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whiteFox
02-14-2006, 07:06 PM
Evening everyone!

A week or so ago I was browsing the articles at A List Apart when I came across this article talking about how accessibility fits nicely into SEO. As a web designer of 4 years, I'd never even heard of SEO before. After finishing the article and doing a bit of research, I found that SEO was something that I could definitely see myself doing. I'm a huge proponent of accessibility and usability in web design, often forgoing flashy sites with glitz and glammor for the more subtle and clean ones.

A bit about me. I'll be graduating university this June and would love to pursue SEO at a professional level. I have a high degree of knowledge in more static page design, including XHTML, CSS, and a bit of XML/XSLT thrown in on the side. I've also been becoming more interested in creating simple dynamic pages using JavaScript and a smattering of PHP. I also do lots of graphic work with Photoshop and am rather familiar with Dreamweaver and Fireworks for sites that need a more graphic feel to them. My other interests are technical writing, instructional design, and content development.

I'm wondering what with my current skills and degree, how viable would I be starting out in the SEO business? I'll have a rent-free house to live in after graduation, already have the physical equipment and such (i.e. computer, fax, software), so startup costs would be minimal. I'd consider myself largely charismatic and eager to work.

I'm glad to be a part of the community and I look forward to learning all I can about what seems to be a great industry!

dazzlindonna
02-14-2006, 07:24 PM
Welcome, whiteFox! You have more than enough skills to tackle SEO. Don't worry about that at all. Just make sure you don't believe EVERYTHING you read about it. The biggest learning curve is often just learning who to listen to and who to ignore. I think you'll find that if you start by absorbing the posts, you'll soon figure out who knows their stuff, and start paying attention to what they say. Good luck!

rustybrick
02-14-2006, 10:14 PM
Welcome!!! :welcome:

If you read http://www.seomoz.org/beginners.php and understand it, and it makes logical sense to you, then I would say you would make a fine SEO.

gabs
02-15-2006, 05:59 AM
If you have produced some sites already then I bet you've used seo within the site(s) without knowing it..

Refining on page seo is just a technique.. Read lots, test lots then have a good look at off page seo ;)

seo-ireland
02-15-2006, 03:02 PM
whiteFox,

You definitely have a great start if you are build clean, accessible websites already. One important thing to remember when entering into the world of SEO, do not forget about your 'human' visitors. They are the very reason why you optimize a site in the first place i.e. to get more of them to visit.

Best of luck!