Is SEO research part of writing?

[#1]

I got a reply to a proposal for a web content writing job, and the client wants to know if I can do SEO research and prepare a report with recommendations on which keywords should be optimized.

I know that what will or will not be part of a contract has to be decided by mutual agreement between client and freelancer. But I'd just like to know if preparation in the form of SEO research is generally considered to be part of a writing job. It's something I'm not familiar with.

[#2]

re: "But I'd just like to know if preparation in the form of SEO research is generally considered to be part of a writing job?"

No.

That is NOT a part of most writing jobs.

That is not something that a writer is necessarily expected to know how to do.

This is NOT an inherent part of a writing job, and if a job is posted as a fixed-price job, it would be unacceptable for a client to expect a freelancer to do this sort of work unless it was specifically described in the original written task agreement.

In an hourly job, it is acceptable for a client to ask a freelancer to do this sort of thing, while logging time, if the client provides sufficient instructions to the freelancer explaining how to do this.

re: " Is SEO research part of writing?"

"Writing" is a broad category.

Research is a part of writing.

Poetry is a part of writing.

Biography is a part of writing.

But not everybody who offers writing services does all types of writing.

A freelancer should be clear about what types of services they offer.

Many freelancers offer research writing purposes.

Many freelancers even specialize and make it clear that the service they offer includes doing research and writing reports about Internet-related technical topics, such as SEO.

Any client is allowed to post a job asking for freelancers to do SEO research.

Any freelancer is allowed to apply to such a job if they feel that is within their wheelhouse.

But no freelancer is required to do "SEO research", just as no freelancer is required to write Gnostic poetry.

[#3]

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Preston H wrote:

re: "But I'd just like to know if preparation in the form of SEO research is generally considered to be part of a writing job?"

No.

That is NOT a part of most writing jobs.

That is not something that a writer is necessarily expected to know how to do.

This is NOT an inherent part of a writing job, and if a job is posted as a fixed-price job, it would be unacceptable for a client to expect a freelancer to do this sort of work unless it was specifically described in the original written task agreement.

In an hourly job, it is acceptable for a client to ask a freelancer to do this sort of thing, while logging time, if the client provides sufficient instructions to the freelancer explaining how to do this.

re: " Is SEO research part of writing?"

"Writing" is a broad category.

Research is a part of writing.

Poetry is a part of writing.

Biography is a part of writing.

But not everybody who offers writing services does all types of writing.

A freelancer should be clear about what types of services they offer.

Many freelancers offer research writing purposes.

Many freelancers even specialize and make it clear that the service they offer includes doing research and writing reports about Internet-related technical topics, such as SEO.

Any client is allowed to post a job asking for freelancers to do SEO research.

Any freelancer is allowed to apply to such a job if they feel that is within their wheelhouse.

But no freelancer is required to do "SEO research", just as no freelancer is required to write Gnostic poetry.

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Thank you for your reply. To be fair, the client did state in the job posting that there was SEO work involved, but I took it to mean knowing what keywords to use, etc. If I were hiring someone in a situation like this (it's a job of several thousand words), I'd hire someone separate to do the SEO work, but the person paying the fee calls the shots.

[#4]

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Robert wrote:

It's something I'm not familiar with.

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That's all that matters. Walk away.

Don't take on contracts with aspects you are not familiar with unless you want to learn (on your own dime, obviously) and run the risk of it going seriously wrong.

If I were hiring someone in a situation like this (it's a job of several thousand words), I'd hire someone separate to do the SEO work,

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...which is why you should walk away.

The client is looking for someone who will do both. Such people exist. You are not one of them.

[#5]

It's not standard.

I can do SEO research, but I've found that these guys tend to want it added in as a free additional extra. 

[#6]

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Petra R wrote:

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Robert wrote:

It's something I'm not familiar with.

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That's all that matters. Walk away.

Don't take on contracts with aspects you are not familiar with unless you want to learn (on your own dime, obviously) and run the risk of it going seriously wrong.

If I were hiring someone in a situation like this (it's a job of several thousand words), I'd hire someone separate to do the SEO work,

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...which is why you should walk away.

The client is looking for someone who will do both. Such people exist. You are not one of them.

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Thanks, yes, that's good advice. The threads here are full of tales of woe from people who took on jobs they couldn't do, resulting in bad feedback, JSS decrease, and huge difficulty in finding work thereafter.

[#7]

It can be if you want it to be, or not if you don't want it to be. You can do whatever you want.