The Best SEO Course Options

I'm going to give it to you straight…most of this article was just a generic written article that I hired a writer to write for me. Why? Well, because I know SEO pretty well and unfortunately a lot of fluff needed to be added to this page in order for it to get a good ranking in Google.

You did, by the way, find us by searching for something like “best SEO course”, right?

Well, that was done on purpose.

So what exactly do I mean by saying that most of this article was generically written?

Well, in order to rank for certain keywords you need a lot of content. I personally don't want to write a 5,000 word article myself…and I can tell you what I need to tell you in about 1,000 words anyways.

What Is Really The Best Way To Learn SEO?

The best way to learn search engine optimization is to learn by seeing. And that's what sets Traffic Tsunami apart from all of the other SEO courses that are out there.

Yes, the other courses and training options that we have listed on this page are pretty good courses, but they lack a lot of things that we offer.

And the biggest thing is EXAMPLES. I'm talking over the shoulder examples where you get to see me rank a site from beginning to end. Every step of the way.

Seeing is fully believing. And fully believing is very powerful…it will put your hustle to the max as you can move forward with your search engine optimization game plan in confidence. Lack of confidence, or doubt, is one of the big things that hold people back from success.

I will help you eliminate that doubt by SHOWING you exactly what to do. 

SEO Example Sites

This is another thing that sets Traffic Tsunami apart from the other training courses that are available…I have shown HUNDREDS of example sites over my SEO teaching and consulting career.

This again gives people belief.

When they see me ranking websites step by step, and then they see many different examples of my websites that are ranking at the top of Google…they believe. That means they do…and doing means progress.

SEO Course For Beginners To Advanced

I'll finish by saying that what I offer has taken complete beginners in the search engine optimization world to being experts in the field making 6 and even 7 figures a year.

One thing that sets our teaching apart is that we keep things simple. SEO, by the way, is actually pretty simple – as long as you aren't making it too complicated.

We have also helped people that would be considered advanced at SEO expand their skills.

We've had all different levels of search engine optimization skills come through our course and praise us for how much it helped elevate their SEO game.

I'm about to send you back to the generic article where we give you some pretty good alternatives for learning SEO – but I can tell you that none of them are going to help you like we can.

Many of them are large companies who do a different style of SEO, and what they do won't necessarily work for you. I believe you need to understand some core concepts before you make something like they often teach work. 

They are usually much more focused on “brand SEO” which is a different ball game and very hard for someone like you or me to start with.

Not to mention, once again, you DID find this article by searching for something related to “the best seo courses”…right?

Back to your regular scheduled generic article for the best search engine optimization courses…

Generic SEO Article Begins Here…

In this modern, digital world, with all of us having an access to a mobile phone, tablet, or computer, businesses can only propel forward with the power of SEO or search engine optimization. We have to remember that this has the capability to build our brand and boost up our rankings so that consumers will be familiar with our products and services. We also got the Lead Conversion Squared review for anyone that's interested.

However, not all start ups have the funds to employ an SEO marketing specialist. If you’re feeling reluctant in handing over your hard earned money to a training consultant, read this guide because it outlines affordable and often free SEO training courses and websites to help boost your search engine optimization knowledge to the next level, which will also increase your company sales and traffic.

SEMrush Academy

This academy was set up by the tool SEMrush, which is fairly popular with online marketers working on SEO and paid advertising. This course is free to take, but before you take the plunge, take note that the course is set up with many different levels, so it will take a commitment of time and some bit of effort to understand the technical jargon and the examples provided.

The structure and content of the basic course are all comprehensive. Each main part has different sub topics which are supported by examples. For each main category, there is usually a 3 to 6 minute in depth video provided to explain the topic. But with many topics covered for the whole search engine optimization course, lumping all the videos together would take several hours.

Each of the videos come with a transcript, so if you do not understand it, you can re-read it. After each video, they give suggestions of titles for further reading and skills enhancement. There are also practice questions so you can check if you understood whatever it is that you learned so far.

