Head of SEO
As the head of SEO, you may work for a company, a marketing agency or as a freelance consultant.
It is your role to oversee the implementation of an effective organisational SEO strategy by establishing best practice among departmental managers and executives, allocating budgets and developing creative and technical SEO campaigns which enhance the search engine rankings, market reach, reputation, sales and revenue of your employer or clients.
Typical Responsibilities for the Head of SEO
Although your responsibilities will vary between organisations, most employers or clients will expect you to assume the following three key responsibilities:
Expertise
You will generally need 3-5 years’ experience to step into the head of SEO role and will bring a thorough knowledge of SEO practices and software and the effectiveness of their applications to an organisation.
Furthermore, you must possess the technical and creative flair to apply your expertise to the review, development and implementation of new SEO campaigns which meet or exceed any commercial objectives for growth.
Leadership
Key to your role is effective people management. You will be responsible for recruiting skilled personnel and developing those at the beginning of their SEO careers. You will need to be able to enthuse, motivate and facilitate collaborative work practices, delegate tasks, conduct appraisals and ensure projects are completed on time and on budget.
Communication
Much of your success in this role will rely on your excellent communication and relationship building skills.
In an increasingly competitive industry, you will need to be a confident, skilled written and verbal communicator who can represent an organisation at industry events or conferences and engage prospective clients with compelling pitches to win new business and retain it.
You may also need to write best practice guidelines, white papers or digital content which demonstrates that your organisation is at the forefront of SEO developments.
Salary Range
Depending on your skills and experience and the requirements and location of your employer, you can expect to earn a salary of £26k to £49k+, and enjoy generous benefits and bonus packages.
Skills & Qualifications
Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills
Excellent written and verbal communications
SEO expertise
Strong analysis and research
Decision making
Confident pitcher and public speaker
Creative and analytical thinking and problem solving
Commercial knowledge
Strong budget management
An ability to work under pressure
Flexibility to travel or work outside of regular office hours
Qualifications
Although qualifications are not required, holding a relevant degree or professional certificates in marketing, PR or business management may be advantageous.
Experience & Career Progression
You will need to demonstrate significant experience in SEO and people management and a track record of successful campaigns that you have developed and implemented to apply for this role.
Career Progression
As someone with sound SEO skills and experience, your knowledge and expertise is highly sought by organisations in almost every industry and your career could progress naturally into any of the following roles:
Freelance corporate consultant
Freelance industry advisor
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