SEO Training Course: Details on What to Look for, How Much It Costs, How Long It Lasts & More

Feb. 7, 2013 - PRLog -- Search engine optimization (SEO) is a thriving, high-paying profession these days. Just a decade ago, practically no one but tech industry professionals even knew what the phrase was really. Now, it’s a common part of internet marketing terminology. Job opportunities in SEO have grown significantly, which means the need for SEO training is increasing significantly.

The Growth of Job Opportunities in SEO

Just how much growth has this technical sector seen? A 2012 study by Shareaholic revealed the following:

Professionals with ‘SEO’ in their title or description on the social media site LinkedIn grew by 112% in just 12 months;

Job listings with ‘SEO’ in it increased on the populara job site Indeed by 1900% since 2006; and

Wanted Analytics reported that there were over 3,800 jobs advertised online that required SEO skills in March 2012; this represents a 24 percent increase compared to March 2011.

So yeah, search engine optimization is hot – and so is SEO training.

What to Look for In an SEO Training Course

Before looking for specifics, the first thing you need to know is that search engine optimization covers a lot; it's a broad field. So the first thing you need to do when researching a class is to determine exactly what skills you want to learn.

For example, if you want to learn how to write content, you’d look for an SEO copywriting course; if you wanted to learn how to do keyword research, you’d seek a class that honed in on this; if you wanted to learn how to optimize a website or blog, you’d search for an SEO course that covered variables like link structure and meta tags; etc.

How Much Does an SEO Training Course Cost?

What you’ll pay for an SEO course is all over the map. Pricing for these classes are truly like the wild, wild west in that they range from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. Following are some factors that determine how much you'll pay.

Factors That Affect How Much an SEO Course Costs

(i) What the course covers: As discussed above, there are many elements of search engine optimization. Some courses focus on certain key skills, while others are more comprehensive.

(ii) Who’s teaching the course: SEO courses are given by everyone from universities to online marketing firms, to individual SEO professionals.

(iii) Online or in person: Many prefer to enroll in an SEO course online. A main benefit of this is that it allows participants to work at their own pace. Other courses are held in person at various venues, eg, hotels, classrooms, rented seminar rooms, etc.

An online SEO courseill most likely be less expensive becuase there are no additional fees associated with giving it, eg, space rental, visual equipment, travel expenses, etc.

How Long Is an SEO Course?

(iv) Length of the course: Depending on what’s covered, SEO courses can last from a few hours, or span several days or a week or more.

What to Pay Tip: Make sure the course is given by someone who currently works in the field. Why? Because SEO is not static; the rules and technology around it change all the time. So, you want to be instructed by someone whose knowledge base is up to date.

Search Engine Optimization Training: A Worthwhile Investment?

Starting salaries tend to be high, which makes it a smart investment. For example, if you take an SEO copywriting course, you can expect to earn in the mid-40’s just starting out, and up to $90,000 with five or more years experience.

Proof?

According to a 2012 survey by Robert Half, one of the largest staffing agencies in the world, salaries ranged from the mid-40s ($45,000) to just over $90,000 per year.

The study stated: “Web content writers with five or more years experience can expect a salary range of between $60,500 and $90,750, while those with less than five years experience should receive something in the range of $45,250 and $66,250.”

So yeah, SEO training can pay off – big! -- whether you decide to work for someone else, or start your own home-based business offering SEO services.

Good luck if you decide to pursue this fast-growing, high-paying career.
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About the Author: Yuwanda Black heads New Media Words (NewMediaWords.biz), an SEO writing company. She's the author of numerous ebooks on the subject, as well as the creator of a leading SEO copywriting course (http://www.seowritingjobs.com/seo-copywriting-training/). The course teaches everything you need to know about not only how to write SEO copy, but how to earn $50,000 to $75,000 per year - your first year - as an SEO writer. You can take this SEO course online, or in person - in Jamaica!