By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-09-18 06:20:39 | Word Count: 664
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the set of processes focused on increased search engine rankings for highly relevant keywords / phrases. SEO is pretty sophisticated stuff. There are literally hundreds of steps within these processes. More than that, many of the processes are ongoing and must be incorporated into actual routine so as to successfully and continually compete for top page rankings on Google, Bing and Yahoo. Obviously successful SEO yields page 1 rankings, even top of page 1 rankings. This drives increased traffic to the website, and through Conversion Optimization, the actual business transacted, whether through a sale, a lead, a completed form or a subscription is maximized to take advantage of the increased traffic.
There are some harsh truths about SEO:
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1. It’s expensive.
2. It takes considerable time to see significant results.
3. Everyone says they want to be on page 1 of Google; very few are prepared to actually do all of the things you need to do to actually be on page 1 of Google.
4. Few do well as a result
With this backdrop, there are those who offer SEO Training through courses online, how-to books and the regular classroom. The market for these courses is fertile based on the fact that few understand the harsh truths listed above and there are those offering these courses that know what you don’t know about these harsh truths.
Just imagine that you actually took a course in SEO last November. What the course did not include was 2 major developments that affect every SEO Company’s processes; Google Caffeine and Google Instant. The only way to stay on top of these developments is to stay on top of these developments e.g. attend conferences and stay well connected to what Google et al is saying almost every day. Consider the changes in the last 2 years involving the social media. Consider the inevitable changes that will be coming just in the next 6-24 months. An SEO Training Course just isn’t setup to deal with the reality of constant and considerable changes online.
However, if you are seeking an SEO Training Course to gain a basic understanding of SEO and the major components and processes, by all means seek SEO courses that include the following fundamental essentials of all Internet Marketing:
1. Keyword Research – this is a continually evolving process because your keywords are changing all of the time. The trends are unpredictable so it is essential that keyword research becomes a part of the routine of SEO.
2. Onsite Optimization – this is the geeky part of SEO; those on-page items such as titles, descriptions, keyword density, metatags, W3 Validation, dynamic site maps … just to name a few.
3. Offsite Optimization – this is all about Backlink Growth. Make sure that the course emphasizes the importance of content indexation and syndication.
4. Analytical Software – all SEO is predicated on website analysis to understand and respond to the actual human interaction with each webpage. Where did the visitor come from? What keyword / phrase was used? Did the visitor engage or bounce from the page. There are dozens more questions answered by great analytics.
These are the fundamentals you should look for in an SEO Training Course. This will give you a solid informational foundation so that when you actually need to hire an SEO Firm, you will be prepared to discuss the process and strategies and better understand how SEO will benefit you and your business.
SEO is not a one day or one week course and it isn’t a static set of processes. So, if you are running your business but also wish to remain focused on your business, understand the basics and then select a Professional SEO or Internet Marketing Company to drive you to the top or provide SEO Training for your company.
Contact us if you are looking for SEO Training for your business! We can help.
