In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, the role of Technical SEOhas emerged as a critical component in ensuring a website's visibility and success on search engines. While the field may seem predominantly technical, it's important to debunk the misconception that it's exclusively reserved for individuals with coding prowess or deep technical expertise.
In fact, there is a promising and viable career path for non-tech professionals within the realm of Technical SEO. Navigating a career path in technical SEO as a non-tech enthusiast can be a rewarding and strategic choice in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Technical SEO professionals play a pivotal role in optimizing websites for search engines, ensuring they rank higher and perform better. In this article, we will be discussing what is the career path for a non-tech guy in technical SEO.
What Is Technical SEO?
Technical SEO is all about making changes to a website's code to make its pages rank higher in search engines. Technical optimization is all about making a website faster, easier to crawl, and easier for search engines to understand. On-page SEO, which is about making changes to parts of your website to get better results, includes technical SEO.
Off-page SEO, on the other hand, is about getting people to visit a website through other means. Technical SEO is made up of settings that can be made on the website and server, like page elements, HTTP header replies, XML Sitemaps, redirects, metadata, and more.
When you do technical SEO work, it can have a direct or secondary effect on how search engines crawl, process, and rank your site. That's why Technical SEO doesn't cover things like social media tactics, keyword study, data, or building a backlink profile.
The Career Path For A Non-Tech Person In Technical SEO
If you're not tech-savvy but want to work in technical SEO, your job path can be different based on your skills, experience, and career goals. There are, however, a few popular ways for workers who aren't technical to get into technical SEO
Start As An SEO Specialist
People who aren't tech-savvy can start as SEO specialists by learning the basics of the field. This means working with people who write content, build links, and work with other partners to make a website more visible in organic search results. An SEO expert may also do a study on keywords, make content better, and look at data to see how well things are doing.
Focus On Technical SEO Skills
Even if a non-technical worker doesn't know how to code or build websites, they can still work on improving their technical SEO skills. To do this, you need to know how websites work, learn HTML and other programming languages, and get used to SEO platforms and tools. Technical SEO jobs like site checks, schema code, and page speed optimization can be done by someone who isn't tech-savvy if they have these skills.
Pursue Certification And Training
Online training classes and licensing programs for SEO can help workers who aren't tech-savvy learn the skills they need for technical SEO. These programs teach people about many things, like basic SEO, building links, and data. They can help people become more credible and knowledgeable in their area.
Work With Technical Expert
People who aren't tech-savvy can also work with tech-savvy people to learn more about the technical side of SEO. Working closely with coders, IT professionals, and other technical experts is a great way for non-technical professionals to learn more about how technical SEO works.
SEO Manager
The person can become an SEO Manager if they gain enough knowledge. They will be in charge of a group of SEO Specialists and Technical SEO Specialists and will come up with and carry out SEO plans for a number of different clients.
SEO Director
The person can aim to become an SEO Director as their work goes on. They will be in charge of the whole SEO department and work with upper management to come up with the company's general SEO plan.
SEO Coordinator
An SEO Coordinator's job is to help with making and implementing SEO plans. Some of the things they help with are keyword study, on-page optimization, and building backlinks.
Content Strategist
Content strategists play a pivotal role in Technical SEO by planning, creating, and optimizing content to align with SEO goals. They conduct extensive keyword research, develop content calendars, and ensure that the content they produce is not only engaging and informative but also search-engine-friendly.
This role is ideal for non-tech professionals who possess strong writing, research, and organizational skills. Content strategists bridge the gap between creative content creation and SEO, contributing significantly to a website's success.
Link Building Specialist
Link-building specialists focus on acquiring high-quality backlinks to boost a website's authority and rankings. They build relationships with other websites, perform outreach, and execute strategies to secure valuable backlinks.
Non-tech individuals can excel in this role with their networking, communication, and negotiation skills. Link-building specialists are instrumental in improving a website's off-page SEO, and their efforts can significantly impact search engine rankings.
