Technical communicator to search engine optimisation expert
A technical communicator already meets 22% of what the search engine optimisation expert role asks for. The move turns on 11 required skills not yet in the profile.
70.9/ 100
1 How much of what a search engine optimisation expert is expected to do is already part of a technical communicator’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the search engine optimisation expert role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A search engine optimisation expert role treats 3 of its required skills as things a technical communicator already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- integrate content into output media
- manage content development projects
- provide written content
What stands in the way is 11 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 6 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A search engine optimisation expert role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a technical communicator background worth leading with.
- already held manage content development projects management skills
- already held integrate content into output media working with computers
- already held use content management system software working with computers
- already held translate requirements into visual design communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held identify ICT user needs information skills
- already held provide written content communication, collaboration and creativity
All 6 carried skills, including the 3 the search engine optimisation expert role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 21 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn conduct search engine optimisation required
- still to learn develop digital content required
- still to learn perform online data analysis required
- still to learn use customer relationship management software required
- still to learn sales strategies required
- still to learn content marketing strategy required
- still to learn social media marketing techniques required
- optional, not held digital marketing techniques optional
- optional, not held mobile marketing optional
- still to learn keywords in digital content required
- still to learn web analytics required
- still to learn apply social media marketing required
- optional, not held create content title optional
- optional, not held execute email marketing optional
- optional, not held use different communication channels optional
- still to learn enhance website visibility required
- optional, not held plan digital marketing optional
- optional, not held perform market research optional
- optional, not held provide cost benefit analysis reports optional
- optional, not held study website behaviour patterns optional
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a search engine optimisation expert role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 keywords in digital content study this
- 02 sales strategies study this
- 03 apply social media marketing practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 6 skills that carry over
- already held integrate content into output media skill
- already held manage content development projects skill
- already held provide written content skill
- already held identify ICT user needs skill
- already held translate requirements into visual design skill
- already held use content management system software skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held behavioural science optional
10 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held digital marketing techniques optional
- optional, not held mobile marketing optional
- optional, not held behavioural science optional
- optional, not held create content title optional
- optional, not held execute email marketing optional
- optional, not held perform market research optional
- optional, not held plan digital marketing optional
- optional, not held provide cost benefit analysis reports optional
- optional, not held study website behaviour patterns optional
- optional, not held use different communication channels optional
40 held skills the search engine optimisation expert role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role CSS knowledge
- not needed by the target role ICT help platforms knowledge
- not needed by the target role ICT software specifications knowledge
- not needed by the target role JSSS knowledge
- not needed by the target role LESS knowledge
- not needed by the target role Sass knowledge
- not needed by the target role application usability knowledge
- not needed by the target role apply ICT terminology skill
- not needed by the target role apply tools for content development skill
- not needed by the target role cognitive psychology knowledge
- not needed by the target role compile content skill
- not needed by the target role conduct content quality assurance skill
- not needed by the target role content development processes knowledge
- not needed by the target role create script for artistic production skill
- not needed by the target role design graphics skill
- not needed by the target role develop ICT safety information skill
- not needed by the target role develop documentation in accordance with legal requirements skill
- not needed by the target role documentation types knowledge
- not needed by the target role gather technical information skill
- not needed by the target role identify technological needs skill
- not needed by the target role integrate and re-elaborate digital content skill
- not needed by the target role interpret technical texts skill
- not needed by the target role knowledge base knowledge
- not needed by the target role manage content metadata skill
- not needed by the target role manage digital documents skill
- not needed by the target role manage information sources skill
- not needed by the target role manage localisation skill
- not needed by the target role multimedia systems knowledge
- not needed by the target role product usage risks analysis knowledge
- not needed by the target role provide multimedia content skill
- not needed by the target role provide online help skill
- not needed by the target role provide technical documentation skill
- not needed by the target role publishing strategy knowledge
- not needed by the target role structure information skill
- not needed by the target role style sheet languages knowledge
- not needed by the target role use markup languages skill
- not needed by the target role use presentation software skill
- not needed by the target role use word processing software skill
- not needed by the target role utilise content types skill
- not needed by the target role visual presentation techniques knowledge
8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- still to learn keywords in digital content required
- still to learn sales strategies required
- still to learn content marketing strategy required
- still to learn social media marketing techniques required
- still to learn web analytics required
- optional, not held digital marketing techniques optional
- optional, not held mobile marketing optional
- optional, not held behavioural science optional
Common questions about this move
Can a technical communicator become a search engine optimisation expert?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. A technical communicator already covers 22% of what a search engine optimisation expert is expected to do: 6 skills carry over, 3 of which the search engine optimisation expert role treats as required.
What skills does a technical communicator need to become a search engine optimisation expert?
11 required skills are missing, plus 10 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by working with computers. The single most important is keywords in digital content.
How hard is the move from technical communicator to search engine optimisation expert?
Its learning distance is 70.9 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.