Learn SEO And Become SEO Expert In 2021

How To Learn SEO and Become SEO Expert In 2021. So, you have decided to make a career in SEO, right? Or, you want to learn SEO for growing your online business. Whatever your reason may be. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step process on how you can learn SEO for free as well as paid-for.

Today, SEO is considered the most top-rated skill on the market. 

There is a huge demand for jobs in the field of SEO. But the sad truth is that the market is lacking a supply of quality SEO experts. 

So, keep reading this blog till the end and discover some amazing and free ways to learn SEO in 2021.

What is SEO?

SEO stands for search engine optimization, which is the process of improving organic traffic and rankings. It is one of the most widely used digital marketing techniques to improve the organic traffic on websites without putting much burden on the pocket.

Recently, the SEO industry has been growing as more and more businesses are shifting towards online. So, this is the right time to learn and explore more about SEO.

In fact, many companies are thinking of hiring SEO experts in the coming future. This means the job market for SEO will boom in the coming years. That’s another reason why you should learn SEO in 2021.

What are the different types of SEO?

• On-page SEO

  

On-page SEO refers to the optimization activities done within the website.

Such activities include title, meta, image, URL, content, and website speed optimization.

On-page SEO has a 30% impact on your search engine rankings.

• Off-page SEO

Off-page SEO refers to SEO activities done in order to increase the credibility and authority of the website on the internet.

The following are a few off-page SEO activities: link-building, PPT and PDF submission, blogger outreach, guest posting, and article submission.

Off-page SEO has a 50% impact on your SEO rankings.

• Technical SEO 

Technical SEO refers to optimizing the website for better crawling and indexing for the search engine bots. It also focuses on improving the user experience and navigation of the site.

• White hat SEO

White hat SEO, also called ethical SEO, is the process of improving the SEO rankings without manipulating the search engine bots.

• Black hat SEO

This type of SEO also called negative SEO, is the process of improving the ranking of the website by manipulating the search engine bots. Black hat SEO techniques include link buying, PBN links, cloaking, and a lot more.

How to learn SEO in 2021?

Now that you might have understood a bit about SEO and the different types of SEO. Let us now understand how to learn SEO in 2021 and kickstart your career in this field. 

1. Start your blog

Hands down, one of the best ways to learn SEO in 2021 is by starting your own WordPress blog. By having your own blog, you can practically learn SEO by implementing things on your own.

We think this is the best way to learn SEO as it will only cost a few dollars to set up your blog.

While setting up your own blog, you’ll learn things about plugins, designing, sitemaps, Robots.txt, Google analytics, and many other such elements. All these components are a vital part of SEO. 

Another great benefit of blogging is that it will also help you make money online. Yes, with the help of blogging you also mint a decent amount of income per month.

There are several ways by which you can monetize your blog. Here are some of them:

1. Adsense.
2. Affiliate marketing.
3. Selling digital products.
4. E-courses and e-books. 
5. Selling your own services and a lot more.

2. Read books 

If blogging is not your cup of tea, then start reading SEO books. There are tons of SEO books available in the market that you can buy and start reading. Books will not only help you learn SEO, but it will also improve your reading and vocabulary skills.

The only downside of books is that they won’t give you practical exposure as blogging does.

Currently, The Art Of SEO by Eric Enge is the most popular SEO book you should read. It covers A-Z of SEO in a step-by-step process. Eric himself is a professional SEO expert and has explained each topic related to SEO in great detail in this book. 

Another great thing about this book is that it is backed by images, facts, and links of various subjects that will help you in learning SEO.

3. Read SEO blogs

If you are looking out for free ways to learn SEO in 2021, then follow some SEO blogs on the internet.

Blogs will give a general perspective about SEO. In fact, we would suggest you read blogs as they are run and managed by experts in this field.

SEO blogs will also give you practical and step-by-step guides on various aspects of SEO.

Here’s the list of SEO blogs that you need to bookmark right away:

• Neil Patel

Neil Patel’s blog covers each and every topic about SEO. On-page, off-page, technical SEO, blogging, Google search console, and a lot more. In fact, this is a 360-degree digital marketing blog.

• Backlinko

Run and managed by Brian Dean, Backlinko is best for off-page SEO and link-building techniques.

• Matthew Woodward

Matthew Woodward’s blog covers A-Z about SEO. In fact, this is an award-winning SEO blog.

• Search Engine Land

SEO is dynamic in nature.  Changes keep on happening in SEO on a continuous basis. So, if you want to keep yourself updated with all the changes happening in the SEO world, then follow Search Engine Land. 

4. Follow SEO experts

The next top-rated tip on how to learn SEO in 2021 is by following some SEO experts on social media. Top-rated SEO experts constantly share important tips, news, and information related to SEO on their social media accounts.

You need to follow them and watch out for their news feed. 

In fact, some of these experts upload SEO-related videos on their social media channels. This can prove to be a free learning opportunity for you. You can also think of joining SEO groups on social media.

