Can I Learn SEO on My Own?

To put it simply, yes, you can learn SEO on your own!

With the immense amount of online resources available, self-study can be a viable and cost-effective way to become proficient in search engine optimisation. SEO is a crucial skill to build if you are trying to establish and grow an online presence. It is also incredibly beneficial for anyone within the marketing industry as it presents an enhanced understanding of search engines and how to draw organic traffic to websites.?

Here are 5 tips to help you learn SEO on your own:

1. Utilise Online Sources

There is a variety of online resources available that can equip you with a great understanding of the fundamentals of SEO. Completing advanced courses can help to further build this foundational knowledge. Many online sources will also offer these for free!?

Below are a few sources to consider:

• Blogs and Articles: Reputable sources will offer insightful knowledge to aid in your SEO education. For example, websites such as the Semrush blog, publish a variety of industry news and detailed guides for readers. In addition, our blog is focused on assisting readers in building the foundations of their understanding of SEO and to further enhance their skill sets. We cover topics from what SEO is to link building and how to show authority on your website.

• Online Courses: Websites such as Semrush Academy, Coursera and Udemy offer a variety of courses regarding SEO. The key to courses is to complete them from established sources to ensure that you are building high quality knowledge. To develop a deeper understanding, complete courses in specific elements of SEO such as technical SEO, meta information and improving user experience.?

• Google’s Resources: It is vital to utilise Google’s own resources in order to understand how the search engine works and how to apply this knowledge within your own website. Google is clear on its expectations from websites and it is important to keep up to date with these. Google publishes ‘Core Updates’ which detail every change or new addition that you should be aware of. Additionally, they have the Google Search Central blog which discusses new announcements and SEO best practices.They also regularly post on the Google Search Central Youtube channel explaining how search works, presenting news and answering questions.

Here's an example of one of Google's introductory SEO videos:

?2. Analyse Results

Understanding what works and what doesn't with your SEO efforts requires tracking and assessing their effectiveness. Track important metrics like organic traffic, bounce rates, and conversion rates by using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console.?

It can be useful to establish specific objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs). This can entail raising conversion rates, enhancing organic traffic, or raising search engine rankings. By setting clear goals, you create a framework for measuring success and identifying areas for improvement.

Following your analysis, you can create reports on a regular basis to assess your SEO effectiveness. Examine the information to find patterns, achievements, and opportunities for development and make use of these insights to refine your strategy. By presenting these to your team, you can make a combined effort to work on your proposed improvements.

Whether it involves tweaking keyword targeting, optimising content, or improving technical aspects of your website, data-driven decisions based on thorough analysis can significantly enhance your SEO effectiveness. By continuously monitoring, analysing, and adapting your approach, you ensure that your SEO efforts align with your business goals and deliver measurable results.

3. Stay Updated with Trends

SEO is a dynamic area with constantly evolving algorithms, user behaviour, and technological advancements. Staying updated with these trends is crucial for maintaining and improving your SEO skills. By being aware of the latest developments, you can adapt your strategies to meet the changing demands of search engines and users, allowing your website to remain competitive and attract organic traffic.

Here are some ways to stay informed:

• Subscribe to Industry Newsletters: Sign up for newsletters from reputable SEO websites. These often provide summaries of the latest news, updates, and best practices. LinkedIn has become a brilliant source of these as well as a way to interact with SEO agencies and delve deeper into their profiles. Our newsletter ‘Lumen’s Lens: SEO Secrets’ has recently launched!

• Follow Thought Leaders: Take advantage of the time you spend on social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, by following SEO experts and thought leaders who regularly share insights and updates.?

• Join SEO Communities: Participate in online forums and communities such as SEO-focused groups on LinkedIn. Engaging with peers can provide diverse perspectives and solutions to common challenges. It can also be greatly beneficial to feel a sense of community when you are learning something new and allows you to learn top tips from others.

4. Coaching and Workshops?

While independent study is effective, it can be helpful to seek guidance from those who are already successful and knowledgeable in SEO. Learning in a more structured way such as through coaching can lessen any overwhelm you may be feeling.?

