Best Online SEO Courses – Free and Paid Options

Getting a degree is a good thing for some professions. After all, you wouldn’t want a doctor who learned his trade from YouTube videos to remove your appendix, would you? Of course not.

But for other professions, you can learn just as much, if not more, than an online college curriculum is worth for a fraction of the cost. Search engine optimization is one of those things.

That’s not to say there’s no value in an SEO expert getting a degree—any education is a good thing, especially if it’s in a related field like computer science, marketing, or communications.

But as you probably know, the SEO field is in a constant state of flux. And it’s more than the competition adjusting their strategies to jump ahead of you; they are also regular and sometimes major changes to Google’s search algorithm.

If you’re just starting out in SEO, a mid-level pro looking to add tools to your toolbox, or even a seasoned veteran looking for the latest tricks, we’ve got just the thing.

Below, we’ve compiled a list of the best online SEO courses available, so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

Free SEO Courses

SEO Certification Course (HubSpot)

As a marketing and sales software developer, HubSpot always has the needs of marketers in mind. And that includes the SEO certification course. It covers the basics of SEO, including evaluating your current site, building backlinks, and doing keyword research.

Duration: Under three hours for a total of six hours

SEO Training Course: Learn How To Get Organic Traffic From Search (Ahrefs)

Another provider of SEO software tools, Ahrefs, offers a free course for SEO beginners. This program starts from scratch, explains why SEO is important and walks participants through the basics of keyword research, on-page optimization, and getting started with technical SEO.

Duration: 14 hours for two hours

Free SEO Training: SEO For Beginners (Yoast)

The makers of the popular SEO plugin for WordPress want to help you learn more about SEO with a free online course. Yoast’s program is designed to quickly equip you with the knowledge you need to make a positive impact on your site’s ranking as quickly as possible.

SEO Training For Beginners (Shopify)

When it comes to e-commerce, Shopify is the big dog on the block. To help online merchants maximize their impact and revenue, Shopify offers free SEO training for beginners. With a focus on digital shopping, this course is ideal for entrepreneurs.

Length: 16 lessons in just over an hour

On-Page And Technical SEO Course (Semrush)

Keyword research and analytics tool makers Semrush offer a course for intermediate SEO professionals covering on-page and technical SEO. Upon completion, you can test for certification.

Duration: Seven classes in one hour

Intro To Search Engine Optimization (WordPress)

The popular blogging platform WordPress offers a beginner’s course that will introduce you to the basics of SEO. Content is available on demand, and you will receive confirmation of completion.

SEO Basics (Conductor)

Conductor offers several free SEO courses, including SEO Basics, paid & amp; Organic synergy and evangelizing SEO. All are intended to help you maximize your digital marketing strategy and increase your search rankings.

A Beginner’s Guide To Local SEO (BrightLocal)

Local SEO puts you in front of customers right when they’re looking for you – which means it really matters. This course from BrightLocal Academy will equip you with the knowledge and skills to start appearing on those searches that are conducted in your neighborhood.

Duration: Eight lessons + certification in about an hour

Google SEO Fundamentals (Coursera/University Of California, Davis)

Designed by UC Davis, this course will help you quickly learn the basics of search engine optimization. Includes information on strategy development, keyword research, and search behavior.

Length: 11 videos, eight hours to complete

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization (Coursera/University Of California, Davis)

More detailed than the previous one, this program will teach you how to conduct competitive analysis, develop relationships with influencers, and create reports on your findings.

Paid SEO Courses

Free is always a great thing, but if you’re looking for something a little more serious and focused, it might be worth your while to invest in a paid course. Here are some of the best:

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Training Course (Simplilearn)

Simplilearn is an online boot camp educator. His advanced SEO course is designed to prepare you for the role of a full SEO professional. This in-depth program focuses on everything from search field basics to advanced skills like off-page optimization, content marketing strategy development, and analytics management.

Length: 58 lessons ranging from less than five minutes to approximately an hour and a half.

Price: Self-study – $1,199, online training – $1,499

SEO Essentials Certification (Moz)

SEO software provider Moz offers a wide variety of training options through its Moz Academy. Of particular interest is the SEO Essentials Certification. This course aims to provide you with the knowledge you need to get started with SEO, including developing an understanding of how search engines work.

