Self-Taught Is Power! (How I Became An SEO Expert)

byTaylorFisher

132 followers

Updated 5 years ago

Experience is better than a degree.

I know that first hand because I have a Masters in Strategic Communication. But I didn't get that until 3 years after my first gig as an SEO. I had interviewed to be a Copy Editor but I mentioned that my past experience as a freelance blogger meant that I'd been doing my own SEO research. It was pretty minimal, but it was experience, and the company was hurting for that. I got the job and the title change on the same day and accepted my role as the new (and first) SEO/Editorial Associate on the team. After a year I took a job with higher pay, better benefits and more flexible hours... as an SEO Coordinator.

I got a lot of questions about how I do SEO, how it works, and how I learned it. At the time there were barely any certificates out there and there's still no degree in it. But there are thousands of SEOs out there, and plenty of job openings. So how were these people getting in to it?

Chance and drive go a long way!

Much like the Wealthy Affiliate offer, someone presented me with something that piqued my interest and I knew enough to know it was worth trying. If I had hated SEO it wouldn't have been the end of the world. I'd just go back to doing content work and forget I ever strayed from the path. But because I loved it (and I still do) I threw myself in to it with incredible energy. I started building my own websites just to learn code and reading Google's patents.

I even started ofering my services for free to small businesses and non-profits just so I could have the opportunity to work in more industries and with more tools. I was never ashamed to be hungry or tired because I was feeding my appetite for knowledge. You should never be ashamed to be learning - always ask questions, watch a video more than once, change your niche a few times. You have to complete whatever your process is to get to a place where you feel like an expert. That feeling will help you project with confidence and will keep you motivated, which is when the good stuff really starts to happen.

I don't just mean at your 9-5 (although I have certainly enjoyed the raises and title changes). Your experience is unique to you and people will pay for that knowledge, and will make purchases based on your opinions. In addition to being an affiliate marketer you could grow your online presence to include personal mentoring, business consulting, training courses, books and more!

People with the drive to be self-taught also have the opportunity to be self-made and that is a very powerful thing. You have a unique voice and a unique perspective, so use it. Hold on to that power as you pursue your next goal and remember: when it comes to your personal experience, you are the only expert!