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This week, Nicolò asks a pertinent question: “Where can I find the best resources to learn SEO, and who are the most reliable figures to follow for sound advice?”
This question resonates with many who delve into the world of SEO, where the abundance of online information can be overwhelming. Among the plethora of self-proclaimed SEO “experts,” conflicting advice is common.
How, then, does one distinguish reliable insights from mere opinions and conjecture?
In the SEO industry, uncertainty often prevails. Google and other search engines provide fragments of information, and speculation runs rampant.
Regrettably, these speculations can solidify into accepted truths. Once a rumor takes hold, it spreads swiftly. Soon enough, it finds its way into agency presentations and forms the basis of brand strategies, often unquestioned.
Navigating through this cacophony to uncover the truth can be challenging. Essentially, the question boils down to, “Whom and what should I trust?”
The key lies in seeking out SEO professionals who rigorously test their own hypotheses and assumptions.
I won’t mention specific names here to avoid dissuading you from following any SEO professionals on social media simply because they aren’t on my list.
There are many highly skilled SEO experts whom I may not be aware of.
Instead, I’ll recommend methods for identifying individuals who delve deeply into SEO and derive conclusions based on data.
Begin by attending SEO conferences and observing speakers who introduce innovative perspectives.
These individuals often conduct experiments or substantiate their insights with their own case studies.
Likewise, seek out authors contributing to reputable SEO publications, such as Search Engine Journal. Engage with their articles and follow those who consistently challenge conventional wisdom, validating or debunking it using data.
Conference organizers and publication editors typically vet speakers and authors, offering a level of assurance when choosing whom to follow compared to unfamiliar voices online.
A practical next step in expanding your network is to observe whom the individuals you’ve identified previously follow.
If you consistently see these names on the social media profiles of conference speakers and article authors, it’s a good indicator that they contribute valuable insights.
Look into whom they engage with in discussions about SEO on social media. Explore these conversations to see if your trusted experts are also involved in informed discourse.
It’s also acceptable if the SEO professionals you follow don’t always agree with others, as long as these others present rational, data-supported viewpoints. Sometimes, the best learning comes from understanding different perspectives in a debate!
It’s completely fine to seek recommendations for who to follow online, similar to what this Reddit user did.
To avoid receiving the same short list of well-known SEO experts each time, consider reaching out to some of your “trusted” SEO professionals mentioned earlier. Ask them for recommendations tailored to specific areas of SEO.
For instance, if you’re interested in learning more about local SEO or ecommerce SEO, inquire about experts they would recommend in those domains.
SEO is a dynamic field that continually evolves, and no single SEO expert possesses all-encompassing knowledge. We grow by exchanging ideas and viewpoints.
Engaging in these discussions is beneficial at any stage of your career.
Look for ongoing discussions on SEO topics and actively participate. For instance, join @MordyOberstein’s #SEOChat on X or the Google Search Central Help Community.
Explore Reddit communities dedicated to SEO, such as r/TechSEO and r/bigseo. These forums often feature lively debates that provide valuable insights into how practicing SEO professionals perceive specific ideas or approaches.
You can choose to read through the questions and responses or join the conversation yourself. Share your thoughts, seek critiques, and gather opinions. Engaging in these discussions allows you to refine your understanding through shared knowledge and diverse perspectives.
If you’re up for it, consider initiating your own discussions in these forums.
Be prepared for the possibility of receiving responses from individuals with limited practical SEO experience. That’s the double-edged sword of the internet—there are always individuals ready to debate and discredit opinions they disagree with.
Pose a specific question and encourage a crowd-sourced response. Embrace the ensuing arguments and counterarguments as an opportunity to refine your ability to evaluate diverse SEO opinions.
As mentioned earlier, identifying speakers at events can provide a starting point for finding reputable individuals to follow. Let’s delve deeper into this idea.
I often recommend to SEO professionals, whether seasoned or new, to attend SEO talks that may not immediately pique their interest. This approach might seem counterintuitive, but it can be remarkably enlightening.
Typically, the aspects of SEO that excite you are the ones you actively pursue to deepen your knowledge. For instance, if you’re passionate about the technical aspects of SEO, you might eagerly seek talks on cutting-edge experiments, advancements in load speed and rendering, or case studies on complex migrations.
However, because you’re already invested in these topics, you likely have a good understanding of them. Occasionally, challenge yourself by attending talks that initially seem less appealing.
If you have a passion for digital PR, consider attending a tech talk or two. Similarly, if you work in-house as an SEO specialist, attending a session on client management could be beneficial.
Diversifying your conference attendance increases the likelihood of discovering something entirely new that can enrich or supplement your current skill set. For instance, an in-house SEO professional could adapt skills discussed in an agency management session to improve stakeholder relations within their own organization.