Duration: Six hours of content under the guidance of an instructor

Technical SEO Certification (Moz)

Looking for something more advanced? This on-demand course is designed to equip you with the skills you need to take your technical SEO expertise from beginner to intermediate. You will learn about crawling, indexing, accessibility and site performance.

Duration: Three hours of instructor-led content

SEO Competitive Analysis Certification (Moz)

Another Moz Academy course aimed at intermediate and advanced SEO professionals, this on-demand program will teach you how to identify and analyze your competitors’ SEO campaigns, conduct audits, and assess your rivals’ social media presence.

Duration: Three hours of instructor-led content

SEO Certification (ClickMinded)

An online continuing education platform for marketing professionals, ClickMinded offers an SEO certification course designed for working professionals. They will teach you the basics of search engine optimization, and after passing the final exam you will receive a certificate. It also includes lifetime access to five mini-SEO courses.

Advanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Certification Training (Market Motive/Simplilearn)

This in-depth SEO course goes beyond the basics, helping you take your skills to the next level. A larger time investment than some of the courses on this list, it is intended to be a comprehensive course on all things SEO.

Price: Self-study for $1,199, online training for $1,499

SEO 101 (DistilledU)

Learn everything from basic skills to advanced concepts at this online university. SEO 101 focuses on how search engines work and the skills and principles you need to know to improve your rankings.

Length: Eight modules lasting 32+ hours

Price: $40/month paid monthly; $33 per month paid annually

SEO Training (Bruce Clay)

Bruce Clay programmed the world’s first web analytics tool. He now shares his expertise in search engine optimization through SEOTraining.com. This comprehensive course is self-paced and covers everything from beginning SEO training to advanced tactics.

Length: 15+ hours over 48 videos

Price: $1,495 for a one-year membership

SEO Basics (SERanking)

This structured online course is designed to walk you through every aspect of SEO and show you how to make it work for you. SERanking also offers a content SEO course to further expand your knowledge.

Duration: 41 hours over six hours

Price: Basic subscription starting at $39.20 per month

The (Non-Techie) Marketer’s Guide To SEO (MarketingProfs)

This program is designed for people who do not have a degree in computer science or a related field. It breaks down how search engines work and gives you concrete steps to help you maximize your rankings without having to learn a coding language.

Duration: Seven classes of 60-90 minutes each

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) And Marketing (University Of California, San Diego)

Learn the basics of SEO and how to structure your website in this UC San Diego online course. You will gain hands-on experience doing the work of an SEO expert while learning to use various online tools.

Search Engine Optimization (University Of Phoenix)

Learn to conduct a competitive analysis, create a keyword strategy, and develop an index-friendly site architecture in this online course. This program will provide you with a solid understanding of SEO tactics and best practices.

Duration: three credit hours, five weeks

Search Engine Optimization (University Of Cape Town)

This online course will equip you with the work-ready skills to take on the role of SEO with confidence. In addition to a hands-on understanding of best practices, you’ll also receive an industry-recognized certification from Africa’s top university.

Duration: 10 weeks with 10 hours per week

Foundations Of Search Engine Optimization (University Of Toronto)

Learn how to conduct competitive research and develop SEO strategies in this micro-course. You’ll gain a thorough understanding of how Google works and learn best practices that will help you climb the rankings.

Other Resources

The great thing about the Internet (besides the fun of optimizing websites for search engines) is the absolute wealth of information it brings you. Here are some other resources you can use to learn more about search engine optimization:

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn is more than a professional networking site – it’s also a great place to learn.

At the time of writing, there were 521 SEO-related videos and courses available. And with so many to choose from, there’s sure to be something worthwhile for every skill level.

PluralSight

Online technology learning platform PluralSight is a great way to learn new skills – including digital marketing and SEO.

A great place to earn technical certifications, you can even use it to learn coding if you want to add to your growing array of web skills. A free trial is available, and plans start at $299 per year.

Udemy

Another learning platform dedicated to helping you improve your skills, Udemy has a number of SEO videos.

Each video lesson is sold separately, but this gives you the advantage of choosing exactly which aspect of SEO you want to learn more about. Courses start at $14.99 each.

