Searching for how to make money with SEO, have an amazing profit this quarter, or just looking for some side income?
Profiting from SEO sounds like an easy side hustle when you are watching YouTube videos (I’ve been there), but is it actually that easy and should you actively do it?
Let’s take a look at how SEO actually helps businesses and how you can use it to -possibly- turn a profit in 2024.
So how are businesses profiting from this tech skill?
Businesses and individuals invest in SEO for not just marketing strategies, but as a necessity for their online ROI. With a vast majority of consumers turning to search engines for their needs, being prominently featured in search results is paramount.
SEO offers a cost-effective way for businesses to connect with their target audience, increase brand awareness, and drive organic traffic that is more likely to convert.
Understanding the foundational principles of SEO sets the stage for exploring the myriad ways in which SEO can become a lucrative avenue for individuals and businesses alike.
View “List of Ways to Make Money from SEO” if you want
to skip down to my top 10 ways to make from SEO.
The Profitability of SEO
SEO’s potential to generate income is a naturally attractive idea for some, but learning how to do this can be confusing and not as passive as people hope for.
Sergey Grybniak at Search Engine Journal put it well
“SEO itself is a complicated discipline. It combines a large number of tools, best practices that evolve occasionally, and constantly adjusting to Google updates.”
If you’re looking to get into SEO as a profession, it is a profitable career and in very high demand. The amount you can make from SEO greatly depends on 1) what you are doing with it and 2) how good you are at SEO.
The beauty of SEO lies in its diverse income streams. You can:
- Become an SEO Consultant: Offer customized services like keyword research, competitor analysis, and on-page optimization to businesses in need.
- Specialize as an SEO Specialist: Hone your skills in a specific area, like technical SEO or link building, and command higher rates for your expertise.
- Build and Monetize a Blog: Attract targeted traffic through SEO and generate income through advertising, affiliate marketing, or selling your own products or services.
- Train and Mentor Aspiring SEOs: Share your knowledge through online courses, workshops, or one-on-one coaching, creating a passive income stream.
SEO’s flexibility also makes it an ideal side hustle. If it’s more up your alley, you can:
- Offer SEO services on freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr.
- Optimize your own blog or website for affiliate marketing or ad revenue.
- Consult with friends or family businesses, building your portfolio and earning extra income.
Below are statistics based on Indeed.com 2023
Ultimately, your income depends on your skills, experience, and chosen path. But, according to Glassdoor, the average SEO specialist salary in the US is around $70,000, with senior positions reaching 6-figures. And for those who prefer freelancing, ZipRecruiter states that SEO consultants can range from $50-132 per hour. I know some make way more than that statistic – but you get the idea.
If you’re here wondering “Can SEO make me a millionaire?” – the short answer is possibly. But again, this depends on your skills, experience, and chosen path.
If you want to see some success stories instead of chasing unrealistic get-rich-quick schemes, focus on building your skills, delivering value, and creating a sustainable SEO career.
Take inspiration from real-life success stories: Neil Patel, Rand Fishkin, and Barry Schwartz are just a few examples of individuals who have leveraged SEO to build successful businesses and establish themselves as industry leaders.
Remember, SEO is a journey, not a destination. By embracing continuous learning, focusing on ethical practices, and diversifying your income streams, you can unlock the immense profitability of SEO and create a financially rewarding future.
Still feel like leveraging SEO to grow your income? Let’s take a look at some income streams you can consider.
List of Ways to Make Money from SEO
There are multiple ways to make money from SEO, more than the 10 listed here. But, this list of ideas are what I consider to be great way to get started in SEO or (at the least) spark some creative ideas of your own.
Discloser: All income listed below is based off of Salary.com, ZipRecruiter.com, and my experience as of writing this article in December of 2023. For more recent income levels, please check the site.
1. SEO Consulting Services
Pros
High income potential with premium rates for experienced consultants. Flexible work schedule and potential for remote work. Opportunity to build strong client relationships and recurring revenue.
