How to Start an SEO Consulting Business

Co-authored by Imran Alavi

Last Updated: January 9, 2023

Search engine optimization (SEO) is a type of Internet marketing that changes websites so that they rank higher on organic and paid online searches. This dynamic business changes often, and experts must learn new ways of ranking and advertising every year. If you are an SEO expert, then you may consider offering your expertise to other businesses, rather than working for a company. You will need to invest in marketing, education and business organization in order to reap profits from the business. Learn how to start an SEO consulting business.

Steps

1
Learn search engine optimization skills. For most people this will take a few years of working with websites, writing articles and analyzing web traffic to gain proficiency. You should have a working knowledge of the following tasks:
- Identify and analyze keywords. You should be able to identify the keywords that most people will use to search for a product and site. Work with pay-per-click (PPC) advertising like Google AdWords and Bing Ads so that you can see what terms are capturing a user's attention in paid advertising and search engine results.
- Write quality content that contains keywords. In order to have a good organic SEO ranking, the content must contain your most popular keywords in the page title, article/blog title, headings and the prose. Update content frequently on websites to improve web traffic. Insert keyword hyperlinks into your content.
- Google Analytics, and similar website analytic programs. Each link that you post through a PPC ad, website, social media outlet or blog should be made with a program that can track the source of the click. Use this information to identify the best keywords, content and affiliate websites.
- Write quality meta tags and meta descriptions. These are the sentences that appear in your search results. It should be filled with keywords and compelling descriptions of the product or site. Meta tags are like keywords that can identify similar products during searches.
- Develop a checklist for reviewing websites for errors. Common errors that hurt SEO ranking include complicated URL addresses, broken links, bugs, poor grammar and improper image names.
- Become a social media expert. An SEO consultant must be able to blog, manage user comments and post on social media accounts. Hyperlinks to blog content will generate more web traffic and can lead to higher SEO ranking.
- Learn how to build user interaction and user comments. The more user-generated content a site has, the higher the ranking will be. Become knowledgeable in managing user reviews, encouraging comments and creating customer service efforts online.
- Develop webmaster skills and programming skills. Take courses that will allow you to analyze HTML code for broken links and other problems. If you are not able to do this, build a network of web developers and designers that can help you look at a site and fix problems that hurt indexing.
2
Become an expert in search engine optimization. Work for at least 1 year providing SEO solutions through an employer before starting out on your own. The following are other ways you can improve your expertise.
- Attend conferences, like Pubcon, MozCon and SEMPDX. Seminars at these and other Internet marketing conferences will update you on new industry information, such as changes in search engine algorithms.
- Optimize your own websites. Other than working for an employer who promises search engine optimization, you can develop your own websites or those for friends and family. Try out your SEO knowledge on several types of websites, if possible.
- Write a blog or eBook. This will help you later during the marketing process, but it will also encourage you to research and learn more about SEO on a daily basis.
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3
Take some business courses. Although you may have a degree in marketing and plenty of marketing experience, you need the skills to run your own business. Enroll in courses in bookkeeping, tax preparation, finance and business plan writing to give your consulting company a higher chance of success.
4
Write a business plan. Include 5 years' worth of plans for marketing, management, finance and staff. You should be able to present these plans to get loans or investments for start-up costs.
5
Create a brand identity. Come up with a name, logo and description that you can use to market your consulting business online and locally. Research competitors and choose something original that identifies you as an Internet marketing expert.
- File the necessary business documents to ensure your consulting business is legal. You will need to file business structure documents, such as partnership basis or articles of corporation, in addition to a "doing business as" certificate and additional forms in your city and county.
6
Create marketing materials. The following should be made to improve your chances of success.
- Invest in a website. It should be well designed, have original content and be an example of the excellent work you can perform. This is the first place most people will look for your company so spend time and money on its development.
- Create business cards. Pass them out to local businesses as you network throughout the community. Use your logo on other materials, such as letterhead and invoices.
7
Create a list of services you provide. You should be able to cater to most types of businesses, so ensure you are able to offer consulting services by the hour or project to suggest to clients.
- Take time to price your services. Most new consultants price their services too low and find it difficult to raise them with existing clients. Pricing your services at a higher level may help you market to corporations, who are used to paying higher prices for expert services.
8
Develop a system for analysis, monitoring and reporting. You should have a list of specifications that you can review before suggesting your services and report on as you make changes. If you are unfamiliar with analytics or website programming, you may want to develop relationships with local developers that are mutually beneficial.
9
Create an effective consulting process to move through a project. First, identify the web pages and ways to improve the site. Next, you can develop a plan, implement it and monitor the improvements for the business.
10
Develop staff or partnerships. Market with other SEO professionals, writers, graphic designers, photographers, web programmers and animators, so you can provide more extensive packages when needed. Many consultant businesses start with 1 person, but they can grow more quickly if you partner with people who can cater to other website needs.
11
Have plenty of ambition. Starting any consulting business requires you to put in time to find new customers. You may need to work more than 40 hours per week to develop your client base, so you must be ready to work hard.

Expert Q&A

Question

Why is SEO important?

Imran Alavi
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Expert
Imran Alavi is a Marketing & App Development Expert and the CEO of Proleadsoft, a Digital Marketing and App Development firm based in San Francisco, CA. With over 10 years of experience, he specializes in Web Design, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (Google, Facebook, LinkedIn AdWords), App Development, and Software strategies for businesses. Imran holds a BS in Computer Science from the National University of Computer and Emerging Sciences, an MS in Computer Science from San Francisco State University, and has completed Stanford University Continuing Studies courses in Business, Marketing, and Communication.

Imran Alavi

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Expert

Expert Answer

When buying things online, 82% of people like to click on links that are non-ad links. When you do a Google search for any service, the first few links show an ad label next to them. The remaining links are the ones that are placed in that order by SEO, Search Engine Optimization. People tend to have more confidence in non-ad links. It's more value based. Businesses that are getting their market share on the first page of Google without having to pay for ads, are the ones that are winning right now.