Making sound investments in the future of your business or career can be made easier if you know how to evaluate an SEO training course.
E-learning investments are increasing and show no signs of slowing down in 2022. According to Statista, the global e-learning market will reach $243 billion in 2022.
When the pandemic drove record numbers in online learning for businesses, individuals, and students, e-learning was already a rapidly expanding market. In fact, according to research from Coursera, enrollment in their courses nearly doubled between 2019 and 2020, and it has only continued to grow since then.
Companies can teach teams SEO quite effectively by offering online courses. According to KPMG, employees prefer online training since they can learn at their own pace and don’t have to travel.
It also applies to people who are changing occupations or looking for a new job and need to upskill or reskill; according to LinkedIn, “digital marketer” is still one of the top 10 most in-demand jobs.
Many online courses are available if you’re looking for SEO instruction. But what constitutes a quality SEO training course, and how can you assess one?
Here are five characteristics of an SEO training program.
1. Who Created SEO Training?
Knowing who the person or persons behind the training are is one of the most crucial aspects of evaluating SEO training.
Since there is no “one way” to perform SEO, there are also no rigid guidelines for how SEO should be taught. Investigating the source of information is crucial for this reason. Do they possess the expertise and knowledge necessary to offer sound advice?
Always keep in mind that poor SEO advice can destroy entire businesses, websites, and their rankings. So study the credentials of the instructors you’ll be working with.
2. What Topics Are Covered In SEO training?
The topics covered in an SEO curriculum range from general training on SEO fundamentals to specialised subjects.
For instance, some SEO courses provide a broad overview of the subject, while others may focus on a specific aspect, such as technical SEO or SEO copywriting, in-depth.
Here is an example of an SEO curriculum that my organisation uses for its online SEO training:
- The Value of SEO SEO Principles
- Website Anatomy Meet the Search Engines Search Now and in the Future
- Mobile SEO Content Local Search Linking Techniques
- Siloing Ideas
- Best Techniques for Technical SEO
There are various SEO training programs available; to learn more about what they teach and how they compare, consult our list of independently reviewed SEO programs for 2022.
3. How Is The Data Displayed?
Everybody learns differently. While some enjoy live classes, others favour reading, watching videos, or even listening to podcasts. Remember that different courses are offered differently, even within online learning.
For instance, many online SEO courses only consist of a collection of static videos that you can watch at your own pace. Others may provide downloaded materials or hands-on activities as an additional resource to those videos.
When my company decided to move its SEO training course online, we wanted to design an experience beyond rote learning.
To address the gaps in what individuals were missing from in-person learning (including cooperation and Q&A) and to accommodate various learning styles, we decided to develop an SEO training membership site.
For instance, our subscription site offers students access to more than just video lessons by providing the following:
- For individuals who enjoy reference resources, course slides.
- Live Q&A sessions are only available to subscribers, so they may ask me directly about specific SEO issues (something people liked about our in-person training).
- A community for students where people can interact and talk about problems and solutions with SEO
- SEO tools for students to utilise directly on their SEO assignments, as well as e-books and guides for readers who enjoy reading in-depth analyses of popular SEO topics.
- Support for the tools and course via email.
- A growing collection of videos in the “ask us anything” format that handle particular SEO-related queries.
4. How Recent Is The Knowledge Presented In SEO Training?
SEO is a dynamic field. Although we have best practices, there are constantly fresh algorithm updates, discoveries, and SEO-related breaking news. Therefore, you don’t want to learn outdated material.
Because of this, many SEO courses on the market are prone to fast becoming outdated. Furthermore, it is unlikely that most teachers will regularly update their course videos.
Here, you desire to learn how recent and how frequently the SEO curriculum is updated. Even though it might not be as crucial for some SEO themes as others, it is still something to research before signing up.
5. What Kind Of Feedback Does The SEO Education Receive?
Most of the time, there is no better method to judge a course than to read reviews and endorsements. Of course, only some people who take an approach will achieve the same results. But you can bet the SEO course is excellent if enough people are gushing about it.
Here, it would help if you searched for apparent indications of appreciation on the course website or webpage. What rating is the course receiving? How many individuals have registered? What do the testimonies have to say?
Then, use Google to further your study. See what results appear on third-party websites when you type in “[course name] reviews.”
Training In SEO Offers Several Advantages
Taking an online SEO training course has many advantages for employees in many different positions. Therefore, no matter where you are, SEO training may be helpful for the following:
- Orienting newly hired SEO professionals.
- Assisting several internal teams working on a website to communicate effectively.
- Enabling experienced SEOs to continue their study.
- Providing essential skills to those wishing to retrain or upskill.
You may make intelligent investments in the future of your profession or business by learning how to evaluate a course.