Even we are part of many SEO groups on Facebook.

Here’s the list of SEO experts that you should be following in 2021:

1. Neil Patel
2. Brain Deal
3. Anil Agarwal 
4. Harsh Agarwal 
5. Mathew Woodward
6. Rand Fishkin.

Currently, these are the best in the industry. 

5. Watch YouTube Videos

This is another free way by which you can learn SEO in 2021. We at Blucactus encourage our team to watch videos on YouTube as they are educative and easy to consume. 

We know that reading books and blogs would consume much of your time. So, if you want to learn SEO in 2021 without wasting your time, then switch to YouTube videos. 

There are a plethora of YouTube channels that solely create amazing content on SEO and digital marketing.

Here are a few YouTube channels to follow for learning SEO:

• Neil Patel

A 360-degree digital marketing YouTube channel with a focus on SEO.

• Shout Me Loud

This is a popular Indian YouTube channel on topics related to making money online, blogging, WordPress, and SEO.

• Backlinko

Best YouTube channel for learning off-page SEO and link-building strategies. 

• SEMrush Academy

Best YouTube channel for SEO updates, tips, and actionable strategies.

• Ahrefs

Best for learning technical and advance SEO topics. 

6. Enroll in paid courses

If you want to learn SEO along with practical training then enroll in any paid SEO courses. In fact, this is the best option to learn SEO in 2021. Paid courses are backed by tons of modules, live projects, assignments, case studies and so much more. 

This will take your SEO knowledge to the level of awesomeness.

Yes, paid courses are a bit costly, but they’ll give you the best ROI, provided that you enroll in the best SEO course.

Another benefit of paid SEO courses is that they’ll also help you in getting a job in SEO. Certifications and internships are some added advantages that come along with SEO courses.

7. Get free courses on Udemy

You might be thinking that only paid courses are available on Udemy, right?

If yes, you have not done your research well. You can also get free courses on Udemy and learn from whichever courses you want. Although the free courses won’t add much value, they are great to build your foundation.

Here’s how you can get free courses on Udemy:

1. Go to Udemy and search for the course you want to enroll in.
2. Filter the options and select pricing.
3. Then, select the free courses.

Simple, right?

Currently, there are 700+ free SEO courses listed on Udemy. So, hop on to their website now and learn SEO at no cost.

8. Attend SEO events and conferences

Over 500+ SEO events and conferences happen every year all across the globe. You can attend these events and get exceptional value and learn from the world’s best SEO experts. 

Yes, this is a costly approach, but it is one of the best ways to learn SEO in 2021.

Many SEO experts from all over the world come and share their knowledge at events and conferences. Some of the best SEO events are SEJ eSummit, MarTech, SMX, and Affiliate Summit.

Another great thing about these events is that you’ll also get networking opportunities with like-minded people.

9. Do internships

This is one of the best ways to learn SEO in 2021.

Internships will give hands-on learning experience about SEO. You’ll also come to know how the real SEO or digital marketing industry works. Additionally, internships will enhance your professional skills and help you in your corporate career.

Try to look for internships on various job portals like Indeed.com, Monster.com, and a lot more.

You can also directly visit the company’s website and look for the career section. If there is any vacancy or internship opportunity related to SEO then apply on the first go.

10. Get a full-time job

If you have decided to make a career in SEO, then start looking for a full-time job. You might be thinking that getting a full-time job in SEO is difficult for a newbie. But this is not the case. With careful planning and the right direction, newbies can get a job in SEO. 

Here’s what you need to do in order to get a job in SEO if you are a newbie:

1. Get your basics cleared by reading blogs and watching videos on YouTube.
2. Create your blog and post content, then do basic on-page and off-page SEO. 
3. Now prepare your questions and answers for your SEO interview.
4. Boom! You are almost ready. Just make a stunning resume, add your hobbies, information and don’t forget to mention your blog.
5. Now start applying for SEO jobs either on job portals or directly via the company website. 

11. Watch webinars and seminars

The last on this list of how to learn SEO in 2021 is watching webinars and seminars from the SEO experts.

Nowadays, many SEO experts and bloggers conduct seminars and webinars to educate their audience.

So, you can enroll yourself in such webinars and seminars and learn about SEO from the best in the industry.

Here’s the list of websites where you can get the best SEO webinars:

• SEMrush

At SEMrush, you’ll find a ton of webinars about on-page SEO, off-page SEO, link building, affiliate marketing, and everything in between. 

• Search Engine Land

If you want to learn about advanced SEO tips and tricks, then follow Search Engine Land’s webinar. It covers a wide range of SEO industry topics like algorithm updates, SEO news, updates on search engines, and a lot more.

Conclusion: 

We have listed out 11 ways by which you can learn and explore SEO in complete depth from start to finish.

SEO is one of the best career options, especially in 2021.

You can make a lucrative career in this field, provided that you work hard and put in some amount of effort from your end.