How I Build an SEO Strategy for New Freelance Writing Clients

Publication Date

December 9, 2022

Summary

Whether you’re a freelance writer who wants to expand into SEO services or you simply want to write with SEO in mind, this step-by-step process will help you understand how to research, prioritize, and plan content that drives results.

Story Time: How I Landed This Client

Last week, one of my biggest clients told me they were moving to an agency because their marketing budget was cut in half.

Here’s the thing—I can do everything an agency can do, and often with better quality. But for massive venture-backed companies, budget decisions often come down to scale, not quality.

After five minutes of pouting, I shifted into problem-solving mode. I suddenly had 20 hours a month and $2,000+ of income to replace.

I went to LinkedIn and followed up with everyone who had accepted my connection requests but hadn’t been ready to work together yet. Within the hour, I got a message: a contact I’d followed up with four times since July was now ready to move forward—on a full multi-service SEO strategy and content package.

My 6-Step SEO Strategy Process for New Clients

If a client comes to me with little or no SEO groundwork, here’s exactly what I do.

Step 1: Send a Questionnaire

Before creating a strategy, I need a clear picture of their goals, tools, and current status.

Questions I ask include:

What’s your goal?
Do you have Google Analytics access?
Do you already use an SEO tool like Ahrefs or Clearscope?
What’s your budget?
Who’s your ideal client?
Who are your current customers?

I also check if they have a local business presence to include in the strategy.

Resource: New Client Questionnaire Guide (free).

Step 2: Run a Site Explorer Audit

Using Ahrefs Site Explorer, I review:

Domain ranking
Pages already ranking on page one of Google
Backlinks and referring domains
Current keyword rankings

Then I run the same analysis on their competitors.

Step 3: Build a Massive Keyword List

My aim: drive organic traffic that converts.

Here’s my keyword research process:

Create a new list in Ahrefs Keyword Explorer.
Document ideas in a spreadsheet or Notion page (“Notes”).
Pull existing keywords from Site Explorer and strike them out.
Research competitors’ keywords—add any with <10 referring domains.
Use Answer The Public for audience-driven questions.
Brainstorm “seed keywords” and expand with long-tail variations.
In Keyword Explorer, add terms with 300–1,000 monthly searches (and >3,000 for later phases).
Remove duplicates and irrelevant terms.

Step 4: Prioritize Keywords

In a spreadsheet, I:

Screenshot baseline stats from Ahrefs.
Sort the list by search volume.
Focus first on 300–1,000 search volume keywords with low/medium competition.
Score each keyword on:

Business value (matches client goals)
Search intent (content matches what searchers expect)
Difficulty (possible to rank for)

Step 5: Create the Content Plan

For most clients, I plan four blog posts per month, each targeting up to three primary keywords.

I build the calendar in Notion with each post assigned to a specific date.

Step 6: Write the Briefs

Each blog post gets a Google Docs brief that includes:

Title
Meta description
Internal link suggestions
Target, primary, secondary, and long-tail keywords
Competitor examples from the SERP
Section outline

Once approved, I can write the posts myself—or delegate if the client needs more volume.

Why This Process Works

Even if you don’t offer SEO strategy, understanding how it’s built helps you write with search in mind—and positions you for higher-paying, more strategic roles.

FAQs About SEO Strategy

Q: How do you create an SEO strategy for a freelance writing client?

A: Gather client information, run a Site Explorer audit, build a keyword list, prioritize terms, plan content, and write detailed briefs.

Q: What’s the best SEO software for freelance writers?

A: I recommend Ahrefs for its powerful keyword and competitor research tools.

Q: What other tools do you use for SEO strategy?

A: I use Notion for planning and Google Drive for briefs and deliverables.

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