This Ask An SEO question comes from Jessica from Louth, who wrote in:
“I am currently a stack marketer but am drawn to SEO.
I’m not sure where to start gaining experience, though.
Where would you suggest to start and do you have any book/course recommendations?”
I’ve been working in search engine optimization professionally since 1998 (that’s 23 years for anyone counting), and I’m still learning new things every day.
But that doesn’t mean pro-SEO wannabes are out of luck.
There are many great resources available for newbie search engine marketers to sink their teeth into.
And unlike when the other “Original Gangster” SEO experts and I learned the trade, there are some established resources that everyone (almost) agrees are great places to start.
A Word Of Caution
Even the best advice is rarely universal.
What works very well on one site may fall flat on another.
The only way to know if an SEO tactic is working for you is to test it.
You can constantly read theories about algorithms and code changes, but until you implement those theories on your site, you don’t know if they will work.
Even if you see physical evidence of how well a technique worked on another site, there is no guarantee that the same technique will produce similar results when implemented.
You simply don’t know anything until you experience it.
But reading other SEO pros talk about their work is part of the job.
You will be amazed at the ideas our industry produces every day.
If you’re not interested in reading what other SEO experts are doing, you’re probably in the wrong field.
Lots Of Places To Learn The Basics
I can probably figure out how to fix a sink by watching YouTube videos, but I’ll probably flood my house.
After all, the only thing in my toolbox is a checkbook.
If you’re interested in getting into SEO, you might be overwhelmed by a few sinks at first.
But if you have a basic understanding of how websites work and are willing to put in the time and effort to learn the art, you’ll soon be the one everyone calls to fix their proverbial sink .
You can learn the basics in different ways.
Some people prefer to build their own website and experiment until they know what works for them.
Others prefer to learn from online courses like the stellar beginner course from Search Engine Journal.
Moz also has a great startup SEO primer.
When looking at these online courses, pay attention to the last time the course was updated.
The fundamentals of SEO don’t change that often.
But the details change all the time.
It is important to ensure you are up to date.
You can also look for an SEO mentor.
Take inspiration from others who have shared their SEO career stories.
Learn about the different areas of SEO knowledge you could sink your teeth into and start prioritizing what you want to learn first.
Study the questions you will be asked in SEO job interviews. How prepared are you to give the best answer?
In Conclusion
If you want to learn SEO for a specific vertical, find out who is doing great SEO in that vertical and follow their work.
Buy them a beer – you’ll be surprised how much most people will share once they become your friend.
Make sure you are always reading and always learning.
It’s easy to become a good SEO.
If you want to become a great SEO, it will take considerable time and effort.
Featured Image: Anton Vierietin/ShutterstockEditor’s Note: Ask SEO is a weekly SEO advice column written by some of the industry’s top SEO experts, hand-picked by Search Engine Journal. Have a question about SEO? Fill out our form. You might find your answer in the next #AskanSEO post!
Is SEO a good career?
‘Yes. SEO is a good career option as it is among the most popular careers in the Digital Marketing field. There are numerous organizations around the world, employing SEO professionals to generate better content and thus generate more business leads.
Is SEO a high paying job? On the median, an SEO Specialist earns $49,000 per year, with the median salaries of SEO Managers significantly higher at around $63,000. At the high end are SEO Directors who typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000” and SEO Team Managers and Campaign Managers, in the $50,000 to $100,000 range.
Is SEO in high demand?
SEO professionals are in high demand, as companies need search optimization in order to compete in most niches.
Is SEO a good career 2021?
Regardless of the pandemic there, SEO is now here to stay. As more and more customers become accustomed to searching for products online, 2021 is the year to start a good career in digital marketing and SEO. SEO is an art where you tailor submitted content to rank better, and appear faster on search engines.
Is SEO a good career 2020?
But according to a report published in Statista, the perceived level of ROI generated by SEO was much higher than other digital marketing channels. Therefore, SEO has been proving itself to be a promising digital marketing channel for businesses to invest in, as well as a lucrative career opportunity for many individuals.
Is SEO a good career in 2020?
SEO is a great way to expand markets, and existing customer bases for businesses. SEO is a career, which will force you to stay young and stay informed about the latest things, spend a lot of time on the internet and keep browsing between new forms of content.
Does SEO have a future?
SEO is now considered a long-term investment for businesses, with results appearing gradually over time. Many webmasters and business owners consider SEO almost dead due to recent search engine algorithms. They believe that SEO is no longer effective and will never yield fruitful results.
Is SEO a stable job?
Yes, SEO is a good career in 2022 because it gives you access to various opportunities. You can work in-house, take on clients, and even start and grow websites you own. Also, the three most popular websites Google.com, YouTube.com, and Amazon.com, are also the biggest search engines.
