Although SEO has been around for quite a while now, it feels like only in the last few years has it become somewhat of a buzzword in the online world. As more and more of the world’s business is moving into the digital realm, the importance of organic online presence is becoming more important than ever. This is why it comes as no surprise that more and more people are looking to start a career in SEO. If you, too, are one of them, here is what you need to know and do.

Is this for you?
The first question you need to ask yourself is whether this line of work is truly for you. You need to be interested in SEO and digital marketing, to begin with, and you need to be determined since the career path in this industry is not exactly clearly defined but you will have to create it yourself. A lot of people prefer a steady job where they won’t have to put up with changes every week or even every day – if you’re one of them, then this is not for you.
As we just said, the SEO world is ever-changing and as an SEO specialist, you will constantly need to adjust to these changes. You probably already know that Google is constantly tweaking its algorithm. This means that your learning journey does not end once you’ve acquired the necessary skills to begin working in SEO. This can be tiring, but if you’re passionate about your work, it will actually make it more interesting. SEO is for those looking for a dynamic industry, so if you are like that, you should look no further.

Develop a diverse skillset
The most important thing for starting a career in SEO is developing a diverse skill set. This is more valuable than a degree if you do it right since the work of an SEO specialist is made up of many different tasks. 
Start by familiarizing yourself with the basics of SEO and all the terminology that you will constantly encounter as you go on learning. The surest way to the basics would be enrolling in an online course, as well as teaching yourself using reliable sources. Learn the fundamentals of how search engines work, about keyword research, technical, on-page and off-page SEO, as well as link building and establishing authority. The list of the topics you need to learn the basics of is quite long but it’s essential that you start with this.
Secondly, you need to work on your analytical skills and learn about the tools and software SEO utilizes. Thankfully, these tools are very accessible. Start by familiarizing yourself with Google Analytics. Other Google tools such as Search Console, Structured Data and PageSpeed Analysis are also at your disposal, but sites such as Small SEO Tools can come in handy on a day-to-day basis, too. The most important thing is that you know how to use important SEO tools and can utilize them in practice.
But besides the SEO basics, there are other skills that you will need to have for a lucrative career in this field. You also need to have an understanding of HTML and CSS basics, and while you don’t need to become a full-fledged web developer, you should know how to make a WordPress website – this will allow you to gain valuable hands-on experience.

Put it into practice
As you might have guessed, the next step is to put what you have learned into practice. It would be very useful for you if you built your own website at this point. If you took the previous pieces of advice seriously, this should not be a problem. 
Optimizing your own blog or website is not only a great way to practice SEO, it can also be a stepping stone for your career as you will be basically working on your own brand at the same time. It is also a good way to work on your writing skills, which are very important and should not be neglected, especially if English is not your native language. You want to use your website to show your expertise, so work on your search engine ranking by generating quality content and using the right keywords in the right amount. All in all, a well-made website provides essential experience and can even serve as an asset when you are trying to land a job.

Put yourself out there
In order to move your career forward, you will need to put yourself out there. Think about whether you want to begin your career as a freelancer or you want to look into local SEO agencies wherever you are from; for instance, if you live in the Land Down Under, which is a lucrative place to get your SEO career on track, you can look into a good SEO agency from Brisbane. Finally, you might even start your own business and build your own SEO agency.
Regardless of which path you are planning to take, always think about networking opportunities. Networking is key in this industry, just like everywhere else, so frequent seminars if possible and keep your social media pages up-to-date and professional. You can use LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to connect with people from the industry, and you can join groups where you might run into an opportunity.
Working in SEO is by no means an easy job – this dynamic industry requires a great deal of dedication to conquer. However, today, all the resources you could possibly need are at your disposal, so those who are determined and are ready to invest time and effort in this can start a lucrative career in SEO.