Pros

• They offer a certificate after you complete all the levels of the program and after you pass all the comprehensive exams.
• They have a lot of links that offer more information, so you can learn from others and not just the academy.
• The course’s structure is very easy to follow and is not confusing at all.

Cons

• The videos were a little bit boring with mostly just one person sitting in the middle of the screen and doing all the talking. It would have been better if the videos were a little bit more interactive.
• They only provide a lot of course theory but not a lot of hands on examples which would have been the better way to learn.

Yoast SEO Training

Yoast is actually an SEO plugin that is utilized for WordPress, which is a blogging platform. This is most likely installed on millions of blogs around the world because the basic plug in is free. There is a premium service, too, that offers added benefits, including customer support which is not available for the basic freebie.

This company’s extensive expertise in search engine optimizationis evident in the capability of their plugin. It is known for boosting the many sites managed with the WordPress tool. If you want a deeper learning, this the basic training offers sufficient knowledge for you to seen any improvement.

This kind of training from Yoast is actually perfect for beginners and best part is that the basic training, like the plug in, is free. However, the more extensive courses range from forty dollars to almost seven hundred dollars. This is quite an depth course that covers many varied topics that center on search engine optimization making it a good choice for building up your knowledge.

Pros

• The initial guide is absolutely free, so there’s simply no excuse for you not to brush up on your skills.
• Even the basic guide covers extensive topics from keyword search, technical SEO, content and copy writing, and conversion optimization of users.
• Keep in mind that the basic free program is the beginning of the journey as there is more to learn after taking the basic course.

Cons

• People that already have a background in search engine optimization will find this sorely lacking.

SEO Training Course By Moz

When you see the word Moz, you think of this popular blog, and you are immediately reminded by a top name in the industry. It is not surprising why their online guide has been read more than three million times because it combines their many years of experience into one easy to understand book. The best part is, this guide is free online on their site, where you can download a pdf.

The guide comes in ten easy to read chapters that provide a in-depth guide about the world of search engine optimization. It starts with the topic How Search Engines Operate, which moves onto the final topic called Measuring and Tracking Success. In easy to understand language, readers will not have a difficult time understanding the principles.

This training course is perfect for beginners as it gives invaluable advice on why search engine marketing should be a priority for your business. On top of that, the advice you will read is updated and is readily actionable. This is a great tool for anyone who wants to brush up on the SEO industry.

Pros

• This guide teaches readers how to build links with ease and without being penalized.
• It discusses in depth about the common myths and misconceptions.
• Even if you have some experience, this guide will still help sharpen your skills.

Cons

• With the massive amount of downloads and views, you shall be sharing the same trips and tricks with many businesses jut like you. How then can you set yourself apart, if you are using the same advice from one company.

HubSpot Free SEO Crash Course

This free crash course is there to help you optimize your web content so that you can take advantage of higher search engine rankings. Hubspot is a reputable site that has a lot of followers that take their advice on many things that pertain to marketing. This tutorial will help explain the science behind the different search engines available in the market to date, so you can understand what needs to be done for your business.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to do on and of page optimization and how to build links, which will help you build a strong foundation in SEO. No experience is necessary to avail of this program. Whatever you learn can be utilized for domestic and international audiences. This course also provides substantial info-graphic to make it easier for you to learn.

Pros

• This helps you find a strategy for your business to help you boost sales and company engagement.
• This free course provides a case study on how their company, the Hubspot, utilizes blogging and search engine optimization to consistently rank as number one.
• They are generous with tips and tricks to help boost your business.

Cons

• You won’t receive any certifications after the program.

Udemy SEO Course

Udemy is an awesome learning platform that allows people to learn across the miles regarding just about anything on its online site. This platform’s main thrust is to learn anything from anywhere on your own schedule, which they all actually live up to with their course. Taking their course means you improve your depth of understanding of search engine optimization because they brush up on many topics like local, SEO for photographers, and how to outsource efficiently.

On top of that, this course gives you a structured path that guides your studies, so you can complete your program easily. Peter Kent, the world renowned marketing expert and the course author, teaches you how to optimize your web page, how to boost search engine optimization with the concept of data mark up, how to know which keywords to use, local searching, and so much more.

