Loved this post in Moz this week from Lucio Laria about how to start as an SEO freelancer and reach your first $10K: https://moz.com/blog/seo-freelancer and decided to start this post so we could all share our tips! Here are a few of mine:
Since before you begin on your own, start establishing your authority/visibility in your target area/niche whatever it is (eg. ecommerce SEO, SaaS SEO, technical SEO, content optimization. etc) by contributing to the industry / community showing your know how: from blog posts, webinars, podcasts, speaking and networking in online or in-person events not only in SEO but also those events of your target industry (eg. travel, education, ecommerce, etc.)
Sign contracts with your clients specifying conditions, from fees, payment timing, cancellation, who's in charge of implementation, etc.
Charge the first 50% of a consulting project at the start.
Always offer an ongoing SEO process rather than one off projects. Not only to have a retainer fee (which will minimize the need to have always the need to sell, but also to ensure that whatever you've recommended is correctly implemented).
What are your top tips for those starting as SEO freelancers/consultants?
This article on "Tips for New SEO Consultants / Freelancers" is incredibly insightful! As a newcomer in the SEO field, the advice provided is practical and easy to implement. I especially appreciate the emphasis on continuous learning and the importance of building strong client relationships. The suggestion to stay updated with industry trends is invaluable, just like keeping track of something as seemingly simple as the peanut butter price in Pakistan – a reminder that market shifts, even in niche areas, require constant monitoring. Overall, this guide is a must-read for anyone starting out in SEO consulting or freelancing.
Thanks for sharing these valuable tips! I am an online class taker and also an SEO consultant. I am new in this field and learning new things everyday to polish my skills.
I'll add something: don't be afraid to step out of your area of expertise and "going the extra mile". That's something extremely valuable and makes you better adapt to the various teams you're consulting to.
Of course don't do that by stepping on other toes, it goes without saying.
Another thing: don't be afraid to prune out some areas of expertise that are hampering you down. One single person cannot do everything and be also good at it.
Well, from what I've read of Aleyda and the text, I can see that there are some points I need to improve:
- The first is my exposition. I'm too afraid to put forward my ideas and points of view. It's something I've been working on for a while, but I think I'll stand out more in this respect.
- Contracts: I really need to hire a lawyer to review my contracts. There are still several points for improvement.
- The 50% before is essential for the client's commitment and my proper allocation of time to the project.
- Finally, having a broader monetization plan, such as training, mentoring, etc. is essential.
Awesome tips, thank you all for sharing this insight 🙏
Hi Aleyda,
with the years I have built a series of practices that are quite similar to yours.
I will add one that is not SEO: don't be your own accountant.
Hire the services of a professional for that, and you will free yourself of almost all the hassles of needing to follow beauraucratic staff, and the big time needed for compiling recurring taxes documentation or even searching information about financial aid to new entrepeneurs... and you will not risk to commit mistakes because of misunderstanding the usually byzantine governemental language.
Then, I surely recommend to be active in the community, but also outside of the community, to show your skills (and soft skills). Doing this helped me a lot back in the days when I was very active in the Moz community. Do not forbid yourself from doing that because of the fear of being considered a newbie: we were all newbies once.
Write your original stuff in your blog (it exists only for that), but also use the blog for talking SEO in plain English for the markets your target... it may seems difficult at the beginning but it is not. In fact, you do not need to be super simple in your writing, but neither you should be hyper technical. Your target, and it is more evindent now then when I or Aleyda or other "senior" SEO started, is not going to be the CEO or the owner of the company, but the in-house team (or even the in-agency teams) for digital growth, who are supposed to have at least a minimum knowledge of SEO.
And, finally, be resilient. Up and downs are usual, also for the most successful freelancer.
Ah! as a pro tip: even if you specialize in Local SEO, don't market just your county or region or even nation. Act and think as you were targeting the world. This "saved me" during the banks' crisis back in 2008/2011. If I had only Spain and Italy as my markets, I would have struggled considerably.
And, even if you tend naturally to create a special expertise on a niche (i.e.: retail), always try to differentiate the type of industries for which you work with. When COVID spreaded, all the travel SEOs specialists experienced an enormous stress... myself included. Luckily I had started to open my hands to other industry (especially B2B) and ecommerce websites, and that variety of client types helped passing the initial crisis.
Very useful tips. I started off by building my website , writing a lot of content and then getting it ranked. Did SEO jobs for some local businesses and when new clients contacted me , I gave them examples of rankings obtained for previous clients. I have detailed my SEO journey on my website, including how I got into this field.