Local SEO Specialist
Local SEO specialists optimize websites for local searches, aiding businesses in attracting nearby customers. They manage local citations and Google My Businessprofiles and ensure consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) data.
This role suits non-tech professionals who have a knack for attention to detail and can effectively manage online business listings. Local SEO specialists help brick-and-mortar businesses thrive in the digital landscape.
E-Commerce SEO Manager
E-commerce SEO managers specialize in optimizing online stores for search engines. They work on product optimization, category pages, site structure, and user experience to drive organic traffic and conversions.
Non-tech enthusiasts can excel in this role by leveraging their understanding of consumer behavior and e-commerce trends. E-commerce SEO managers play a crucial role in helping online retailers succeed in a competitive market.
SEO Consultant
SEO consultants offer valuable advice to businesses looking to enhance their online visibility. They analyze websites, develop customized strategies, and provide guidance on implementing effective SEO practices.
Non-tech professionals with strong analytical and communication skills can thrive in this role by becoming trusted advisors to businesses seeking SEO expertise. SEO consultants shape the overall SEO strategy, making a significant impact on a company's digital presence.
Transferable Skills Of A Non-Tech Guy For Technical SEO
In the field of Technical SEO, one can be something other than a tech wizard to excel. Non-tech professionals can thrive in this dynamic domain by leveraging a set of transferable skills that are highly valued in the industry.
Analytical Skills
One of the cornerstones of Technical SEO is the ability to dissect complex data and draw meaningful insights from it. Analytical skills are paramount in identifying trends, assessing website performance, and making data-driven decisions. Professionals from various backgrounds, such as marketing, journalism, or even psychology, can harness their analytical prowess to unravel the intricacies of search engine algorithms and user behavior.
Communication And Collaboration
Effective communication is indispensable in the world of SEO. Non-tech individuals often excel in this area, as they possess the knack for articulating ideas clearly and collaborating with cross-functional teams. They can bridge the gap between technical and non-technical departments, ensuring that SEO recommendations are implemented smoothly.
Data Interpretation
SEO professionals must be adept at deciphering and presenting data insights convincingly. Non-tech experts can excel in this aspect by learning how to interpret metrics like click-through rates, bounce rates, and conversion rates. This skill enables them to craft data-driven SEO strategies that enhance website performance and user experience.
Problem-Solving
SEO frequently involves troubleshooting website issues, whether they relate to indexing problems, site speed, or mobile optimization. Non-tech professionals often possess strong problem-solving abilities honed in other fields. They can apply their creative problem-solving skills to diagnose issues, implement solutions, and enhance a website's overall SEO health.
What Are The Characteristics Of A Technically Optimized Website?
A technically optimized website is a cornerstone of a successful digital presence. Such a website not only ensures a seamless user experience but also earns favor with search engines, enhancing its visibility in search results.
Speed Matters
In today's fast-paced digital landscape, speed is of the essence. Research shows that a staggering 53% of mobile users will abandon a webpage if it takes more than three seconds to load. Moreover, for every additional second a page takes to load, e-commerce conversion rates drop by approximately 0.3%. Slow websites frustrate visitors and discourage them from staying. Google recognizes this and favors faster-loading pages in its search results.
Crawlability For Search Engines
Search engines use robots to crawl and index web pages. Ensuring that your website is easily crawlable is essential. A well-structured internal linking system helps search engine robots understand the most crucial content on your site.
You can also guide these robots by using the robots.txt file, but it should be handled carefully as errors can prevent the crawling of essential parts of your site. The robots meta tag is another tool to instruct robots on how to crawl and index your pages.
No Dead Links
Landing on a non-existent page is an exasperating experience for website visitors. Not only do dead links frustrate users, but search engines also dislike encountering them. To avoid dead links, it's crucial to redirect URLs when you delete or move pages. This ensures a smooth user experience and keeps search engines happy.
