Link Building: A Lucrative SEO Job

With web development becoming more and more available to almost every internet user and with the increasing number of platforms allowing virtually anyone to create his or her own website, it is expected that the competition for online traffic become tougher and tighter by the hour. And with many businesses today basing their operations entirely on the internet, it should also come as no surprise if they do everything to make their page ranks higher to drive more visitors to their sites. This whole business of traffic-driving is called search engine optimization or SEO. The best thing about SEO is it creates so many online jobs that can be done from the comfort of one’s home.

One of these SEO jobs is link building. Basically, it is the creation of links in other websites that lead to the website being optimized. That may be quite a too simplistic definition but it explains in the simplest terms how link building is done.

Searching for link building freelance opportunities, I stumbled upon the following job post, which I found quite funny.

“I want as many as possible links to my site. I only need to be 'famous' for 10 days. After that, it doesn't matter if I'm blacklisted or whatever. I need to be No 1 on Google on the 15th of May. Absolutely, positively. If I am toast by the end of May, doesn't matter. So I want porn links, link farms, blog spam. Everything! I MUST be No. 1 on the 15th of May for at least 24 hours. Bid a low to win. If I am no. 1 on 15/05/10, I WILL pay $600 U.S. dollars as a bonus. Guaranteed. My regular employee rating is 9.985. I'm sorry, but I am undercover for this one as it is flying under the radar.”

This job ad was created on April 20 the same year. I found it funny because the buyer seems to be really desperate to rank number on Google’s search results in such a short time. And the poster even had a specific target date for it! Whose curiosity wouldn’t be piqued by that? What kind of site could it be?

Well, I never found out because I didn’t even think of applying for it. Obviously, the buyer was looking for a link building team. An individual couldn’t possibly deliver the results the buyer wants in a very short period of time. But even with a team of link builders, they would have to have a really, really good strategy to give the buyer’s website the highest possible page rank even for just a day.

Doing link building per se is quite easy. You just need to post links in forums, comment threads, online site directories, blogs, etc. But getting good results, i.e. a boost in page ranking, isn’t as easy. Therefore, the practice of link building should be done with quality in mind. When we say link quality, we are talking of how creative links are.

Link building freelancers should be able to make their forum and blog posts more engaging and more credible-sounding so other people won’t think of them as mere spammers promoting their websites.

Copywriting As An Online Job

With the advent of technology, copywriting already covers a wide range of media like television, radio, magazines, brochures, direct mail, and the like today. In fact, every word in every brochure, advert, website and leaflet you see is written by the copywriter. Before, copywriters are restricted to being in-house or by marketing or PR firms but now, there are so many freelance copywriters that offer their services and get so many projects by making copywriting as an online job.

Today, freelance copywriters are known to write different forms of copy and are expected to produce great outputs. But, despite being demanding work, being an online copywriter can be a lot of fun and one of the best ways make great money if you have the skill, the connection, and the drive to be successful. Aside from being an avenue to earn great income, online copywriting also offers you the ability to work from anywhere via Internet.

Getting started

Being a copywriter enables you to choose a specific or particular market sector or product and you are expected to write something or anything that your potential client wishes.

In order to become a good and successful copywriter, you should have a great ability to research about a certain topic while understanding your clients and target customers. Aside from having excellent research and understanding skills, you also have to have imagination and flair to keep you ideas running while keeping your clients happy.

If you are planning to become an online copywriter, you must be:

- well trained and educated. If you want to delve into the world of online copywriting, then it is a must that you get any type of writing degree in English, Journalism, Communications, and the like. Having an education or a background on the career you wish to pursue can be a strong step in finding work as a copywriter. If is it's impossible for you to have a degree, try to get certifications or non-degree courses that teach copywriting basics offered by many colleges. Having a background on copywriting can serve as your credential once you venture into freelance or online work.

- get pro bono work. If you don’t have any other experience, writing a copy or an item for free will provide you the experience you need. The copies you have written can also serve as sample copies once you market yourself as a freelance online copywriter.

- try to get an internship. An internship from an establishment known to the field you wish to pursue can definitely back up your credentials once your venture as an online copywriter. Aside from giving you experience and first-hand knowledge, an internship may also lead you to a permanent employment with the company.

Although an online job as a copywriter can be quite lucrative, it can also be very stressful. This is because just like all freelance online jobs, copywriting means that you have to sell or market yourself, your ability to meet a deadline or complete a job on time, and to budget resources by making use of your skills and knowledge.

Advantages Of Online Jobs

The advent of the internet has created innumerable opportunities for interaction among cultures. With its massive popularity, the internet has been used as a venue for quite a number of interests, as well as business ventures. These businesses and other online sources of income paved the way for various online jobs to surface in the market. With scores of jobseekers wishing to enter the work force, online jobs not only increase person-to-job ratio – it also provides an opportunity for people to expand their horizon. Here are some reasons where you might consider online jobs to be worthy alternatives:

1. Online jobs are generally cost-effective. Your only expense, basically, is your internet fee. Compared to desk jobs where people have to battle traffic and the stress of traveling, online jobs can be done practically everywhere, even in the comfort of your own home. It doesn’t hurt that you also get to save a great deal from your travel expenses as well.

2. They save lots of travel time. The 30 minutes you use to commute to work or the 10 minutes spent for walking to the office building can be used for other worthwhile activities, like conceptualizing on a project or troubleshooting.

3. There are greater opportunities for income online. The possibilities are promising. One need not be constrained to a single employer or source of income, which are typical of desk jobs. In online jobs, you get to explore several areas, where boundless opportunities await.

4. A bigger network lies in the World Wide Web. With online jobs, you can reach a wider range of audience. A global audience is characteristic of the “boundless” society of the internet. You will never know what and who your work will reach, and its effect on people with varying cultures.

5. Age is often just a number. This is especially true if you know how to go about the computer and the internet. Since jobs online require minimal physical exertion, age is typically not much of an issue. What is of much concern to the client is the quality of work you do.

6. Online jobs allow a flexibility of location. You can work anywhere you want, provided you have internet connection. You need not battle it out with other commuters in the subway, or fall in line at bus stops, and experience the other stressors normally experienced by people with desk jobs. Working online gives you more freedom to get comfortable with your work environment that you have chosen for you own.

With online jobs slowly gaining popularity, it’s not hard to believe the many benefits you can experience by working online. Its attraction lies mainly in being able to work from your preferred zone, and being instantly connected to a wider audience range. The increasing dependence of people on the internet makes it easier for jobs and businesses to penetrate the market. The advantages listed above are only guides to help you weigh your options, and be more informed with your choices.