Like with all occupations and specialties, the area of Search Engine Optimization aka SEO requires certain characteristics that separate the chaff from the wheat. There’s an amateur and haphazard way of doing SEO and then there’s the professional way.
One will find that most of these qualities are applicable to any occupation, but then again, there are technical areas singularly to SEO. Knowing and adopting these characteristics will establish your company as responsible and successful.
First of all, in general, just being ethical is the first part. Don’t ever think of getting over on a client with slipshod service. Give every job and part of a job your best foot forward and stick to it. You’re going to deliver the kind of service that is honorable and worthwhile. This will carry you further than anything because an honorable professional will be cherished and bragged about. It’s like having free advertising for as long as the customer is happy and that can be a long time. With today’s use of social media, a good review or recommendation could be seen by who knows how many people and fast.
Knowing your technologies. SEO is now both a science and an art. If you don’t know the various software and technological applications in order to do the most efficient and effective job, you’ll be like trying to start a fire with two sticks as opposed to a pocket lighter. No stone age stuff used here. Keep tabs on the latest software and study and train. Apply them via experimentation and look at the statistics for results you can measure how successful they are. If a new piece of software comes out, don’t just rush in, wait for reviews and make sure the company that produces it also upgrades it. This way, you’ll be able to apply it without a hitch.
Be enthusiastic. Not only should you be enthusiastic at what you do, but your team as well. Any job worth doing is worth doing with enthusiasm. This will translate in everything you apply it to. Your goal is to do the best you can and enjoy the challenge of each new job. This way you’ll not get bored and you won’t lose focus. Look at your client’s property as if it were your own and you’ll be geared up even more to do the best you can.
Don’t fear troubleshooting. There are basic strategies and tactics to SEO but not every job is the same. You’ll need to be able to think on your feet, especially for those challenging websites that feature something new like a new product or service. You’ll need to see how best you can take advantage to both introduce and expand the site’s reach. New products might have names and terminology that the search engines aren’t familiar with. This can be to your advantage or disadvantage. You’ll need to adapt things so you don’t miss anything and get that client the results they deserve for their hard earned investment dollar.
Add to all that, dedication, loyalty, patience, manners, communication, and you’ve got the recipe for success on a professional level for SEO.
