You could have the best marketing team in the world, but nowadays, if you don’t have an SEO Analyst, you will quickly fall behind your competitors.
If fifty years ago questions were answered by skimming through books, today, the picture is different. Any query is now addressed by a multitude of online search engines in a matter of seconds. It took Google 0.97 seconds to give us about 30 900 000 results on “SEO Analyst”. Which of those results do we generally perceive as better or more trustworthy: the ones on the tenth page or the ones displayed on the first page? First page, correct?
It would then be safe to assume that the websites that come up first have higher viewings and interaction than the ones banished to the final pages. Viewings and interactions are, at some point, translated into money, something pivotal to any business.
The order of the contents is not arbitrary. It is, instead, a very calculated thing: to be specific, an SEO Analyst’s job. And isn’t that quite important? You could take care of that with your own hands, but we strongly recommend trusting in professionals.
Your webpage could be stunning, practical, innovative, and downright magical. You could even be offering free money! That wouldn’t change the fact that if you don’t show up at the top of the result lists, nobody would see it. All your effort would go down the drain along with the money you invested in a preppy website… Nobody wants that. Hence the importance of a great marketing team with a few spots open for SEO Analysts.
What Is an “SEO Analyst”?
On the off chance you didn’t know, SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. An SEO Analyst, in addition to granting your website a top position on the results page, also implements social media strategies for clients. They essentially help promote a brand’s online presence.
These are some responsibilities you should expect of an SEO Analyst:
- Monitoring website traffic;
- Conducting keyword research;
- Generating content ideas and updating existing contents;
- Developing link-building strategies;
- Managing email and paid search campaigns;
- Administrating search engine programs;
- Having strong analytical skills as a way of identifying and solving problems.
Don’t let the responsibilities overwhelm you. Becoming an SEO Analyst can be quite attainable. Let us enlighten you with a brief guide on starting your new career.
How to become an SEO Analyst
To become an SEO Analyst you have to have a varied set of skills. As previously noted, having strong analytical skills is imperative, since the core of the job is critically evaluating content and strategies to continually better them. As well as creating and curating contents, this trade requires knowledge of HTML and CSS, Google Search Console and Webmaster Tools, and data analysis.
[IMAGE – https://unsplash.com/photos/shr_Xn8S8QU]
Here are a few steps to steer you into the world of SEO analysis:
- Understand the Basics of SEO
There are three nuclear components when it comes to SEO: how search engines work, tools and techniques to optimize websites, and the needs and wants of the users. If you get these three notions ingrained in you, you’re already a step closer to becoming an SEO master.
- Learn Basic HTML and CSS
These are the basics of a website structure. It is crucial to have the basic knowledge of these types of languages as to be able to solve issues with your website. It is also needed to perform web page optimization and, with CSS, you are able to change your page’s visuals.
- Learn Google Analytics
Interpreting data is a fundamental skill for SEO Analysts. Currently, the most popular tool in measurement and reporting is Google Analytics. You can get certification by taking the Google Analytics exam, and we advise you to do so. Credentials are a way of building not only knowledge but credibility. We also recommend you learn about Google Search Console (previously known as Webmaster Tools); this is a valuable tool, for it helps you supervise, maintain, and improve your site’s presence on Google’s results lists.
- Study Keyword Research and Search Engines’ Algorithms
When you want to find something online, you type what you’re looking for on the search bar. Those words you write (that soon will be converted into millions of results) are called keywords. They don’t only represent businesses and products (ex.: fashion), but they are also inestimable for targeting audiences. Imagine you’d like to capture all book-lovers to your online book shop: it would be expected for that audience to search for terms like “hard-cover books”. Use that expression as a keyword, and your website will appear higher on users’ results lists. However, for you to master keywords, it is indispensable to know how search engines’ algorithms work. You should read as much as you can about them, especially because the algorithms change periodically. The key is understanding what is deemed relevant by those search engines and consequently adapting to them.
- Keep Updating Yourself
Keeping up with SEO content is vital to an analyst. The world of search engines is an ever-changing one, so if your ambition is being on top of the game, you must be committed to it. Be careful not to develop a “checklist mentality”: the dynamism of the field demands you to be flexible and acknowledge when your routines aren’t working anymore. Instead, try to be open-minded and outcome-oriented: that flexibility will pay off.
These are a few guiding tips to help you dive into this vast universe. We prompt you to explore as much as you can and not be the creator of your own mental barriers. Any hesitations you might have on your abilities as an SEO analyst can be put to rest with studying and practice. You can do this!
In Conclusion
While it’s encouraged to have a degree, one is not mandatory to become an SEO Analyst. The only real tools you need to have access to are Google Analytics, Google Search Console, a website (that you can set up), and above all: your will-power.
If you already noticed the SEO field is in demand and a salary of around 47,000$/year (entry-level) attracts you, then what are you waiting for to start your new career?
Thanks for reading!