How many people here self-taught SEO?

[DIDAMEDIA]

I've been thinking to take a course but there are also loads of written materials out there for me to read. What's the best option to learn SEO really? My aim is to integrate SEO with my Video services. So I guess I need to master SEO to do that.

 

[nitro23456]

I have been formally taught and also learned from 10+ years experience. I have picked things up over the years I have never seen written down anywhere online or otherwise.

Experience is the key.

 

[S-Marketing]

I'm no SEO expert but I would imagine it would be very similar to my area of expertise which is marketing.

I spent a good chunk of time at University studying for the Chartered Institute of Marketing qualifications. It struck me about half way through the Prof. Diploma that it was actually a complete waste of time. Marketing is all about differentiating yourself from the competition, therefore being sat in a classroom being taught exactly the same thing as every other marketing student in the world was going to be no help at all.

I think it will be very much the same for SEO. If every SEO does exactly the same thing and knows exactly the same stuff, where's the advantage to anyone?

 

[I, Brian]

In all seriousness, SEO - like any marketing discipline - is best learned through experience.

I can read a book on PPC - that will not make me a PPC expert. I can read Kotler - that will not make me a marketing expert.

Experience is all about putting what you think may work into practice - and often, very often, there are things that will surprise you. And to the rest, you refine what you think you know into what you know works.

2c.

 

[nitro23456]

very well put.

 

[GreatSEO]

Using your own sites to begin with is the key. Reading on the internet will send you round and round in circles but is good for the basics.

I would suggest having a look on Amazon for a good book or 2 but be prepared because it does take a hell of a lot of time up to get it right.

Dave

 

[Ali-v-8]

well my story differs. i lived with my aunt and uncle..
during a school trip to a computer company i was bitten by a radioactive computer bug. Soon i realised i had been infected ba a computer virus and gained special powers... oh hold on... wait sorry fell asleep whilst watching the hulk ha ha only kidding i was watching fantastic four.

i was self taught and applied other experience in business marketing.

 

[terryuk]

Self taught from forums and then lots and lots of testing. You can pick up little gems on forums, half the time other people won't see it. But you need to be active in many forums as a lot of it's junk.

 

[DIDAMEDIA]

Thanks guys, really helpful responses there. And how long did it take you to get it right with SEO.

 

[terryuk]

I got it right first time (6 months). Trick is to keep learning, and test always.

 

[Tin]

Self Taught. Spent a daft amount of time reading as much as I could before I knew which cogs to turn to get the best results. Like Terry say's... lots of duff information out there and knowing where the gold nuggets lay is a major problem but if you 'sift' between things you can pick up some decent things.

To be honest, it's been a real help being involved in seo since it's inception as there were lots of guys willing to exchange ideas and techniques in order to learn, these days it's rare to find people discussing the real nuances that work, on public facing sites. Good luck.

Ray

 

[directmarketingadvice]

I can read a book on PPC - that will not make me a PPC expert.

But, if the book was any good, it would put you on the right path and save you a lot of time.

If the book was rubbish and gave terrible advice, it could send you down a bunch of dead ends.

Learning from experts is usually a good idea.

Steve

 

[maxh]

Half and half I suppose. Read a tonne of books, but had the guidance of someone with 20+ years in SEM.

SEO is an on-going education really, it's always changing and you gotta keep up with the latest technology!

 

I started on computers in 1975.

I sorted it out by trial and error in the early days,never had any contact with other SEO's untill about 2005 ,so my bad habits were fimly entrenched by then.

Bit on the early days of SEO:

http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum5/1008.htm

Earl

 

[S-Marketing]

I started on computers in 1975.

I sorted it out by trial and error in the early days,never had any contact with other SEO's untill about 2005 ,so my bad habits were fimly entrenched by then.

Bit on the early days of SEO:

http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum5/1008.htm

Earl

I wasn't even born till '76. You may be feeling old but you definately got a good head start.

 

[Jacksies]

Yep - I'm self-taught through necessity, and a few years of hands-on experience, and trial and error... and a couple of books from Amazon (but they're still in mint condition)!
But the main thing is - I am still learning... I find it's an on-going, perpetual process.
The sooner you start, the better...

 

[nitro23456]

I started on computers in 1975.

l

you old get

 

[UKSBD]

I was very late getting a PC (2001), but soon got interested in SEO and learn't as I went along.

I was initially more interested in social engineering via newsgroups, but soon realised the same skills needed for that were ideally suited for SEO.

Back in those days there were some useful newsgroups where info was shared, those same groups are just full of spam now

I would say Florida was the bioggest turning point for me, it was about then that I really got in to SEO in a big way.

 

[Annoying Donkey]

I started on computers in 1975.

Ha! you is a young'un. In 1975 I was considered an old hand My first personal computer was an IBM 360/30 Had to share the card reader...

I am self taught, read everything I can find, and test test test...

 

[maxh]

I started on computers in 1975.

I sorted it out by trial and error in the early days,never had any contact with other SEO's untill about 2005 ,so my bad habits were fimly entrenched by then.