Additionally, if you’d like less of a commitment, attending workshops can be a brilliant way to learn about SEO in bite-sized pieces. The expertise and first-hand experience of those leading such sessions are invaluable when it comes to discovering more about SEO practices and how best to implement them. Signing up for coaching and attending workshops, also creates a place for you to ask questions and clarify anything you may be struggling with.

We hold a variety of workshops and coaching available to anyone. Our workshops cover essential SEO topics such as keyword research, on-page and off-page SEO, technical SEO, and content strategy. By participating, you'll gain practical skills and have the opportunity to ask questions and receive direct feedback from experts.

To learn more, visit our coaching and workshops pages.

5. Learn from Competitors

Competitor analysis is an essential component of developing a successful SEO strategy. By studying your main competitors' websites, you can gain valuable insights into what is working well for them and where there may be opportunities for improvement.?

Begin by identifying your main competitors in the search engine results pages for your target keywords. Afterwards, it can be valuable to perform a backlink analysis. Since backlinks inform search engines of a website's authority and relevance, they are a vital component of SEO. Analysing your competitors' backlink profiles can uncover valuable opportunities for acquiring backlinks and improving your own site's authority.

You can use tools such as SEMrush to do this. Focus on identifying high-quality backlinks, such as those from authoritative websites within your industry, that your competitors have acquired. Once you've identified high-quality backlinks, explore opportunities to replicate or acquire similar links for your own website.?

Furthermore, content is another critical aspect of SEO, influencing both rankings and user engagement. You can find opportunities to improve your own content efforts by analysing the content strategies of your competitors. Identify the types of content that resonate most with their audience and attract engagement such as comments, shares and likes. This can indicate which topics or formats are most appealing to their audience.

As well as this, look for gaps in your competitors' content strategy where they may not be addressing certain topics or providing comprehensive information. These gaps represent opportunities for you to create content that fulfils unmet needs or displays a unique perspective.

When Should I Use an SEO Agency?

Navigating the SEO landscape requires dedication, continuous learning, and practical experience. Additionally, it is not a one-time process that can be completed within a singular course. SEO is an ongoing process since algorithms are constantly evolving. Staying up to date with recent changes and trends is extremely important.

Many people find this overwhelming and time consuming, and hence prefer to work with an SEO agency. You can learn more about what an SEO agency, like ours, does here.

Consider these 3 benefits when making your decision:

• Consistent Support: SEO agencies do not only provide a plan but will also support you through its implementation and contribute based on your needs. Their variety of experience with various businesses across different industries allows them to bring high-quality, evidence-based solutions for your SEO challenges.?
• Proficiency: SEO agencies can support you by providing specialised insights into improving your website’s visibility and ranking on search engines. Experts in search engine optimisation possess a thorough comprehension of important concepts such as technical SEO, keyword research, and link development. An agency’s experience with algorithms and search engine guidelines is invaluable when crafting strategies to improve your business.

• Site Complexity: SEO strategies are crucial for websites with extensive content or complex site architecture. Site architecture significantly impacts search engines' ability to crawl content, with well-structured websites providing clear navigation and enhancing user experience. Improved user experience increases search engine rankings because it encourages users to link to and spend more time on the website. SEO companies efficiently handle these tasks, ensuring accurate and consistent optimisation.?

How Lumen SEO Can Help?

We at Lumen SEO can take care of your whole SEO strategy, including keyword research, link building, content writing and technical SEO.??

If you like the sound of working with us, we offer free, no-obligation SEO audits on business websites. This is the perfect starting point to identifying the gaps within your SEO knowledge and your areas for improvement.

To claim yours, simply enter your details here and we’ll get a free SEO audit to you within 7 days. It will include the strengths and weaknesses of your website along with the top three aspects you should focus on improving, in order to enhance your business’ ranking.

For a friendly chat about the SEO services we provide here at Lumen SEO, contact our SEO consultants today.Alternatively, you can message us on either our LinkedIn or Instagram pages.

Written by Viktoria, for Lumen SEO.