Careers in SEO

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Looking for an entry level job or internship in SEO? This is an overview of how to approach the search and a list of companies that might have relevant entry level and internship opportunities.

Yesterday my refrigerator stopped chugging along, and my yogurt nearly spoiled. Luckily there’s this thing called the internet, so I went straight to Google and typed in “refrigerator repair.” From the results I selected a company and called them up, and soon I was enjoying my Chobani again. Consumers are making decisions based upon results handed to them by search engines, so it has become important for companies to try to show up as close to the top of the results as possible. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) specialists help companies improve their page rank so consumers can find them and use their services.

SEO careers

Photo Credit: Flickr user dags1974

Search Engine Optimization Career Guide Overview

  1. What a Search Engine Optimization Specialist Does
  2. A Typical Day for a Search Engine Optimization Specialist
  3. Salary and Career Progression for a Search Engine Optimization Specialist
  4. Best Locations for Search Engine Optimization
  5. Pros and Cons of Being a Search Engine Optimization Specialist
  6. What You Need to Know for a Career in Search Engine Optimization
  7. Search Engine Optimization Resources
  8. Careers Related to Search Engine Optimization
  9. Companies with Jobs and Internships in Search Engine Optimization

What a Search Engine Optimization Specialist Does

An SEO Specialist focuses on making websites rank high in internet search engines so that people will click on their links, garnering new customers or new leads for the company. There are many pieces to accomplishing a great SEO rank that SEO Specialists play a role in including:

  • on-page SEO like internal linking, url structure, pagination and categorizing, resolving duplicate content issues with 301 redirects and “noindex” tagging
  • link building like scaled guest blogging, email link building, getting sidebar and footer links on relevant websites, developing link-bait content
  • conversion rate optimization like growing email lists, and optimizing entire user flows to increase conversions
  • landing page optimization like running A/B tests and multivariate tests on landing pages to increase CTR, and writing persuasive sales copy

A Typical Day for a Search Engine Optimization Specialist

While a typical day for an SEO Specialist varies, it might include some of these tasks:

  • Reading and responding to emails
  • Browsing through and participating in forums
  • Browsing through news to make sure nothing has changed that would influence your SEO strategy
  • Integrating SEO into all marketing channels
  • Checking that project plans and activities are aligned with methodologies that you built for SEO
  • Checking the rankings of all your keywords
  • Writing content
  • Creating meta-tags for a new landing page

Salary and Career Progression for a Search Engine Optimization Specialist

An SEO Specialist makes $24,682-$60,672 per year on average. From there you can go on to become a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Manager making $36,318-$90,469 per year on average.

Best Locations for Search Engine Optimization Specialists

Here are some hot spots for SEO specialists:

  • San Diego, California
  • Seattle, Washington
  • New York, New York
  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Los Angeles, California
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Minneapolis, Minnesota
  • Atlanta, Georgia
  • Denver, Colorado

Pros and Cons of Being a Search Engine Optimization Specialist

Pros
  • Flexible hours
  • Pretty solid pay
  • While it’s a narrowly defined role, it’s one that more and more companies need to fill as the internet grows
Cons
  • Need to stay up to date on industry trends as things quickly change
  • Can be frustrating to work across teams making sure everyone from programming to marketing is taking SEO into account
  • Need to make yourself stand out from people claiming to be SEO experts that aren’t
  • Lots of time on a computer

What You Need to Know for a Career in Search Engine Optimization

To be an SEO Specialist you need to be up to date on anything and everything that affects page-ranking. Familiarize yourself with SEO tools like TagCrowd, Google Analytics, KISSmetrics, KISSinsights, Crazy Egg, Survey Monkey, & Google Website Optimizer. These are all tools that will help you engage with more people, resulting in them buy more of your company’s stuff, giving you their email, or clicking where you want them to.

Search Engine Optimization Resources

If search engine optimization still sounds like your cup of tea, here are a few things you should do to get started.

Required Reading

Key Folks to Follow on Twitter

Blogs and Websites

Networking Opportunities

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Companies with Entry Level Jobs and Internships in SEO

Sprout Social Logo

Sprout Social - Sprout Social is a Chicago, IL based company that offers “a management and egnagement platform for social business.”

