Comments on: If Your SEO Is Not Moonlighting, Fire Them

By: Richard Giles

Richard Giles — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 10:01:02 +0000

I don’t think this article mentions ‘SEO’ enough

By: Katherine Andes

Katherine Andes — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 15:54:01 +0000

Well, if you’re an SEO + copywriter like me, then you get plenty of practice on various websites. My slow time is spent just trying to make my business website better. I would like to develop a good affiliate site, I’m just pooped out by the end of the day. And I have to keep my mind somewhat fresh in order to write stellar copy.

By: Goldberg

Goldberg — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 21:23:30 +0000

Excellent read. I just passed this onto a buddy who was doing some research on that. He actually bought me lunch since I found it for him! So let me rephrase: Thank you for lunch!

By: Aaron Bradley

Aaron Bradley — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:37:16 +0000

An interesting read for me as in the midst of trying to shed clients so I can concentrate more of time and energy on my in-house gig. I’d be far more prone to retain these clients, I guess, if said current in-house gig didn’t offer me the breadth to work on at least a dozen different initiatives that are either directly or indirectly related to search.

I agree with you insofar as you’ve provided a broad-ranging definition of moonlighting – “Affiliates, MFA, blogging, or whatever.” I certainly continue to “moonlight” according to this definition. However, I’m not very much of an entrepreneur or particularly concerned with making extra income, but it is this mercantile aspect that several commenters (though not you in your article) have focused on. Yes, the best SEOs will have a passion for their craft that extends beyond 9-5, but this passion does not necessarily need to express itself in a money-making way.

By: Richard Petersen

Richard Petersen — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:55:47 +0000

I’m an seo consultant for a small firm at the moment and it is written in my contract that I’m not allowed to do any work on the side. My boss has also pointed out that I’m not even allowed to run test sites from my own hosting. Instead he says that if I want to run test to use one of his servers.

He is concerned that I will end up leaving and starting in competition against him.

I think my view is encouragement not hindrance is the best policy.

I think this is unfair or am I just being selfish???

What does everyone else think?

By: Nathan Garnett

Nathan Garnett — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 12:38:35 +0000

“A passionate SEO, someone who is bitten by the bug and craves to learn more, will go on to do more SEO in their free time.”
I couldn’t agree more . There is only so much one can learn in house. If SEO’s are moonlighting then they have way more opportunities learn, experiment and test out new methods which can be useful, bringing their honed skills and ideas back the their employer. As long as the “moonlighting” doesn’t effect their work performance it is expected one who is a passionate SEO will test out on many platforms!

By: Tires

Tires — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 02:28:40 +0000

Great article. If SEO’s are moonlighting then that is great in my book as they are gaining more experience an knowledge.

By: Alan Bleiweiss

Alan Bleiweiss — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:53:50 +0000

I’m only leaving a comment because you’ve gotten so few responses Judith, and I feel sorry for… oh uh…

Here’s an exception to the rule. The site owner who pays you to experiment, trusting that you’ll experiment on other sites, not their own. But yeah – if I hadn’t been moonlighting before I hung my own shingle, I’d never have learned 60% of what I know today. Nowadays, it’s the client SEO work I do that’s the moonlighting.

By: Today’s Favorite Blog Post: SEO Chicks « DanJeffers

Today’s Favorite Blog Post: SEO Chicks « DanJeffers — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 11:24:54 +0000

[...] This post by Judith Lewis, on the SEO Chicks blog, articulates one of those thoughts that I’ve had but never fully articulated. Anyone who is a professional SEO person (as opposed to a pure technical implementer) is probably doing some kind of SEO/digital marketing/web development on the side. Otherwise they’re not really an SEO, just someone you pay to write title tags. Whenever I’ve been involved in interviewing people for an SEO position, I’m always as interested in what they do when not at work. The question isn’t really about specific, quantifiable skills, it’s about curiosity and confidence. To quote from the SEO Chicks post: With In-House SEOs, moonlighting is essential because it gives them experiences beyond their immediate work and gives them a platform for experimentation. With agency staff, their own projects also offer the opportunity for experimentation. Better that they try and fail on a test site than a live site. Better to get a blog banned than a multi-million pound e-commerce site. [...]

By: Andy @ FirstFound

Andy @ FirstFound — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 14:30:41 +0000

This one could run and run. In my opinion, if you’re stupid enough to put yourself in direct competition with your employer, you’re putting yourself at risk.