Skillshare SEO Courses

Skillshare offers a wide range of original videos on a variety of creative and technology topics, including, you guessed it, SEO.

It’s a great place to review the basics or focus on a specific area for improvement. Pricing starts at $159 per year for teams.

A Great SEO Never Stops Learning

One of the best things about working in SEO is that no two days are the same. And as long as Google continues to tinker with its algorithm, trying to fine-tune its search results, there will always be a need for a skilled professional to help websites climb the rankings on the search results pages.

The course discussed ranges from free courses for absolute beginners to in-depth classes on one specific aspect of SEO.

Just remember, no matter how long you’ve been doing it or how good you are, your education is never done. Keep learning – it’s the only way to ensure your website gets the ranking it deserves.

Featured Image: GaudiLab/Shutterstock

How can a beginner learn SEO?

Here are the steps to teach 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 – Find out what’s going on in the SEO world. …
• STEP 6 – Rinse & Repeat.

Can I do SEO myself? You can absolutely do SEO 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. A quick way to get started with SEO is to enter your URL here and then focus your SEO efforts on the recommended actions.

What is the first step to start SEO? Defining relevant keywords is the first step in creating search engine optimized website content. By using keywords and building your topics around them, you will create content that answers Google searches.

What should I learn in SEO first? Keyword research should be the first step in your SEO journey. It’s especially important in two common scenarios: Knowing Your Niche – When starting a new website, keyword research can provide a great overview of subtopics that are of interest to people in your niche or industry.

Does SEO need math?

SEO is an imperfect science. But this at least gives you an idea of ​​the traffic potential that exists for the investment. In short, it puts some math into the projections.

Is SEO hard to learn? SEO isn’t that hard to learn, but it can be confusing and overwhelming to begin with. Learning SEO means learning about a long list of individual digital marketing strategies, which can feel like adding new weapons to your arsenal as you learn how to wield them.

Can SEO be self-taught? Although others can facilitate learning, no one can teach you anything – they can only inspire you to learn for yourself. This means that if you want to learn search engine optimization (SEO), you’ll need to take matters into your own hands. Having run an SEO firm for the past 15 years I have had to train myself on everything I know.

Is SEO a high paying job?

The highest salary an SEO can earn is ₹8.0 Lakhs per annum (₹66.7k per month). How does SEO salary in India change with experience? An Entry Level SEO with less than three years of experience earns an average salary of ₹2.6 Lakhs per annum.

Is working in SEO a good career? ‘ Yes. SEO is a good career option as it is among the most sought after careers in the digital marketing field. There are several organizations around the world that employ SEO professionals to generate better content and thus generate more business leads.

Is SEO in demand? SEO expertise is in higher demand there, which means that those with less experience have access to higher-paying jobs.

Does SEO pay well?

The average salary for an SEO specialist in the US is $54,508. The average extra cash compensation for an SEO specialist in the US is $5,205. The average total compensation for an SEO specialist in the US is $59,713.

Does SEO Pay High? On average, an SEO specialist earns $49,000 per year, with the median salary for an SEO manager being much 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, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.

Is SEO a stressful job? Any job can be stressful given the type of performance your company requires. It’s the same with SEO jobs. However, it is not as stressful as IT or other programming jobs.

Is SEO a valuable skill?

While it may not sound as obvious as technology skills like coding languages ​​or web design, search engine optimization is a key skill for almost any web-related role.

Is SEO a good skill? SEO skills are more demanding in the 21st century as old and new businesses often require SEO to cultivate their customers and revenue. SEO is a great thing to learn because it allows you to learn different online marketing strategies, content writing and content curation that keep you ahead of other domains.

Is SEO profitable in 2022?

Yes, SEO is worth it in 2022, in the future, in the past and always. As long as websites and search engines have existed, SEO has been essential. SEO 10 years from now will likely be very different from SEO today, but you’ll always need to make sure your website is sending the right signals to search engines so you can be found.

Does SEO Still Work in 2022? The fact that SEO works perfectly even in 2022 as a method of delivering improved commercial results for business websites and their owners, combined with the need to constantly research what works, makes it still relevant as a digital marketing method, but even more so. as a valuable service and reward…

Is SEO job tough?

