If you are considering working in the field of search engine optimization, you need to know what you are getting into. Here is an attempted humorous take on some of the advantages and disadvantages of starting your own optimization business.

Trying to write a humorous article is always dangerous. This is particularly true for me since I am told I have a “unique” sense of humor. Oh, well. No pain, no gain as they say so here we go. While these are written with a humorous tint, they are also absolutely true.

1. Hours:

Advantage - Working your own hours is a huge advantage when you are in the optimization business. None of that 9 to 5 stuff for me. What could be better?

Disadvantage - Well, the truth is you will probably not work 9 to 5. It will be more like 8 in the morning till midnight. It is not that you are particularly dedicated. Instead, those long lunches and other distractions can take a lot of time!

2. Clients:

Disadvantage – Despite telling your clients it will take time to see results, they will be impatient. After a surprisingly short time, you will be renamed “the idiot”, “incompetent fool”, “scam artist” or thief. If you are lucky, you might even get a letter from their lawyer.

Advantage – The same clients that were crucifying you will change their tune when the rankings are finally obtained. You will now be known as “brilliant”, “guru” and so on. They will profess that they always knew you would get the job done. Their lawyer will not apologize for the nasty letter, but will withdraw the lawsuit.

3. Money

Advantage – As your business grows, you will make money. Maybe even lots of it.

Disadvantage – You will soon learn far more than you ever wanted to know about taxes and your friends at the IRS.

4. Highs and Lows:

Advantage – Your rankings will produce massive sales for your clients during the holidays. They will send you gift baskets. They will heap you with praise. They may even pay your bill on time.

Disadvantage – They will want to know why sales are down in January and what you intend to do about it.

5. Referrals:

Advantage – Your happy clients will send you tons of referrals. You will be overwhelmed talking on the phone all day. Heck, they will practically sell your abilities before you even talk to the prospect.

Disadvantage – Your happy clients will have told the people they are referring that you can get them to the number one position in a week or two for the keyword they are after. The keyword is “travel”. It is a brand new site. The referred person has a marketing “budget” of $200 a month. You just spent two hours on the phone with them before finding this out. Now you have to work till midnight again.

Welcome to the world of search engine optimization. Do the positives outweigh the negatives? Definitely.

Halstatt Pires is a search engine optimization specialist with MarketingTitan.com.