Background of SEO
Search Engine Optimization means optimizing your website so that queries on search engines match the services that you have to offer. So, why is SEO required? Why is SEO important? The answer to that lies in the competition that you have. Scientists in the 18th century famously stated that everything that could ever be invented was already invented. They opined science has nowhere to go because it is stagnated. Ironically, the first television was invented a decade and change after this statement. Today’s scientists know that they don’t know what they don’t know. So they refrain from making statements like that
This is similar to any business that companies have. The chances of a monopoly market with perfectly inelastic demand is rare. So many companies offer the same products that you do. So many companies offer knock-offs of your product. It is the same for blog posts. On average, in a day, about 20 million blog posts are created across the world. If you want to stand out, you need to give search engines a reason to show your products on the first page. This is where Search Engine Optimization comes into the picture.
Search engines like Google are learning and growing. With AI/ML becoming increasingly prevalent, they can understand user intent. Companies are forced to adapt to the guidelines by search engines to ensure they get business.
Overview of SEO Certification
For agencies and individuals alike, earning SEO certification is a validation of their skills in optimizing company blogs and websites to drive leads and generate business. One key element of SEO success is not just driving but converting them. Being certified in SEO tools is a way to stand out from the crowd. It can showcase individual proficiency in the field. An SEO certificate helps in developing familiarization with various tools and essential types of projects that can help hit the ground faster.
Recommended Articles ;
How to be a Freelance SEO Specialist
A Guide on How to Get a Social Media Certification
How to be a Freelance Social Media Manager
Is This Course Right for You?
SEO is not limited to digital marketing. While the bulk of SEO operations fall under the activities of digital marketing, any enterprise with an online presence needs SEO. Every SEO certification aims to cover the following core competencies.
- Understand the Fundamentals
- Develop Keyword Strategies
- Apply On-Page Optimization Strategies
- Build Effective Link Strategies
- Create Efficient Reporting Strategies
Most certifications are aimed at digital marketing companies or freelancers. That doesn’t disqualify any other individual from trying this course. Its applicability extends to blogs, e-commerce sites, affiliate programs, or any other online activity. Whether you are an individual blogger or a digital marketing agency, you stand to benefit from an SEO certification.
Why SEO Certification?
SEO certification is proof that individuals can contribute to website optimizations. It helps them contribute to the overall digital media strategy of the company. It helps in familiarizing oneself with the techniques to find and target Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). In the competitive landscape of online business – even blogs count as a business because most bloggers expect some money – every tiny gain that translates to thousands of visitors. The average lead conversion or ad revenue is anywhere between 8% and 15%. Your strategy and optimization determine where you rank on search engine results.
Eligibility Criteria and SEO Certification Process
There is no guiding body or institution governing SEO. Unlike most other certifications, no one is maintaining a compendium of all knowledge about SEO. In fact, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to applying SEO. Much of the knowledge various providers purport to offer depends on experience and common sense. It also depends on reading the fine print in the guidelines of various search engines. By taking up a course in SEO, you can avoid focussing and interpreting the fine print because the training provider will do that for you.
The absence of a governing body means that there are no eligibility criteria. However, SEO focuses on hands-on training. Most lectures, as part of this training, involve understanding applications. Having experience dealing with SEO will be useful. That doesn’t mean it is compulsory. Even a one-month experience can give you an edge in understanding various SEO tools.
Each training provider requires different aspects to complete training. In general, just completing a course is enough to obtain the certification. The more well-known the training provider is, the better the quality of certification. Further, this certification does not expire. No training provider represents that their certification becomes invalid after a period. However, SEO benefits from a continuing education credits program. There are no governing bodies or rules for SEO, so there are no guidelines on the continuing education credits programs.
Applying SEO on the field helps keep abreast of the various changes in SEO and search engine guidelines. But all that changes as the job description differs.
What are the Salary and Job Prospects for This Certification?
SEO salary range is between $60000 and $73000. According to Salary, the average pay for an SEO specialist is about $67000. This pay changes depending on the experience an individual has and the project he has worked on as part of Search Engine Optimization for a website. The salary also differs based on the location. Across the US, the lowest 10th percentile earned $50000 while the highest 10th percentile earned $80000. It also depends on the certifications an individual has, the education, and the experience
Who Provides SEO Certification?
There are several training providers for SEO. Most companies that offer SEO tools offer SEO certifications. Providers like Moz Tools and Yoast SEO offer various types of training for individuals to master SEO. Apart from, providers like Udemy, Coursera, Edex, Edureka offer various courses for SEO. If you look up courses on Udemy, you’ll many providers offering similar services for SEO. Even LinkedIn learning has several courses on SEO ranging from managing WordPress to applying SERP techniques.