See the complete Sprout Social profile


Emerge Media Logo

Emerge Media - Emerge Media is a Chicago, IL based company that is “taking on the essential roots of everyday tasks and breathing real life into the technology behind them.”

See the complete Emerge Media profile


WPromote Logo

WPromote - WPromote is an El Segundo, CA based company that calls itself “the country’s leading Online Marketing firm." They help clients with SEO, PPC, and Social Media.

See the complete WPromote profile


OneIMS Logo

OneIMS - OneIMS is a Skokie, IL based company that offers “everything from services like branding and web design to online marketing strategies like SEO and PPC.”

See the complete OneIMS profile


Fever - Fever is a New York, NY and Madrid, Spain based startup social network that is “changing the way people make plans.”

See the complete Fever profile


Forensicon Logo

Forensicon - Forensicon is a Chicago, IL based “firm specializing in computer forensics analysis and consulting."

See the complete Forensicon profile


Whalerock Industries Logo

Whalerock Industries - Whalerock Industries, based in Santa Monica, CA, brings together the "best and brightest minds to create world-class content, spanning all mediums and screens.”

See the complete Whalerock Industries profile


Houzz Logo

Houzz - Houzz is a Palo Alto, CA based company that offers “a collaborative platform for home remodeling and design."

See the complete Houzz profile


REVOLVE Logo

REVOLVE - REVOLVE is based in Cerritos, CA and is the “virtual home for an unrivaled collection of the world’s most coveted brands.”

See the complete REVOLVE profile


Worthee Logo

Worthee - Worthee is a Chicago, IL based company that offers premium dog walking and care services through a simple mobile app.

See the complete Worthee profile


Art.com Logo

Art.com - Art.com is based in Emeryville, CA, and it “is a leading authority in wall décor and the world’s largest online retailer of posters, prints, and framed art.”

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Noodle Logo

Noodle - Noodle, based in NYC and founded by John Katzman (Princeton Review), is “the first and only life-long education related search company in the world.”

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Jockey Logo

Jockey International - Jockey International is a Kenosha, WI based company that aims “to satisfy the human need for comfort” by offering more than 600 styles of underwear and t-shirts.

See the complete Jockey International profile


TextLinkBrokers Logo

TextLinkBrokers - TextLinkBrokers is a Mesa, AZ based company that services the “needs of professional SEM agencies and individuals looking for high quality link development.”

See the complete TextLinkBrokers profile


Signpost Logo

Signpost - Signpost is an NYC based company that offers a “cloud-based platform that makes digital and mobile marketing simple and effective for SMBs.”

See the complete Signpost profile


Minted Logo

Minted - Minted is a San Francisco, CA based company that aims “to find exceptional artists and designers all over the world and bring their work to consumers."

See the complete Minted profile


Mirrorball Logo

Mirrorball - Mirrorball is a New York, NY based consumer engagement agency “that connects brands and people through a fusion of social media and live experience.”

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BoomTown Logo

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Adpearance - Adpearance is a Portland, OR based digital marketing agency that crafts campaigns that bring traditional marketing principles together with new tactics.

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Vibrant Media Logo

Vibrant Media - Vibrant Media is the NYC based world "leading provider of in-content contextual technology that gets brand content and advertising discovered across platforms."

See the complete Vibrant Media profile


YaSabe - YaSabe is a Herndon, VA based company that is "committed to connecting businesses, Latino culture, and community."

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Nitro Logo

Nitro - Nitro is a San Francisco, CA based company that builds “easy-to-use products that help people work smarter with digital documents.”

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Zazzle Logo

Zazzle - Zazzle is a Redwood City, CA based company that allows you to “create amazing custom products with artwork you choose, and prices you’ll love.”

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UrbanBound Logo

UrbanBound - UrbanBound is based in Chicago and "helps companies offer a comprehensive transition system to their newly hired and transferring employees" over the web.

See the complete UrbanBound profile


HomeAway Logo

HomeAway - HomeAway is an Austin, TX based company that offers “the world’s leading online marketplace of vacation rentals."

See the complete HomeAway profile


buuteeq Logo

buuteeq - buuteeq is a Seattle, WA based company that offers an “easy-to-use web application that improves hotels' online marketing on the web, mobile, and Facebook."

