Beginners Guide to SEO

How to Become An SEO Expert [The Beginner’s Guide]

What’s the fastest way to make money blogging?

It is increasing your traffic from Google.

If you are getting massive traffic from search engines, you will have unlimited ways to turn that traffic into money. You can use AdSense, affiliate marketing, product reviews, banner ads and a ton more ways to make money from that traffic.How to Become an SEO Expert

But the problem is 90% of bloggers quit because they struggle to increase their search traffic.

If you are also one among them and if you want to become an SEO expert starting from scratch, this article will guide you in the right direction.

Are you curious to know how to become an SEO expert? Let’s dive into the details.

Get better at keyword research

Keyword research is probably the fastest way for you to master the art of SEO. If you get better at finding profitable keywords, not only you can increase your traffic but also sales.

Capitalize on long tail keywords. If you are going to learn keyword research, target long tail keywords.

Long tail keywords usually contain more than 5 keywords and they quickly send you more traffic because they are less competitive.

So how can you find better long tail keywords?

The fastest way is to use incredible tools like Long Tail Pro or SEMrush. They have a large volume of databases that give you access to highly profitable yet low competitive keywords.

If you are wondering how to do keyword research with SEMrush and want to know a case study where I improved my website search traffic by getting over 5000 extra visitors just within 30 days, you should read this case study.

That being said, here are few quick tips on finding great and highly potential long tail keywords.

  • Make sure to find long tail keywords with the monthly search volume below 2000 so you can easily rank in the first page results.
  • Find user informative and commercial intent keywords so you can both increase your search traffic and website sales.
  • Spy on your competitors best performing keywords. Find out which keywords are driving them more traffic. Try to use them by creating engaging content around it.
  • Use your primary keywords within your content by properly doing on page optimization which you are going to cover in the same article.
  • Instead of finding and using 2 to 3 word combination long tail keywords (ex: best men shoe), you can rank really better if you use 4 or 5 word combination long tail keywords (ex: best men shoe in India). It's also increases your chances of making more sales from your sites.

Get better at site audit

Becoming an SEO expert depends on one major things: how fast you can identify the problems that are causing a site’s search engine traffic.

The quicker you identify and fix those website SEO related issues the better results and sales you will get. So auditing your websites is a must if you want to be an SEO expert.

How can you audit your websites to improve your SEO then?

There are a lot of website tools like Seoptimer, My Site Auditor, SEO site checkup etc to help you easily do free SEO audit of your sites. By using those tools you can quickly find all the SEO related issues that your site may have.

So once you find those errors (generally dead links, missing title tags, description etc), fix them and you will see better search results for your sites within a few weeks. That's the beauty of conducting frequent SEO audits of your sites. They can help you quickly find and fix all your site issues so you can improve better search rankings and traffic.

Backlinks are golden

One of the best SEO experts in the world Matt Cutts says “make your backlinks natural, don’t make them look natural”.

What he meant was, don’t try to build backlinks just for the sake of getting better search results. Instead focus on creating better content that naturally attracts incoming links from other sources (blogs, websites, forums, social media sites etc).

That’s how you get stunning results from Google. We all know Google is getting smarter day by day. The only way to get more out of it is to focus on your target audience. Serve the best content that you can come up with and optimize properly for search engines.

That being said, here are few effective ways to naturally attract more backlinks to your sites.

  • Link out to other bloggers. The first step to getting incoming links is to linking out. Link out to other relevant blog posts in your industry. And let them know once you link to them. By doing it frequently, not only you are building strong relationships but they will also link to your stuff if they find your content valuable.
  • Interlinking is another key strategy. Most new bloggers rarely link to their inner pages. If you are also one among them, stop it and start interlinking to your posts. Search crawlers will deeply crawl your sites and give more weightage your inner pages whenever you do so.
  • Write evergreen content. Make sure your posts are top notch and highly informative. Create your content so great that if someone reads it, they should think about sharing or linking to it.
  • Do blogger outreach. Frequently conduct interviews with other bloggers. Building relationships and email them about your epic posts. And ask them to link to your posts. If they really find value in your content, they will gladly do so. This strategy alone works like a charm almost every single time.
  • Make sure to submit your new posts on across all the social media sites and blog directories. You can use Triberr, Indiblogger, Blog Engage, Viral Content Bee, etc. sites to promote and get some good links to your sites.
  • Consider creating videos about your most popular posts. You can create videos explaining your blog posts or tutorials and upload them on YouTube. Make sure to include links to your original blog posts from your videos description and they really can help you boost your overall search rankings.

