How To Become An SEO Expert 21 Things You Need To Know

To become an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) expert, you will need to learn about how search engines work, how people use search engines, and what factors influence the ranking of websites in search engine results.

It's also important to note that becoming an SEO expert takes time and dedication. It's a continuous learning process, and you should be willing to put in the effort to stay up-to-date and continue learning as the field evolves.

To become an SEO (Search Engine Optimization) expert. You should also be familiar with the different techniques and strategies that are used to improve the visibility and ranking of a website in search engine results pages (SERPs). Here are some steps you can follow to become an SEO expert:

• Becoming an SEO expert requires a combination of education, experience, and continuous learning. Here are some steps you can take to become an SEO expert:

What is SEO?

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of optimizing a website in order to improve its ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs). It is a process of improving the visibility and ranking of a website or web page in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

There are many different factors that can affect a website's search engine ranking, including the quality and relevance of the website's content, the structure, and organization of the website, the use of keywords and other phrases on the website, the presence of backlinks from other websites, and the overall user experience of the website.

By optimizing a website for search engines, it is possible to improve the website's visibility in the search results and increase the number of visitors it receives. This can be particularly important for businesses, as a higher ranking in the search results can lead to increased traffic and potentially more sales or conversions.

Read Also: How to Find the Best Keywords to Rank #1 on Google

What is an SEO ranking

SEO ranking refers to the position of a website or web page in search engine results pages (SERPs). When a user performs a search on a search engine, the results are displayed in order of relevance to the keywords or phrases used in the search. The higher a website or web page is ranked in the search results, the more likely it is to be seen and visited by the user.

There are several factors that can influence a website's ranking in search results. These include the quality and relevance of the content, the structure and design of the site, and the way the site is coded. By optimizing these and other elements of a website, it is possible to improve its ranking and increase the amount of traffic it receives from users who are searching for specific keywords or phrases.

Improving a website's ranking in search results can be a complex and time-consuming process, but it is often a crucial part of a successful online marketing strategy. By investing in SEO, website owners can increase their visibility and reach, and ultimately drive more traffic and revenue to their sites.

Also Read 12 Important Image Optimization Tips You Need To Know

1. Understand the Basics of SEO

There are several key factors that contribute to a website's ranking in search engine results pages. These include:

1. Relevant, high-quality content: Search engines want to provide the most relevant and useful results to their users, so it's important to create content that is informative, well-written, and relevant to the user's search query.
2. Keywords: Using relevant keywords in your website's content and meta tags can help search engines understand what your website is about and help it rank for those keywords.
3. On-page optimization: On-page optimization refers to the elements on your website that you can control, such as the title and header tags, the meta description, and the URLs. Optimizing these elements can help improve your website's ranking in search results.
4. Links: Links from other websites to your website, also known as backlinks, can help improve your website's ranking in search results. Search engines see backlinks as a sign of the quality and relevance of your website, so the more high-quality backlinks you have, the better your website will rank.

2. Build Your Own Websites

Building your own website can be a rewarding and exciting project, and it's easier than you might think! Here are the steps you can follow to build your own website:

1. Choose a domain name and hosting provider: Your domain name is the URL (e.g., www.example.com) that people will use to access your website, and your hosting provider is the company that will store your website's files and makes them available to visitors.
2. Decide on a website platform: There are many options for building a website, including content management systems (CMS) like WordPress, Blogger, and drag-and-drop website builders like Wix and Weebly, and coding languages like HTML and CSS. Choose the option that best fits your needs and skills.
3. Design your website: Start by sketching out a rough layout and design for your website. Consider the purpose of your website, your target audience, and the content and features you want to include.
4. Build and publish your website: Use your chosen platform to create the pages and content for your website. You may need to use a combination of coding and drag-and-drop tools to get the result you want. Once you're happy with your website, publish it so it's live on the internet.
5. Promote your website: Once your website is live, you'll want to spread the word and start getting visitors. You can promote your website through social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and advertising.

Building a website can be a fun and rewarding project, and it's a valuable skill to have in today's digital world. With a little patience and some time, you can create a professional-looking website that you can be proud of.

Also Read: Top 8 Tips For Using Images In Your Blog Posts

3. Learn WordPress

WordPress is a popular content management system (CMS) that allows users to easily create and manage a website or blog. Here are some basic steps to get started with WordPress:

1. Sign up for a hosting service and install WordPress on your hosting account.
2. Choose a theme for your website. There are many free and paid options available.
3. Customize your website by adding pages, posts, and media. You can do this through the WordPress dashboard, which can be accessed by logging in to your account.
4. Install and activate plugins to add functionality to your website. There are thousands of plugins available for tasks such as SEO, security, and contact forms.
5. Set up and customize your website's navigation menu.
6. Publish your website and start creating content.

