SEO Jobs Report<\/a>. But most require two to five years of experience.<\/p>\nMany SEO agencies rely heavily on beginner or novice SEOs. This is because it is more profitable.<\/p>\n
This business model can work, but it will usually require intensive training. <\/p>\n
You must always protect the quality of your work and keep customers happy.<\/p>\n
You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where your junior SEO is providing guidance that isn’t on par with the SEO expertise of your client base.<\/p>\n
Assuming you’ve already qualified your hires through some critical SEO interview questions (modified for an entry-level candidate), and assuming your candidates have the soft skills needed to succeed in SEO, here you have a few ways to get your new SEO hires up to date and contributing.<\/p>\n
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Ensure new SEO hires are up to date with industry best practices <\/h2>\n
Right off the bat, you want to make sure they understand SEO best practices and concepts. If they have little experience with SEO, this means coaching them in key areas.<\/p>\n
Different types of SEO learning resources accomplish different things. For example: <\/p>\n
SEO training courses<\/strong> can provide a broad overview of SEO as a whole or key areas of SEO (eg technical SEO, on-page optimization, content writing for SEO, etc.). While a general introductory video is a good place to start, your students will benefit from a structured course. When it comes from a trusted resource, this is a great way to get entry-level people up to speed on important concepts.In-depth articles and eBooks<\/strong> can give a unique perspective on an SEO topic or topic in no time. There is no shortage of SEO experts providing thought leadership to either their own websites or third-party industry sites.SEO industry news sites<\/strong> they are essential daily reading for anyone working in our industry, regardless of your level. They can help your entry-level SEOs familiarize themselves with what’s happening now with Google and search marketing in general. SEO is a fast-moving industry with many changes, so it’s critical to encourage your staff to spend time reading these websites as part of their ongoing training.SEO Events<\/strong> can provide a deep dive into SEO. These multi-day events (either online or in person) contribute to the education of any SEO, especially if they are a novice.<\/p>\nBe careful about sending your newly hired junior SEO out into the wild to find their own educational resources. Provide a list of trusted sources they can learn from. But encourage them to come to you with opportunities that interest them. <\/p>\n
Most importantly, give them a training budget. Investing in them is an investment in your SEO agency.<\/p>\n
Make sure new SEO hires are trained in your SEO methodology<\/h2>\n
Some new SEO hires can bring unique skills to the table, and you don’t want to stop them from doing so. <\/p>\n
But make sure they have a framework to work with. Being armed with industry best practices starts your new SEO hire off on the right foot.<\/p>\n
Beyond that, most agencies have a way of doing things. Training on your agency’s procedures and preferences is a matter of making sure you have these practices documented so your new hires can get up to speed right away.<\/p>\n
This also includes the ways in which your agency manages projects (this is almost as important as the work itself).<\/p>\n
Create a system of checks and balances<\/h2>\n
Failure to monitor the work of any new hire can spell trouble for your brand’s reputation and your company’s bottom line.<\/p>\n
To protect your customers and your brand, ensure that senior staff are included in any projects the new hire is working on for a period of time. A senior SEO working alongside entry-level SEO can ensure that the work is solid.<\/p>\n
This also allows senior staff to mentor new hires as they collaborate on a project. <\/p>\n
There is no better SEO education than hands-on experience, and this mentorship will provide education on both how to do SEO and how to handle clients.<\/p>\n
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.<\/p>\n
New in Search Engine Land<\/p>\n
About the author<\/p>\n
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