SEO Content Writing: An Overview of The Profession (Salary, Skills Needed, Etc.)

Aug. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- SEO content writing is one of a handful of high-paying jobs to come down the pike in the last few years. Many companies are pouring more and more of their advertising dollars into the online market. This includes everything from websites SEO to social media campaigns, to mobile device marketing. Proof?

The Marketing Budgets 2012 Report published by Econsultancy, which took the form of an online survey between December 2011 and January 2012, took a look at how companies planned to allocate their online and offline marketing budgets in 2012. A summary by Rocket Media, an internet marketing and design firm, summed up the report’s findings in the following manner:

In days gone by, it was advised that businesses spend a whopping 8% of their overall marketing budget on online channels. By 2010, that number had climbed to 24%. A survey of 500 businesses shows that in 2012 companies will spend 36% of their marketing budgets on digital advertising and marketing, according to a report by econsultancy.

This surge by companies to invest in internet marketing begins and ends primarily with content; specifically SEO content. Content takes many firms, eg, articles, blog posts, press releases, videos, info graphics, social media interactions, etc.

All of it must be written/optimized to help search engines like Google, Yahoo! and Bing find it, so that the website/blog it appears on can be returned higher into search results.

And this, says Yuwanda Black, the owner of an SEO writing company, is why SEO content writers earn good money (eg, from a low of $35,000 on up to $75,000 or more per year). Ms. Black answered the following commonly asked questions about this profession:

What skills are required to be an SEO content writer?

A foundational knowledge of search engine optimization (eg, how search engines find and rank sites); excellent research skills, good writing skills; and the ability to work independently top the list.

What type of educational background do you have to have to be an SEO writer?

If you’re seeking a FT job, most employers will look for a degree in English-related fields, eg, journalism, communication, etc. If you freelance, all most potential clients want to know is if you know how to write SEO content. Hence, presenting good writing samples is key.

What is the average salary for an SEO content writer?

Ms. Black says this depends on several factors, eg, whether you freelance or work as a FT employee for a company, niche(s) you specialize in, location, type of content you write, etc. The average salary in August 2012 according to job search site Indeed.com was $48,000/year.

Ms. Black points out that freelancers can earn more because they can set their own prices and take on as many clients as they wish.
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About the Author: Yuwanda Black heads New Media Words (NewMediaWords.biz), an SEO writing company. She's the author of numerous ebooks on the subject, as well as the creator of one of the leading SEO content writing courses.

The seminar teaches everything you need to know about not only how to write SEO content, but how to earn $50,000 to $75,000 per year – your first year – as a freelance SEO content writer. You can take the class online, or enroll in a hands-on seminar in Jamaica! Get full details at http://www.seowritingjobs.com/seo-copywriting-training.