Pros

• This program comes with a thirty day money back guarantee if you find yourself unsatisfied or unchallenged by the course offerings.
• You get a certificate upon completion of the entire program.
• There is a lifetime access to all the course material via the site, which can be accessed by ios or android so you can use it anytime you want.

Cons

• This is only free for about a week during the trial period, then you already have to pay to enjoy more of the class.

Wrap Up

As you can see, there are many reliable and trusted options available on line. The top five mentioned here in this article are just at the tip of the iceberg. There are many other reputable sites that offer a crash course on SEO, so you can go from a digital marketing zero to a marketing hero.

It is always good to expand your knowledge, but with search engine optimization what matters is experience. You may be seeking a certification to help boost your credibility, but you have to invest in a good place where you can learn something and commit to actually finding the time and making the effort to get things done.

Can you learn SEO by Yourself?

The most common misconception that people think is that SEO is the same as advertising, but it is really not. One thing similar between the two is you need to allot time and money to get it done. Hiring a specialist can be really expensive, so some people just want to learn the practice of search engine optimization to save on the cost.

This can actually be learned via self-study with all the tools and free classes available online at everyone’s disposal. Of course it would be faster to learn with an expert, but if there is no one available, then doing it alone while guided by your online course is the next best thing.

Really quick though, let me interject on this generic SEO article…learning it by yourself can definitely end up being more detrimental in the end. It can set you back years and it can actually end up costing you much more than investing in learning from someone that knows what they're doing.

The mistakes you make and the cost of those mistakes will, again, set you back years.

So save yourself the trouble and don't try to do SEO by yourself.

Not only are you likely going to get a lot of false information, but there is a very good chance that you will never succeed. I know that sounds pessimistic or “me trying to sell something” – but it's the truth.

SEO takes so long these days that you have to often wait 6+ months to see if what you are doing has worked (Google just won't let new sites rank well).

So it's not like you can implement your SEO and see the effects immediately. This means you don't even know if what you are doing is working…for at LEAST 6 months.

I've said many times, if I came into SEO at this time (opposed to when I did about 15 years ago), I would be completely lost.

But because I have been able to follow the algorithms for about 15 years, it has helped me greatly for my success today.

OK, back to your generic article…

Here are the ten things you must do if you want to learn SEO by your lonesome:

Be Able to Master Keyword Research

SEO is all about the keyword or keywords. Keyword research offer insight of the most common words and phrases that your customers use to find your brand, your products, and/ or your services. Thus, it is vital for you to find out and understand key word themes that are pertinent to your business.

Study and Understand Your Own Competitors

You have to study your competition’s movements online and check to see what works for them, so you can imitate or make those moves significantly better. Doing this will also show their weaknesses, and learning from the mistakes they have committed is a way for you to grow.

Plan your Site Well

With an understanding of the popular keywords associated to your site, this will help you utilize your site well, so you can crafts targeted posts and use them to your advantage.

Do the Crucial Steps to Optimize Your Site

Your site must always be ready to evolve based on your growing clientele. For instance, Google noted that most searches come form smart phones. Make sure your mobile site is attractive, responsive, and informative to keep your users hooked on you.

Craft Content Regularly

Be consistent in publishing content that has the keywords in place. Content needs to be varied from print, pics, inforgraphics, and audio-video.

Make Public Relations a Priority

Good PR is a key tool if you want to keep people on your site and side. Link authority is also a major key, but purchasing of links is forbidden by search engines. This is where reaching out and PR help because they will be your voice in making sure your users spread the word about your company.

Build your Network on Social Media

This enables you to connect with your customers and prospective clients. Here in these platforms, you can release your content. You can use hashtags with your keywords to help direct your audience. Hopefully, if they find your content worthy enough, they’ll give it a like, a comment, or even a share which will really help to make you more visible.

Figure Out Google Analytics

You need to understand the importance of data analysis because these data is tracking our performance and telling you how well your campaigns are doing.

