SEO Specialist job description
An SEO specialist improves how a website appears in search results so more of the right people find it. They fix technical issues, plan content and track rankings, traffic and enquiries.
Why the role exists
Search is a steady source of customers for many Indian businesses, from clinics to online stores. The SEO specialist makes the website easy for search engines to read and builds pages that answer what buyers search for. They work closely with content writers, developers and the marketing manager.
What the person does
- Research keywords and search intent for each product, service and location the business sells in.
- Audit the website for crawl errors, slow pages, duplicate content and broken links, and list fixes for developers.
- Plan the content calendar with writers, using keyword gaps and competitor pages as inputs.
- Optimise page titles, headings, internal links and schema markup on key pages.
- Set up and manage Google Search Console and Google Business Profile for the business.
- Build quality links through partnerships, mentions and useful resources, and avoid spam tactics.
- Track rankings, traffic and enquiries and explain changes after search engine updates.
- Refresh older pages that have lost visibility and merge or remove weak pages.
Skills and tools
- Keyword research with tools such as Semrush, Ahrefs or Google Keyword Planner
- Technical SEO: crawling, indexing, site speed and structured data
- Google Search Console and Google Analytics 4
- On-page optimisation and internal linking
- Local SEO and Google Business Profile management
- Working with developers and content teams on fixes
- Basic HTML and understanding of CMS platforms like WordPress
- Reporting traffic and enquiry results clearly
Education and experience
Preferred, never a bar: equivalent experience counts.
- Degree in marketing, mass communication, computer applications or a related field preferred, or equivalent practical experience.
- Experience improving search visibility for at least one live website is preferred.
- Platform or SEO tool certifications are useful but optional, and proven results can replace them.
- Working knowledge of a CMS and basic web technologies, or equivalent experience.
How the work is judged
- Growth in search traffic that leads to enquiries or sales, rather than visits alone.
- Visibility of target pages for the agreed keywords and topics.
- Resolution of technical issues found in site audits.
- Quality and publishing rhythm of optimised content with the content team.
- Clarity of reports and the advice that follows from them.
Where the role can lead
- Senior SEO specialist or SEO lead managing strategy for many sites.
- Digital marketing manager or growth marketer covering more channels.
- Technical SEO consultant or head of organic growth.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions in the same order and score them against written anchors, so the decision rests on the work and not the impression.
- A page that ranked well last year has lost traffic. How do you find out why and what do you do?
- How would you plan SEO for a new online store with hundreds of products?
- Explain how you decide which keywords to target first for a business with a small team.
- What technical checks do you run on a site audit and how do you rank the fixes?
- How do you work with a developer who says your SEO request is not a priority?
- Tell us about a link building approach you avoid, and why.
Hiring tips for this role
- Ask the candidate to audit your site live for twenty minutes. Their questions and priorities show more than certificates do.
- Be wary of promises of a number one ranking. Good specialists talk about effort, time and uncertainty honestly.
- Check how they handle content quality. Candidates who only chase keywords and links can harm a site in the long run.
- Ask for sites they worked on and what they personally changed, since SEO results often come from a whole team.
Questions about hiring a seo specialist
An SEO specialist makes a website easier for search engines to understand and more useful to searchers. The work covers keyword research, technical fixes, page optimisation, content planning, link building and reporting on traffic and enquiries.
It varies with the site, the competition and the starting point. Technical fixes can help soon, but content and authority often take months. Be cautious of anyone who promises fixed outcomes or a ranking position.
Search behaviour is changing, but people still look for businesses, products and answers online. Clear, accurate, well-structured pages help in both classic search and AI summaries. A good specialist keeps watching how results are shown.
Yes, for permanent roles. GullyHR agrees the job description with you, finds and screens SEO candidates, and supports you through the offer. We do not supply contract staff or run SEO projects ourselves.
Hiring a seo specialist?
GullyHR runs talent acquisition for permanent roles. We agree the job description with you, find and screen candidates against it, and support the offer through to joining. We recruit permanent employees. We do not supply contract or temporary staff.