Does SEO have a future?
SEO is now considered a long-term investment for businesses, with results appearing gradually over time. Many webmasters and business owners consider SEO almost dead due to recent search engine algorithms. They believe that SEO is no longer effective and will never yield fruitful results.
Will SEO exist in 5 years?
SEO will not be eliminated within the next five years because social media and search engines will most likely merge. Facebook has already started doing this: they average over 1.5 billion searches every day. Twitter has done the same; they partnered with Google.
Is SEO a good career 2020?
But according to a report published in Statista, the perceived level of ROI generated by SEO was much higher than other digital marketing channels. Therefore, SEO has been proving itself to be a promising digital marketing channel for businesses to invest in, as well as a lucrative career opportunity for many individuals.
Can I learn SEO for free?
You can learn how to do Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, for free. All you need are strong resources written or created by SEO experts. We’ve compiled a list of 50 of the best SEO blogs, courses, videos, podcasts, conferences and tools to get you started.
Can I learn SEO on my own? It is possible to learn how to do SEO on your own, you don’t have to be an SEO specialist or expert. The first thing to do is to convince yourself that SEO is not difficult. If others can do it, so can you. All it takes is a willingness to learn and time.
How much does it cost to learn SEO?
If you can learn SEO for a few hours every day, then you can master the basics of SEO within 4-8 weeks and get your first SEO job in 3-6 months. If you can learn SEO full time, then you can master the basics even within 1-2 weeks.
How much does an SEO program cost?
How much can you expect to spend on SEO? If you hire a top level SEO company to implement a local campaign, expect to pay $500.00 per month. A national or international campaign will require a minimum budget of $2,500 to $5,000 per month. Some companies offer a “trial package” at a lower price, with no contract.
Is it worth doing a SEO course?
Taking courses and getting SEO certifications can be important if you are a beginner who wants to learn in a structured format, guided by SEO experts, or a working professional who wants to update their qualifications or learn new skills and best practices in the fast-changing market.
How much does it cost to start SEO?
| Math | Cost |
|---|---|
| Cheap SEO | $500 to $3,000 per month |
| Mid-range SEO | $3,000 to $15,000 per month |
| High end SEO | $15,000-$30,000 per month |
| Enterprise SEO | $30,000-1 million per month |
How much time does it take to learn SEO?
It takes 1-3 months to learn the basics of SEO. The basics of search engine optimization can be understood and learned within 3 months, however, the more advanced concepts can take anywhere from 6-18 months.
Is SEO paid or free?
SEO is sometimes used as an umbrella term that includes SEM, but because SEM strictly refers to paid advertising, they are actually separate. SEM is about getting traffic through paid ads, and SEO is more about acquiring, monitoring and analyzing organic (unpaid) traffic patterns.
Is SEO cost per click?
There are two key differences when considering SEO or PPC. The first is that paid ads appear at the top of the page, above the organic listings that are influenced by SEO. The second is that traffic from organic through SEO is free, while traffic from PPC costs each click.
Is SEO free on Google?
Google Analytics is one of the best free SEO tools that every digital marketer should be using.
Is SEO free of cost?
| Math | Cost | Who uses it? |
|---|---|---|
| DIY SEO | Free | Solopreneurs |
| Cheap SEO | $500 to $3,000 per month | Small businesses |
| Mid-range SEO | $3,000 to $15,000 per month | Established businesses |
| High end SEO | $15,000-$30,000 per month | Websites with a lot of traffic |
How can I do SEO without paying?
No Money, No Problem: 17 Free Ways to Boost Your Website’s SEO
- Find better keywords. …
- Remove duplicate content. …
- Fix 404 errors. …
- Write a unique title tag for each page. …
- Write a compelling meta description for each page. …
- Clean up your URL structure. …
- Update your blog often. …
- Include H1, H2, H3, etc.
How do I start learning SEO?
Here are the steps of teaching yourself SEO in 6 steps:
- STEP 1 – Find a resource for beginners. …
- STEP 2 – Practice! …
- STEP 3 – Find a Mentor. …
- STEP 4 – Join an SEO Group. …
- STEP 5 – Know what’s happening in the SEO world. …
- STEP 6 – Rinse and Repeat.
What is the first step to start SEO?
Defining the relevant keywords is the first step in creating search engine optimized website content. By using the keywords and building your themes around them you will create content that provides answers to Google searches.
Does SEO cost Money?
Technically, SEO is free. You don’t pay money for SERP placement. Google ranks content based on a number of factors including the E-AT-T triad: Expertise, Authority, and Trust. They are going to rate those that are considered valuable resources to users highly.
