Briefly, you must enjoy working with computers, and also, the learning curve requires effort and determination as there are many things you must learn to become a expert who can assist business website owners.
Search engine optimization is not what you think.
Let me make this assumption: you asked Google questions similar to how to become an SEO expert? And now here you are. First lesson on becoming a search engine optimization specialist is understanding this: “Targeting keywords and ranking them are nothing more than answering questions” because that’s exactly what I’ve done by creating this landing page to answer that question.
So let’s get right into it because in the next 5 minutes I’m going to share with you SEO insights that will help you along your journey of becoming a search engine optimization specialist.
Here’s the truth: almost 99% of SEO information on other websites is either outdated, untested or are against Google Webmaster Guidelines.
So How Can You Become an Web Site Optimizer?
SEO is easy, really, take a look at the image below and if you can create a web page or blog post (perhaps using WordPress CMS) and have all the on page elements as shown in this sample image, then this means you covered on page search engine optimization factors easily (Take your time and study the figure below).
By just doing on page SEO when you are targeting keyword ranking, you will start building steady amount of website traffic visiting your website, or your client’s website. And critically, you won’t waste time learning outdated information about SEO.
But surely, if this was all it took, then everyone would be dominating Google’s first page, however, there are only 10 spots in Search Engine Results Page (also known as SERP).
You can begin to learn about internal linking, creating sitemaps, optimizing images effectively both for real humans as well as Google search engine.
Off-Page Content Marketing
The next part is off site marketing (marketing your client’s website on external sites), when you begin your research in to your clients industry (including, during competitor analysis) then you can begin to see what type of content your clients target audience will benefit from. This could be a simple “how to something” like a blog post and social media marketing. Once you learn to create useful well researched content, then, you can make that content easy to share aka “Off-Site”
Why You Shouldn’t Listen to Most SEO Experts
Search engine optimization industry isn’t regulated, and because almost 99% of SEO information circulating on internet is outdated, rehashed, recycled rubbish when used will never work. Furthermore, most SEO guru’s who share SEO knowledge have learned that knowledge from yet another SEO guru. Best way to make sure that you become a great website optimizer is by testing your own findings.
Fact: Google Webmaster Guidelines hasn’t changed in years because all Google wants from you is to create relevant content so that Google’s own customers “typical searchers” are happy so that they can always search Google again and again.
Other Important Factors of Becoming an Expert in Search Engine Optimization Field
As I have shown you above, on page SEO and optimizing your web pages are easy once you learn the basics. Yet to really expand your knowledge, consider learning the basics of Yoast SEO Plugin How to, Google Analytics, CSS and Structured Data.
How I Became an SEO Expert?
Since an early age I always got fascinated about computers and programming. Around 2006 I decided to have a career change and began learning computer programming, got my Web Development Diploma and studied Advanced Diploma in IT Systems Engineering. Then began creating business websites and realized the importance of Google for marketing.
I have tested many techniques and read through many articles about how others were doing it, or not doing SEO. Coupled all that knowledge and experience and became a Google WordPress and SEO specialist. Basically, I can create any business online and successfully grow it. Now I also create content sharing my knowledge and experience as well as offer marketing, web dev and website optimization services.
Learn How to Use Google Ad
Since Google search engine dominates the internet search market, all your clients will want to rank high in Google however, your clients often times will also want you to create Google AdWords Pay Per Click advertising. Therefore, all SEO experts must know how to do this. Here’s Google Ads related video tutorials by RankYa
All Beginners Must Learn Google Webmaster Guidelines When Becoming an Expert In SEO
You may have heard other search engine specialists stating that “Google Algorithm Updates Have Changed” although this occurs often, Google Webmaster Guidelines on SEO haven’t changed since I’ve been online. Put simply, Google wants you to create useful content on a website that is mobile and user friendly. And their guidelines at its core is to inform you to do the right things.
Web Development for SEO Experts
Since you’ll be optimizing client’s website, you need to be comfortable editing HTML and CSS codes. Because at the heart of great web page optimization is improving Website usability and optimizing its structure. Once again, RankYa has the video tutorials all ready for you to learn from. Here’s HTML5 and CSS Tutorials for Beginners Course whereby I teach you core concepts of web development as its tied to SEO. Because better structured website including semantics will always perform, better in Google search engine rankings.
Structured Data for Search Engine Optimization Specialists
Because internet is evolving, so does the web architecture its built upon. Today major search engine like Google supports Structured Data and you need to be knowledgeable about how to expertly insert Structured Data in to your clients websites. Here’s Google Structured Data with examples by RankYa.
Social Media Marketing Knowledge for SEO Experts
Some people like to differentiate between SEO, social media marketing, and content marketing, and yet, I can confidently tell you that they are all the same. Meaning, finding new engaging content ideas are part of keyword research.
As an search engine optimizer, you optimize a website, optimize landing pages, create optimized content, then, you can think of a website (and all that it contains within) as just one chunk of content which you then market online, whether you run Google Ads, marketing on Facebook, YouTube advertising, Reddit participation or contributing on other online communities. All that you do for SEO is “optimize, create, market” that’s the job of an SEO expert.
Backlinks are a Sign of an SEO Guru You Must Avoid
The most misunderstood part of SEO is backlinks, and its mind boggling to hear the fixation most website owners have concerning backlinks. In fact, forget about all that you know about getting backlinks. Instead learn about Google guidelines on link schemes.
Remember that almost 99% of information related to SEO and backlinks are misleading. Its best that you learn how do backlinks help SEO first before going out to get hundreds of backlinks for your client’s web site.
How You Can Become an SEO Expert With This FREE SEO Course
I’ve created a complete search engine optimization course for beginners and specialists alike. Within this FREE SEO Course beginners can learn how to better optimize websites and what Google wants to see from web pages.
Still Want to Learn How to Be an SEO Expert
Yes, I admit, there is just too many things to learn if you want to call yourself an SEO Specialist. There is just many areas of knowledge that you need to master and become knowledgeable about such as: how web servers work, how popular content management systems like WordPress and Google Search Console and Google Analytics works.
But, if you have passion in IT and enjoy working long hours sitting in front of a computer. And if you do posses an analytic mind, then a career of SEO can be rewarding once you build an authority in this interesting field. Keep at it, and make sure to check out RankYa YouTube channel how to SEO video tutorials while on the journey of an SEO expert.