To learn more about WordPress, you can check out WordPress Codex, the official documentation for WordPress users. There are also many online resources and tutorials available to help you get started with WordPress.

4. Learn Google Analytics & Google Search Console

• Google Analytics:

Google Analytics is a free web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. It is a powerful tool for understanding how users interact with your website, including what they do on your site, how they got there, and how long they stayed. With Google Analytics, you can learn how to:

1. Set up and configure Google Analytics on your website.
2. Understand the different types of data available in Google Analytics, such as audience, behavior, and acquisition data.
3. Use the Google Analytics dashboard to view and analyze data about your website's traffic and user behavior.
4. Set up and configure goals in Google Analytics to track specific actions that users take on your website.
5. Use segments to view and analyze data for specific groups of users in Google Analytics.

• Google Search Console:

Google Search Console is a free tool provided by Google that helps you monitor and maintain your website's presence in Google search results. It provides data and tools to help you understand how your website is performing in search results and how to improve its ranking. With Google Search Console, you can:

1. Verify that your website is registered with Google and is being indexed correctly.
2. See which queries are driving traffic to your website and which pages on your site are being displayed in search results.
3. Find and fix crawl errors on your website.
4. Monitor the performance of your website in search results, including the number of clicks, impressions, and average position.
5. Submit sitemaps and individual URLs for crawling to help ensure that all of your pages are being indexed.

Also Read: 12 Powerful Ways to Promote Your Website for Free in 2022

5. Read About SEO Every Day

There are many resources available for learning about SEO, including blog posts, online courses, and books. Some key things to keep in mind as you read about SEO include:

1. The importance of keyword research: Identifying the right keywords to target can help you optimize your website's content and increase its chances of ranking well in search results.
2. The role of on-page optimization: On-page optimization refers to the process of optimizing individual web pages in order to rank higher and earn more relevant traffic. This includes things like title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags.
3. The value of backlinks: Backlinks are links from other websites to your website. Google sees backlinks as a vote of confidence in your content, and a website with a lot of high-quality backlinks is more likely to rank well in search results.
4. The importance of mobile-friendliness: With more and more people accessing the internet via mobile devices, it's important to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. This includes things like responsive design and fast loading times.

By reading about SEO on a regular basis, you can stay up-to-date on the latest best practices and trends in the industry, and apply them to your own website to improve its ranking in search results.

Also Read: External Links and Internal Links – How Are They Important For SEO

6. Understanding How Search Engines Work

A search engine is a software program that searches a database of Internet sites, such as Google or Bing, for keywords and returns a list of the sites where the keywords were found. Search engines operate by sending out a spider to fetch as many documents as possible. Another program called an indexer then reads these documents and creates an index based on the words contained in each document. Each search engine uses a proprietary algorithm to create its indexes, which determines the importance and relevance of each indexed webpage.

• When a user enters a search query, the search engine looks for the words in the index and returns a list of web pages that are relevant to the search query. The relevance of a webpage is determined by a combination of factors, including the presence and location of the search terms, the number of times the search terms appear on the page, and the proximity of the search terms to one another. The search engine also takes into account the number and quality of external links that point to the page, as well as the overall authority of the domain.

To optimize a website for search engines, it is important to use relevant keywords in the website's content, titles, and metadata, and to have a good structure with clear navigation and a hierarchy of headings. It is also helpful to have high-quality external links pointing to the website, as this can increase the authority of the site and improve its ranking in the search results.

Read Also: 15 Ways To Get Your Blog Ranking In Google's first page

7. Read Google's Quality Rater Guidelines

Google's Quality Rater Guidelines are a set of guidelines that are used to evaluate the quality of search results returned by Google's algorithms. The guidelines provide a framework for evaluating the relevance, usefulness, and overall quality of web pages and other content that appears in Google's search results.

The guidelines are used by human evaluators, known as "quality raters," to assess the quality of search results and provide feedback to Google's algorithms. This feedback is used to improve the ranking of search results and provide users with the most relevant and useful information possible.

• The guidelines cover a wide range of topics, including the types of content that should be ranked highly, the importance of user experience, and the factors that contribute to the overall quality of a web page or piece of content. The guidelines also provide examples of high-quality and low-quality web pages, to help raters understand what to look for when evaluating search results.

