I often get asked the difference between a SEO expert and a SEO specialist. As I am a self proclaimed SEO expert I thought I would explain the difference between the two.

SEO Expert

Also known as a SEO guru, a SEO expert is someone with a lot of working experience in the SEO industry, someone who keeps up with the trends and the movement in the search engine optimisation industry. The expert is the one presenting  a new trend for the SEO specialist to write about. The expert can answer every question presented in the industry and can see it, explain it and implement it.  The search expert usually does not just stick to what is in the box and follow instructions accordingly, rather he takes his box with him to see where best in fits with all the other boxes (this is done by following trends and being active in social media and new ventures).  The SEO expert spends every minute of the day studying the search industry, following key gurus and figures worldwide and most of all watching Google like a hawk for new changes and additions.

The SEO expert does not just talk the talk but can actively deliver the results implied. He tests his strategies until they work. He can lay down a marketing strategy and put the best practices into place.

Job of a SEO expert

• make the rules
• research the industry
• make/follow the SEO trends
• plan the optimisation strategy
• stay ahead of the game
• does a lot of trial and error testing
• be an active voice in the industry
• see it, explain it and implement it and show the results
• analyse the data and turn it into conversions
• Can plan, test, sell, discuss and implement a strategy.

SEO Specialist

This highly skilled specialist does all the grunt work and most of the time is taking orders from someone else.  Your average SEO specialist has been taught by the book (written by the SEO expert) and dutifully follows the instructions presented to him. The specialist is usually so bogged down with his duties that there is no time to research his industry. The SEO specialist usually does not call the shots on which direction to take but rather implements the strategy handed down by the expert. The search specialist does his job and does it well, in some cases better than the expert, but his scope of work is limited to what he has been taught as well as what field he is working in every day.

Job of a SEO specialist

• be very good at the grunt work
• setup and implement a good optimisation strategy (made by the expert)
• follow instructions and do limited research
• implement an SEO foundation and show the results
• make sure the data is installed correctly, look for obvious abnormalities.
• do all the maintenance and upkeep

Conclusion

Both the expert and the specialist are very valuable, most large search engine optimisation companies have many SEO specialists with only one SEO expert and some have many SEO specialists but need to consult an SEO expert to improve their overall strategy. The experts need the specialists to help with the time consuming work like link building and maintenance, and the specialists need the experts to help with the new trends and help them with direction on new hot ventures.