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90octane Logo

90octane - 90octane is a Denver, CO based online marketing agency that does online advertising, email marketing, microsite and landing page development, SEO, and PPC.

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The WEBstaurant Store - The WEBstaurant Store is a Lancaster, PA based company that offers an “innovative, easy-to-use website to meet the purchasing needs of food service professionals."

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Morpheus Media Logo

Morpheus Media - Morpheus Media is a New York, NY based “full-service provider of interactive marketing solutions to Fortune 500 companies and those aspiring to land on that list.”

See the complete Morpheus Media profile


Gupta Media Logo

Gupta Media - Gupta Media is a Cambridge, MA based online marketing agency that focuses on the entertainment and music industries.

See the complete Gupta Media profile


Shopzilla Logo

Shopzilla - Shopzilla is a Los Angeles, CA based company with a portfolio of product comparison and discovery sites.

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Sentient Jet Logo

Sentient Jet - Sentient Jet is a Cleveland, OH based company that “arranges more air charter flights than any other jet charter procurement business in the country.”

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SEER Interactive Logo

SEER Interactive - SEER Interactive is a Philadelphia, PA based online marketing agency that specializes in SEO, SEM, Analytics, and Conversion Optimization.

See the complete SEER Interactive profile


Direct Agents Logo

Direct Agents - Direct Agents is a New York, NY based “digital marketing agency specializing in performance-based digital solutions."

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MeUndies Logo

MeUndies - Me Undies is a Beverly Hills, CA based company that offers “the world’s most comfortable underwear in all your favorite colors and styles.”

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SpareFoot Logo

SpareFoot - SpareFoot is an Austin, TX based company that “has the largest inventory of storage units on the web.”

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BlueGlass Interactive Logo

BlueGlass - BlueGlass is a Tampa, FL based company aiming to “change the way companies market themselves online with extraordinary strategies, service and software."

See the complete BlueGlass profile


LeagueApps Logo

LeagueApps - LeagueApps is an NYC and DC based company that offers “digital management and marketing solution for local sports leagues, tournaments and events.”

See the complete LeagueApps profile


Pardot Logo

Pardot - Pardot is an Atlanta, GA based company that provides online marketing automation software to businesses and is seeing insane growth.

See the complete Pardot profile


Slingshot SEO Logo

Slingshot SEO - Slingshot SEO helps clients reach customers through search, and they have achieved a three-year growth rate of 2,391%–putting them at #136 on the Inc. 500.

See the complete Slingshot SEO profile


Situation Interactive Logo

Situation Interactive - Situation Interactive is a New York, NY based agency focused on creating amazing experiences for amazing brands.

See the complete Situation Interactive profile


Doner Logo

Doner - Doner is a Southfield, MI based ad agency that provides brands with “constant energy, unwavering vigilance and a devoted belief in staying fresh.”

See the complete Doner profile


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42Floors - 42Floors is a San Francisco, CA based company that wants to finally bring the $25 billion office space/commercial real estate market online in a proper way.

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Sanky Communications Logo

Sanky Communications - Sanky Communications is a New York, NY based company that “has launched successful marketing programs for more than 100 nonprofit organizations.”

See the complete Sanky Communications profile


BuildASign Logo

BuildASign - Austin, TX based BuildASign “has reinvented the way people buy signs” by offering simple online sign creation and delivery in days.

See the complete BuildASign profile


C-4 Analytics Logo

C-4 Analytics - C-4 Analytics is based in Saugus, MA and they offer services ranging from social media strategy to SEO to advertising analytics.

See the complete C-4 Analytics profile


WeddingWire Logo

WeddingWire - WeddingWire is“the category leader in local business reviews (think “Yelp of Weddings”)," and they're hiring at their Bethesda, MD office.

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Cogo Labs Logo

Cogo Labs - Cogo Labs (formerly Adverplex) is a Cambridge, MA based incubator that focuses on growing Boston based web companies, and they're hiring.

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PrintEco Logo

PrintEco - PrintEco is a Chicago, IL based company that claims they can cut 17% off of most companies’ printing expenses and help the environment at the same time.

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