What is the best way to begin in the field of SEO?
I am curious to hear from those who have already embarked on their journey in this industry. For beginners, it can be challenging to gain trust and secure clients for promotional opportunities. Could those with experience please share their insights on how they initially started and overcame these obstacles?
I can provide some general guidance on getting started in the field of SEO. Here are a few steps you could consider:
1. Learn the Basics: Begin by familiarizing yourself with the fundamental concepts of SEO. This includes understanding how search engines work, keyword research, on-page optimization, and link building.
2. Gain Practical Experience: Apply your knowledge by working on personal projects or offering your services to small businesses and non-profit organizations. This will help you build a portfolio and gain real-world experience.
3. Stay Updated: SEO is a dynamic field, so it's crucial to stay updated with the latest industry trends and algorithm changes. Follow reputable SEO blogs, attend webinars, and join relevant communities to stay informed.
4. Network and Collaborate: Connect with other professionals in the industry through online forums or social media platforms. Building relationships with experienced SEO practitioners can help you learn from their experiences and potentially lead to collaboration opportunities.
5. Showcasing Results: As a beginner, it may be challenging to secure clients initially. Focus on showcasing your skills by demonstrating the results you achieved on personal projects or for previous clients. Provide case studies or testimonials to build trust with potential clients.
6. Continuous Learning: SEO is constantly evolving, so it's essential to continue learning and honing your skills. Pursue certifications, attend workshops or conferences, and invest time in self-study.
Remember, each person's journey in SEO may vary, so it can be helpful to learn from others' experiences. It's also important to adapt your strategies based on your unique circumstances and goals.
In terms of the speed of learning and performance at work, I believe I have the most efficient method:
Two years ago, I was as clueless about being a CEO as my cat is now. Someone else was naturally supporting my store and helping with CEO responsibilities. However, one day, I noticed a significant decrease in calls, and I started feeling uncomfortable. To investigate further, I looked at the attendance bar in the metric. It was shocking to see that it had decreased at a 45-degree angle over the past month.
Initially, people told me that it was due to seasonality or heavy competition in contextual advertising. But deep down, I knew these were just excuses. Reluctantly, I waited for another month, hoping for a change in the visitor count, but nothing happened. The answers remained the same.
Perhaps I was foolish as a CEO, but my analytical thinking as a developer and my extensive list of passwords to metrics allowed me to analyze the situation overnight. I discovered that everyone else was doing well while my numbers were plummeting.
After spending sleepless nights crying to the SEO experts of my old clients, I managed to gather some useful information on where to start and what to check. It was challenging for a fool like me to understand the ins and outs of this field, but eventually, I identified the cause of the decline. It was disheartening to realize the extent of the problem. And time kept ticking... I still had to pay my employees.
For the next two months, I delved into tons of information, simultaneously implementing and correcting errors. Meanwhile, the supposed SEO expert quietly removed all the purchased links, leaving only natural ones. However, slowly but steadily, the attendance bar started rising again, reaching the level of "better times."
Since then, I have continuously expanded my knowledge in this field, keeping up with all the latest trends. I would entrust this business to anyone because I have learned the hard way and come out stronger.
Therefore, the quickest way to figure everything out is by experiencing challenges firsthand.
Promote your websites and establish connections with the sites of friends, family, and acquaintances. Feel free to explore platforms like YouTube and engage in reading until you come across any flaws on these sites.
This will allow you to gain insights on how to improve them and implement similar strategies on your own website.
One approach is to advertise and optimize your websites.
Another challenging option is to secure an entry-level position at a company.
However, as a junior, you will quickly gain knowledge in SEO and become aware of its limitations. By experiencing the obstacles firsthand, you will be able to overcome them more effectively.
take into account the advantages and disadvantages of both methods. While promoting and optimizing your own websites can provide you with immediate hands-on experience, getting a junior job in a company allows you to learn from experienced professionals and gain a broader understanding of the industry. Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal goals and preferences.
