Is this too much work for a first SEO job… advice?

I started my first job seven months ago as a Copywriter, but along the way, I was also given SEO duties.

We run two websites for different products, and my responsibilities keep growing. Currently, I write around 16 blog posts a month, plus I handle social media posts, ads, landing pages, proofreading, and even translations. I’m also expected to solve technical SEO issues, even though I’m not fully sure what to look for. On top of all that, we’re redesigning our website, and I’m in charge of optimizing it for SEO before launch.

While I like my job, I have no idea if this workload is normal. Over the past seven months, I’ve learned a lot about SEO, but I came in with just basic knowledge about keywords.

So far, I’ve increased blog views by 104% and organic search traffic by 27% in the last four months, mainly by consistently putting out quality content.

Since this is a startup, we’ve never had an SEO specialist, and this is my first SEO role. I have a few questions:

  1. Am I doing too much for one person?
  2. What’s a typical day like for others doing similar work?
  3. Are my results good or just average?
  4. Can anyone recommend some good SEO courses? I’m learning on my own, and it’d be helpful to have something structured, especially if there’s anything advanced.

Sounds like you’re doing great… keep it up. For learning, check out free resources from Nathan Gotch, SEMrush, and Ahrefs on YouTube. HubSpot also has free SEO courses… hope this helps.

EllaShaw said:
Sounds like you’re doing great… keep it up. For learning, check out free resources from Nathan Gotch, SEMrush, and Ahrefs on YouTube. HubSpot also has free SEO courses… hope this helps.

Thanks! I’ll take a look at those.

@Maya
Hope you don’t mind me asking, but what’s your yearly pay like?

Yes, you’re doing way too much. SEO specialists don’t usually handle social media or ads too. It’s a good experience if you plan on moving to a larger company in the future.

ThreadTactician said:
Yes, you’re doing way too much. SEO specialists don’t usually handle social media or ads too. It’s a good experience if you plan on moving to a larger company in the future.

Exactly. This amount of work could be for an entire team! I mean, 16 blog posts a month plus all the other stuff? When do you find time for planning, research, or even just taking a break?

If you’re enjoying it, that’s great, but the workload really does sound intense. For comparison, I’m happy if I can write 300 words an hour on a familiar topic… and that’s just writing, without all the extra stuff.

Good on you for learning on the job. Hope your website redesign goes smoothly, I’ve been through messy ones before!

You’re doing well! Keep gaining those skills… they’re valuable. Check out SEMrush’s free courses for certification; they can really boost your career. Don’t avoid any part of SEO, even if it seems repetitive… learn it all.

Yep, you’re doing a lot, buddy. How did you manage to boost the blog views that much?

betterblogger said:
Yep, you’re doing a lot, buddy. How did you manage to boost the blog views that much?

I’d love to know the strategy too .

Brianna said:

betterblogger said:
Yep, you’re doing a lot, buddy. How did you manage to boost the blog views that much?

I’d love to know the strategy too!

He mentioned it: focusing on putting out high-quality content regularly.

Yeah, it’s a lot, but that’s pretty common in startups.

One thing to watch out for with the redesign: make sure someone who’s skilled in SEO looks at it. Changing the site layout or structure can really impact traffic. Talk to your boss about getting a pro involved if you’re not confident with all the SEO aspects.

You’re definitely doing a lot, and learning tons too, which is great. Treat this as a learning experience for now. With your next role, you can focus on areas you enjoy.

By the way… did you increase views from 50 to 52? You’ve got the knack for making small numbers look big… just kidding :smile:. Good luck with everything .

@ContentCraftsman1
Doubling views by 100% actually means 2x the clicks.

Brookrogen said:
@ContentCraftsman1
Doubling views by 100% actually means 2x the clicks.

Haha, looks like someone didn’t quite get the math there.

You’re basically doing the work of a whole team. But, hey, it’s a small company, and that’s kind of expected. Like others said, learn as much as you can now, and later on, you can specialise in what you enjoy.

Your results sound alright, but remember, SEO isn’t just about more views; it’s about bringing in visitors that actually help the business grow, like people who’ll buy something, sign up, or view ads.

For courses, there’s a lot out there. Ahrefs Academy is pretty good, especially their ‘blogging for business’ course. Blue Array has a solid technical SEO course too. You can find loads of free stuff on YouTube and LinkedIn too.

@Steve
Thanks for the course suggestions! I hadn’t heard of those, and yes, it’s a small company.

Hey, I started out in a role very similar to yours, with about 90% of the same tasks except for the technical SEO part.

To me, it doesn’t seem overwhelming… but it really depends on how you feel about it. Do you think the workload is getting to you? Are you always racing deadlines or working late hours? Do you feel burned out? If yes, then it probably is too much.

For a first job, with just…