There is an interesting Thread just getting its legs in the WebmasterWorld forums around the topic of SEO and how hard it is to do SEO these days and see results, espesially with Google. So hard that some are deciding to change careers after several years of doing SEO. Some are not taking it to the extreme of leaving SEO altogether but diversifying and getting into other businesses, in addition to working in SEO.

Here is a quote from the thread:

I simply can’t afford to continue to devote so much time into something with so little reward. I have seen the SEO market collapse in the last few years in terms of income. I don’t want to go down a churn and burn route, that works for some I know but it’s not for me. So I am at a crossroad, not sure which path to take. I am thinking of moving into mobile App development, has anyone made a similar move away from SEO?

Another SEO still has his feet in the game but not fully:

I’m not getting out completely, but I now have a part-time job to make ends meet. My hourly rate (from the website) is 1/3rd of what my 12-year-old son earns on his paper round. I work from 6 am – 6 pm, 7 days a week, with breaks to walk the dog or do the basics around the house, and barely scrape through. I once earned enough to live comfortably, but not now. So a regular paying job became necessary to stay afloat.

Only a few in that thread believe SEO, at least for them, has a strong future where they can continue to support their families and livelihood.

It is a shame to read because I know many of the readers here are awesome at seeing results in SEO and have built really nice businesses around SEO.

Please take my anonymous poll and share it with your friends and colleagues:

SEO As A Career In The Future?

Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.