Whether you believe that SEO is a worthless scam or a legitimate path to online riches, there is little doubt that SEO is a huge industry. According to a report published on the State of Digital site, 863 million websites worldwide include “SEO” in their keyword terms and an estimated 105 people search “SEO” every second. That adds up to over 9 million users every month who are searching for information about SEO, with an estimated 2.24 million of them residing in the U.S. alone.

• The majority of SEO consultants work with local businesses in lower to medium-competitive markets with an average monthly price point ranging from $750 to $1,250 or more for clients in a highly competitive niche.
• Multiply that by 50 clients and you start to get an idea of how financially lucrative being an SEO expert can be.

The bottom line is simple: SEO offers the potential for tremendous financial rewards for the skilled professional who is able to back up his or her claims. The fact of the matter is that SEO is not a perfect science. No one knows exactly how the Google search algorithm works; we only know what seems to work based on extensive testing. When a new algorithm update devalues a site’s rankings, new solutions have to be found.

The search market is extremely competitive, and the ability to consistently rank web properties and generate substantial revenue for clients in the face of constant search engine updates is what qualifies one to wear the “SEO expert” tag. Gaining new clients is the key to building a successful SEO consultancy, and the best method of attracting new business is by demonstrating legitimate and proven SEO expert status.

What Makes an SEO Expert an Expert?
The fluid nature of SEO requires an individual with a unique mindset, and the skills and experience to match. Whether you’re hiring for an in-house position or trying to decide which SEO agency is the best fit for your company, there are certain skills and attributes that any true SEO expert should possess.

The ability to examine issues and solve problems quickly. SEO is a fast-paced environment, and requires above-average problem solving skills. The ideal candidate should be able to react to challenges and devise solutions almost on autopilot.

An understanding of basic coding. A legitimate SEO expert needs to have at least a basic understanding of the basic web page coding requirements related to on-page SEO, including title tags, meta descriptions, H1 tags, and alt image tags for photos.

A desire to learn. Because SEO is constantly evolving, you need to find someone with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Google alone averages 50 updates each month, and the SEO expert needs to stay on top of all this and more to retain a razor-sharp edge to his or her skills.

An understanding of what makes great content. While the SEO expert may not be a skilled writer, he or she needs to have a feel for what type of content will resonate with the audience, and be able to translate that understanding to the writing team.

Are you an SEO Expert?