Google's Quality Rater Guidelines are regularly updated to reflect changes in the way people use the internet and search for information. They are an important resource for anyone interested in search engine optimization (SEO) and the factors that influence the ranking of search results.

8. Look at the SERPs

SERP stands for "Search Engine Results Page." When you search for something on a search engine like Google, the page that appears with a list of results is the SERP.

It typically includes a list of links to websites that are relevant to your search query, as well as advertisements. The position of each website on the SERP is determined by its ranking, which is based on factors such as relevance and the quality of the content.

9. Learn About Technical SEO

Technical SEO refers to the behind-the-scenes aspects of your website, such as its code and structure, that can impact its visibility in search results. Ensuring that your website is technically sound can help improve its ranking in search results.

• Some specific technical SEO tasks include:

1. Ensuring that a website is crawlable and indexable by search engines by using clean URLs and a sitemap
2. Optimizing page titles and descriptions with targeted keywords
3. Using header tags (H1, H2, etc.) to structure content and signal the hierarchy of information on a page
4. Adding alt text to images to provide additional context to search engines
5. Creating and submitting a sitemap to search engines
6. Using structured data (such as schema markup) to help search engines understand the content and context of a website
7. Fixing broken links and errors such as 404 pages
8. Ensuring that the website loads quickly and efficiently
9. Making the website mobile-friendly and responsive

Technical SEO is an important part of overall SEO strategy, as it helps search engines understand and index a website's content accurately. By improving the technical aspects of a website, businesses can improve their visibility in search results and attract more qualified traffic to their site.

Also Read: Crucial SEO Tips for Writing A High-Quality Blog Post

10. Learn About Content Strategy, Creation, Optimization & Promotion

• Content Strategy:

Content strategy refers to the planning, development, and management of content-often for digital media. It is the process of creating a clear plan for what content will be created, how it will be created, and how it will be managed over time.

• Content Creation

Content creation involves creating and producing the actual content that will be published. This can include writing articles, creating videos, designing graphics, or any other type of content that will be shared with an audience.

• Content Optimization

Content optimization is the process of improving the quality and relevance of the content for a specific audience, with the goal of making it more visible and effective. This can involve techniques such as keyword research, formatting the content for readability, and adding relevant media such as images and videos.

• Content Promotion

Content promotion refers to the efforts to increase the visibility and reach of the content. This can include tactics such as social media marketing, email marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), and influencer outreach.

• Overall, a successful content strategy involves a combination of all of these elements, with the goal of creating valuable and engaging content that meets the needs of the target audience and helps to achieve the goals of the organization.

11. Use Link Building Tactics That Actually Work

Link building is the process of acquiring hyperlinks from other websites to your own. These links are important because they can improve the search engine rankings of your website, which can lead to increased traffic and potentially more business. However, it's important to note that not all link-building tactics are created equal, and some tactics may even be considered spammy or unethical.

• Here are some link-building tactics that are known to work:

1. Create high-quality content: One of the best ways to earn natural links is to create content that is valuable, informative, and shareable. When people find your content valuable, they may be more likely to link to it from their own websites or social media profiles.
2. Build relationships with other website owners: Building relationships with other website owners can help you earn natural links. You can do this by commenting on their blog posts, sharing their content on social media, or reaching out to them directly to ask for a link.
3. Participate in online communities: Participating in online communities related to your industry can help you build relationships and earn links. For example, you can answer questions on forums or contribute to discussions on social media groups.
4. Use social media: Sharing your content on social media can help increase its visibility and potentially earn you more links.
5. Use guest blogging: Writing guest posts on other websites can be a good way to earn links, as long as you're writing for high-quality websites that are relevant to your industry.

It's important to remember that link building should be done in a natural and ethical way and that any tactics that are considered spammy or unethical, such as buying links or participating in link schemes, should be avoided.

12. Don't Develop Checklist Mentality

It is important to approach tasks and problems with a thoughtful and thorough mindset, rather than relying solely on checklists or formulas. While checklists and formulas can be useful tools for organizing and completing tasks, they should not be the only approach used.

It is important to also consider the specific context and unique circumstances of each task, as well as the broader goals and objectives that the task is meant to serve. This requires critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as an ability to adapt and be flexible in the face of changing circumstances or new information.