Cons
Requires extensive SEO knowledge and experience. Competitive market with established agencies. Can be time-consuming to find and manage clients.
Income
According to Salary.com, there is high potential, typically $50-$132 per hour or more depending on experience and niche.
2. Freelance SEO Writing
Pros
Flexible work schedule and location independence. Opportunity to work with various clients and write on diverse topics. Relatively low startup costs compared to other methods.
Cons
Can be competitive to find high-paying clients. Inconsistent income flow depending on project availability. Requires strong writing and SEO skills.
Income
Varies widely based on experience, skills, and niche. Based on ZipRecruiter statistics, it ranges from $13 to $100 per hour or more, with $40 per hour being the average.
Based on my own experience as a freelancer, and what I have heard from others, it is really difficult to develop your client list. It can take months to get the first client, then years to develop the proper reputation.
If you can hold out, or do this on the side while you work a main-income job, then it can worthwhile and profitable. But, many people give up freelancing just because how long it takes to enter it professionally.
Jesse Nyberg is a great example of someone that persevered through freelancing and succeeded. While he is a graphic designer, he is still worth listening to as a lot of what he experienced and speaks on still applies to any freelancer in my opinion.
3. SEO-Based Online Courses and Training
Pros
Passive income potential through course sales, especially online courses. Can establish yourself as a thought leader and attract new clients. Recurring revenue stream with minimal ongoing maintenance.
Cons
Requires significant upfront effort for course development and marketing. Competitive market with established training providers.
Income
Can be substantial depending on course quality, marketing reach, and pricing. Can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars per course sale. According to ZipRecruiter, the online course creator salary is $82,000 per year.
4. Niche SEO Content Creation
Pros
Passive income potential through various monetization methods like ads, affiliate marketing, or sponsored content. Creative freedom to build a brand and audience around your interests. Long-term investment that can grow in value over time.
Cons
Requires consistent effort and content creation to attract and retain traffic. May take time to build a profitable audience and income stream. Reliant on algorithm updates and competition for search ranking.
Income
Varies greatly depending on traffic, chosen monetization methods, and niche profitability. Can range from a few dollars per month to several thousand dollars per month or more for successful blogs. According to ZipRecruiter, the average pay for a website owner is $41 per hour, but can go up to $141 per hour.
From my own personal experience, managing this blog as well as other higher-profile websites, creating profit from a niche website can take months to years. It really depends on what topic your website goes over, your marketing skills for self-branding, and how good your SEO skills are.
5. SEO Audits for Businesses
Pros
Relatively quick turnaround time for projects compared to ongoing consulting. Potential for repeat business and referrals from satisfied clients. Good way to showcase your expertise and build trust with potential clients.
Cons
Competitive market with varying project fees. Requires strong analytical and communication skills to effectively present findings and recommendations.
Income
Can vary based on project scope, your experience level, and complexity. According to Salary.com, average pay for a SEO Technical Specialist is $133,100 per year with potential to grow. With a few years of SEO analyst experience, starting can be an average of $74,590 per year.
If this is something you’re interested in, I recommended learning everything you can about Google Analytics and Technical SEO.
6. SEO-Driven Social Media Management
Pros
Combine SEO knowledge with social media marketing trends, offering comprehensive online presence optimization. High demand for social media expertise with SEO integration.
Cons
Requires understanding of various social media platforms and algorithms, fast-paced and dynamic environment.
Income
Salary.com reports $50,000-$170,000+ per year depending on your title and expertise. Beginners can make anywhere from $15-21 per hour.
7. Creating SEO-Related Products or Tools
Pros
Passive income potential through recurring subscriptions or one-time purchases. Can be highly scalable with minimal additional effort once developed.
Cons
Requires technical skills and knowledge of the market to develop a successful product. High upfront investment in development and marketing.
