How to find freelance SEO consultant jobs

Search engine optimisation work is not easy — which is why it can be difficult for companies to perfect the SEO process without hiring a whole team. Businesses then turn to freelancers for support on this essential marketing activity. So how do you find these jobs for freelance SEO consultants? This article will look at the following areas:

• Start your website and list your services
• Create content to show your expertise
• List on freelancer directories
• Be active on LinkedIn

As an SEO freelancer, you should probably practice what you preach. First, create a website and rank highly on Google. Businesses looking for SEO consultants will likely search this term, so positioning yourself in the search results will demonstrate that you can execute effective SEO.

Make your website fast, simple to navigate and clearly display the services you offer. Remember that your target clients may not understand SEO or it’s value. So, lead with the benefits and explain your services in easily understandable language, else they may feel alienated and not get in touch.

If your work experience lies in one specific industry, then feature that so you stand out from other SEO consultants. If you have a variety of experience, then consider choosing a sector to specialise in to have a USP. Featuring this on your website can also ensure you are seen in the search results if a potential client searches for ‘freelance SEO services for accountants’  for example.

Spend some time gathering feedback or asking for Google reviews from your previous clients so potential clients doing their research can see your impact.

As an SEO, you’ll know the importance of creating authoritative, educational and engaging content. So start a business blog and create content (articles) to showcase your expertise and capture any searchers who found your articles via a search engine. 

For free article ideas that don’t require keyword research, search a common question you get about SEO. Then, scroll down the search results until you find the ‘People Also Ask’ list of more questions. The list will provide various related subjects that you can use to start creating articles, which will show potential customers that you are an SEO authority.

You could also join a freelancer marketplace to find clients. Popular freelancing websites include:

• Fiverr is a freelancing platform where freelancers can set their rates to match their skill level, with prices per project ranging from £5-£10,000 depending on experience.
• UpWork is one of the largest platforms and offers a lot of exposure for freelancers. Unfortunately, there is a lot of competition, so new SEO consultants may find it difficult to get jobs.
• PeoplePerHour allows you to show off your skills in several ways, like building an impressive profile and even participating in competitions to get noticed by potential clients.

In B2B work, LinkedIn is the social media platform you should be spending your time working on. It can take time to build a presence, but it can be a valuable and consistent source of leads for freelance SEO’s if done correctly.

First of all, complete your profile. Don’t leave any section blank. Fill in various skills and include your most relevant experience, using statistics and figures to make your achievements attention-grabbing. Ensure you have a friendly and professional-looking headshot too. 

Don’t forget to include the keyword’ freelance’ or ‘consultant’ in different sections of your profile. This will signal that you are available for consulting work to anyone searching for that term.

You can also add ‘actively looking for work’ to your profile so that any headhunters or businesses can see that you are available for consulting work. Include this in your headline or summary, or change your settings. Under your profile picture, you’ll find a box that allows you to show that you’re job hunting. To change this:

1. Click on the box that says, “Show recruiters you’re open to work.”
2. Fill out the pop-up with your availability
3. Save the changes

Next, ask clients from projects you’re particularly proud of or people with whom you had strong working relationship to have them write some recommendations for you.

The culture on LinkedIn is based around information sharing and building relationships. Try to post updates 1-3 times a week and create talking points by sharing content and showing your expertise. You can do this by:

• Posting articles 
• Sharing any research that you found interesting and comment on it
• Discussing how you solve common problems in your industry
• Give personal opinions on relevant current affairs
• Share content and insights from industry influencers
• Show potential customers the value you have as a freelancer, such as anonymised results from previous clients
• Show prospective clients your results using graphs or stats

You’ll have to spend a lot of time establishing yourself as a ‘thought leader’ — someone who is an authority and ahead of the curve in your sector. Talk to influencers, other SEO’s, and businesses and create discussion through comments and posts. By engaging with influencers in the SEO world and companies you’d like to work for, you can build relationships with businesses and individuals that could be valuable clients. 

Search the jobs section of LinkedIn for current opportunities and browse the ads that companies are advertising. 

Try searching “hiring SEO freelancer” or “hiring SEO consultant” and try words such as ‘seeking’, ‘needed’ or ‘looking for. This search will bring up individuals using their profile for hunting for someone of your skillset, and you can contact them directly. 

Use this search in the ‘People’ and ‘Content’ search, and filter the results by ‘Latest’. The search will bring up any articles or posts that mention recent or current consultant opportunities. Browse through and see which posts apply to you, apply for the role, or contact those individuals.

Financial management can be stressful and time-consuming when you’re self-employed. Now that you’re equipped to find consulting jobs you can use the Countingup app to make managing your freelance income simple. 

Countingup is the business current account with built-in accounting software that allows you to manage all your financial data in one place. With features like automatic expense categorisation, invoicing on the go, receipt capture tools, and tax estimates, you can confidently keep on top of your business finances wherever you are. 

You can also instantly share your bookkeeping with your accountant without worrying about duplication errors, data lags, or inaccuracies. Seamless, simple, and straightforward! 

Find out more here.