What skills are needed to become an SEO specialist?
SEO Career
An SEO specialist in 2025 needs a hybrid of technical, analytical, and creative skills.
Key skill sets include:
(1) Technical SEO – Site structure, crawling, indexing, Core Web Vitals, structured data.
(2) Content SEO – Keyword research, topical authority, EEAT-driven content writing.
(3) Analytics – Google Search Console, GA4, and log file analysis.
(4) AI & Search Trends – Understanding SGE, zero-click search, and how to optimize content for AI models.
(5) Soft Skills – Communication, reporting, and stakeholder education.
Example:
A strong SEO might audit a site’s Core Web Vitals, recommend schema markup, and then brief content writers on how to improve topical authority.
Further reading: