Whether you’re in marketing, a business owner, or consider yourself inherently tech-savvy, you’ve probably heard the term SEO (Search Engine Optimization) bounced around quite a bit lately — and for good reason. Search engine ranking can be one of the most important factors when it comes to a business succeeding in the digital age.
What is SEO?
SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” It’s the practice of strategizing the content and keywords on a web page and site in order to help it rank on Google, thus driving organic traffic to a website or digital storefront. Modern SEO isn’t about tricking search engine algorithms — it’s about the opposite: delivering the exact content a user is searching for and making the user happy. Read more…
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BEST OVERALL
SEMRush Academy SEO Toolkit Course
Ready to learn the ins and outs of SEO from a brand that specializes in it? SEMRush Academy courses are designed to be both practical and easy to put to use immediately.
- Length of course: 14 lessons, three hours total
- Skills covered: Organic research, backlinks, and reading traffic insights
- Price: Free
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BEST FOR WORDPRESS WEBSITES
SEO 2020: Complete SEO Training + SEO for WordPress Websites
This WordPress-specific course was made for beginners hoping to learn the ins and outs of SEO in one course.
- Length of course: 10 hours of on-demand video
- Skills covered: Technical SEO factors, learn to do organic research, SEO myths
- Price: $94.99, but Udemy courses are frequently on sale
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BEST UNIVERSITY-AFFILIATED COURSE
Introduction to Search Engine Optimization
If you’re someone who prefers to know the backstory before trying to grasp best practices, you’ll love the history outlined in this theory-based class.
- Length of course: Four weeks, 20 hours total
- Skills covered: Current SEO best practices, history/theory of SEO
- Price: $49/month after seven-day free trial
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BEST FOR BEGINNERS
SEO Basics for Non-SEOs
This SEO basics course will get you started without overwhelming or overcomplicating the basic practical skills you need to dominate your niche.
- Length of course: Eight 31-minute lessons
- Skills covered: Keyword research, backlinks, high quality content creation
- Price: Included with Skillshare Premium ($15/month or $99/year)
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BEST FOR BUSINESS-FOCUSED LEARNERS
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Foundations
This business-focused course was made to get you speaking SEO while focusing on the practical skills that will allow you to put your newfound knowledge to work immediately.
- Length of course: 10 self-guided lessons
- Skills covered: SEO foundations, writing copy, keyword research
- Price: Included with LinkedIn Premium Career ($29.99/month after one-month free trial)
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BEST LOW-COMMITMENT COURSE
How to Market Your Business
Starting your own business? This expert-led course offers everything you need to know about digital marketing — from SEO to social media strategies.
- Length of course: 192 minutes
- Skills covered: email marketing, SEO basics, social media
- Price: $29.99/month for Treehouse membership
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BEST FOR LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS
2020 Complete SEO Guide to Ranking Local Business Websites
Looking for a course that caters specifically to your small or local business needs? This comprehensive class allows you to focus on the skills and best practices that will specifically help your business on a local level.
- Length of course: 6.5 hours of on-demand video
- Skills covered: Local SEO process, keyword research, building backlinks
- Price: $94.99, but Udemy courses are frequently on sale
