Who is technical SEO specialist?
A technical SEO specialist is a professional who focuses on optimizing a website’s technical aspects to improve its search engine visibility and performance. Their primary responsibilities include ensuring that a website is properly indexed and crawled by search engines, improving site speed, enhancing mobile usability, and fixing any technical issues that might hinder the site’s search engine ranking. They also work on optimizing site structure, implementing schema markup, managing URL redirects, and ensuring that the website adheres to SEO best practices and guidelines. Essentially, a technical SEO expert helps make a website more accessible and understandable to search engines, which can lead to higher rankings and better visibility in search results.
Technical SEO refers to the process of optimizing a website’s technical elements to improve its search engine ranking and visibility. It involves ensuring that a website meets the technical requirements of modern search engines, such as Google, for efficient crawling and indexing. Key aspects of technical SEO include:
- Site Speed Optimization: Improving the loading times of web pages to enhance user experience and meet search engine guidelines.
- Mobile Friendliness: Ensuring that the website is fully responsive and functions well on all mobile devices.
- Crawlability and Indexability: Making sure search engine bots can effectively crawl and index the website’s content. This involves managing robots.txt files, sitemaps, and ensuring proper internal linking.
- Site Architecture: Structuring the website in a logical, hierarchical manner to make it easier for search engines to understand and index the content.
- URL Structure: Creating clean, descriptive URLs that are easy for both users and search engines to understand.
- Schema Markup: Implementing structured data to help search engines understand the context and meaning of the content on your site.
- Fixing Technical Errors: Identifying and resolving issues such as broken links, duplicate content, and server errors that could negatively impact the website’s performance.
- Security: Ensuring the website is secure, primarily through the use of HTTPS, which is a ranking factor for search engines.
By addressing these technical factors, technical SEO helps improve the overall performance of a website in search engine results, leading to better visibility, higher traffic, and improved user experience.
Chicago ~ $80,750
In Chicago, Technical SEO Specialists earn an average annual salary of approximately $80,750. The diverse economic landscape of the city, spanning finance, technology, and manufacturing, creates a robust demand for SEO expertise. Chicago’s moderate cost of living further enhances the attractiveness of this salary, providing a balance between career growth opportunities and a comfortable lifestyle (Built In Chicago).
New York City ~ $75,000
In New York City, Technical SEO Specialists can expect to earn around $75,000 per year. As a hub for finance, media, and technology, NYC offers abundant opportunities for SEO professionals. The high competition for top talent drives salaries up, reflecting the city’s status as a global economic powerhouse. Despite the high cost of living, the rich job market and the prestige of working with renowned brands make NYC an appealing destination for SEO experts (PayScale).
Los Angeles ~ $70,000
Technical SEO Specialists in Los Angeles earn an average salary of about $70,000 annually. LA’s economy, heavily influenced by the entertainment, tech, and tourism sectors, necessitates strong online marketing strategies. The city’s dynamic cultural scene and favorable weather conditions make it an attractive place to live and work. Even with the high cost of living, the potential for career advancement in such a vibrant market is significant (PayScale).
San Francisco ~ $85,000
San Francisco offers Technical SEO Specialists the highest average salary, around $85,000 per year. The city’s status as a tech hub with numerous startups and established companies boosts the demand for SEO expertise. This high demand, coupled with the region’s cutting-edge technological environment, justifies the premium salaries. Although living costs are among the highest in the nation, the career opportunities and innovative work culture make San Francisco a top choice for SEO professionals (PayScale).
Miami ~ $60,000
In Miami, Technical SEO Specialists make around $60,000 annually. The city’s economy, driven by tourism, international trade, and finance, relies on effective online marketing to reach a global audience. Miami’s lower cost of living compared to other major cities means that this salary can offer a comfortable lifestyle. Additionally, Miami’s growing tech scene and strategic location as a gateway to Latin American markets present unique opportunities for SEO specialists (PayScale).
Houston ~ $65,000
Technical SEO Specialists in Houston earn about $65,000 per year. Houston’s economy, primarily fueled by the energy sector, also has significant contributions from healthcare, aerospace, and technology industries. The relatively low cost of living in Houston means that this salary can support a high standard of living. The city’s expanding tech sector and large corporate presence provide ample opportunities for career development in technical SEO (PayScale).
A technical SEO expert focuses on the optimization of a website’s technical aspects to improve its search engine visibility and performance.
Here are the main responsibilities:
Website Audits:
- Conduct comprehensive technical SEO audits to identify issues affecting search engine crawls and indexation.
- Use tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, and SEMrush to analyze website health and performance.
Site Architecture Optimization:
- Ensure the website has a clear, logical structure that is easy for search engines to crawl and understand.
