SEO Specialist

I’m looking for an experienced Local SEO specialist to help build, optimize, and grow a portfolio of websites targeting local service markets throughout the United States.

This is a long-term role for someone who understands Local SEO beyond basic keyword placement and can independently analyze competition, optimize websites, monitor performance, and make informed decisions to improve Google rankings.

You will be provided with our internal training, processes, tools, and strategy after joining.

We will initially aim to launch approximately one new website per week while continuing to monitor and improve existing websites.

Responsibilities

Your responsibilities may include:

• Performing local keyword research
• Analyzing Google search results and competitors
• Using Ahrefs or similar SEO tools for competitive research
• Building websites using SitePanda
• Optimizing website content for search engines
• Writing and improving title tags and meta descriptions
• Optimizing headings, page structure, URLs, and internal links
• Creating and optimizing service-related pages
• Performing on-page SEO
• Configuring domains and basic DNS settings
• Setting up call tracking and related website tools
• Connecting websites to Google Search Console
• Submitting sitemaps and monitoring indexing
• Monitoring keyword rankings and organic performance
• Building citations and relevant backlinks
• Identifying new SEO opportunities
• Creating backlinks
• Diagnosing websites that are not performing as expected
• Maintaining organized tracking of website performance

What I'm Looking For

Strong experience with Local SEO is the most important requirement.

You should be familiar with:

• Local SEO
• Google Search Console
• Ahrefs
• Keyword research
• SERP and competitor analysis
• On-page SEO
• Internal linking
• Local citations
• Link building
• Content optimization
• Local service business websites
• Basic domain and DNS configuration
• Backlinks, backlinks, backlinks

Experience working with websites in industries such as home services, automotive services, contractors, or other local businesses is a plus.

Previous experience with SitePanda or our specific internal tools is not required. They are straightforward to learn, and training will be provided.

What Makes a Strong Candidate

I’m looking for someone who can do more than follow an SEO checklist.

You should understand how to evaluate a search results page, identify opportunities, understand the difference between domain-level and page-level competition, and determine what changes may be necessary to improve a website's rankings.

You should also be comfortable looking at SEO data and answering questions such as:

• Why is one competitor outranking another?
• How competitive is a particular search result?
• Which pages need additional optimization?
• Where would backlinks have the greatest impact?
• What additional keywords should a website target?
• Why might a newly launched website not be gaining visibility?

I value analytical thinking and SEO judgment more than simply producing large amounts of content.

Workload

We will initially start at approximately 10-15 hours per week.

The role will involve a combination of launching new websites and improving existing ones.

This role is at your own pace. You will not have a set schedule or work hours. As long as you get the work done, we will be happy.

Confidentiality

You will be working with an internal website and SEO strategy that we consider confidential.

More information about our processes, market-selection methodology, training materials, and overall strategy will be provided to the selected candidate after hiring.

We are looking for someone who is comfortable working discreetly with proprietary processes and information.

When Applying

Please answer the following:

1. How many years of Local SEO experience do you have?

2. Please describe a local business website you personally helped improve or rank.

3. What measurable results did you achieve?

4. Which SEO tools do you regularly use?

5. How do you evaluate whether a Google search result is highly competitive or relatively easy to enter?

6. If a strong domain is ranking with a relatively weak individual page, how would you interpret that?

7. What steps would you typically take during the first 90 days of SEO work on a newly launched local website?

8. What is your approach to backlinks for local websites?

9. Please provide examples of websites or SEO projects you have personally worked on, if available.

10. Start your application with the phrase "Local SEO" so I know you read the full posting.

Please do not send a generic SEO proposal. I am specifically interested in candidates with hands-on Local SEO experience who can explain their decision-making and show real examples of past results.