About Jan
I am Jan Caerels: a Belgian SEO specialist, focusing mainly on technical SEO. I have been working in search engine optimisation since 2014. For five years, I worked at agencies as well as in-house. Then, in 2022, I decided to offer freelance SEO services. I mainly work for large websites in the B2B, e-commerce and enterprise sectors. Today, I work mainly in-house at travel company TUI, and freelance for my own clients.
Jan Caerels (sole proprietorship)
Lekestraat 67A
8680 Koekelare
West-Vlaanderen
Belgium (map)
+32(0)478 99 28 97
info@sitesfy.be
Company number: 0753.950.514
VAT number: BE 0753.950.514
Expertise: Technical SEO, Enterprise SEO
Social media:
Publications:
- Frankwatching (NL)
- Appstublieft (NL)
- SEOBenelux (EN)
- SEObrein (NL)
- Summer of SEO (EN)
- MediaForta (EN)
- BrightonSEO (EN)
My professional timeline
2013: My introduction to SEO
My first experience with SEO. My brother and I were started a small business. We were high school students at the time. Our company Daca Ledscreen rented LED screens for outdoor advertising and livestreams. However, the website (a one-pager) was hard to find in Google. So I dove into SEO, with success here and there. Still, I knew little about SEO in 2013.
2018: Master’s thesis in SEO
Several years later and I am obsessed with SEO. I want to know everything about it. I decide to write my master’s thesis on SEO at Ghent University. The research looked for correlations between known SEO ranking factors and position in Google. To give an idea: The analysis included 4 sectors (including travel), 4,997 keywords, 48,938 results and 59 ranking factors.
May 2019: First job as an SEO specialist
I start my first job at WiSEO – a pureplay dedicated SEO agency. So WiSEO only does SEO (no social ads e.g.). I offer SEO content and technical SEO advice to a wide range of clients. But my specialisation is in technical SEO. My portfolio includes SEO projects for both VRT MAX, VRT NWS, Dreamland, Proximus, Embuild, Dewaele Vastgoed, Aldi, among others. I gain experience in news SEO, enterprise and e-com SEO.
Oct 2020: Freelance in secondary occupation
In addition to agency SEO projects, I also want to expand my side projects and offer web design services. Website development with a focus on SEO in the design phase, as there is a demand for that. That is why I am starting a secondary occupation. The target audience is small SMEs that want an affordable website with a good SEO basis.
2022: Lead SEO specialist
At WiSEO, I get the position of Lead SEO specialist. It allows me to help with creative solutions to real complex SEO challenges within the team. I also help with knowledge sharing, internal growth processes and general follow-up of our SEO projects.
May 2023: in-house SEO specialist at TUI
After 4 years of agency experience I make the switch to in-house SEO. I work 4 of 5 days at travel organiser TUI, as well as an freelance SEO consultant.
Oct 2023: SEO Peeps game launches
I am launching the game SEO Peeps. It is the result of 16 months of development during my spare time. This technical SEO game has a simple setup. Find 20 hidden keywords by analysing the website like a technical SEO specialist. A tip is provided each time, but it is deliberately cryptic so it is not too easy.
End of 2024: Expanding freelance SEO
I expand my freelance services and take on more clients. Public speaking is also something I am doing more often. My first big speaking gig is BrightonSEO in April 2025. The talk: ‘Advanced SEO techniques with .htaccess’.