The abundance of online SEO courses these days is an indication of its value in digital marketing. Knowing the type of content to create for social media and other online platforms makes it easier to gain attention from your target customers. Build up your SEO skills in any of these programs and take the first step as a web content expert.
This guide explains SEO fundamentals and why taking an online course can improve your overall skills and capabilities. You may also check out the list of standout courses that can enhance your technical expertise and boost your resume.
Over the years, more and more businesses have been adopting strategies learned through SEO courses to best optimize content for their websites. Did you know that 67,000 searches are performed on Google every second and 93 percent of online traffic starts with a browsing routine through a search engine? Also, 39 percent of all global e-commerce traffic comes from searches.
The implementation of SEO strategies is important for a business now more than ever before. A great way to get started in SEO is by gaining knowledge and experience in this field through online SEO courses.
There are many online SEO courses you can sign up for. In this article, we’ll list the best online SEO courses you can enroll in as a beginner or an intermediate in the field.
What Is SEO?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a strategy of improving your website’s content with keywords to come up first when topics are put into search engines. The keywords included in your content should incorporate highly-searched terms and relevant published content. SEO is one of the digital marketing field’s fundamental components.
Businesses tap into SEO to make sure that they can gain visitors and potentially convert these visits to sales. A site must come up first in the search because most users will not move past the first results page. Therefore, SEO is a critical factor that helps you achieve a higher ranking.
SEO is an acronym for search engine optimization. In layman terms, it is the practice of improving the quality and quantity of traffic to your website. This is done by improving organic and relevant search engine results pages (SERPs).
The idea is to gather better visibility of the pages of your website so more people can visit your content and you can increase sales.
SEO is a subcategory of Search Engine Marketing (SEM), which is a kind of digital marketing. It involves the promotion of a website to bring the results higher in SERPs. The goal of both SEO and SEM is to increase the visibility of content.
There are two components of SEO: On-page SEO and Off-page SEO.
On-page SEO refers to the content that is in your control. It can be both the content on the website and HTML source code of a page. For example, blog posts, case studies, and well-researched articles. This content pertains to anything created for the purpose of informing and engaging people.
Off-page SEO focuses on increasing the authority of your domain through the optimization of external via backlinks. Backlinks are links added from another website, usually a relevant and trusted website.
Why Online SEO Courses Are Important for Professional Development
Online SEO courses cover the fundamentals of SEO to help you create quality content. Learning SEO is a form of business strategy, especially if your goals require a more substantial digital presence. There are different forms of online courses that you can take, such as bootcamp programs, online SEO training, and individual courses or subjects.
If you want to become an SEO specialist, you should consider taking an online SEO course because it gives you the appropriate training and knowledge in the industry. You also gain a certificate of completion, which you can add to your list of credentials.
SEO courses are designed to teach you optimization techniques. For example, rapid growth in organic traffic, building new skills, optimizing for targeted and suggested keywords, and also making sure you have incorporated the right headings.
Enrolling in these courses will help you get hands-on experience with SEO practices and techniques which will come in handy when writing content for websites.
Should You Attend a Coding Bootcamp to Learn SEO?
An SEO bootcamp is complete with the topics you need to learn, such as keyword research strategy, writing your content, link building, and conducting analytics. Additionally, if you want to work as a technical writer, completing a bootcamp boosts your credibility.
Overview: The Best Online SEO Courses, Classes, or Training
Several online SEO courses, such as an online SEO bootcamp, offer complete SEO training through online learning platforms. Alternatively, you can enroll in a digital marketing bootcamp as it has a dedicated section for this topic and discusses it extensively. You may also take up certificate programs, short courses with certificates, and more.
Check out this list of some of the notable online SEO courses around and see if its curriculum or program fits your needs and preference.