Get better at on-page optimization

When it comes to becoming really good at SEO, you need to get better at on page optimization. On page SEO helps you increase your search rankings for specific keywords.

On page SEO is all about optimizing your web pages properly for the search engines so they can give you better rankings in search results.

Basically on page optimization includes the following things. If you properly use them, you will get better at it really quickly.

  • Page titles: Your page title or blog post headline is your #1 way of getting top page search results on Google for your targeted keywords. So make sure to include your main keyword in it to rank well. If possible, include your primary keyword at the beginning of your title.
  • Meta description: Meta description is what shows up at Google search results along with your page title. Include your primary keyword along with other relevant keyword to it in your meta description and you will get better rankings.
  • Your URL: Search engine friendly URL’s and short URL always work like a charm. Instead of using a long and vague page URL, shorten your URL with your primary keyword in it.
  • Image alt tags: Even Google image search results can send you a lot of traffic. So make sure you are using your primary keyword in your blog post images. And don’t publish a post or page without having at least one image in it. Images are always better to grabbing more attention and search traffic.
  • Keyword density: Most SEO experts say that you can rank better for your keywords if you maintain your keyword density between 1 to 3%. That means using your primary keyword at least once in every 100 to 300 words. So give it a try once and check if you are getting any better results. Don’t keyword stuff though but make sure you are using relevant keywords to rank well in Google search results.
  • Meta tags: Meta tags also play a vital role in on page optimization. Using 3 to 4 meta tags for each article can be really helpful. Using a powerful on page optimization plugin like WordPress SEO by Yoast can really help you easily optimize your blog posts and pages.

Important note: Before you do on-page SEO, make sure to first come up with a primary keyword (ex: best SEO tips) so you can easily mention in the above mentioned places to rank well for that particular keyword.

If you can master the on page optimization, you will be well ahead of your competitors in terms of bringing more traffic to your sites from search engines.

Keep your both eyes on Google's latest algorithm update

Did you know that Google makes over 500 changes every single year? With each algorithm update (minor or major), your site rankings get affected.

With the major Google updates like Panda, Penguin, Hummingbird etc you will see a huge impact in your site’s search rankings. If you are doing great in terms of SEO, you will get better rankings or otherwise your site gets penalized. It’s as simple as that.

So keeping Google latest updates in mind, you can quickly act on all the site changes (if they get affected). Moz keeps track of majority of the Google’s latest algorithm changes so it’s better to frequently keep your eyes on their page to get updated information.

One important factor you need to remember here is Google is frequently giving a lot of importance to the sites that are mobile friendly and penalizing the sites that are not mobile responsive.

So if you want better search results either for your own sites or your client sites, make sure they are mobile responsive.

Final thoughts on becoming an SEO expert

Becoming an SEO expert shouldn’t be your quickest goal. You can’t become an expert in any field within a year or two. It takes a lot of time especially when it’s related to SEO.

So focus on long term results and you will get the best rewards by conquering the topics one after the other. SEO is also about building strong relationships with other bloggers and marketers in your industry. Also make sure you are using a powerful hosting to make your site run fast, after all site speed matter a lot in SEO.

If you approach SEO that way, driving more search engine traffic and sales to your sites won’t be a big deal for you. Fortunately there are a ton of useful SEO resources out there (like Moz, Backlinko, Search Engine Watch etc.) to quickly learn SEO.

So what do you think about this post? Did you find it helpful? If yes, please share it with others so they can benefit. Also let me know your thoughts about becoming an SEO expert in the comments below.

36 thoughts on “How to Become An SEO Expert [The Beginner’s Guide]”

  1. Hi brother, really interesting and effective article you have shared, I was little confused about SEO but you help me lot, thanks.

  2. Hey Anil,

    SEO is of the main factors to consider for the site growth. Keeping the heading catchy and adding permalinks are needed.

    Keyword research is always the necessary thing to do for better results. I agree with your point to learn about the Google algorithm updates.

    Thanks for sharing with us.
    ~Ravi

  3. Wow really nice and likewise Matt Cutt says, “Make Backlink as natural and not look natural” really nice statement. And actually my problem is i did proper backlink as much enough and also disavow those bad links and all. But when compare to that my organic traffic is much low. So guide me how can i boost that? Also it’s getting lower gradually So kindly help me

    Thanks and Regards,
    Dhiya

    1. Hi Dhiya,

      Thanks for stopping by. I really like the intentions of Matt Cutts as he always says to focus on the users not on Google bots. But we often forget that fact and always do the opposite by pleasing bots (but not the readers).