Some notable conferences to consider include BrightonSEO (held in Brighton, UK, and San Diego), WTSFest (held in Philadelphia, London, and Berlin), and MnSearch Summit.
To broaden your SEO knowledge effectively, consider attending not just SEO conferences but also events that focus on a broader spectrum of digital marketing strategies.
Alternatively, you could explore conferences that delve into related disciplines such as PPC and email marketing. This approach allows you to gain insights into how SEO fits into the larger digital marketing landscape and how to integrate it more effectively within a complex marketing framework.
Several specialized conferences cover various marketing subjects, including paid media, social media, and content marketing. Examples include ADWorld Experience, Hero Conf, and Content Marketing World.
Moreover, there are large-scale conferences that encompass a wide array of digital marketing topics, such as Moz Con, State of Search, INBOUND, and the Growth Marketing Summit. These events provide opportunities to expand your understanding of SEO within the broader context of digital marketing strategies.
A conference talk is inherently one-sided, with the speaker presenting their material as they see fit and delving into the depth they deem appropriate, barring any interruptions.
As a result, you miss out on hearing alternative perspectives or challenges to the points raised.
On the other hand, panels offer a more collaborative and discussion-oriented format. Many events that traditionally feature workshops or presentations also include panels or fireside chats.
These sessions provide opportunities to hear from multiple SEO professionals, often expressing differing viewpoints and engaging in debates on various topics.
Exposing yourself to multiple perspectives helps you assess what resonates with you and what you might disagree with, enabling you to form a well-rounded opinion. This approach prevents you from simply agreeing with the most recent speaker you’ve heard on a particular subject.
Webinar question and answer sessions provide another avenue to gather insights from multiple SEO professionals on various topics. They also offer you the opportunity to pose your own questions to the participants.
For instance, the “SEO Office Hours” webinar by Good Signals, hosted weekly by Michael Chidzey and Jo Juliana Turnbull, invites viewers to submit questions ahead of time or ask them during the live session. A panel of SEO experts then discusses and provides their insights on these questions.
Similarly, for direct insights from the source, you can participate in Google’s “SEO Office Hours” sessions, where you can ask your questions directly to Googlers from the Search Quality team.
Several communities exist to support learning SEO, with some tailored to specific regions or demographics to address nuanced questions or support underrepresented groups in the industry.
These communities are structured to provide a supportive environment where members can ask questions and receive answers from others in the field.
Engaging with such networks isn’t just beneficial for enhancing your SEO skills; it can also open up job opportunities. While numerous communities exist, here are a few noteworthy ones:
Certainly! Here’s a revised version:
Location-specific meetups include:
If you can’t find a community that meets your specific needs or prefer a more intimate setting, consider forming your own.
You could initiate regular meet-ups at local cafés to connect with other SEO professionals in your area.
Alternatively, organize monthly online calls where you can exchange questions and insights.
If you’ve already connected with SEO professionals whom you admire and want to learn from, consider inviting them to join a Slack or WhatsApp group for ongoing discussions.
Another effective method to establish a community is through existing platforms like Reddit or other forums.
You can create a dedicated subreddit focusing on a specific aspect of SEO and promote it within relevant SEO communities. This approach allows a broader audience to participate without the need for individual invitations.
To conclude, let’s revisit the initial question: “Who and what can I trust?” When it comes to SEO, there is no shortage of online resources, varying greatly in helpfulness.
In addition to online blogs like Search Engine Journal, there are newsletters that compile breaking industry news and case studies.
For instance, Aleyda Solis’s “SEOFOMO Newsletter” delivers a weekly roundup of noteworthy articles and webinars from the SEO field.
Nikki Halliwell’s “Tech SEO Tips newsletter” provides updates and insights aimed at enhancing your technical SEO expertise.
Tom Critchlow’s “SEO MBA” newsletter focuses on SEO career and management perspectives.
Women in Tech SEO also offers a newsletter that curates informative articles relevant to the industry, catering to all levels of SEO learners.
There are numerous SEO training courses available, both paid and free.
Some highly recommended options include HubSpot Academy, Semrush Academy, BrightLocal Academy, Blue Array Academy, and the short courses offered by BrightonSEO.
If you’re looking to delve deeper into new areas of SEO or identify specific skill gaps, I strongly suggest exploring Aleyda Solis’s LearningSEO.io. This platform offers a comprehensive and free roadmap covering SEO concepts from beginner to advanced levels, with reliable free resources accompanying each topic.
There is a vast amount of SEO information online, constantly expanding as the field evolves.
With such a wealth of information, it can be daunting to determine what sources and experts to trust.
Start by utilizing the suggestions and resources provided above to build your own curated list of reliable materials and trusted individuals to learn from. This approach will enable you to expand your knowledge in a secure and beneficial manner.
Original news from SearchEngineJournal