Here are some tips and strategies that can be helpful for beginners:
Start by learning the basics: There are many free resources online where you can learn about SEO. Websites such as Moz, SEMrush, Yoast, and Search Engine Land have a wealth of resources for beginners. You can take a structured online course or certification like Google's SEO Fundamentals course, SEMrush's Academy, or the HubSpot SEO course.
Follow Industry Blogs and YouTube Channels: Websites like Neil Patel's blog, Moz Blog, Brian Dean's Backlinko, Ahrefs Blog, the YouTube channels of all these personas or firms, etc., provide a plethora of information, case studies, and practical techniques about SEO.
Hands-on Practice: Setting up your own website or blog for hands-on practice is one of the most effective ways to learn SEO. You can try various strategies like keyword optimization, backlink building, meta tag optimization, etc. Being familiar with SEO-friendly platforms like WordPress is also highly beneficial.
Keep track of Google updates: Google's algorithm updates can greatly impact SEO strategies. Make sure to subscribe to some reliable SEO-related newsletters or blogs to stay up-to-date.
Networking & Collaboration: Participate in related communities such as SEO-focused forums, groups on LinkedIn, Facebook, Reddit, or in-person meetups such as SEO conferences. Networking can lead to knowledge sharing, collaborations, and sometimes even client referrals.
Freelancing & Internships: When starting out, you may consider taking up freelance SEO projects or internships. This will not only give you hands-on experience but also help you build up a portfolio that you can show to future clients.
Showcase your knowledge and skills: You can start a blog, YouTube channel, podcast, etc., about SEO. Regularly posting helpful insights, case studies, or tutorials not only helps others but also establishes you as a knowledgeable professional in the field.
Learn SEO Tools: Familiarize yourself with tools that support SEO work, like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz Pro, etc.
Sales and Client Relationship Skills: If you plan to offer SEO services, being able to communicate value is key. Have a clear set of deliverables and report back to potential clients on the ROI they can expect from investing in your services.
Continual up-skilling: SEO is a field that's evolving constantly, so be open to continuous learning.
Niche Specialization: Consider choosing an industry or topic you're particularly knowledgeable about or interested in. Offering specialized SEO services within a specific niche can make you stand out from competitors who offer more generalized services.
Creating Case Studies: Once you start getting results, prepare detailed case studies showcasing your methodologies and achievements. A strong case study can be a powerful tool to show potential clients the exact value you can bring to their business.
Get Certified: While not strictly necessary, several institutions and platforms offer SEO certification, such as Google, Moz, and HubSpot. Having a certificate could act as an affirmation of your knowledge.
Read SEO Patents: Reading patents can provide a deep understanding of the processes that search engines use to rank pages. Bill Slawski's blog 'SEO by the Sea' is an excellent resource for reviews of these patents.
Stay Abreast of SEO Trends: Join SEO webinars, listen to podcasts, and attend industry conferences to keep up with the latest trends. Notable SEO conferences include BrightonSEO, SMX, and Pubcon.
Learn Basic Coding: While you don't need to be a developer to do SEO, understanding the basics of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript can be very helpful. It allows you to understand the structure of a website, perform technical audits more effectively, and communicate more clearly with developers.
Practice SEO Writing: Effective SEO requires good content. Practice writing engaging, information-rich content that efficiently uses keywords, meta descriptions, and backlinks. If writing is not your strength, consider collaborating with a content writer.
Understand Local SEO: If you're targeting businesses that rely on local customers, learning about the nuances of local SEO can be very beneficial. This will involve understanding Google My Business, local directory listings, and strategies to increase local online visibility.
let's dive in a bit deeper. Below are a few more key strategies and areas of knowledge that beginners in the field of SEO should explore:
Master Technical SEO: Understanding the technical side of SEO is crucial. This includes the structure of a website and its sitemap, URL structures, mobile optimization, SSL certificates, robots.txt file, use of JavaScript, website speed, and more. A technically sound website is critical for both user experience and search engine optimization.
Backlink Building: Learn the importance of backlinks in SEO, how to get quality backlinks, and how to avoid bad ones. Understanding tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush for backlink analysis could be significantly useful.