Is SEO free of cost?
How much does SEO cost?
The average cost of SEO for small businesses is $750 to $2000 per month or $5000 to $30,000 for one-time projects. Smaller companies that invest in SEO consulting services can expect to pay $80 to $200 per hour.
Can I do SEO on my own?
You can do SEO completely yourself or DIY SEO (Do It Yourself SEO). With some research and a lot of practice, anyone can learn how to do SEO for their business.
Is it worth paying for SEO?
The short answer is that SEO is very effective – not only for generating traffic but also leads and sales. Do not worry. The long answer involves research and data, not just empty statements. Most SEOs get too caught up in search-specific metrics like SERPs (search engine results page), rankings, and organic traffic.
Is SEO a one-time cost?
SEO is not a one-time project; it needs to be constantly updated, analyzed and adjusted to achieve the desired results. Content and links must be continuously upgraded and improved. That’s why most business owners will be more than happy to pay a monthly retainer for a quality SEO service.
How much does SEO cost for a small business?
According to a survey of 1,200 business owners and over 350 agencies, freelancers, and consultants, the average cost of SEO for Small Businesses is $501-$1,000 per month globally. The average cost of SEO for small businesses in the United States is $2,501 to $5,000 per month.
Is SEO a one-time cost?
SEO is not a one-time project; it needs to be constantly updated, analyzed and adjusted to achieve the desired results. Content and links must be continuously upgraded and improved. That’s why most business owners will be more than happy to pay a monthly retainer for a quality SEO service.
Is SEO a monthly fee?
If you hire a top level SEO company to implement a local campaign, expect to pay $500.00 per month. A national or international campaign will require a minimum budget of $2,500 to $5,000 per month.
Is SEO free or paid?
Many people are attracted to SEO because it is “free website traffic”. And yes, you don’t pay when someone clicks on your site in the organic search results. But make no mistake: SEO is NOT free.
How much should I pay for SEO per month?
To generalize, most SEO experts will charge a monthly recurring investment of $3,000 to $10,000 per month. A national or international SEO budget should never be less than $5000 per month and it is possible to start a local SEO campaign in the $500 to $2500 range.
How can I do SEO for free?
The Best Free SEO Tools
- Bing Webmaster Tools. While Google Webmaster Tools gets all the glory, people forget that Bing Webmaster offers a full suite of website analytics and search. …
- Data Studio. …
- Better Google Analytics Annotations. …
- Google Analytics. …
- Search Console. …
- Keyword hero. …
- MozCast.
Can I do my own SEO on Google?
You can do SEO completely yourself or DIY SEO (Do It Yourself SEO). With some research and a lot of practice, anyone can learn how to do SEO for their business.
Is SEO free on Google?
Google Analytics is one of the best free SEO tools that every digital marketer should be using.
What are keywords for SEO?
Keywords are ideas and topics that define what your content is about. When it comes to SEO, these are the words and phrases that searchers enter into search engines, also known as “search queries.” If everything boils down to your page – all the images, video, copy, etc.
What are SEO friendly keywords? Your SEO keywords are the keywords and phrases in your web content that make it possible for people to find your website through search engines. A website that is well optimized for search engines that “speak the same language” as its potential visitor base with keywords for SEO that help link searchers to your website.
How do I choose keywords for SEO?
5 tips to help you choose the right keywords
- Think like a customer. Identify your target audience and put yourself in a customer’s shoes when you create your initial list of keywords. …
- Study the competition. …
- Understanding the long tail keyword. …
- Use keyword research tools. …
- Analyze the results.
Which keyword is best for SEO?
Long tail keywords are long terms (usually 4 words) that searchers use in Google and other search engines. And they tend to have lower keyword difficulty compared to 1-3 word “heading terms†. So for people new to SEO, long tails are usually the best keywords to start with.
What are examples of keywords?
Keywords are the words and phrases that people type into search engines to find what they are looking for. For example, if you were looking to buy a new jacket, you might type something like “mens leather jacket†into Google. Even though that phrase contains more than one word, it is still a keyword.
What are good keywords?
The best keywords for your SEO strategy will take into account relevance, authority and volume. You want to find highly searched keywords that you can reasonably compete for based on: The level of competition you face. Your ability to produce content that exceeds the quality of what is currently on the site.
What are the 4 types of keywords?
When researching to discover a user’s intentions behind making a search, we can classify all keywords into four main categories of intent: commercial, transactional, informational, and navigational. We are going to identify what these types are with a brief breakdown of each type.
What are keywords give any four examples?
Keywords are reserved words in Java, which have a special meaning in the language. Example: if, void, int, etc.