Top 5 Questions to Help You Get Started in SEO

In 2026, the SEO market is worth over $108 billion, enticing enough to have drawn over 350 thousand SEO agents in the US alone. Everyone wants to get involved in this lucrative business, which seems to require very little to start. Take a course, get some free AI tools, and you’re ready. But is it really that easy to get started in SEO?

There is even better news coming from a market research company that the SEO market will exceed $265 billion by 2034. This will attract even more newbies. All of them desire to become SEOs.

Yet, some marketing experts are announcing a shift in search engine optimization. Driven by AI-powered answer engines, SEO as we know it won’t be the same within a few years. We are talking about zero-click search, AI answers, and agentic AI that runs the wheel for surfers.

According to Research RD, the future of SEO is a hybrid, with human managers overseeing 10-20 specialized AI agents that handle high-volume, repetitive tasks. This makes it a lot easier to collect data, analyse it, and make optimal decisions.

However, if you plan on getting into the SEO business, here are some questions that you should ask. This article will provide insights into the top 5 questions you should consider before starting your business.

1. What SEO services will you offer, and how will you price them?
2. What is the level of your SEO expertise, and how will you build a portfolio to share with clients?
3. What SEO tools will you need to start?
4. How will you get your first clients?
5. How will you keep up with SEO updates and changes?

The answers to these questions will help aspiring SEOs.

#1: What SEO services will you offer, and how will you price them?

One of the first decisions that you must make early when starting your search engine optimization project is what services you will offer. This includes determining whether you will focus on on-page optimization, such as improving website content and structure, or off-page strategies like link building and social media engagement. Carefully defining your service offerings will help set clear expectations with clients and guide your overall project strategy.

Most SEOs offer three to four basic services, with extensions including other digital marketing channels. Here are some popular choices.

• Local SEO: You may decide to focus on local SEO, which helps businesses attract customers in a specific geographic area.  This is a great service to offer as search engines like Google help searches find businesses located close to them.
• Technical SEO: You might specialize in conducting technical audits to identify and resolve website issues that impact search rankings. This is usually an added service included with On-page and Off-page SEO since it plays an essential role in page ranking.
• Content Marketing: Alternatively, specializing in content marketing allows you to create and promote valuable material that drives organic traffic. This marketing service relies strongly on content distribution apps and platforms such as social media and press release syndicates.
• All-Inclusive SEO Services: Some professionals or agencies offer comprehensive SEO packages that combine multiple services. These may include On-page and Off-page optimization, link building, technical  SEO, and reporting.
• Answer Engine Optimization: As AI gets more involved in search, SEOs are now offering an optimization service to aid in indexing into these answer engines. Many companies, such as Optimizely, are already offering these services.

Defining which services you plan to offer will help clients see the value of your proposals.

How to price your SEO services?

When determining your service offerings, it’s also essential to establish a clear pricing structure. Selecting the right pricing model for your business and clients will help ensure transparency and foster long-term partnerships.

• Retainer Pricing Module: Common pricing models in the SEO industry include monthly retainers, where clients pay a set fee each month for ongoing services. Some agencies offer hourly rates for work that may be less predictable or more consultative in nature.
• Project-based fees:  Another popular option, providing clients with a fixed price for a defined scope of work, such as a website audit or a content strategy plan.

Whichever module you choose, make sure that your prices are competitive and your clients can easily see its value.

#2: What is the level of your SEO expertise, and how will you build a portfolio to share with clients?

Getting started as an SEO can be difficult. The truth is, even SEO is challenging and sometimes tricky to learn. All this depends on the purpose driving you and how much time you have to accomplish it.

However, you must be honest with the level of your expertise to ensure quality service and a good reputation. Taking courses and following authoritative publications can help you grow your skills.

There are some factors that newbies can learn to dominate and achieve their SEO dreams.

1) Constant Changes: Google makes at least two core updates each year that change how it ranks websites. This means that expertise mastered last year may no longer work. According to Search Engine Land, these are the core updates made by Google since 2022.

• 2025: 3 core updates (March, June, December).
• 2024: 4 core updates (March, August, November, December).
• 2023: 4 core updates.
• 2022: 2 core updates. 

An SEO must keep up to speed with these updates and make necessary adjustments to strategies and improve guides.

2) Large Work Space: SEO covers many areas and techniques that require ongoing training and practice. From building backlinks to improving website speed, SEOs work long hours. Many agencies are run by SEOs who have little knowledge or experience and only outsource tasks to freelancers.

Growing your clientele and expertise must go hand in hand. Themore experience you have, the more people will trust you.

3) Patience and Persistence: While most marketing projects produce results overnight, search engine optimization is a long-term job. Most optimizations take at least six months and may even take years to show the desired results.

That is why SEOs must be patient and never give up. By being persistent, they can overcome these challenges.

Even with AI tools, SEO services require a lot of time. However, if you have both patience and persistence, it may not be hard to get started in SEO.

