Learning SEO can seem daunting, but thanks to the generous SEO community, a wealth of free resources are available. This comprehensive guide compiles over 50 free blogs, courses, videos, podcasts, conferences, and tools to kickstart your SEO journey in 2023.
Google’s Guidance and Industry News: Your SEO Foundation
Start with the basics from the source itself:
- Google’s SEO Starter Guide: Google’s official guide provides foundational knowledge on making your website rank.
- Moz’s Beginner’s Guide to SEO: Moz offers a comprehensive guide considered a must-read for beginners.
- Search Engine Land’s SEO Guide: A nine-step tutorial designed to complement their periodic table of search factors.
- SERPStat’s SEO Guide: Learn how to leverage SERPStat to enhance your website’s SEO.
- WordStream’s SEO Guide: A unique perspective on SEO from a Pay-Per-Click (PPC) standpoint.
Stay updated on the ever-evolving SEO landscape with leading industry news sites:
- Search Engine Roundtable: Experts report on the latest updates and trends in search.
- Search Engine Journal: A community-driven platform covering Google updates and marketing trends.
- Search Engine Land: Another valuable resource for SEO news and insights.
- Google Search (Use It!): New SEO resources emerge constantly; leverage Google to find them.
Screenshot of the SEO page on Google Skillshop
Deep Dive with SEO Blogs and Experts
Learn from leading SEO experts through their insightful blogs:
- Backlinko (Brian Dean): Explore Brian Dean’s renowned Skyscraper technique for backlink building and his up-to-date SEO guide.
- Quick Sprout (Neil Patel): Benefit from Neil Patel’s expertise and his free keyword research tool, Ubersuggest.
- Yoast SEO Blog: The creators of the popular WordPress SEO plugin offer valuable insights on page titles, meta descriptions, and other crucial aspects.
- Copyblogger: Learn about cornerstone content and the importance of copywriting in SEO.
- ProBlogger: Gain valuable tips and tricks for blogging, a crucial element in many SEO campaigns.
- Exposure Ninja Digital Marketing Blog: Explore diverse topics like digital marketing success stories, traffic generation, and Google Analytics 4.
- Ahrefs SEO Blog: High-quality content covering a wide range of SEO topics.
Hands-On Learning with Free SEO Tools
Theory is essential, but practical experience is key:
- WordPress: Build your own website for free and experiment with various SEO techniques.
- Google Analytics: Track website traffic, user demographics, and other crucial data to measure campaign success.
- Google Search Console: Monitor your site’s presence in Google search results, submit pages, and address any warnings.
- Google Skillshop: Master Google Analytics through comprehensive online courses and earn a qualification.
- Google’s Online Marketing Challenge: Gain real-world experience by managing a charity’s online marketing campaign with a $10,000 ad spend budget.
- Majestic: Utilize this powerful backlink profiler for competitor research and outreach planning.
- Yoast SEO (WordPress Plugin): Simplify SEO for WordPress websites with this user-friendly plugin.
Expand Your Knowledge with SEO Videos and Podcasts
Visual and auditory learners can benefit from these resources:
- Google Search Central on YouTube: Access free videos from Google’s webmaster team, covering technical SEO aspects.
- Exposure Ninja YouTube Channel: Learn from weekly videos on various marketing topics, including SEO.
- Ranking Academy on YouTube: Focus on SEO strategies for small businesses with Luc Durand’s weekly videos.
- Crawling Mondays on YouTube: Deep dive into technical SEO with Aleyda Solis and interviews with SEO professionals.
- Income School on YouTube: Explore in-depth SEO tutorials, some lasting up to an hour.
- Moz’s Whiteboard Fridays: Engage with weekly 15-minute videos covering a range of SEO topics.
- Exposure Ninja Podcast: Listen to Tim Cameron-Kitchen discuss marketing strategies and industry trends.
Connect and Learn: Conferences and Social Media
Engage with the SEO community:
- BrightonSEO: Attend this large-scale SEO conference with free tickets available via ballot.
- MeetUp: Find local SEO groups for in-person networking and learning.
- Quora SEO: Explore over 94,000 SEO questions and answers.
- Reddit SEO: Join the active SEO community discussing algorithm updates and best practices.
- Follow Influencers on Twitter: Stay informed by following leading SEO experts like John Mueller and Rand Fishkin.
- Slideshare: Access presentations from SEO conferences and events.
- SparkToro: Discover trending search marketing news and insights.
Free SEO Courses with Certification: Level Up Your Skills
Formalize your SEO knowledge with certified courses:
- Semrush Academy: Access high-quality SEO courses, including the SEO Fundamentals course with Greg Gifford.
- HubSpot Academy: Explore content-focused courses on inbound marketing, email marketing, and more.
- Udemy SEO: Find a substantial library of free SEO courses.
- Codecademy: Learn basic HTML and CSS, valuable skills for any SEO professional.
- Coursera SEO: Access free SEO courses from top universities.
Conclusion
Learning SEO for free is entirely possible with the abundance of resources available. This guide provides a starting point for your journey. Embrace these resources, experiment, and continuously learn to master the art of SEO. Dive in and start optimizing!
