How do I get started with my search experience? Ask SEO

This Ask An SEO question comes from Jessica of Louth, who wrote:

“I’m a full-fledged marketer right now, but I’m attracted to SEO.

But I don’t know where to start gaining experience.

Which direction would you suggest to start and do you have any recommendations for the book / course? ”

Learning SEO can be daunting.

I’ve been professionally involved in search engine optimization since 1998 (that’s 23 years for everyone, if I count) and I’m still learning new things every day.

But that doesn’t mean ambitious SEO experts are out of luck.

Quite the opposite.

For beginners in the search engine, there are many great resources to dive into.

And unlike when we learned the craft with other “Original Gangster” SEO experts, there are some well-established resources that (almost) everyone agrees are great places to start.

A word of caution

Even the best advice is rarely universal.

What works very well in one place may fall in another.

The only way to find out if SEO tactics work for you is to try it out.

You can read theories about algorithms and code changes all the time, but until you put these theories into practice yours pages, you don’t know if they will work.

Even if you physically see evidence of how well a technique has worked elsewhere, there is no guarantee that the same technique will produce similar results when used.

Simply put, you don’t know anything until you try it.

But reading other SEO experts talking about their work is part of the job.

You will be amazed at the ideas our industry generates on a daily basis.

If you are not interested in reading what other SEO professionals are doingyou are probably in the wrong area.

Lots of places to learn the basics

SEO is not rocket science.

I compare it more to plumbing.

I can probably figure out how to fix a sink by watching videos on YouTube, but I’ll probably flood my house.

After all, the only thing in my tool is a checkbook.

If you are interested in SEO, you may be overwhelmed by a few sinks at first.

However, if you have a basic understanding of how websites work and are willing to put time and effort into learning the craft, you will soon all be calling to fix your proverbial sink.

You can learn the basics in a variety of ways.

Some people prefer to build their own website and experiment until they know what suits them.

Others prefer to learn in online courses rather than a beginner’s course Search Engine Journal.

Moz it also has a great initial SEO example.

When viewing these online courses, pay attention to the last time the course was updated.

The basics of SEO don’t change that often.

But the details are changing all the time.

It is important that you are sure that you are receiving the latest information.

Can also find an SEO mentor.

Take inspiration from others who have share your SEO career stories.

Learn about different areas of SEO knowledge you can dive into your teeth and start giving priority to what you want to learn first.

Study questions you will be asked in interviews for SEO. How are you willing to give the best answer?

In conclusion

If you want to learn SEO for a particular vertical, find out who is a great SEO in that vertical and follow their work.

Buy them a beer – you’ll be amazed at how much most people will share when they become your friends.

Make sure you always read and always learn.

Good SEO is easy to become.

If you want to become a great SEOit will take a lot of time and effort.

More sources:

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Selected image: Anton Vierietin / Shutterstock

Editor’s note: Ask SEO is a weekly SEO advice column written by some of the best SEO experts in the industry, hand-picked by the Search Engine Journal. Have a question about SEO? Fill out our form. You may see your answer in the next post #AskanSEO!