Ever since people realized they need the right keywords in the right places to rank their websites high in search engines, freelance SEO writers have had work – and plenty of it.

SEO stands for "Search Engine Optimization." Search engines (like Yahoo! and Google) scour webpages for certain words and then order them accordingly on the "Search Results" pages. The higher a website reaches on the "Search Results" page, the more searchers will notice it.

Companies hire SEO writers to turn their websites into marketing tools that increase their sales, and they're willing to pay good money. Depending on the company and your skill level, you can earn anywhere from $10-$50 per 500-750-word original article. If you can also host the company's site, write all their content, and monitor their visibility on search engines, expect a $250 to $3,500 monthly salary range. If you're just editing to incorporate keywords, expect only a few dollars per 500 words.

Who offers SEO writing jobs and what's involved?

Anyone with a business website can benefit from a freelance SEO writer. This is especially true when there's much competition, such as in the travel or real estate industries. If people can't find these companies on the first page of search results, then potential customers are unlikely to visit their websites.

That's where you come in. A great SEO freelancer will seamlessly integrate a couple of search terms or keywords into the pages of a website so search engines can easily find it.

The key here is "seamless." A website's text still must flow naturally despite adding keywords. You shouldn't use too many keywords (no more than a couple per page) and you shouldn't write an entire paragraph just to incorporate a keyword.

How can I find freelance SEO writing jobs?

The best place to start is freelance job websites like Elance.com and IFreelance.com. You can market yourself on these websites as a freelance SEO writer and bid on dozens of SEO writing jobs. These sites receive new SEO job postings almost daily, so you'll always find freelance SEO work to bid on.

If you have experience in SEO freelancing, you can command top dollar. You should establish your own website to market your freelance services. If you can build your own website that attracts prospective clients, then it's a good indicator you can help others find their websites too!

How do I respond to an ad for an SEO writer effectively?

Put yourself in the shoes of the person who's looking for an SEO writer. What does he or she want to know?

Here's the answer: anyone looking for an SEO freelance writer wants to know three things: 1) you have a proven track record; 2) you have excellent grammar; and 3) you are creative enough to not make their keywords stick out like a sore thumb. If you can show those things, you can create an enticing bid and convince clients to hire you.

Another key is providing a competitive quote. Freelance job websites make this tricky because you will always find someone who will bid less than you. The best advice is to make your bid equal your skillset and experience. If you don't have much experience, then use the opportunity to under-bid slightly to get the experience you need. Gradually your resume will grow and you'll be able to ask for more money.

An example of an SEO freelancer ad:

Below is a sample ad that you might come across on one of the freelance job sites. See if you can figure out how to respond so the client would want to hire you:

I am a real estate agent with a large client base but very few find me via my website. I would like to update my website so it attracts more people and has more visibility on the Internet. I would prefer someone who knows how to use SEO words effectively.

This ad gives you the idea the realtor doesn't know much about SEO. In your response you'll want to assure him that you can handle SEO in his industry. A good tactic is to suggest certain keywords or keyword phrases he could use to rank his website higher. You'll also want to assure him that you'll optimize his content not just for search engines, but also for his readers. Remember, good SEO writing is not just about keywords – it's also about creative and effective marketing in general.