Relying too heavily on checklists and formulas can lead to a "checklist mentality," where an individual becomes overly focused on completing specific tasks or following specific steps, rather than considering the bigger picture and using their own judgment and problem-solving skills. This can lead to a lack of creativity and innovation, and may even result in errors or mistakes being made if the checklist or formula is not applicable to the specific situation.

• In conclusion, while checklists and formulas can be useful tools, it is important to also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills and to approach tasks and problems with a flexible and adaptable mindset.

Also Read: 18 Tips to Make Your Blog Rank Higher on Google

13. Join Facebook Groups

Joining Facebook groups can be a good way to promote your website and potentially improve its ranking in search results.

• Here are a few tips for using Facebook groups to help improve your website's ranking:

1. Join relevant groups: Look for groups related to your website's topic or industry, as these will be the most likely to have members who are interested in your content.
2. Engage with the group: Don't just post a link to your website and leave. Instead, participate in the group by commenting on other people's posts, answering questions, and starting conversations. This will help you build relationships with other members and show that you're an active member of the community.
3. Share valuable content: When you do share a link to your website, make sure it's something that's truly valuable to the group. This could be a helpful blog post, a resource guide, or a special offer.
4. Use tags and hashtags: Use tags and hashtags relevant to your website and industry to make it easier for people to discover your content within the group.

Keep in mind that while joining Facebook groups can be a useful part of your website promotion strategy, it's just one piece of the puzzle. There are many other factors that can influence your website's ranking, including the quality and relevance of your content, the strength of your backlinks, and your website's technical SEO.

• To join a Facebook group, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Facebook website or open the Facebook app on your device.
2. Log in to your Facebook account.
3. In the search bar at the top of the page, type in the name of the group you want to join and press enter.
4. Click on the group's name in the search results to go to the group's page.
5. On the group's page, click the "Join Group" button.
6. If the group has membership approval, your request to join the group will need to be approved by an administrator before you can become a member. If the group is open to anyone, you will be added as a member immediately.

Keep in mind that some groups may have specific requirements for membership or may not allow new members to join. If you are having trouble joining a group, you may want to contact the group's administrator for assistance.

14. Follow SEO Experts on Twitter

Experts regularly tweet about SEO best practices, updates to search algorithms, and other related topics. Following them can help you stay up-to-date on the latest SEO news and strategies.

Keep in mind that experts on Twitter can be a great way to stay up-to-date with the latest SEO news and trends, but it's important to remember that not all advice and information you come across on social media is accurate or up-to-date. It's always a good idea to fact-check information and consider multiple sources before making decisions about your SEO strategy.

Also Read: 10 Tips for Writing SEO-Friendly Blog Posts

15. Attend SEO & Marketing Conferences

Attending SEO and marketing conferences can be a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends, network with other professionals, and learn from experts in the field.

It's a good idea to do some research and choose a conference that aligns with your specific interests and goals. Many conferences also offer workshops and training sessions, which can be a great opportunity to learn new skills and techniques.

16. Listen to Podcasts

Listening to podcasts can be a useful way to learn about search engine optimization (SEO) and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in the industry. There are many podcasts that focus on SEO and digital marketing, and these can be a great resource for anyone looking to improve their knowledge and skills in these areas.

• Here are a few tips for finding and listening to podcasts about SEO:

1. Look for podcasts that are specifically focused on SEO or digital marketing. There are many podcasts out there that cover a wide range of topics, but you'll want to find ones that are specifically focused on SEO to get the most relevant and useful information.
2. Check out the podcast's ratings and reviews. Look for podcasts that have high ratings and positive reviews from other listeners. This can help you find podcasts that are high quality and provide valuable information.
3. Subscribe to the podcast and listen on a regular basis. Many podcasts release new episodes on a weekly or monthly basis, so subscribing to a podcast and listening to new episodes as they become available can help you stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices in SEO.
4. Take notes and apply what you learn. As you listen to podcasts, make sure to take notes on any tips or strategies that you find particularly useful. Then, try to apply what you've learned in your own SEO efforts to see if it makes a difference.

Overall, listening to podcasts about SEO can be a great way to learn more about the industry and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and best practices. By following the tips above, you can find and listen to podcasts that are high quality and provide valuable information on SEO.

17. Grow Your Personal Network

Growing your personal network can be a useful strategy for improving your search engine optimization (SEO).