| Provider | Course | Price | Length | Certificate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BrainStation | Digital Marketing Course Online | $15,000 | 5 to 10 weeks | Yes |
| Coursera (UC Davis) | Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization | $49 to $79 per month | 20 weeks | Yes |
| Digital Marketing Institute | Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing | $1,955 | 8 to 10 weeks | Yes |
| General Assembly | Online Digital Marketing Course | $3,950 | 10 weeks | Yes |
| Generation USA | Digital Marketing Analyst | Free | 10 weeks | Yes |
| Kansas State University | Digital Marketing Bootcamp | $15,000 | 433 hours | Yes |
| Kellogg University | Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing | $6,950 | 24 weeks | Yes |
| Noble Desktop | SEO Bootcamp | $650 | 12 hours | Yes |
| Online Marketing Institute | SEO | $25 to $95 per month | Flexible | Yes |
| Simplilearn | Digital Marketing Specialist | $1,199 | Flexible | Yes |
| SUNY Ulster | Business/Professional Development Digital Marketing | $632 | Flexible | Yes |
| Thinkful | Digital Marketing Bootcamp | $4,900 | 12 weeks | Yes |
| Udacity | Nanodegree Program – Become a Digital Marketer | $399 per month | 12 weeks | Yes |
| Udemy | SEO Training: Get Free Traffic to Your Website With SEO | $200 | Flexible | Yes |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Digital Marketing Bootcamp | $14,820 | 403 hours | Yes |
In Detail: The Best Online SEO Classes, Courses, or Training
Digital Marketing Course Online | BrainStation
- Learning Format: Full bootcamp program
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Subjects Covered: Marketing strategy foundations, attracting and engaging audiences (SEO, SEM, websites), digital marketing analytics, social media marketing, email marketing
This bootcamp program on digital marketing provides you with a holistic curriculum on the subject, with one unit focused on engaging the audience through SEO. You will learn how to utilize SEO as a marketing strategy to gain organic traffic. The main point is to find the right keywords to include in your content to come up in Google Ads and other strategies.
Key Takeaway: The program gives you a context of how SEO works in the more extensive digital marketing field and how to use it to your advantage.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization | Coursera (UC Davis)
- Learning Format: Online course with flexible schedule and deadlines
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Introduction to Google SEO, Google SEO fundamentals, optimizing a website for Google search, advanced content and social tactics to optimize SEO, Google SEO capstone project
UC Davis offers an SEO specialization course via Coursera that will develop your skills in optimizing and improving your website. The curriculum focuses on SEO concerning Google and other popular search engines such as Yahoo and Bing.
This program is designed for SEO novices, so it includes beginner training lessons and fundamental career skills, as well as popular SEO tools to use for your work. Once you get the hang of the SEO fundamentals, you will then work on advanced strategies to improve your content.
Key Takeaway: The program specializes in SEO and is ideal if you want to focus on just this one topic. It also requires you to complete a capstone project which you can include in your portfolio.
Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing | Digital Marketing Institute
- Learning Format: Online course
- Level: Intermediate to advanced
- Subjects Covered: Introduction to digital marketing (SEO), social media marketing, paid search using Google Ads, email marketing, Google Analytics
The Digital Marketing Institute offers a diploma program in digital marketing. In the SEO section, you will learn how to create content optimized with the right keywords so that a website comes up in an organic search. This also trains you to align your SEO content with business goals so that your strategies achieve these objectives.
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Key Takeaway: This program improves your ability to produce content and align your strategies to meet your own business goals. You will also learn other aspects of digital marketing that you may apply to SEO.
Online Digital Marketing Course | General Assembly
- Learning Format: Full bootcamp program
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Subjects Covered: Tools for digital marketing strategy, social media marketing, search strategy (SEO), conversion optimization, Google Analytics
A digital marketing bootcamp program by General Assembly is another option to help sharpen your tools and techniques in creating a digital campaign. Through its search strategy and social media marketing topics, you have the chance to develop a better understanding and knowledge of SEO. Students must complete a capstone project on a real-world concern in the field.
Key Takeaway: The bootcamp program emphasizes the importance of building your knowledge and improving your practical skills in digital marketing. It is a good choice if you prefer to work on several projects to include in your portfolio.
Digital Marketing Analyst | Generation USA
- Learning Format: Online course
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Digital marketing plans, branding, content marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), social media marketing
Generation USA’s ten-week digital marketing program is free and provided to students who want to master digital marketing. The curriculum includes a comprehensive learning experience on the fundamentals of SEO and other related topics in the field. Once you complete this program, you will earn Google Analytics IQ and Facebook Blueprint certifications.
Key Takeaway: The program is free and provides certifications that you can add to your credentials. There is also an opportunity for internship or employment provided to graduates.
Digital Marketing Bootcamp | Kansas State University
- Learning Format: Full bootcamp program
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Subjects Covered: Foundations, fundamentals of marketing, content marketing (SEO), customer relationship management, web development, user experience, ecommerce
Kansas State University offers a digital marketing program that covers SEO through its content marketing core. Experienced professionals will train you on how to write content for websites while keeping SEO keywords in mind. The program also lets you decide your core study area from several options, including SEO, email marketing, and social media marketing.