Make Time to Read an SEO Blog

Knowledge is power so keep on reading and learning from the experts. One nice thing about blogs is they are updated with the market trends, so if you monitor them religiously, you will never lag behind.

When in Doubt, Ask

Don’t be afraid to ask questions in communities found on the web. There are many people out there who are more than willing to help you get out of your slump.

How Do I Become a SEO Specialist?

Becoming an SEO specialist does not happen overnight. It takes years of experience in dealing with the different quirks of a dynamic industry. Sometimes, it even includes learning from your own painful and embarrassing mistakes. You also need the right certifications to be able to be considered a respected specialist.

Becoming a true specialist means you need to have an understanding of how search engines work and its basic marketing concepts. You also need to underscore the true meaning of the word search engine optimization, and then find the right training program. As an aspiring professional specialist, you have to stay abreast of changes, choose the right tools, and follow the lead of experts, who have been in the industry far longer than you. After, you have to keep on practicing and pushing forth in spite of the many trials that you will surely face in your career.

How Can I Learn SEO Fast?

If time is a constraint and you need to brush up on SEO ASAP, then learning from a professional is the best solution. Self-study will take a lot of time, and there shall be technical jargon that you do not understand. You’ll need to do further research to help you understand. If you pay someone, you’ll have someone to ask and he will give an immediate feedback. Doing a paid course is also another way for you to learn search engine optimization quickly.

What Is the Best SEO Course?

There are many courses available on line from free sites to paid sites and with varying levels of difficulty from beginner, intermediate, advance, and technical courses. They also vary in structure and what materials they tackle within the course. You are the only one who can determine what is the best for you to learn because you know your own needs and you know best what materials can address those needs. You really have to do your research in order to find out which program would be best to give your precious time to.

How Do I Start a Career in SEO?

Starting a career in SEO means you have to be passionate about this field. If it doesn’t excite you, then you won’t last very long in this cutthroat industry that is forever evolving. As the saying goes, if you love what you do, then you never have to work a day in your life. A career in search engine optimization is rewarding, especially if you become a high paying consultant that helps businesses increase their profitability and client base. It is a great feeling to be a critical tool in someone’s success because their success is yours too.

Let me leave you with some of my tips to help make SEO a lot easier on you.

Our Best SEO Tips For Beginners

So you’re a beginner at search engine optimization?

I’m not going to lie, I kind of pitty you in a way because SEO is a pretty tough gig if you are new and don’t have the proper guidance.

There are a lot of different reasons for this…one of the biggest being that changes take SO long in today’s SEO age.

To start, newer sites can take over a year to really start ranking well.

So whatever it is you’re doing…you’re going to have to wait around a year to see if what you did is working or not.

This is a complete recipe for disaster.

It’s a key ingredient to many beginners failing at SEO.

And it’s an even bigger key ingredient to beginner’s QUITTING search engine optimization.

Today is much different than it was years ago when you could just spam links, use exact match anchor text, and rank sites within a month.

Not only do sites take longer to rank…but it now takes a while to see changes take effect.

What I mean is if you make certain changes to your site, Google won’t just react right away.

They aren’t just going to say “Oh, awesome, you did exactly what we wanted and we are now going to move you up”.

Nope.

They will see that you did exactly what they wanted as far as changes go, but they won’t move you up for many months in some cases.

There is a good reason for this…so it’s much harder to track what’s working.

Even a lot of advanced SEO practitioners will fall victim to this.

They’ll make a change, which is the change that Google was wanting from them, but then over the next few months they make a bunch more changes. And if the other changes they made don’t hurt them, and they do move up from the initial change, they will often credit the upwards movement to the other factors…and often they credit the last change they made as the main responsible factor.

Because of this new game that Google has been playing for the last couple years and the lack of understanding of what is going on, there is a lot of misinformation that spreads in the SEO community.

It’s not intentional, people think that they are really helping and speaking the truth.

But the real truth is that a lot of it is misinformation and it leads to a lot of struggle in this business.

Luckily for you, I’ve been doing SEO for 15 years now and I have analyzed tens of thousands of sites.