SEO is not necessarily difficult to learn, but it does take time, effort and persistence. If you’re just starting out and don’t know anything about search engines and how they work, you can expect to feel overwhelmed at first, especially if you’re trying to learn SEO on your own. However, it is important to keep trying.

Why is SEO so hard? It is not easy to know which techniques work best. There are so many techniques that can be used for SEO that it’s hard to know which are the most effective. The Google algorithm is very complex and even the smallest change can affect your website’s ranking.

How much can you make working in SEO?

According to Edoxi’s Salary Trend Report, which predicts salaries for digital marketing jobs in the coming year, US-based entry-level SEO professionals can expect a starting SEO salary of $35,000, mid-career SEO professionals are likely to earn closer to $47,000 and experienced SEO experts will earn an average of $65,000 in …

Is SEO Marketing A Good Career? SEO is a promising career in 2022 as it gives you access to various opportunities. You can work from home, take on clients and even start and develop your own websites. In addition, the three most popular websites, Google.com, YouTube.com, and Amazon.com, are the largest search engines.

How Much SEO Freelancers Earn in 2022 How Much Freelance SEO Earns? As of December 18, 2022, the average annual salary for a Freelance SEO in the United States is $63,623 per year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, it works out to about $30.59 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,223 per week or $5,301 per month.

Can you make good money in SEO?

So, how much can you earn doing SEO? As of September 2021, most SEO professionals can earn between $113,518 and $131,590. Salaries depend on many factors including education, certifications, work experience and additional skills.

Is a career in SEO worth it? The simple answer is yes, SEO is a good career. SEO professionals can make good money, achieve a comfortable work-life balance, find a position in an industry that matches their natural skill set, and challenge themselves creatively.

Can You Become A Millionaire With SEO? Yes, SEO can make you rich if you earn, save and invest.

How do SEO get paid?

Does SEO require payment? If you hire a top SEO company to run 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, without a contract.

Is SEO a monthly fee? Average SEO costs are $100-$250 per hour for US SEO agencies. SEO costs often range from $2,500 to $10,000 per month for US agencies. The average SEO plan costs $2,819 per month (according to Ahrefs). Overseas SEO companies can charge $10-$50 per hour.

How does Google pay for SEO? While you can’t pay to be listed in organic search results, you can pay to be listed in the “Ads†section of search results, see below. With Google Ads, you can run your ads in minutes. The model is pay-per-click, which means you’ll pay a certain amount every time someone clicks on your ad.

How much does a SEO beginner make?

According to Edoxi’s Salary Trend Report, which predicts salaries for digital marketing jobs in the coming year, US-based entry-level SEO professionals can expect a starting SEO salary of $35,000, mid-career SEO professionals are likely to earn closer to $47,000 and experienced SEO experts will earn an average of $65,000 in …

How much money can you make from SEO? So, how much can you earn doing SEO? As of September 2021, most SEO professionals can earn between $113,518 and $131,590. Salaries depend on many factors including education, certifications, work experience and additional skills.

What is the minimum salary of SEO?

What is the starting salary for SEO in India? The average starting salary for an SEO in India is around â¹0.2 Lakh per annum (â¹1.7k per month). No previous experience is required to be an SEO.

How much does SEO pay? On average, an SEO specialist earns $49,000 per year, with the median salary for an SEO manager being much 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, ranging from $50,000 to $100,000.

What is the qualification for an SEO job? SEO experts can work in digital marketing agencies or in-house marketing departments. Most SEO experts have a degree in a related field, such as marketing or information technology.

Is it easy to get a job in SEO?

Is it hard to become an SEO expert? No it’s not. It is very easy to break into the SEO field. There are a wide range of career options to choose from and several affordable vocational training courses to get you started.

Can I get a job in SEO? SEO specialists are hired as part of digital and content marketing programs, by web developers, as content marketers and in many other roles, simply because companies need web traffic for digital campaigns to be successful.

Is a career in SEO worth it? The simple answer is yes, SEO is a good career. SEO professionals can make good money, achieve a comfortable work-life balance, find a position in an industry that matches their natural skill set, and challenge themselves creatively.