Key Takeaway: The program allows you to choose your specialization. Hence, you can take on the SEO and social media marketing path. There are also a couple of capstone projects on SEM and digital strategy that you need to complete.
Professional Certificate in Digital Marketing | Kellogg University
- Learning Format: Online complete certificate course
- Level: Advanced
- Subjects Covered: Customer research, content marketing, social media marketing, search engines, digital channels, marketing experimentation
Professional learners may opt for this program as it specializes in advanced digital marketing topics. Its advanced SEO training introduces you to a set of key performance indicators and content strategies to better utilize social media and searchers. This program covers customer and market understanding, which can help you achieve an effective SEO strategy,
Key Takeaway: The program comes with a certification in Google Analytics, Google Ads, and content marketing which you can add to your list of credibilities. Students also receive a SEMRush SEO toolkit which is helpful for content optimization.
SEO Bootcamp | Noble Desktop
- Learning Format: Full bootcamp program
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Intro to SEO, search engine website ranking, keyword research techniques, writing SEO content, optimization best practices, SEO tools, SEO audit
Noble Desktop offers this two-day bootcamp that solely focuses on SEO, recognizing its importance in digital marketing. You will be in a small group and will learn more techniques from industry experts. The SEO topic covered starts with the fundamentals of SEO until auditing your content to make sure that it ranks high in searches.
Key Takeaway: The program is only two days and packed with relevant topics on SEO. You will also receive a LinkedIn Learning certificate upon completion of the program.
SEO | Online Marketing Institute
- Learning Format: Online course
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Subjects Covered: Local SEO, search engine results page (SERP), SEO content, consumer insights
This online course by the Online Marketing Institute is composed of video tutorials on SEO topics that you can complete at your own pace. It provides you an insight into local and technical SEO and how they are used in creating content. You will also learn more about consumer insights and how the search engine results page works.
Key Takeaway: The program is flexible and can be completed in your own time, which is ideal for you if you prefer a lowkey and independent form of study.
Digital Marketing Specialist | Simplilearn
- Learning Format: Online course
- Level: Advanced
- Subjects Covered: SEO, content marketing, digital analytics, social media marketing, mobile marketing, web analytics
Simplilearn’s digital marketing specialist program can be likened to a master’s program as it intends to help you become a master in SEO and content marketing. There is a special unit where you will learn about advanced SEO that you can use in content marketing strategy. You are required to complete a digital marketing capstone project at the end of your program.
Key Takeaway: This is a comprehensive program that SEO professionals are bound to find fruitful as it covers advanced topics on SEO, pay-per-click, and social media marketing.
Business/Professional Development – Digital Marketing | SUNY Ulster
- Learning Format: Online courses that can be completed at your own pace
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Subjects Covered: Digital marketing strategy, paid search, search engine optimization, social media marketing, web analytics
The entire digital marketing program by SUNY Ulster introduces you to the different tools and techniques in the field. You’ll take a specific course on SEO that helps you understand various business perspectives, which is critical for aspiring business owners. The goal of the course is to develop your skill in creating content so your site will increase in rank among searches.
Key Takeaway: The topics in the program can be taken as a standalone or in combination with the others, which allows you to register only for the classes you want to take.
Digital Marketing Bootcamp | Thinkful
- Learning Format: Full bootcamp program
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Subjects Covered: Digital marketing landscape, marketing campaigns, customer insights, branding, content marketing, email marketing, social media marketing.
Thinkful’s digital marketing program gives you a complete curriculum on the field, from introduction to more specific marketing strategies. Throughout this program, you will learn SEO in the context of website building, social media, and content marketing. You will also learn how it affects the quality of a website’s search engine ranking once you get to analytics.
Key Takeaway: The program is complete and covers analytics so that you know how to monitor and observe the performance of your content.
Nanodegree Program – Digital Marketing | Udacity
- Learning Format: Online course
- Level: Beginner
- Subjects Covered: Marketing fundamentals, content strategy, social media marketing, SEO, SEM with Google Ads
The nanodegree in digital marketing by Udacity provides a complete course on digital marketing. Its focus on SEO helps you develop contents that will perform well in the online sphere. As you learn about SEO, you will also be more receptive to finding the right keywords, optimizing your website, and building your links.
Key Takeaway: There is no prior experience needed to join this program, so this is ideal for beginners interested in SEO and digital marketing.