Income
It’s hard to find proper statistics on this, but from experience, it can be very high depending on the product’s value and market demand. Successful tools can generate several thousand dollars or more in monthly revenue. But, if you can’t create a product that sells, then the potential is net-negative.
8. Providing Local SEO Services
Pros
Growing demand for local businesses to optimize online presence. This option can have the potential for a recurring income stream and long-term client relationships as this style of advertising will always be needed.
Cons
Requires specific knowledge of local search algorithms and ranking factors. Smaller client pool compared to general SEO services.
Income
Good potential for premium rates due to niche expertise. ZipRecruiter states this can range from $16 to $49 per hour, with potential for more, depending on experience or location.
9. Affiliate Marketing
Pros
Passive income potential through commissions on sales or leads generated. Can be combined with content creation and SEO optimization for effectiveness.
Cons
Reliant on choosing profitable affiliate programs and building trust with your audience for successful conversions. Can be challenging to find high-quality affiliate programs with good conversion rates. Requires ongoing effort to optimize content and link placements for maximum reach and conversions.
Income
Varies greatly depending on chosen niche, affiliate program commission rates, and traffic volume. Can range from a few dollars per month to several thousand dollars per month or more for successful affiliate marketing campaigns. According to Salary.com, the average income is $55,000 per year with potential for more.
10. SEO-Focused Webinar
Hosting and Consulting
Pros
Leverage your expertise through interactive webinars, building a community and generating leads. Offer consulting services to attendees for personalized SEO strategies.
Cons
Requires strong presentation and audience engagement skills, content creation and marketing effort for attracting attendees.
Income
Income for this depends greatly on the frequency, audience size, and additional revenue streams. It’s hard to find a statistic for this, as it is so niche but, according to Salary.com, average income for a public speaker is $96,000 per year.
Tip for Building a Profitable Online Business
For those with an entrepreneurial spirit and a fascination for the digital marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) presents a unique opportunity.
But where do you start? How do you transform these newfound skills into a sustainable income stream?
If you have decided (as one should) that SEO is the way you want to go, these 5 tips for starting SEO are for you.
1. Learning SEO and Freelancing
While the allure of overnight success is tempting, remember that SEO mastery is a marathon, not a sprint.
Dedicate yourself to spending time learning, devouring online courses, blogs, and industry publications. Aim for approximately 3-6 months of intensive study and practical application to build a solid foundation.
Don’t shy away from real-world projects; the hands-on experience is invaluable. Take this blog for example! I am using it to gain insight into how Google Analytics (GA4) works as well as trying out fun SEO tricks.
Once you’ve gathered your skills, platforms like Upwork and Fiverr be a great starting space for freelancers. Start with smaller gigs to build your portfolio and client base, gradually increasing your rates as your expertise solidifies.
The freelance path grants autonomy and flexibility, but be prepared to hone your self-marketing skills and juggle multiple projects with finesse.
2. Learn Effective SEO Practices
Imagine SEO as a three-headed hydra: technical SEO, on-page SEO, and off-page SEO. Conquer each head, and your website will dominate the search engine battlefield.
- Technical SEO: This ensures your website’s technical foundation is rock-solid. Speedy loading times, mobile-friendliness, and proper data formatting help search engine crawlers navigate and understand your site for optimal ranking.
- On-Page SEO: This optimizes your website’s content and structure to be easily recognized and ranked well by search engines. Think relevant keywords, captivating content, and clear navigation.
- Off-Page SEO: This builds your website’s authority and popularity by earning backlinks from other credible websites. Imagine it as positive word-of-mouth in the digital world.
Most people are specialized in just one of these three, but learning as much as you can about each of these SEO practices will take you far.
3. Driving Traffic and Monetization Strategies
With targeted traffic flowing into your website, it’s time to turn clicks into cold, hard cash. Embrace your content strategist side and learn diverse monetization avenues:
- Content as King: Remember, high-quality, informative content that resonates with your target audience is the digital crown jewel. Craft content that caters to their needs and keeps them hooked, while strategically incorporating long-tail keywords to attract laser-targeted traffic.
