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
Junior SEO/PPC Specialist
1-2 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering basic campaign setup, on-page SEO execution, data extraction from tools, and initial performance reporting. Learning the fundamentals of search algorithms and ad auctions.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers accurate reports on time.
- Can independently set up and launch small, well-defined campaigns.
- Identifies and fixes basic on-page SEO errors without supervision.
- Proactively seeks to understand 'why' behind performance fluctuations.
- 2
Digital Marketing Executive (Search Focus)
2-3 yearsSkills to master
- Developing a broader understanding of digital marketing channels, with a specialisation in search. Managing small budgets, optimising landing pages, and basic A/B testing.
You're ready to move on when
- Manages multiple small campaigns simultaneously.
- Can articulate the connection between search performance and broader business goals.
- Successfully runs basic A/B tests on ad copy or landing pages.
- Contributes ideas for improving overall digital marketing strategy, not just search.
- 3
Web Analyst (with SEO/PPC exposure)
2-4 yearsSkills to master
- Deepening analytical skills, mastering GA4, understanding data visualisation, and connecting web behaviour to search performance. Building custom reports and dashboards.
You're ready to move on when
- Can build complex custom reports and explorations in GA4.
- Identifies tracking issues and works with developers to fix them.
- Provides actionable insights from web analytics data, not just raw numbers.
- Understands how user behaviour on the site impacts search rankings and ad quality.