With over a 1,000 of those sites being my own, where I know exactly what I did to them.

And I built a lot of these sites different from each other, for a very specific reason.

When changes happened with Google I was able to spot what was going on because of the different “sets” of sites that I had built.

When a certain “set of sites” built a certain way moved up, I was able to spot what changes happened.

And same thing when a certain set of sites moved down, it made it very easy to spot certain changes.

Throughout the years of doing this, it allowed me to “follow the algorithm”.

And through this, I’ve noticed that Google really focuses on a few key things.

But in the beginning of this I said I pitty new people to SEO…this is exactly why.

UNLESS you have someone like me to showtell you exactly what is working.

I have built tons of websites in my career where I actually show them to my students as proof. I’ve even done “over the shoulder” series where I show me building and ranking websites from scratch, and they can see every step of the way.

This is the best way for beginner’s to learn because it cuts through the BS.

They aren’t hearing a bunch of different advice from tons of different people. They are getting PROOF from one person, with one tactic, that is showing you it works right in front of your eyes.

So although I’m not going to give you an over the shoulder series right here (obviously, because some of them are 40+ videos with close to 20 hours of content), I will give you some good tips to start with.

#1 Focus On The Basics Of On Page

I’m going to be straight with you hear…about 99% of SEO’s make it WAY too complicated (in my opinion at least).

I really put my focus on a few key core things when it comes to on page.

First and foremost, before you start a site make sure you know your plan.

If you are going to be doing a site specifically on dating…have dating in your domain name.

Domain name is a big ranking factor (especially when links come into play) so make sure you pick correctly.

EMDs work very well still, but sometimes people will pigeon hole themselves by picking an EMD type domain and then not be able to expand.

This is why you need to know your plan beforehand so you can pick the proper domain name for your project.

Next, keyword optimize your URLs. If you are trying to rank for “best seo courses” as your main keyword, then put the URL as /best-seo-courses/

It’s going to help you out a good bit.

Next, make sure your title is keyword optimized. I personally focus on keywords first, and then conversion second.

Sometimes people focus on conversion too much (trying to pick a title that will help CTR) – but you can’t increase your CTR if you’re not ranking well. And without the proper keywords in your title, you’re never going to get that chance to increase CTR.

Next is your general content. Use a good amount of LSI type keywords, and just don’t overdue anything as far as keyword density goes, especially in h1h2 type tags.

Focus on doing longer content that is well thought out, the days of ranking with really short content is over for the most part (not all the time, but not a good practice).

#2 Ignore Everything Else

So this kind of goes with tip #1, but you can ignore pretty much all the other on page SEO advice that you are going to get.

I’ve shown live examples, ranking #1 in Google, where I only focused on the things above and nothing else.

I’m talking about the 100 other things that people say you need to do on page in order to rank well.

Not saying some of these things can’t help, but if you stretch your focus too much you are going to lose focus on the things that count for 95% of on page factors in ranking.

#3 Get High Quality Links Only

This is really the last part of the puzzle.

You need to focus on getting only higher quality links…especially when you are first starting a new site.

When you first start a site, you have no trust.

And if you are building untrustworthy links to a brand new site that has no trust yet, you are doomed.

And there’s a very good chance that the site will never even rank because of this.

So focus on building only high quality links, especially for a new site.

This means 2 things (and preferably a combination of both).

Relevant links, and high authority links.

If you can get a combination of both and get all of the on page stuff down, you are golden!

Hopefully these tips help you cut through the bull crap and let you focus on a few main things.

I know there are guides out there that give you 200+ ranking factors that you need to know to rank in Google…don’t pay attention to those!

This is just going to leave you frustrated and completely overwhelmed.

And about 80% of those are going to do virtually nothing for you, trust me!

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References & Resources

• A Simple Step by Step Guide to SEO, Neilpatel.
• What Is SEO / Search Engine Optimization?, Search Engine Land.
• What is SEO and How It Works for Small Businesses, LYFE Marketing.
• What Is Search Engine Optimization And Why Is It Important, Reliablesoft.