- Optimize URL structures, implement breadcrumb navigation, and ensure proper use of canonical tags.
Page Speed Optimization:
- Improve page load times by optimizing images, leveraging browser caching, and minimizing HTTP requests.
- Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to monitor and enhance site speed.
Mobile Optimization:
- Ensure the website is fully responsive and mobile-friendly to provide a seamless user experience across all devices.
- Implement AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) where applicable.
Crawlability and Indexability:
- Manage and optimize robots.txt files and XML sitemaps to ensure search engines can efficiently crawl and index the website.
- Monitor and fix crawl errors reported by Google Search Console.
Technical On-Page SEO:
- Optimize meta tags (title tags, meta descriptions), header tags (H1, H2), and structured data (schema markup) to improve search engine understanding.
- Implement and manage 301 redirects to handle page changes and prevent broken links.
Security Implementation:
- Ensure the website is secure by implementing HTTPS and fixing security vulnerabilities.
- Regularly update plugins, software, and scripts to protect against security threats.
Monitoring and Reporting:
- Continuously monitor website performance using tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, and third-party SEO tools.
- Provide regular reports on key metrics such as traffic, rankings, and technical issues, along with recommendations for improvement.
Stay Updated with SEO Trends:
- Keep up-to-date with the latest SEO trends, algorithm changes, and best practices to ensure the website remains compliant and competitive.
- Participate in industry forums, webinars, and conferences to stay informed about new tools and techniques.
Collaboration with Other Teams:
- Work closely with web developers, content creators, and digital marketers to ensure all technical aspects of SEO are aligned with broader marketing goals.
- Provide technical SEO guidance during website redesigns or migrations to preserve and enhance SEO performance.
By addressing these responsibilities, a technical SEO expert ensures that a website is technically sound, easily accessible to search engines, and optimized for both user experience and search engine ranking.
How to hire a technical SEO specialist?
Hiring a Technical SEO Specialist involves several steps to ensure you find the right candidate with the necessary skills and experience. Here’s a comprehensive guide:
1. Define Your Needs and Goals
- Identify Requirements: Determine what specific technical SEO tasks you need help with, such as site audits, speed optimization, mobile optimization, and more.
- Set Objectives: Clearly outline your SEO goals, whether it’s improving site performance, increasing traffic, or enhancing user experience.
2. Create a Detailed Job Description
- List Responsibilities: Include tasks such as conducting technical SEO audits, optimizing site architecture, improving page speed, ensuring mobile friendliness, managing crawlability and indexability, and implementing security measures.
- Specify Required Skills: Highlight the need for experience with SEO tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, SEMrush, and proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Include Qualifications: Mention preferred qualifications like a degree in marketing, computer science, or related fields, and certifications in SEO.
3. Source Candidates
- Job Boards and Websites: Post the job on SEO-specific job boards like SEOjobs.com, as well as general platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor.
- Professional Networks: Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to search for and connect with potential candidates. Participate in SEO forums and groups to find qualified professionals.
- SEO Communities: Engage with online communities such as Moz Q&A, Reddit’s r/SEO, and other industry forums where SEO professionals congregate.
4. Evaluate Resumes and Portfolios
- Review Experience: Look for candidates with proven experience in technical SEO, including past projects and success stories.
- Assess Skills: Ensure the candidate has hands-on experience with technical SEO tools and a solid understanding of SEO best practices and algorithms.
- Check Portfolios: Request portfolios or case studies showcasing their previous work and achievements in improving website performance and rankings.
5. Conduct Interviews
- Technical Knowledge: Ask specific questions about technical SEO strategies, tools, and methodologies. Questions might include how they conduct site audits, their approach to optimizing page speed, or their experience with mobile optimization.
- Problem-Solving Abilities: Present hypothetical SEO challenges to see how candidates approach problem-solving and strategy development.
- Cultural Fit: Ensure the candidate aligns with your company’s culture and values, and can collaborate effectively with your team.
6. Test Their Skills
- Practical Assignments: Give candidates a practical test, such as performing a mini SEO audit on your website and providing recommendations.
- Analyze Results: Evaluate the depth and accuracy of their analysis and the feasibility of their recommendations.
7. Check References
- Past Employers: Contact previous employers or clients to verify the candidate’s experience and performance.
- Professional References: Speak with colleagues or mentors who can vouch for the candidate’s technical skills and work ethic.
8. Make an Offer
- Competitive Salary: Offer a competitive salary based on market rates for Technical SEO Specialists in your region.
- Benefits and Incentives: Include attractive benefits and incentives to make your offer more appealing.
9. Onboarding and Integration
- Training: Provide initial training and resources to help the new hire understand your website’s current SEO status and your specific needs.
- Integration: Facilitate their integration into your team and ensure they have access to necessary tools and support.