• Here are a few ways you can do this:

1. Connect with industry professionals and influencers: Building relationships with industry experts and influencers can help you get exposure for your website and improve your credibility. You can do this by engaging with them on social media, commenting on their blog posts, or attending industry events.
2. Join online communities: Participating in online communities related to your industry can help you connect with potential customers and partners, as well as learn about new trends and opportunities.
3. Collaborate with other businesses: Partnering with other businesses can help you reach a new audience and potentially earn backlinks to your website, which can improve your SEO.
4. Building relationships with journalists and media outlets: Building relationships with journalists and media outlets can help you get coverage for your business, which can in turn lead to more traffic and backlinks to your website.
5. Participate in local events and organizations: Getting involved in local events and organizations can help you build relationships with people in your community and potentially earn backlinks from local websites.

Remember to focus on building genuine, valuable relationships rather than just trying to get backlinks. The quality of your backlinks is more important for SEO than quantity.

18. Take Advantage of Free Courses

There are many free SEO courses available online that can help you learn about search engine optimization and improve your skills in this area.

• Some options for free SEO courses include:

1. Google's Digital Garage: This platform offers a range of free courses on digital marketing, including SEO.
2. Moz Academy: Moz, a leading provider of SEO tools, offers a range of free courses on SEO and other digital marketing topics.
3. HubSpot Academy: HubSpot offers a range of free courses on SEO and other inbound marketing topics.
4. SEMrush Academy: SEMrush, a popular SEO and digital marketing tool, offers a range of free courses on SEO and other digital marketing topics.
5. Coursera: This platform offers a range of courses on SEO and other digital marketing topics from top universities and industry experts. Many of these courses are free to audit, but you may need to pay a fee to access all of the course materials or to receive a certificate of completion.

By taking advantage of these and other free resources, you can learn about SEO and improve your skills in this important area of digital marketing.

19. Keep Learning & Growing Your Skill Set

Continuing to learn and grow your skill set is an important aspect of personal and professional development. 

• There are many ways to do this, including:

1. Taking online courses or attending workshops or seminars to learn new skills or deepen your understanding of a particular subject.
2. Reading books, articles, and blogs related to your field or areas of interest.
3. Seeking out opportunities to apply your skills in new ways, such as taking on new projects or volunteering to work on a new team.
4. Asking for feedback from coworkers, supervisors, or mentors to identify areas for improvement and set goals for your development.
5. Participating in professional development programs or joining professional organizations to network with others in your field and stay up to date on industry trends.

By continuously learning and growing your skill set, you can stay competitive in the job market, advance in your career, and pursue new opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Also Read: Content Writing Tools - the Ultimate List for Beginners SEO Bloggers

20. Learn from Your Mistakes & Repeat Your Successes

It is important to learn from your mistakes in order to improve and grow. When you make a mistake, it can be helpful to reflect on what happened and try to understand what led to the mistake.

This can help you identify any patterns or issues that need to be addressed and make changes to prevent similar mistakes in the future.

• Here are some tips for doing so:

1. Reflect on your mistakes: Take the time to think about what went wrong and why. This can help you identify patterns or areas where you need to improve.

2. Seek feedback: Ask others for their perspective on what happened and how you can improve. You may learn something new about yourself or your approach to a situation.

3. Create a plan for improvement: Use what you have learned to create a plan for how you will address your mistakes or weaknesses. This could involve setting specific goals or developing new skills.

4. Celebrate your successes: Don't forget to celebrate your achievements! This can help you stay motivated and feel good about your progress.

5. Repeat your successes: Identify the factors that contributed to your success and try to replicate them in the future. This can help you continue to build on your strengths and achieve even more success.

Ultimately, the key is to be proactive and take an active role in your own learning and development. By actively seeking out opportunities to learn and grow, you can continuously improve and achieve your goals.

21. Be Patient

Implementing SEO on your blog can be a valuable investment of time and effort, as it can help to increase your blog's visibility and attract more traffic. However, it's important to be patient and understand that SEO is a long-term strategy, and the results of your efforts may not be immediately apparent.

• Remember, implementing SEO on your blog is a long-term process, and it may take some time before you see the results of your efforts. However, by consistently applying these techniques and strategies, you can improve your blog's visibility and attract more traffic over time.

Conclusions And Recommendations

SEO is an ongoing process, as search engines frequently update their algorithms to provide the most relevant and accurate results for users. As a result, it is important for website owners to stay up-to-date with best practices in SEO and continually optimize their sites in order to maintain and improve their search engine rankings.

• By following these steps and continually learning and applying what you learn, you can become an SEO expert. It will take time and effort, but with dedication and a willingness to constantly improve, you can become an expert in the field.