The vast majority of native web optimization professionals look like completely happy of their jobs, in keeping with BrightLocal’s 2020 Native Search Trade Survey. That’s the clear implication of a discovering that 78% intend to stay of their present positions.
The survey featured responses from 475 “native entrepreneurs,” together with companies, in-house entrepreneurs, freelancers and native companies. The highest for classes of survey respondents had been as follows:
- Native/regional company — 40%
- Nationwide/worldwide company – 20%
- Freelancer/advertising and marketing guide –11%
- Native enterprise –10%



Most native SEOs have been round for awhile. Half of these responding to the survey stated they’ve been working within the business for greater than a decade and 11% have been working in native web optimization for 20 years or extra. Common annual revenues had been $1.28 million (manufacturers and SMBs excluded).
The overwhelming majority (81%) of companies and organizations within the survey had fewer than 5 web optimization staff; 38% had only one. Most respondents (76%) had between 2 and 20 shoppers.
The survey discovered that 65% of native SEOs earned greater than $60,000 and 29% had been making greater than $100,000. Solely 4% had been trying to transfer out of native, whereas others had been excited about altering jobs throughout the business or staying put of their present jobs, as indicated.



Month-to-month retailers the commonest enterprise mannequin. SEOs are probably to cost their shoppers on a month-to-month retainer foundation (65%); a minority charged on a undertaking or hourly/each day foundation. The commonest month-to-month retainer vary was between $100 to $500, in keeping with the survey. Nonetheless, the scale of the shopper/buyer dramatically impacted month-to-month expenses.
The commonest providers (chart above) supplied by native web optimization professionals are: GMB optimization, web optimization audits, on-site optimization, analytics, quotation administration, internet design and content material creation/optimization. And the way do native SEOs keep on prime of latest developments? Trade blogs had been the commonest reply in keeping with the survey.



Why we care. Whereas it’s not clear whether or not the survey is consultant of the business as a complete, it’s most likely directionally correct and affords some good benchmarks for native web optimization professionals. Native web optimization is a essential if not completely understood sub-discipline of web optimization, which has change into more and more vital as Google has positioned extra emphasis on localized and proximity-based cell search outcomes. Certainly, a 2019 study by Moz discovered that 73% of 1.2 million SERPs crawled contained some localized function.