No Duplicate Content Confusion
Duplicate content can confuse search engines as they struggle to determine which page should rank highest. To combat this, you can use the canonical link element to specify the original page that should be ranked. Yoast SEO simplifies this process by adding self-referencing canonical links to all your pages, preventing unnoticed duplicate content issues.
Security Is Paramount
A technically optimized website is a secure one. Implementing HTTPS with an SSL certificate ensures that data sent between the browser and the site remains encrypted and secure. Google recognizes the importance of website security and considers it a ranking signal. Secure websites rank higher in search results, contributing to enhanced visibility and trustworthiness.
Structured Data Adds Clarity
Structured data helps search engines better understand your website's content or business. By providing specific information in a standardized format, search engines can place your content in context. Implementing structured data can also make your content eligible for rich results, enhancing its visibility in search results.
XML Sitemap For Clarity
An XML sitemap acts as a roadmap for search engines, ensuring they don't miss any essential content on your site. It categorizes pages, including post types and images, and provides the last modified date for each page. While an excellent internal linking structure can make an XML sitemap unnecessary, having one won't hurt and can be especially helpful for complex websites.
Hreflang Tags For International Reach
If your website targets multiple countries or regions with the same language, hreflang tags can help search engines understand which region each page serves. This not only prevents duplicate content issues but also ensures that users see the most relevant content for their location in search results.
What Is The Future Of SEO?
Search engines are moving toward a better comprehension of user intent and concentrating on providing accurate responses to intricate queries as a result of advances in artificial intelligence and natural language processing. Websites that load quickly and are optimized for mobile devices will continue to be crucial as long as mobile usage dominates online activities. 58.99% of all website traffic worldwide comes from mobile phones. (Source: Statista)
Voice search is becoming more and more popular, which forces SEO to focus on answering conversational searches with concise, pertinent content. 40.7% of all voice search answers come from a featured snippet. (Source: Backlinko)
Rich snippets and structured data will improve search results by providing visitors with additional context before they click.
Additionally, as visual and video searches become more popular, SEO professionals are being urged to optimize multimedia material for discoverability. Establishing authority, credibility, and trust will be crucial as search engines give more weight to content quality and dependability. Local firms will use hyper-local SEO to capitalize on the rising demand for close-by goods and services.
Routine chores will be automated by AI-powered technologies, freeing SEO specialists to concentrate on strategy and originality. In general, improving user experiences, adjusting to technology changes, and upholding a solid online reputation in a more cutthroat digital environment will be the key focuses of SEO in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Skills Should A Non-Tech Person Develop For A Career In Technical SEO?
Non-tech individuals should focus on analytical skills, communication, data interpretation, and problem-solving. These transferable skills are highly valuable in technical SEO.
How Can Non-Tech Enthusiasts Gain Technical SEO Knowledge?
They can take online courses, pursue SEO certifications, and collaborate with technical experts to learn the ropes of technical SEO.
Is Coding Knowledge Essential For Technical SEO Success?
While coding knowledge is helpful, it's not mandatory. Many technical SEO tasks can be accomplished without coding skills.
Do Non-Tech Individuals Become SEO Managers Or Directors In The Long Term?
Yes, with experience and expertise, non-tech professionals can climb the ladder to become SEO Managers or Directors, overseeing SEO departments and strategies.
Conclusion
A lot of people question what is the career path for a non-tech guy in technical SEO, so a promising career path exists for non-tech individuals in technical SEO, a critical field in the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape. Roles like SEO Specialist, Content Strategist, Link Building Specialist, and Local SEO Specialist offer opportunities for success. Transferable skills such as analytics, communication, and problem-solving are valuable assets in this field.
A technically optimized website, characterized by speed, crawlability, no dead links, secure infrastructure, structured data, XML sitemaps, and international reach, is essential for online success.
Looking ahead, SEO's future revolves around understanding user intent, mobile optimization, voice search, rich snippets, multimedia optimization, trust-building, and automation. Adapting to these trends will be crucial for SEO professionals to thrive in a competitive digital environment.