How to Learn SEO (in 2024)

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) means optimizing web pages to provide helpful information and rank high on search engines.

Learning SEO doesn’t have to be expensive; you must only go through a learning curve and gain experience. Thankfully, you can now learn SEO quickly and get a firm grasp of all concepts. Here’s a typical learning path for you.

Learn SEO Fundamentals

The basics of SEO include terms like on-page SEO, off-page SEO, link building, SERPs, white-hat SEO, black-hat SEO, grey-hat SEO, E-E-A-T, keyword, keyword research, organic result and traffic, page ranking, ranking factor, link-building, technical SEO, and search intent. You’ll also learn how search engines work and how they rank web pages.

Other fundamental lessons include how to submit your website to Google’s index, how they find, crawl, and index pages, and the mistakes that attract penalties. A solid foundation in SEO will help you make the most of learning resources and hone your skills faster. Don’t skip any part; study until you understand each concept and how they relate. You can find books on SEO to get started.

SEO books are great resources for achieving mastery in the subject. You can easily bookmark and reference critical points and study them anywhere in digital format or hard copies.

Find Courses and Free Resources

There are free and paid SEO courses online that will help you gain SEO competence. Many people start with free YouTube videos where they learn from popular SEO experts, digital marketing agencies, and established SEO academies. You can get most information freely, but you may need to spend more time researching and cutting through the noise on YouTube.

You can also check out HubSpot Academy, Google Analytics Academy, Ahrefs, and Semrush Academy for free training and certification. Yoast, Google SEO fundamentals, and BlueRay Academy also have excellent SEO courses for beginners.

Once you learn the basics, you can move on to advanced SEO topics like Local SEO, Advanced link building, and Technical SEO. Video lessons are probably the best way to learn SEO, but SEO blogs, news, and newsletters will help you learn faster.

Practice Your Lessons

The best way to become an SEO specialist is to work as you learn. Practicing what you know helps you internalize the lessons and gain proficiency in SEO. Take notes as you review the lesson and ensure you understand each step before moving to the next. You should also create a simple website and see how to increase its ranking on search engines.

Study Your Competitors

One of the ways to learn faster is by studying what works. Find the pages that rank highest for your niche and research what they do and how they implement SEO. You’ll discover a wealth of knowledge of practical applications of your SEO knowledge.

SEO Tools

Getting the right tools will help you become familiar with SEO quickly! Check out HubSpot’s SEO Marketing Software, Website Grader, Google’s Search Console, Google Analytics, Check Page Rank, Ahrefs Keyword Tool, Seobility, and Jasper AI. Next up, you may want to explore a guide on skills that will make you a better marketer.