SEO Tycoon

**tuestunim** · 12-04-2008, 04:36 AM

Hi,

I'm wondering whether I should get my firm to send me on an SEO course. Has anyone been on one and, if so, would you recommend it?

Preferably the course would be in the north of England but would travel south if it's definitely worth it.

Let me know if you could.

Ta,

Scott.

**vangogh** · 12-04-2008, 04:22 PM

Never taken a course. I've just read a lot of what's online and experimented a little with my own sites.

I think there are some good courses out there. I'd do some research on who's offering the course before signing up. Some companies or individuals will also come to your company for a day or a few days to train.

Sorry I don't have a specific course name for you, but like I said I've never taken one. Try searching for 'seo training' or similar in your location. I'm sure you'll find some courses and then do some research on the few that look the best.

**brokenhtml** · 07:02 PM

A bunch of us old school seo's will be meeting in London on July 4th.
It is going to be casual event in a local pub sponsored by webmasterworld.
Details will be released after the first of the year.
It is always a good way of picking tibits of current seo tactics over a pint.

**usearchme** · 12-04-2008, 07:30 PM

Hi

I am the same as van, I have experimented with my sites and found out what works over time.

I have to say though the webmaster talk guys helped me so much when i first started on here, my sites would be no where if it wasnt for the people on here.

Woc

**alysha** · 12-04-2008, 08:31 PM

You dont need a course in learning SEO. Reading in a reputable SEO forums or blogs will do.

**tuestunim** · 12-05-2008, 04:31 AM

Cheers for your replies, guys. Much appreciated.

The problem I have with SEO is that it seems very much like a closed community. Also, with any information you do get, a lot of it seems to conflict with other bits you hear.

I've read details on some courses. They all seem to offer more or less the same thing but for vastly different money. I can't find any reviews of these courses so not sure which is best.

@brokenhtml: As much as I'd love to go for a pint to chat web design & SEO, I'm not sure my boss would be pleased to hear me say "I've found an SEO course - well... 'chat' really, it's being held in a pub, mid-summer. Can I claim expenses?"

Cheers for letting me know though.

@vangogh & usearchme: One major problem I have with the main site I develop with my firm is that it's generated by a system to link it in with our back office system. I have very little control over the html of the page, the h1 tag is the same on each page. I'm sure that doesn't help. All I can really control is the CSS to lay it all out. However, I do have a decent scope on the front page.

Some have mentioned forums and blogs, which ones do you suggest? Any good books out there that aren't likely to be out of date?

**johnlloyd** · 12-05-2008, 07:01 AM

never been taken any course for SEO, I just read and research regarding SEO....

**tuestunim** · 12-05-2008, 07:03 AM

I'm having a good read through VanGogh's blog. Tons of stuff on there, a great resource.

**chrishirst** · 12-05-2008, 11:23 AM

Take look at http://www.searchenginecollege.com/index.shtml

Kalena Jordan, who runs it, is one of the "good guys" and I know (in the online context of knowing

) a couple of the tutors there.

**GeorgeB** · 12-05-2008, 11:38 AM

I haven't seen a single bad review of SEOBook.

SeoBook.com

**Learning Newbie** · 12-05-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuestunim

I've read details on some courses. They all seem to offer more or less the same thing but for vastly different money. I can't find any reviews of these courses so not sure which is best.

There are good reasons for all of this.

When you have an industry built on reverse engineering something that's actively trying to avoid being figured out, you're bound to have contradictory advice. It's a lot like trying to cure AIDS, while the virus mutates to avoid new medicines. Google does not want you to know their algorithm, makes it as difficult as possible, changes the code from time to time (for many reasons besides this) and load balances queries between data centers. It's easy to come up with a theory, have it work by coincidence, and convince yourself of something that doesn't really hold water. This is why "how do you know?" is such an important question.

Courses have the same problem at heart. When they teach you history, science, math, and the like, most of what they cover has been tested for centuries. Schools move at a glacial pace, like the Senate compared to the House, because they'd rather err on the side of getting something late but right, than early but wrong.

**brokenhtml** · 12-05-2008, 09:22 PM

tuestunim,

Sitting in a pub with a bunch of old school seo's that have had a pint over their limit, can offer a great ROI for your boss! Often more than any SEO course will give you. It is all about building relationships within the SEO community

I personally know Aaron Wall who is the author of SeoBook.
During a conference, a few of us gathered in my hotel room after bar closing and he told his rise to fame story. Tip always, always, stock you room with beer, liquor and mixers when going to a conference.
SeoBook is a good seo primer for anyone.

**vangogh** · 12-08-2008, 10:01 PM

I'm glad you're learning from my blog. I appreciate the compliments.

I see a lot of things to agree with above me. I too have read SEO Book and I'd highly recommend anything Aaron Wall could teach you. His was one of the first blogs I ever subscribed to and one of the few I've continued to enjoy and learn from over the years.

I'll also add another vote for Search Engine College. I don't think I know all the tutors there as well as Chris does, but I know them well enough to recommend them. All good people who know their stuff.

John is right about the reason for the conflicting information. We're trying to figure out how search engines rank web pages and search engines are trying to keep us from knowing, or knowing too much. Some of SEO isn't too hard to test to the point where you can reasonably know the effect of a certain change. Other things are extremely difficult to test.

There are so many variables that you may never really know if a change you made really had any effect. It may seem like it did, but the effect could have been the result of dozens of variables that were out of your control.

The more you learn the more the confusion lessons. But that means learning and not seeking shortcuts. Know too that you don't have to do everything recommended. SEO is a subset of marketing. It can be a great way to attract people to your site, but it's not the only way. You could certainly have a successful site without ever being indexed by a search engine.

I'd also take Bill up on his offer to meet at the pub. I'm thinking you'll learn a lot more in one night over a few pints than you will in any course.

**ukfinancialsltd** · 12-08-2008, 11:59 PM

Just read online SEO book like seo made easy...

**Providentestate** · 12-19-2008, 01:44 AM

I agree with GeorgeB because seobook.com is a complete seo course.

**nkthen** · 12-20-2008, 11:43 AM

Go to Google, type in the following:

Brad Callen "SEO Made Easy"

There are tons of free download for this ebook.

Read it, ignore the affiliate links in the ebook, and you will learn.

**aleale** · 12-20-2008, 01:17 PM

never been, i don't think that wee should need it, we can learn it by online forums, seo blogs and google...

**Greggo** · 12-20-2008, 02:35 PM

A couple other people mentioned this site, but it's worth mentioning again, have you tried http://www.seobook.com it is not a seo course per se but it's a great place to learn about seo. Give it a try it's free.

**bailey.rein** · 12-21-2008, 10:54 PM

I have never been taken a course and I don't think there is... I just search, read into articles, blogs, forums etc..

**importexportus** · 12-22-2008, 01:27 AM

You don't need a course in SEO fields.
You can read SEO books and also SEO forum it's better way for you.