#3: What SEO tools will you need to start?

Sometimes, it is hard to get started as an SEO due to personal mindset. Some people doubt that they meet the requirements to become an SEO. One common, misplaced idea is that SEO tools require some level of coding knowledge.

One way to answer this is that having some coding skills can greatly benefit you. You can dig deep into Google for Developers and share your opinions. But you do not need to be a developer to learn optimization or use SEO tools.

To successfully launch an SEO business, it’s important to equip yourself with a set of essential tools that streamline research, analysis, and reporting.

• Keyword Research: Keyword research platforms like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Google Keyword Planner help you identify valuable search terms and understand competition.
• Website Audits: For website auditing and technical analysis, tools such as Screaming Frog SEO Spider and Google Search Console are indispensable for detecting site errors, crawl issues, and optimization opportunities.
• Analysis: Additionally, Google Analytics provides in-depth insights into website traffic and user behavior, enabling you to measure the impact of your SEO efforts.
• Backlink Management: Link building and backlink analysis are critical components of SEO, and tools like Moz Link Explorer, Ahrefs, or Majestic can help you monitor your site’s backlink profile and identify new opportunities.
• On-Page SEO: For on-page optimization, plugins like Yoast SEO (for WordPress) or Surfer SEO assist in fine-tuning content and technical elements.

Finally, reporting tools such as Google Data Studio or AgencyAnalytics enable you to present results and progress to clients in a clear, professional format. Leveraging these tools will help you deliver comprehensive SEO services and demonstrate value to your clients from the outset.

#4: How will you get your first clients?

It is believed that there are over 250,000 active SEOs in the world, and mostof them have remained profitable. According to a recent report by RivalMind, even those agencies that prefer not to use AI still make a profit of at least 11%.

For a new SEO professional, landing your first clients can seem daunting, but there are several proven strategies to help you get started. Each opportunity requires careful planning and persistence.

1. Target those you know: Begin by leveraging your personal and professional network—reach out to friends, family, and former colleagues who may know business owners needing SEO help. Offer to conduct a free website audit or provide a complimentary consultation to demonstrate your value.
2. Use Business Driven Platforms: Building relationships on platforms like LinkedIn can also expand your reach, as you connect with small business owners, marketing managers, and entrepreneurs who are likely to need SEO services. Other places like Reddit, Facebook, and  Appsense can empower your stride.
3. Go Public: Another effective strategy is to showcase your expertise publicly. Create valuable content, such as blog posts, how-to guides, or SEO tips, and share them on social media and relevant online communities. Participating in local business events or online webinars can help you establish yourself as a knowledgeable resource in your area.
4. Look for SEO Clients: Don’t overlook joining freelance platforms like Upwork or Fiverr, where many businesses search for SEO help—these platforms can serve as a springboard for building your reputation and client base.
5. Partnership: Additionally, consider partnering with web designers, developers, and digital marketing agencies that don’t offer SEO in-house; these partnerships can lead to a steady flow of referrals.

For example, consider the case of “BrightRank SEO,” a small agency that started by offering free SEO audits to local businesses in their city. After demonstrating quick wins, such as improving search rankings for a local bakery and generating more website visits for a fitness studio, they collected testimonials and case studies to showcase on their website.

By maintaining an active blog, networking at local business meetups, and building relationships with other digital marketing professionals, BrightRank grew from its first two clients to serving dozens within a year.

Their success highlights the importance of proactive outreach, delivering measurable value, and leveraging satisfied clients to build credibility and attract new business.

#5: How will you keep up with SEO updates and changes?

Staying abreast with ongoing trends and updates is vital to your SEO business. Each time an AI is updated, a new answer engine goes live, or Google launches an update, you should be among the first to know.

Such news is cause for chatter, builds confidence in you, and establishes you as a thought leader. Once you get started in SEO, everything you write or say will be reviewed and can be used to your benefit.

There are many places online that are great for learning SEO. These include forums like Reddit, Facebook, and Quora. However, the number one recommendation is Google.

Google provides beginner guides to help you learn SEO and become a specialist. These SEO Starter Guides are completely free and do not require third-party help to understand.

Alternatively, you can get direct answers by joining the SEO Tips newsletter powered by April Pad. The free newsletter covers SEO news, tips, mini-guides, and recommendations.

Conclusion: How to Get Started in SEO

By now, you have decided that it is not hard to start an SEO business. You are ready to explore how to roll out your business, whether it is an agency or just a freelancer. It is not that hard.

1. Define your SEO services and establish a pricing module
2. Decide on a strategy to grow your expertise and portfolio
3. Choose the SEO tools essential to do your work
4. Create a plan to acquire your first clients
5. Identify credible sources to stay updated with your industry trends and updates.

As you begin your new journey, remember to follow Google’s rules. Do not let anyone dissuade you with rumors that it is hard to get started in SEO.