Interested in learning SEO and want to know where to start online?

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The online marketing industry writes copious posts about tactics, tools, and the latest algorithm updates, but there is also much misinformation.

Also, Google makes around five algorithm changes per day to its algorithm, so often, what you’re reading is out of date.

With that reality in mind, I decided to pull together the top 11 ways you can learn SEO and know that you’re picking up solid, accurate information.

I’m going to cover the following topics:

1. Understand the entire landscape of SEO
2. Learn about the history of search engines and SEO
3. Take a training course
4. Attend a conference
5. Stay up to date by reading information from the search engines
6. Follow Industry Publications
7. Listen to Industry Podcasts
8. Track the most recent industry studies
9. Understand how humans interact with the search results
10. Learn Google Analytics so that you can measure your strategy
11. Join online communities so that you can get support as you’re learning

(If you prefer hands-on learning, you can check out my Technical SEO Training class).

[Disclosure: Please note that links to books mentioned within this post might be using an affiliate link which means that – at zero cost to you – I might earn a commission if you buy something through that affiliate link. That said, the books below I personally used to learn about SEO and now sit on my bookshelf as a reference.]

1. Understand the entire landscape of SEO

The best way to see a birds-ey view of all of the areas of SEO with learning resources is learningseo.io.

Just check out how Aleyda Solis outlines the areas you should focus on.

2. Learn about the history of search engines and SEO

Read this book: How Google Works, or this one: The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization, and watch this video from Google.

3. Take a training course

There are a few in the industry that I’d recommend. My SEO Bootcamp course (obviously), but if you’re short on funds, these are free and decent classes:

• Ahrefs Academy
• Semrush Academy
• Moz SEO training
• Local SEO overview

4. Attend a conference

Some of these shows are now virtual, but this is how I started attending the Search Engine Strategies Chicago back in the day.

Here are the shows I would recommend:

• MozCon
• SearchLove Conference
• DMO Advanced Search Summit
• Brighton SEO
• TechSEO Boost
• SEO Templates Checklist

5. Stay up to date by reading information from the search engines

I always recommend that my US students and mentees start with a history of how search engines evolved and then review the current “rules” provided by the search engines themselves.

Below are the “rules” directly from the search engines.

Google’s SEO resources

• Google’s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide
• Google’s steps to a Google-friendly site
• Google’s Webmaster Central Blog
• Google’s Webmaster Central office hours (and if you can’t attend them live, Deepcrawl always summarizes the top takeaways from each, or you can watch the recordings on their YouTube channel.
• Google’s Webmasters social channels and help forum
• How to speed up your site. The Critical Rendering Path free course

Bing’s SEO Resources

While not the biggest search engine in the US, make sure to check out these resources from Bing:

• Bing’s getting started checklist
• Bing’s webmaster help and how-to guide
• SearchEngine Land’s guide to Bing
• Bing ranking tips
• New ranking factors mentioned in Bing Webmaster Guidelines
• Writing for Bing Featured Snippets Guide
• Optimizing for Bing’s voice search

6. Follow Industry Publications

Finally, some industry-standard publications and online events will help you stay on top of the changes in the algorithms and industry. Those include:

• Search Engine Land
• Marketing Land
• Search Engine Journal
• Search Engine Watch
• SEO Roundtable
• Backlinko
• Moz Blog
• Search Engine Roundtable

7. Listen to Industry Podcasts

• Duct Tape Marketing
• Digital marketing victories
• SEO tips
• FM/ SEO 101
• Search Engine Nerds
• Webcology
• The Digital Marketing Podcast
• Search Talk Live
• The Agents of Change
• Marketing School
• PNR: This Old Marketing
• Experts On The Wire

8. Track the most recent industry studies

Most of these studies are created by vendors, but in particular, I’m fascinated by the research being conducted by:

• Search Metrics (their yearly ranking studies)
• Ahrefs
• Buzzstream
• Hubspot
• Semrush
• SearchPilot

9. Understand how humans interact with the search results

Check out the free User Experience for the Web (WebUX) course.

Read research from the Nielsen Norman Group.

Sign up for Google’s free UX certificate.

10. Learn Google Analytics so that you can measure your strategy

Google offers free courses online via their Analytics Academy. They are:

• Digital Analytics Fundamentals
• E-commerce Analytics
• Google Analytics Platform Principles
• Google Tag Manager Fundamentals
• Mobile App Analytics Fundamentals
• Google Analytics 4

Or when I got started using and understanding Google Analytics, I read these books:

• Web Analytics: An Hour a Day
• Web Analytics 2.0: The Art of Online Accountability and Science of Customer Centricity

11. Join online communities so that you can get support as you’re learning

These are the ones that I frequent and post questions about when I’m stuck:

• Moz’s Community
• #SemrushChat on Twitter (every Wednesday)
• Women in Tech SEO
• Online Geniuses

Find a coach or mentor

You can jump-start your SEO knowledge by finding yourself a mentor or by having your site looked at by someone in the industry who could hold your hand through your site’s SEO challenges. That’s how I got my start in SEO (which you can hear about here), and over the years, I’ve had some great mentors like Janet Driscoll Miller and Sheri Thurow help me with issues.

And that’s the type of SEO coaching that I provide to my students – quality SEO education that includes one-on-one coaching to ensure that you truly understand how SEO works and how to craft the best solution for your business and your particular online marketing challenge.

I coach and mentor a limited number of students each quarter and if you’re interested in joining the next group of students, drop me a note.

Thanks for reading!

Katherine

PS: Thanks for taking the time to read my post and geek out about SEO with me!  I get my inspiration for post topics from other SEOs and in-house marketers struggling with SEO strategy and implementation questions, so if you like this post, please…
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