The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Digital Marketing Internship/Apprenticeship
6-12 monthsSkills to master
- Basic digital marketing concepts, social media management, content creation support, SEO fundamentals, reporting.
You're ready to move on when
- You've shown initiative in learning SEO during your internship.
- Your supervisor has given you positive feedback on your analytical skills.
- You're comfortable with basic data pulling and reporting.
- 2
Self-Taught SEO Enthusiast
Varies (often 1-2 years of dedicated learning)Skills to master
- Practical application of SEO on personal projects (blogs, small business sites), keyword research, on-page optimisation, basic technical SEO auditing.
You're ready to move on when
- You can demonstrate real-world results from your own SEO efforts.
- You've completed several online SEO courses and can discuss key concepts confidently.
- You're familiar with core SEO tools and can navigate them independently.
- 3
Marketing Assistant (Generalist)
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Broad marketing campaign support, content scheduling, email marketing, social media management, basic analytics, and a growing interest in SEO.
You're ready to move on when
- You've actively sought out SEO-related tasks within your generalist role.
- You can articulate how SEO contributes to broader marketing goals.
- You've taken the initiative to learn more about SEO in your own time.