My job in Belgium: How much does an SEO specialist earn?

What is your job?

I am a freelance SEO and online marketing specialist. I help companies to optimise their spot in unpaid search results. Before I started working freelance, I gained experience in the Netherlands, where I lived and worked for two years. As far as digital innovation is concerned, they are still ahead of Belgium. I gained a lot of experience there. I joined two top companies in their in-house marketing team. In addition, I also did extensive SEO audits for other companies. The best thing was giving SEO training to companies and web agencies so they are better equipped to return their SEO knowledge to their customers.

Do you like your job?

Yes, I'm lucky to be able to choose my customers myself. Currently, the demand is greater than the supply. The nice thing about my job is that it's actually a hobby that got out of hand. My interest in SEO grew from my studies in computer science. It is something that I worked on as a hobby before and after my studies - and the same is true for my work now. I still see it as a hobby and so do it with pleasure. I am fascinated by the whole digital picture. I am constantly working on new digital tools and techniques, so I'm learning all of the time, because I'm so personally involved, and I can then put that knowledge back into my company. I am a bit of a workaholic, but this will decrease because of the birth of my daughter. I also work in a pleasant environment - in the nice offices of my customers or my own office. I also love the start-up culture. My own company is now running from a nice co-working space, where I work with three or four other experienced freelancers.

Would you change jobs for a higher salary?

I am self-employed, so supply and demand determine my hourly rate. I could never go back to a contract with a salary. I have now been able to taste that freedom and can no longer see myself in a big company. My ambition is to build up my own business and to gather three or four people around me and build a nice team of experts.

What do you actually earn?

I recently switched to an SPRL/BVBA (limited company), because in 2016 I had a turnover of just under €100,000. Administratively that was a lot of hassle and as I invested most of my earnings back into my company, a company seemed to be a handier solution. Now I take home €3,000 euros gross per month.

What do you think of your salary?

I am quite pleased, but as a young self-employed I try to reinvest as much as possible, almost every euro. My income is largely spent on training, coaching, freelancers, material and so on.

How many hours a week do you work?

Difficult to give an exact number there. I work for three to four days with customers. I also teach courses but that varies from week to week. In addition, I count on approximately five hours of follow-up, updating and accounting, and then spend an hour and a half on tweets, websites, blogs every day. I think that’s about 45 hours on a regular week. As I said, it's a hobby - there are no office hours.

Do you save?

I have a bit of a buffer. I am also currently taking my first steps in investing in shares.

Do you think about your pension?

Yes, definitely - not only financially but also in terms of health and well-being. For example, I invest in good ergonomic office chairs. In addition, I prefer the Scandinavian model of work where the longing for your retirement is a lot less. That is to say, you stop working for a few months, so you can begin working again with the same enthusiasm. In the current system people can’t wait for their retirement date. I try to take breaks in my career and create space. This way I can enjoy life and work longer.

What is your biggest expense?

The birth of my daughter last December, my mortgage... and creating freedom. That may sound strange, but I invest a lot of money in creating freedom and time.

What can you definitely not spend money on?

Taxes. Do not misunderstand me, I support the system in providing good, affordable healthcare, but there should be more transparency, then it would seem less harsh. Also, I can't spend money on things that do not last long. I'd rather pay for things that I can use longer and are of better quality.

What do you gladly spend money on?

Sustainable products and holidays that, after a few years, I can recall with a smile. I am a fanatical tennis player and cyclist.

What would you do it you won the lottery?

I would keep working, but (again) more like a hobby. I would also like to move to a bigger house. And I have always dreamed that, one year, I would travel to all the major tennis tournaments in the world and would make a world trip based on the locations of those tournaments.