      Backlinks are vital if you want to quickly grow your blog’s traffic and make sure you are finding creative ways such as broken links, Skyscraper technique etc to attract natural links to your sites.

      Another tip is to link out to other relevant blogs in your industry and let them know about it. Do this too often and sooner or later they will also start sharing and linking back to your content. Just make sure your content is detailed, informative and engaging.

  4. Hey Anil,

    SEO is a marketing discipline focused on growing visibility in organic search engine results. SEO encompasses both the technical and creative elements required to improve rankings, drive traffic, and increase awareness in search engines. There are many aspects to SEO, from the words on our page to the way other sites link to us on the web. Sometimes SEO is simply a matter of making sure, our site is structured in a way that search engines understand.

    SEO isn’t just about building search engine-friendly websites. It’s about making our site better for people too. The majority of web traffic is driven by the major commercial search engines, Google, Bing, and Yahoo. Search engines are the primary method of navigation for most Internet users. The world of SEO is complex, but most people can easily understand the basics. Even a small amount of knowledge can make a big difference. Free SEO education is widely available on the web, including in guides like this. Thanks for your much support.

    With best regards,

    Amar kumar

    1. Hi Amar,

      I agree with a lot of points with you. SEO is all about helping people achieve their goals. But most people still use wrong SEO practices like paid link building, black hat SEO etc to drive more traffic and sales.

      SEO is all about long term results. Create a detailed SEO strategy for your business, drive right people, use proper keywords and you will be getting the best results in no time.

      Thanks for stopping by.

  5. Hello Anil, I’ve been using these things while doing On page and Off page SEO
    I am facing a problem with leads generation.Could you help me in that ?
    I’ll be so grateful

    1. Hi Riya,

      Leads generation is really difficult especially when you don’t know your target audience. So first try to find out whom you are really targeting.

      Then, find out their wants and needs. Try to use SEO strategies like PPC ads and keyword research to start driving the right people to your sites.

      Have some products in place and pitch them by building an email list. That’s how you usually convert visitors into leads into buyers.

  6. Muzzaffar Hashmi

    All the tips are really amazing, I used to blog back in 2012-2013 but due to some personal crisis let it high and dry. Now I am thinking of getting back at it. After reading your post I realized that , we must have dedication and must have our priorities straight if we want to achieve something.

    1. Hi Hashmi,

      I think you should again start blogging soon. Blogging is a great way to build audience, increase your brand and make more money.

      Yes, to become successful online, you need to be very consistent. You also need to be working super hard to make more money or drive more traffic from search engines.

      Do let me know if you have any questions to get back into the track.

  7. This is very informative for new and old bloggers trying to under SEO, and there have been may take aways for me. I would agree with your recommendation of using Triberr I have found it to be of great benefit to my business.

  8. Hello sir,
    I am so happy to read this posting because I was facing many problems while am creating my SEO page and I was not able to solve it too…. So I have started searching for the best tool that would help me to recover all my problems. I got free launchers but it was not up to the mark.
    Finally, I got your blog which was very easy for me to understand what and where I went wrong in generating the SEO page.
    Now am clear with all my problems Thank you so much for giving such a nice blog to the peoples and kindly keep on giving many posts like this sir….

    1. Hi Satish,

      Glad to see you around here. It’s common for everyone to struggle with SEO. You’ll succeed only when you learn SEO properly and when you take time to implement them.

      Glad you found my articles informative and I always strive to give my readers the best possible information with my blog articles to solve their problems. You are doing well with your blog and I hope you will succeed soon.

      Let me know if you have any questions.

  9. Hello Anil
    Great post ! A lot of valuable information and all the points are extremely helpful. What I’m planning on doing after reading your post is doing more blogger outreach with Triber and Blokube. I have noticed a dip in some of my search engine traffic so I’m definitely going to get an audit. Thanks for sharing all this valuable information it has really helped. Have a great day.

    1. Hi Darrell,

      Blogger outreach is a fantastic way to get attention of other bloggers. It’s also useful for building strong relationships with others. Make sure to offer value to others before seeking their help.

      Also make a list of all the influencers in your niche, find out what they are craving for and add some value to them. That’s how it usually works.

