EO Content & Local Search VA — WordPress, AEO/GEO

SEO Content & Local Search VA — WordPress, AEO/GEO

Rank Local is a growing U.S.-based web design and digital marketing agency looking for a skilled SEO Content & Local Search Virtual Assistant to support ongoing monthly client work.

This is not a basic VA position and it is not a pure project-management role.

I am looking for someone who understands Local SEO, on-page SEO, off-page SEO, SEO copywriting, AEO/GEO, and WordPress well enough to independently execute recurring client work without needing detailed instructions for every task.

The right person should be able to take an assignment such as:

> “Build a new city page for this client, optimize it for local search and AI search, publish it in WordPress, add internal links and schema, and make sure it supports the client’s Local SEO strategy.”

…and carry the project through to completion.

Primary Responsibilities

• Write high-quality SEO blog articles, service pages, location pages, and landing pages.
• Research cities, services, competitors, keywords, and local search intent before writing.
• Create genuinely unique city/location content rather than simply changing city names in a template.
• Build and publish pages in WordPress.
• Duplicate existing page layouts and replace/restructure content appropriately.
• Handle on-page SEO including titles, headings, metadata, internal links, images, alt text, URL structure, and content optimization.
• Perform Local SEO work both on-site and off-site.
• Optimize and maintain Google Business Profiles.
• Work with citations, NAP consistency, directories, local links, reviews/reputation signals, and other local authority opportunities.
• Analyze local competitors and identify what is helping them rank.
• Help develop and execute SEO/AEO/GEO strategies.
• Optimize content for Google Search, Google Maps, AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and other AI-driven discovery platforms.
• Create and implement appropriate schema/structured data when needed.
• Monitor Search Console, rankings, indexing, and other SEO opportunities.
• Improve existing website pages instead of only producing new content.
• Help with ongoing monthly client deliverables and recurring SEO tasks.
• Assist with Rank Local’s own websites and content when client work is lighter.

WordPress Skills

You do not need to be a senior web developer, but you must be comfortable working inside WordPress.

You should be able to:

• Create and edit pages and posts.
• Duplicate existing layouts.
• Format content properly.
• Add internal and external links.
• Add/edit images and alt text.
• Edit metadata.
• Work with common page builders or Gutenberg.
• Make basic layout/content corrections.
• Identify when an issue requires a developer instead of attempting something outside your ability.

SEO Skills I Care About Most

Strong experience in:

• Local SEO
• On-page SEO
• Off-page SEO
• SEO copywriting
• Keyword research
• Content strategy
• Service-area and location-page optimization
• Google Business Profile optimization
• Local citations and NAP consistency
• Competitor analysis
• Internal linking
• Schema / structured data
• Search Console
• WordPress

Working knowledge of:

• AEO
• GEO
• AI search optimization
• Google AI Overviews
• ChatGPT / Gemini / Perplexity visibility
• Entity and authority signals

I am more interested in someone who understands why something should be done than someone who simply follows an SEO checklist.

Writing Ability Is Very Important

A large part of this role will involve writing and improving website content.

You should be able to write natural, persuasive American-English copy for local businesses without producing generic AI-sounding content.

AI tools are welcome and encouraged when used properly, but I do not want someone who simply generates an article with ChatGPT and publishes it without research, editing, fact checking, localization, or critical thinking.

The Person I Am Looking For

I want someone who:

• Thinks independently.
• Notices problems without waiting for me to point them out.
• Takes ownership of assigned work.
• Can research something unfamiliar and figure it out.
• Communicates clearly when something genuinely needs my decision.
• Does not require constant micromanagement.
• Is comfortable receiving constructive feedback.
• Wants a long-term position with room to grow.

Hours

This position will start part-time.

Hours may vary initially based on client workload, but I expect the position to grow as Rank Local continues adding recurring clients.

I am open to candidates who are seeking either part-time work or who would eventually like to transition into a larger/full-time role.

Please tell me:

• Your desired hourly rate.
• How many hours per week you are available.
• What hours you normally work.
• How much overlap you can provide with U.S. Eastern Time.

To Apply

Please send me:

1. A brief introduction about yourself and your SEO experience.
2. Examples of SEO content you personally wrote.
3. Examples of WordPress websites/pages you personally worked on.
4. A Local SEO campaign or project you personally worked on and what you did.
5. Any experience you have with AEO, GEO, AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Perplexity optimization.
6. Your experience with Google Business Profiles and off-site Local SEO.
7. Your hourly rate and availability.

Important: Please do not send a generic application.

In your application, answer this question:

> A local service business is opening a second operation approximately 1,500 miles away in another state. It is the same company and brand. Would you recommend one website with separate geographic silos, two completely separate websites, or a subdomain for the second market? Explain what factors you would consider before d ---------- .

There is not necessarily one automatic answer. I am interested in seeing how you think.

This is intended to be a long-term role for the right person.

Mark Cass

Rank Local