know, the more effective your website will be and the easier it will be to attract more customers. Consider learning more about SEO or taking a course to improve your skills.

Sources of SEO data include:

• Classes: Whether online (traditional) or in person, the course gives you the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of SEO. There may be an opportunity to interact or ask questions. Tuition can be free or paid. Online resources for SEO courses include Coursera, Udemy, SEMrush Academy, and more.
• Books: Look for references to SEO writing at your local bookstore or library. Many of the top SEO companies have published guides that walk you through the basics. For example, check out the latest version of Research for Dummies. You may also consider subscribing to Search Engine Journal (SEJ).
• Websites: Another good thing is a quality website that provides information on SEO techniques. Google offers a beginner’s guide to SEO, popular MOZ offers a beginner’s guide to SEO, and more.
• Industry experts: Find and follow professional SEO and social media companies. You’ll also find information, links, and ideas in their newsletters to learn more about SEO best practices. SEJ provides a list of the top 140 SEO experts.

Create a Portfolio of Your Work

When a potential client is looking for an SEO expert, they want to make sure they are getting what they paid for. The best way to demonstrate your value is to show examples of what you’ve done.

A portfolio is an easy way for potential clients to see what your work is like and whether it might be a good fit for them. Therefore, it is more useful than a list of documents or a resume.

A strong portfolio may include:

• Your name and contact information: Place your name and contact information at the top of the list so that customers can contact you.
• Your Clients: Include a list of your current or past clients so potential clients have an idea of who you’ve worked with. You can also include links to articles or pages you’ve written or a testimonial for one of your clients.
• Best search terms: A list of the top search terms you’ve used, along with the number of results returned for that search term and your page rank. You should also add a link to the published page.
• Website performance statistics: A summary of website performance and information to be included that shows how your SEO optimization will improve the performance of the client’s website. If possible, follow the preceding and following numbers and re-enter them.
• An example of creating a link. Include some examples of how link building can improve your website traffic and click-through rate (CTR).
• What else did you do?: For each strategy you used, provide examples of how it improved website traffic or other relevant metrics.

You want your prospect to look at your portfolio and get a good idea of the nature of your work and what that work looks like in terms of content quality and SEO optimization.

Get Reviews for SEO in Freelancing

In addition to the portfolio, testimonials from satisfied customers are another proof of your skills and abilities. Ask customers if they are okay with writing reviews and make sure those reviews are published for other customers to see.

Asking for a review can be difficult at first, but that’s normal. Consider creating a custom email template for this. This helps management thank the customer for the pleasure of working with them.

The goal is to make the customer feel your value. Because of this, they are encouraged to return this price consideration. If they need to be reviewed in relation to your relationship with the client, you can offer to exchange reviews.

Updates can be posted on your personal website or on a platform you use to find clients, such as Upwork. You can post it on your social media accounts or add it to your account.

Create a Website for SEO in Freelancing

Creating a website is a lot of work. First, it is a landing page on the Internet where people can find you, find out what you have to offer, view your portfolio and contact you if they are interested.

Second, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate your writing before working with clients. Write good SEO articles yourself and put them on your website. If your personal website shows good and attractive SEO practices, potential customers will see this as an additional indication that it is the right choice for you.

Using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress or Wix makes this process easier.

Use Social Media for SEO in Freelancing

Social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn offer a way to advertise your work and show your skills and be a source of future work.

Many companies offer free options on their social media pages. People can also post opportunities found in independent Facebook groups. If you follow SEO experts on social media, they may post pages from time to time.

You can also use social networks to display statistics. If you have a big SEO change, create ads before and after marketing the site and send a link to your account to those who are interested.

Get the Right SEO Tools in Your Toolbox

There are many SEO tools on the market that can help you improve your SEO strategy. Some are free and some are paid. Some popular options include:

• Google Search Console: Free for anyone with a website, Google Search Dashboard makes it easy to track and report on a variety of SEO metrics.
• SEMrush: This company offers a single platform that allows you to do SEO, content marketing, competitor research, pay-per-click (PPC) marketing, and social media marketing all in one place. Price plans range from professional to business level
• KWFinder: This keyword SEO tool helps you find long tail keywords and generate analysis reports on backlinks and search engine results pages (SERPs). Pricing plans vary from foundation to enterprise.
• MOZ Pro: This popular all-in-one SEO tool includes website monitoring, ranking monitoring, backlink analysis, keyword research, and more. You can try it for free for 30 days.

Use Worksheets for SEO in Freelancing

Creating a website and letting everyone know you’re open for business on social media can be the first step to attracting clients, but you can find other ways on websites and job boards dedicated to posting free jobs. There are many sites including Upwork. Our online platform can connect you with the best clients based on your skills and experience.

Start your Freelance SEO Business Today

I hope this guide has given you a solid start to learning SEO for free. If you’re ready to start your business today, create an Upwork account.

Many companies looking for SEO volunteers turn to Upwork as a source of in-demand talent. In fact, more than 60,000 jobs are posted on Upwork every week.