      Also focusing on forums helps. Forums like Blogkube, Bizsugar are great for networking with the relevant people in your industry.

      Thanks for stopping by.

  10. No Shame!

    I’m not a SEO Expert, just read your article and got inspired. I’m looking for lots of resources on SEO and found a very necessary one.

    Thanks for this amazing article Bro.

  11. Hello, Anil. Thanks for such a great article. Becoming an SEO expert is crucial for every blogger. Today,l I divide my blogging activity into two pieces. First, I write the content for my blog, and secondly, I enhance my SEO. This is the way all bloggers do. Blogging is not a mere writing activity. It is much more than that. SEO is one of its main parts. Thanks for your great post!

  12. Thanks for the useful article. Obviously nowadays SEO has turned into inseparable part of the business, no matter if it comes to a blog, to an e-commerce, to offline business, which has a website. That’s why I think your article provides really valuable information to anyone, who want to get more familiar with this topic.
    I just want to add something that in my opinion is important: we should optimize our websites not only for google crawlers, but also for our audience. In this sense, it is very important a creative and unique content to be generated.

  13. Backlinks are one of the main instruments for getting better results. Even if content is important, content without links don’t let you grow in complicated and competitive markets or keywords.

  14. Thank you Anil,

    It is really a great post,i am a newbie, i want to become an Expert in SEO, While doing it i feel very tough to get banklinks and traffic, after reading your article, i feel i can do it. you are right , to become an expert in SEO it takes a lot time. Thank you for sharing this wonderful article.

    1. Hi Mounika,

      Thanks for stopping by! Yes, becoming good at any field requires time, efforts and patience.

      You can’t become a great blogger or an SEO expert within a week or month. I’ve been blogging for over 6 years now and I know how frustrating it is to continue especially when you don’t get the results that you want.

      That’s when you need to be working even hard than giving up.

      Keep rocking!

  15. Hi Anil!
    It is really an important post.Now a days SEO plays a great role in Internet marketing. The steps discussed here to become a SEO expert are very effective. basically I prefer the link building opportunity much.It generates more traffic to the website and is very effective for SEO.
    thanks for sharing such an helpful post.
    Abir Dutta

  16. Sathish Arumugam

    Hai Anil Agarwal,

    SEO plays a significant role in every site growth. It is an informative article ever and your step by step points are useful to beginners and also for great bloggers. It is one of the practical way of thinking I can say.

    SEO is one of the best tools for people to achieve their success. I had many problems, but when I went through your post, I got different ideas.

    Thanks for sharing a great post. All the best.

  17. I’m not a SEO Expert, just read your article and got inspired. I’m looking for lots of resources on SEO and found a very necessary one.

    Thanks for this amazing article Bro.

  18. Hi anil,
    i can surely say these tips are for me because i am newbie to the blogging. Thank you so much for your tips for beginner, i really needed this.
    Thanks

  19. Hi Anil,

    Every other person I meet is an SEO-Guru these days. But there are very few individuals who have the experience and expertise to be called as an SEO Expert.

    Regards,
    Ali

  20. Drikus Swanepoel

    SEO is more of an art than an actual science. It is learned over time through trial and error.

  21. Two years of blogging, I learned one important thing. Working on SEO is must. And SEO doesn’t work out in a day or so. It needs trial and error, and a lot of things to learn.
    Thanks Anil for sharing informative knowledge about SEO.

  22. Hi Anil,

    Thank you for the useful tips. Can you please tell number of characters to be used for writing meta title and meta description which are google friendly?

  23. Hi Anil,

    This is awesome. Building back link is a task any blogger shouldn’t toy with if they want to watch their blog grow. Next is blog commenting. Since I incorporated blog commenting as one of my seo strategy, my new business blog went from 2.3m to 1.7m in a few days.

  24. I’m not an SEO expert but what I do know is that the combination of onsite + link building is the core of SEO and everyone should follow it. Whilst Meta, image alts & everything else you described above is a must have, a well – tuned onsite will be killing it for you

  25. Great article. I really appreciate the insight here in this post and wanted to say thank you for sharing it.

  26. One day I want to understand SEO like you. I am discovering this world now and I’m loving. Thank you

  27. Very informative post. I wanted to optimize my blog title n your post help me in doing so. It is so easy to have my desired blog titles now.

  28. Samandar Nichari

    It really seems much important to have a good knowledge of SEO since it is the basic of boosting traffic to a site.

    Well, I know a few things about SEO but yet trying to master everything associated with it.

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