Mobile SEO: With more than half of global internet traffic coming from mobile devices, having a grasp on mobile optimization is essential. This involves understanding responsive design, page speed optimization, and possibly AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages).
Schema Markup: Learn about schema markup and how it helps search engines understand the content on your website better, and thus improve your search visibility.
Writing Meta Tags: Meta tags, including title tags and meta descriptions, should not be overlooked. They are still relevant and can boost your click-through rate from the search results page.
Voice Search SEO: The rising trend of voice search requires a different SEO strategy. Focus on natural language content and question-oriented queries.
SEO Measurement: Familiarize yourself with relevant KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), ways to track them, and how to create reports. To demonstrate the value of your work, it's helpful to be able to deliver quantifiable results to clients or employers.
Develop a Strong Foundation in Digital Marketing: SEO doesn't operate in a vacuum. Understanding other digital marketing strategies like content marketing, PPC (Pay Per Click), email marketing, and social media marketing, and how they integrate with SEO can offer a broader perspective and enhance your overall skills.
Learn to Conduct SEO Audits: Audits are a standard service offered by SEO professionals. Mastering the art of conducting a comprehensive SEO audit can help you identify strengths and weaknesses in a website's current SEO strategy.
Pitching and Proposal Writing: If you're freelancing or running an agency, you'll need to get good at writing pitches and proposals. Clear, concise, and compelling proposals can help you secure more clients and projects.
here are some of the best resources you can use to learn and stay up-to-date with SEO:
Blogs:
Moz Blog: Offers advice from industry experts on everything related to SEO.
Search Engine Land: Provides daily news on search engines and search engine marketing.
Search Engine Journal: Provides news and tutorials about the industry's latest trends.
Books:
"SEO 2020: Learn search engine optimization with smart internet marketing strategies" by Adam Clarke: This book provides information on the latest Google algorithm updates and SEO strategies.
"SEO For Dummies" by Peter Kent: Ideal for beginners, it explains the fundamentals in an easy-to-understand manner.
"The Art of SEO" by Eric Enge, Stephan Spencer, and Jessie Stricchiola: An in-depth guide covering a wide range of SEO topics.
Online Forums and Communities:
SEO Chat Forums: A great place to ask tricky SEO questions and get answers from the community.
WebmasterWorld Forum: Provides discussions and advice on leading-edge web marketing and technology from developers around the world.
r/SEO on Reddit: A community dedicated to SEO news, case studies, and research.
Courses and Learning Platforms:
Moz's SEO Training Course on Udemy: Offers real-life examples and scenarios to help you practice and understand SEO strategies better.
Coursera: Offers comprehensive SEO courses, some provided by universities.
HubSpot Academy: Provides a free Inbound Marketing Certification Course that includes SEO instruction.
Podcasts:
"The Search Engine Journal Show": Weekly interviews with some of the biggest names in SEO and digital marketing.
"SEO 101" on WebmasterRadio.FM: Lessons and insights from SEO experts.
Newsletters:
Search Engine Roundtable: This newsletter highlights the most important forum threads on SEO.
SEO for Lunch: Delivered once a week, this newsletter summarises the most important SEO news.
It can be intiŠ¼idating to start SEO, but understanding the fundamentals is essential. A lot of experts advise starting with online tutorials or courses to learn the basics. After you've mastered the fundamentals, practise is essential. To obtain practical experience, you can begin by optimising your own website or blog.
Joining SEO communities and forums and networking are very beneficial. Make connections with seasoned people, pose inquiries, and gain insight from their experiences. Initially, you can establish your portfolio and reputation by providing your services to friends, nearby companies, or nonprofit organisations at no cost or reduced cost.
At first, getting clients can be difficult, but the secret is to show off your accomplishments and provide value via your knowledge. To showcase your abilities, present case studies or success stories.
Remember that patience is essential. Although it takes time to establish trust, opportunities and clients will come your way as you gain experience and demonstrate your commitment.
Crawl accessibility so engines can read your website.
Compelling content that answers the searcher's query.
Keyword optimized to attract searchers & engines.
Great user experience including a fast load speed and compelling UX.