Home › HRMS › Job roles › Marketing › SEO Executive
Marketing · Entry level

SEO Executive job description

An SEO Executive handles the day-to-day work of improving a website's search rankings. They do keyword research, on-page optimisation, content briefs, basic link outreach and rank tracking under the guidance of an SEO specialist or manager. The role is an entry into SEO. A good one gets the on-page and content basics right consistently, tracks rankings and traffic carefully, learns technical and off-page SEO over time, and grows towards owning SEO strategy as a specialist.

DetailFor this role
DepartmentMarketing
LevelEntry level
Reports toSEO Specialist
Direct reportsNone
ExperienceFresher or up to 2 years in SEO or digital marketing

SEO Executive job description template

Copy this job description, replace the text in square brackets and post it on your careers page or a job portal.

Job title: SEO Executive

Department: Marketing

Reports to: SEO Specialist

Location: [City], [office, branch or site]

About the role

An SEO Executive handles the day-to-day work of improving a website's search rankings. They do keyword research, on-page optimisation, content briefs, basic link outreach and rank tracking under the guidance of an SEO specialist or manager. The role is an entry into SEO. A good one gets the on-page and content basics right consistently, tracks rankings and traffic carefully, learns technical and off-page SEO over time, and grows towards owning SEO strategy as a specialist.

Key responsibilities

  • Do keyword research and map keywords to pages and content for the website.
  • Optimise on-page elements such as titles, meta descriptions, headings and internal links.
  • Write SEO content briefs and coordinate with writers on optimised content.
  • Do basic link building through outreach and directory or profile listings.
  • Track keyword rankings, organic traffic and indexing, and prepare reports.
  • Run basic site checks for broken links, missing tags and duplicate content.
  • Help fix on-page technical issues with the content or web team.
  • Analyse competitor pages and keywords to find new opportunities.
  • Keep SEO tools, tracking and reports up to date.
  • Learn technical and off-page SEO to take on more.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree in marketing, IT, English or a related field
  • Basic knowledge of SEO
  • An SEO certification is an advantage
  • Fresher or up to 2 years in SEO or digital marketing

KRAs and KPIs for a SEO Executive

Key result areas for the appraisal form, each with a KPI you can measure every month or quarter.

Key result areaHow to measure it
On-page SEOAssigned pages optimised correctly on titles, tags and structure
RankingsMove target keywords up in rankings over the period
Content briefsSEO briefs delivered so content targets the right keywords
ReportingAccurate ranking and traffic reports prepared on schedule
Site hygieneOn-page issues like broken links and missing tags found and fixed
LearningBuild technical and off-page SEO skills over the period

Skills and tools

Keyword researchOn-page SEOSEO content briefsRank trackingGoogle Search ConsoleGoogle AnalyticsBasic link buildingAttention to detailWillingness to learn

Tools used day to day: Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Ahrefs or Ubersuggest, Screaming Frog, MS Excel.

Reporting line and career path

SEO SpecialistSEO Executive
Moves up from: Marketing Trainee, Content Writer
Next roles: SEO Specialist, Digital Marketing Specialist

Interview questions for a SEO Executive

  1. How would you do keyword research for a new blog section?
  2. What on-page elements do you optimise on a web page and why?
  3. How do you write an SEO brief for a writer?
  4. How do you track whether your SEO work is improving rankings?
  5. What is the difference between on-page and off-page SEO?
  6. How do you keep learning SEO as search engines change?

Managing a SEO Executive in ZeniaHR

AttendanceSet a general shift with web or mobile app punches, and restrict web punches to allowed office networks. The work is desk and data based, so attendance is steady, with the monthly summary feeding payroll after month close. Site changes can bring occasional late work.LeavePlan leave around site launches and reporting deadlines, and hand over any live tasks before going away. The leave calendar helps make sure ranking tracking and on-page work continue while the executive is away.Performance and KRAsEnter the KRAs above as weighted goals in a quarterly review cycle, with on-page SEO and rankings weighted highest. Run the probation review rated by the SEO specialist, and review rankings and learning each quarter.

Hire and manage your marketing team in one place

Post the role, onboard the new hire, and track attendance, leave and KRAs in ZeniaHR. Free for your first 50 employees.

Book a free demoSee pricing

Frequently asked questions

What does an SEO executive do?

An SEO executive handles the day-to-day work of improving a website's search rankings: keyword research, on-page optimisation, content briefs, basic link outreach and rank tracking. They work under an SEO specialist or manager, get the on-page and content basics right, and track rankings and traffic. It is a common entry into SEO.

How do I become an SEO executive with no experience?

Learn SEO basics through free courses and a certification, and practise on your own blog or website. Understand keyword research, on-page optimisation and how search engines work. A marketing or IT degree helps but is not essential. Employers hire freshers who show they can research keywords and optimise pages sensibly.

What is the difference between an SEO executive and an SEO specialist?

An SEO executive does day-to-day tasks like keyword research, on-page changes and rank tracking under guidance. An SEO specialist sets the strategy across technical, content and off-page SEO and owns the traffic targets. The executive learns the fundamentals first, then grows into the specialist role with experience and results.

Related