In today’s world, there is fierce competition among businesses and websites to be the first result that comes up on Google. As a result, professionals that wield the knowledge to help business rank higher in search results are in high demand.

If you are interested in the intersection of business, marketing, and tech, then you might want to become a search engine optimization (SEO) manager. To become a successful SEO manager, you need certain skills, education, and job preparation; we cover all that in this article.

SEO managers are the professionals that choose what techniques to use to help businesses rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). They also make decisions regarding what content to target to attract the right visitors and how to convert those visitors into customers.

The job of an SEO manager revolves around aiding digital marketing campaigns and strategies for overall business success. It includes planning keyword strategy, doing industry research, web analytics, web marketing, and implementing SEO strategies.

To be an excellent SEO manager, it is crucial to be aware of the latest industry trends, Google’s algorithmic policies, and competitors’ performance, and to thoroughly understand the user base.

The SEO manager role is considered a senior specialist position that can involve a high salary. According to PayScale, the national average salary for SEO managers is $70,870.

Depending on the company and experience, your salary might be higher or lower than the national average. As you progress in your career and attain more seniority, you are bound to get better compensation rates. For example, SEO directors enjoy an average salary of $92,741.

The job outlook for SEO roles—which fall under the advertising, promotions, and marketing managers category—is promising. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in the sector is projected to grow by six percent between 2019 to 2029.

To get a job as an entry-level SEO professional, you must have a certain level of experience, skills, and education. The standard educational qualification for SEO roles is a bachelor’s degree in a field like marketing or business administration.

According to ZipRecruiter, entry-level SEO salaries range from around $33,500 to $45,000. Again, this figure can vary depending on your experience and place of employment.

Once you secure a position as an entry-level SEO professional, you can work your way up to a managerial position by attending a coding bootcamp, taking online courses to enhance your skillset, and earning certification. In addition to earning a certification, the key to a job as an SEO manager is ample industry experience.

Everyone knows that the key to acing your job interview lies in impressing the hiring manager with your interview skills. You should do ample preparation to make sure you maximize your chances. Among other things, this means looking online for common interview questions for this position and rehearsing your answer.

The main job of an SEO manager is to oversee the SEO team and come up with strategies that improve the website’s ranking on search engines like Google.

SEO managers have many responsibilities. We’ve listed the main ones below.

The field of SEO requires expertise in a plethora of topics. In addition, being a manager demands leadership skills.

Below, you will find the essential skills needed to become an SEO manager.

Becoming an SEO manager should take you around six years, the time needed to finish your undergraduate degree, earn any relevant certification, and accrue the experience you need to access this senior position.

That being said, the time it takes you to become an SEO manager will vary according to your educational choices and experience in the field. For example, a way to expedite the process is by attending a coding bootcamp. This could cut the time it takes to acquire the necessary education from four years to just a few weeks.

Once you have completed your degree or coding bootcamp, you will have to work for at least one to two years in SEO positions before you are deemed ready for a managerial position.

If you’re interested in analytics, marketing, and business, you should definitely consider becoming an SEO manager in 2021. With more and more industries transitioning to the digital space, the SEO industry is poised to keep expanding. In addition, SEO managerial positions are well remunerated and the sector boasts a bright job outlook.