SEO Training: Get Free Traffic to Your Website With SEO | Udemy
- Learning Format: Online course
- Level: Beginner to intermediate
- Subjects Covered: Keyword search, page optimization, building links, SEO for business
Udemy’s SEO training helps students learn how to rank higher in Google and other major search engines. The program develops your capabilities in keyword searches, link building, and how to best optimize your page. It is also helpful if you want to utilize SEO to build your business, especially if it operates digitally.
Key Takeaway: The program comprises video lectures and other materials that you may study at your own pace.
Digital Marketing Bootcamp | University of Wisconsin – Madison
- Learning Format: Full bootcamp program
- Level: Beginner to advanced
- Subjects Covered: SEO, SEM, data visualization and analytics, ecommerce, social media marketing, user experience (UX) design, content marketing
The bootcamp program by the University of Wisconsin hones your skill and gives you a competitive edge through different digital marketing components. It has a dedicated section for SEO topics such as creating content and achieving high search engine ranking. The rest of the program covers a wide range of digital marketing tools and techniques that you should apply to your projects.
Key Takeaway: The program will make you a digital marketing and SEO expert through its comprehensive curriculum. It also covers Facebook and Google advertising as they are important in today’s landscape.
Online SEO Classes, Training, or Courses: Which Is the Right Option?
You might be confused with the terms related to different types of studies and need further clarification. If you want a complete curriculum and a structured program, a bootcamp program or course would be the best option for you. Another type of online SEO course is those specialization courses offered by massive online open course (MOOC) platforms like Coursera, Udacity, or Udemy.
Meanwhile, a class is the subject or topic that makes up a course or curriculum. Seminars, lectures, and workshops are considered classes. Training is a practical application of what you learned and is often included in a course together with classes.
How to Choose the Right Online SEO Course, Class, or Training Program
Comprehensive Curriculum
The curriculum needs to include the essential topics in the SEO industry to get a whole picture of how it works. It should train you on how to create your content, conduct keyword research, and more. It is also better if your chosen program requires you to work on several real-world projects that you may add to your portfolio.
Program Length
Though an online SEO course is usually shorter than a formal university course, the schedule still varies. Some programs may offer a course that only runs for three days, while others take as long as six months. Therefore, you need to consider when you want to start working professionally as an SEO expert to choose a program that matches your desired duration.
Certification Provided
Paid programs provide free certificates as proof that you have graduated and completed the requirements. Some free programs offer a certificate, although you may have to pay a fee to receive it. Check first if the program issues a certificate, especially if it is one of your primary needs.
SEO Course Certificates vs Certifications
An SEO course certificate is provided at the end of a program as proof that the graduate has met all institutional requirements. A certification is a form of professional merit that you usually acquire once you have passed an exam. Certification tends to hold more professional weight as it is issued by an accredited institution in the industry.
Importance of SEO Certifications
An SEO certification may provide more credibility and trust as it means that you have passed a test that proves your expertise in the subject. Earning a professional certificate means that you are now qualified to hold certain higher positions if it is one of the requirements. One such example of a job title that you may acquire is as an SEO manager.
Why You Should Take Online SEO Courses or Classes
There are many lucrative opportunities in the digital marketing field waiting for you once you take and complete an online SEO course. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a technical writer earns a median salary of $74,650, with a job outlook of 12 percent.
If you want to work in the advertising and marketing field, you could earn a median salary of $141,990 and a promising job outlook of 10 percent.
With more jobs being generated in the field, there is a demand for talented SEO writers, copy editors, and digital marketing professionals. Taking an online SEO course gives you the knowledge and training you need to be an expert at it. Moreover, the certification and credibility that you gain from it can give you a competitive advantage on top of your already existing talent.
SEO courses allow you to study and dive into one or many aspects of search engine optimization. The courses provide insight into off-page and on-page SEO. They also teach you how to craft a good keyword research strategy to increase your audience.
Some SEO courses also provide certification. These certifications give access to advanced SEO learning. This can be a great benefit for those who want additional educational experience.
The certificate courses teach you how to improve search engine rankings, optimize for targeted and suggested keywords, and increase the overall traffic to your website.
That being said, learning SEO and practicing SEO is not an easy task. This is because it involves a complex set of techniques that are judged by Google based on various factors. In addition, things at Google change pretty fast, and they are always releasing new algorithms and rules for SEO.
Hence, to stay on top of the game, you need to equip yourself with the ever-changing aspects of the SEO world by always continuing your education through some top SEO courses.
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