If you’re looking to learn SEO, you’re in the right place. Search engine optimization (SEO) can be complicated, but anyone can learn it if they’re willing. SEO basics are the first thing to know before making any changes to a website. You also need to understand how search engines work to figure out how to get your site to rank high in the results.
There are many search engines, but Google is the most popular, so SEO experts usually discuss it the most when teaching new strategies.
Content online is ranked by algorithms, which are different for every search engine. Search engines have to index content through sitemaps, giving every site its ranking. Ranking high on the results page is a complex process, but it is possible with enough hard work and research.
Remember these key parts of SEO as you continue learning:
Table of Contents
8 Steps to Mastering SEO for Beginners
1. Keyword Research
Before you start optimizing your website, you need to know what words people use to find businesses like yours. This is called keyword research. Think about what you would type into Google if you were looking for your own products or services. You can also use tools like Google Keyword Planner to find popular keywords related to your business. Once you have a list of keywords, you can use them throughout your website to help search engines understand what your site is about.
Tools like Ahref’s Keywords Explorer can help you discover these keywords and information about them, such as search volume, traffic potential, and ranking.
2. Competitive Research
Take a look at what your competitors are doing online. Check out their websites and see what keywords they're using. You can also use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to see what keywords they rank for and how much traffic they get from search engines. This information can help you figure out what's working well in your industry and give you ideas for improving your own SEO strategy.
3. Content Writing
One of the most important parts of SEO is creating good content that people want to read. Your website should have helpful, informative articles or blog posts that use your target keywords naturally. Don't just stuff keywords in randomly, though - make sure your content is well-written and easy to understand. You can also use images, videos, and infographics to make your content more engaging.
4. On-Site SEO & On-Page SEO
On-site SEO refers to optimizing your website as a whole, while on-page SEO focuses on individual pages. Some important on-site factors include having a clear site structure, using descriptive URLs, and making sure your site is mobile-friendly. For on-page SEO, focus on using your keywords in titles, headings, and throughout the content of each page. Don't overdo it, though - use keywords naturally and make sure your content still reads well.
5. Link Building (internal and external links)
Links are like votes of confidence for your website. When other sites link to yours, it shows search engines that your content is valuable and trustworthy. You can build links by creating great content that people want to share, reaching out to other websites in your industry, and submitting your site to online directories.
The quality and relevance of these backlinks are big parts of how effective they can be in boosting your site. SEO books and free courses discuss this strategy more.
Don't forget about internal links, too - linking to other pages on your own site can help search engines understand your site structure and spread link equity throughout your site.
6. Tracking using Google Analytics & Search Console
To see how well your SEO efforts are working, you need to track your website's performance. Google Analytics and Search Console are free tools that can help you do this. Analytics shows you how much traffic your site gets, where it comes from, and what people do on your site. Search Console helps you see how your site appears in search results and can alert you to any issues that might be hurting your rankings.
7. Updating Content
SEO isn't a one-time thing - you need to keep working at it over time. One way to do this is by regularly updating your website's content. This could mean adding new blog posts, updating old articles with new information, or refreshing your product descriptions. When you update your content, it shows search engines that your site is active and relevant, which can help improve your rankings over time.
8. Having Patience
Finally, it's important to remember that SEO takes time. You won't see results overnight, and it may take a few months or even longer to start seeing significant improvements in your search rankings. Don't get discouraged - keep working at it consistently, and you'll eventually see your hard work pay off. Focus on creating great content, building quality links, and providing a good user experience on your site, and the search engine rankings will follow.
Implementing Your SEO Knowledge
Just knowing SEO isn’t enough - you have to apply it, too. One idea is to make a personal website to practice your SEO skills, implementing your keyword research and on-page optimization strategies. This will help you prepare to do this on a more official site later.
Once you understand the basics well, deepen your knowledge with advanced SEO courses like the Technical SEO Certification by Blue Array or the Advanced Link Building Course by Ahrefs. These courses can give you deeper insights into the more complex parts of SEO.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, the best way to learn SEO is by continually practicing and updating your skills. Take advantage of free courses and SEO books and engage with the SEO community. With enough commitment and effort, you can become an expert in SEO in no time.