Over the past decade, the digital marketing field has continued to grow and become more complex. Many companies have focused their marketing resources on paid search and SEO. Our expertise in attracting and retaining top talent has given us valuable insights as to what our clients need and want. We see major growth in both paid search and SEO fields.

What is Paid Search?

Open a new tab in your browser and google your favorite car brand or an article of clothing. Notice how the first few results display “Ad” in front of them or maybe you see a carousel of items to purchase. If you continue to scroll, you might notice a section from Google Maps displaying the locations of the item you inquired about before hitting the organic search results. Organic search results are not paid for by individual companies but are ranked according to their relevance to the search query used, also known as SEO (we will get to that in a second).

 

Businesses utilize paid search to promote their product or service. When an individual clicks on these links, the company is charged for the click. Paid search makes up a large component of advertising and businesses utilize it to gain exposure on the web.

What is SEO?

Remember the search results for your favorite car brand or an article of clothing? After scrolling through the paid search results, you’ll see organic search results. Each search engine orders the search results in a slightly different way delivering the results ranked in priority based on how well each website or webpage measures up to the criteria each search engine has set.  

 

Businesses prioritize their SEO because it is a free way to gain exposure. Although a company may employ an SEO specialist, there is no need to pay for or bid for ad space. The search engines display results based on how well a company’s webpage aligns with the search criteria. According to Impact, almost 68% of all clicks go to the first 5 organic search results. This stresses the importance of good SEO strategies.

Average Salaries

If you are interested in taking on a career in paid search or SEO, it is important to look at the average salaries in the United States. Both professions’ compensation varies depending on the amount of experience the candidate has. Like most industries, the longer you’ve worked with PPC or SEO, the more you can expect to earn.

 

LinkedIn found that on average, search professionals make about $54,900 a year. Meanwhile, most SEO professionals make between $50,000 to $74,000 per year, according to Search Engine Journal. Junior roles in SEO typically start between $35,000 and $49,000 a year, increasing as you gain more experience.

Trends and Job Outlook

Paid search and SEO roles are currently in demand and are expected to continue growing in the future. Digital marketing is becoming more and more complex as new technologies and software systems are developed. According to a LinkedIn search, there are approximately 45,000 jobs in the United States requiring paid search experience and another 77,000 jobs in the United States requiring SEO skills.

 

PR Newswire notes that, “global agencies SEO service market is expected to grow from $37.84 billion in 2020 to $40.92 billion in 2021.” They also predict the market to grow to $83.7 billion by 2025. Over the next few years, and most likely the foreseeable future, SEO marketing roles will continue to be in demand.

Many companies are already taking initiative to improve their PPC and SEO performance. According to Smallbizgenius, 79% of marketers see PPC as a crucial marketing strategy for their business. On the other hand, Impact states that 61% of marketers prioritize improving their current SEO. Both paid search and SEO marketers are needed and prioritized in the business industry. Now is your chance to consider a career in PPC or SEO. Are you ready to jump headfirst into this growing industry?

What do you think? Are you interested in pursuing a new career in paid search or SEO? We would love to hear your thoughts! Reach out via our contact form if you would like to discuss your thoughts or challenges further.