- Monetization Mix: Diversify your approach! AdSense, affiliate marketing, selling your own products or services – the possibilities are endless. Experiment and identify what aligns seamlessly with your business model and resonates with your audience. Remember, a balanced approach mitigates risk and maximizes income potential.
HINT: To monitor your traffic, Google Analytics 4 (GA4) is the best tool to use to learn who your users are and how they are using your site.
4. Balancing Marketing and SEO
SEO and marketing are like peanut butter and jelly – inseparable partners creating a delicious online reality.
SEO drives traffic, while marketing adds the captivating visuals and messaging that keeps visitors coming back for more. Mastering both transforms your online business into an attractive company users want to come back to.
- Expanding Your Service Portfolio: As your expertise flourishes, consider offering website audits, competitor analysis, and ongoing SEO strategies to your freelance services. This broadens your client base and keeps the revenue flowing.
Think about people you watch on YouTube. They usually start with one channel but, after they gain a certain amount of followers, they will start up additional channels that go over different topics. This is a form of expanding a service portfolio to reach a larger audience. This also increases their revenue.
5. Freelancing and Agency Services
Freelancing might be your initial playground, but don’t underestimate the potential of building your own SEO agency.
As your network and expertise expand, consider assembling a team of SEO specialists to tackle larger projects and offer a wider range of services. This path opens doors to bigger clients, premium fees, and ultimately, a larger slice of the SEO pie.
Whether you choose the solo-preneur route or build a flourishing agency, remember: passion, dedication, continuous learning, and a deep understanding of your audience are the keys to unlocking your SEO potential.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
My favorite section – the FAQs! If you have any questions you would like an answer to, please leave a comment below 🙂
Is SEO a profitable career?
Absolutely! SEO skills are highly sought-after in today’s digital world, making it a very profitable career path. According to Glassdoor, the average SEO Specialist salary in the US is around $70,000, with senior positions reaching six figures. Freelance SEO consultants can command even higher rates, depending on their experience and expertise.
Can SEO make you a millionaire?
While it’s not a guaranteed path to overnight riches, SEO does offer immense earning potential for those who dedicate themselves to mastering the craft and building a successful career. Several individuals have built million-dollar businesses solely through SEO. However, remember that success depends on numerous factors, including your chosen path, skill set, work ethic, and market circumstances.
Is SEO a stressful job?
Stress levels can vary depending on your role and work environment. Agency life can be fast-paced and deadline-driven, potentially leading to stress. However, freelance SEO can offer greater flexibility and control over your workload, potentially reducing stress. Regardless of your path, staying adaptable and managing expectations in a dynamic field like SEO is essential.
How long will it take to learn SEO?
Building a solid foundation in SEO can take around 3-6 months of dedicated learning through online courses, blogs, and practical application. However, mastering SEO is a continuous journey, requiring ongoing learning and adaptation to keep up with evolving algorithms and industry trends.
Is it worth learning SEO in 2024?
Absolutely! SEO remains a vital tool for online success in 2024 and beyond. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the demand for skilled SEO professionals will only grow. Learning SEO equips you with valuable skills you can apply to various careers, making it a worthwhile investment in your future.
Remember, success in SEO takes dedication, continuous learning, and a strategic approach. If you’re willing to put in the effort, SEO can unlock exciting career opportunities and significant earning potential.
While we over a handful of ways you can make money through SEO, there are way more options to choose from. And, as technology and AI develops, I am sure more and more jobs will become available or needed that are not aware of yet.
The path to SEO profitability is not a sprint, but a marathon demanding dedication, strategic acumen, and a dash of entrepreneurial spirit. However, with the right mindset, you can use SEO to your financial advantage.
Happy Optimization 🙂
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