Bit on the early days of SEO:

http://www.webmasterworld.com/forum5/1008.htm

Earl

Did you work for IBM by any chance?

If so you may know my grandfather!

 

[kellym82]

I'm self taught, and like most people above, learned (and am still learning!) from a combination of sites, forums and books. Although I think it does depend on your learning style as to what is best for you. Some people find it easier to have someone explain the basics to them so they can ask questions etc. first time round, and then develop themselves from there.

 

[RedEvo]

I think anyone with a modicum of intelligence can go from zero to hero in the field of SEO in a matter of months. Sadly many spend their time looking for a silver bullet instead.

d

 

I think anyone with a modicum of intelligence can go from zero to hero in the field of SEO in a matter of months. Sadly many spend their time looking for a silver bullet instead.

d

Agree but to become superman takes a tad longer.

Many years to put it all together into a viable entity.

Earl

 

[UKSBD]

Did you work for IBM by any chance?

If so you may know my grandfather!

He may be your grandfather

 

[MASSEY]

Its not hard to teach yourself how to ask for a link to your website though is it really :|

 

[pcproblems]

I'm slowly learning

 

[omnivore]

i think anyone who sets out to self-teach within a field like seo (ie only mid level complexity) will make reasonable swift progress initially.

marketing is much like this as it has maybe only 10 key things to learn to be `useful` to most businesses. However, nobody self-taught will have the skills to get a job in an agency working for coca cola worldwide (much less picking up a contract for them yourself) and this will be true of seo too.

to be an expert at anything takes much longer and requires a very `long tail` of minor peices of skill and nuggets of knowledge. these take a long time to aquire if you self-teach. and some may be impossible to aquire if they are exclusive to a small group of experts.

therefore the best and quickest way to develop in a field such as seo would be to work with and be trained by existing experts (single or in an agency) and then set up on your own later.

if you rely on only yourself to develop knowledge you choose a very slow route and a very narrow range of experience


"A self-taught man usually has a poor teacher and a worse student. "

Henny Youngman

 

[littlelady]

What is SEO ?

 

[littlelady]

Self employed owner ...maybe I dont know forgive my ignorance its just there are so many acronyms, every wher it can get a bit crazy.

 

[nitro23456]

Small Elf Ownership

 

[littlelady]

Small elf ownership well that is great but what does elf stand for, Im thinking pixie ...guess thats wrong though.

 

[littlelady]

Search engine Optimisation is another SEO :|

 

[nitro23456]

Search engine Optimisation is another SEO :|

yeah that is one meaning of SEO but this thread is dedicated to Small Elf Ownership.

We use the thread to swap funny stories about our little pet elfs.

 

[littlelady]

Go on tell me the horrible truth its not is it and santa isnt real either I suppose..

 

i think anyone who sets out to self-teach within a field like seo (ie only mid level complexity) will make reasonable swift progress initially.

marketing is much like this as it has maybe only 10 key things to learn to be `useful` to most businesses. However, nobody self-taught will have the skills to get a job in an agency working for coca cola worldwide (much less picking up a contract for them yourself) and this will be true of seo too.

to be an expert at anything takes much longer and requires a very `long tail` of minor peices of skill and nuggets of knowledge. these take a long time to aquire if you self-teach. and some may be impossible to aquire if they are exclusive to a small group of experts.

therefore the best and quickest way to develop in a field such as seo would be to work with and be trained by existing experts (single or in an agency) and then set up on your own later.

if you rely on only yourself to develop knowledge you choose a very slow route and a very narrow range of experience


"A self-taught man usually has a poor teacher and a worse student. "

Henny Youngman

Totally agree, afraid there were no teachers when I started and I was a terrible student.

Earl

 

[omnivore]

Totally agree, afraid there were no teachers when I started and I was a terrible student.

Earl

i suspect you'd be a rather good teacher now though huh?

 

[Annoying Donkey]

therefore the best and quickest way to develop in a field such as seo would be to work with and be trained by existing experts (single or in an agency) and then set up on your own later.

You also pick up the 'experts' bad habits. Often a newcomer asks the silly questions that 'experts' dismiss and this silly question can give them an edge, if only they are allow to 'try things out'.

if you rely on only yourself to develop knowledge you choose a very slow route and a very narrow range of experience

We all learn differently. I personally prefer to teach myself. I read, and I try things out. I also take ideas from different disciplines and apply them, something 'experts' rarely do. I've yet to find and 'expert' in anything who can't be taught a lesson.

The key to being successful in anything is to take action. Buy SEO for dummies, set up an alternative site and play. Cost £20 for a book, £10 pa for a domain, £50 pa for hosting. Cheap SEO doesn't get any cheaper

Alternatively, pay an SEO to achieve a pre defined criteria and get on with doing what you do best

 

[herodigital]

I have been formally taught and also learned from 10+ years experience. I have picked things up over the years I have never seen written down anywhere online or otherwise.

Experience is the key.

your signature looks like spam...

 

I have picked things up over the years I have never seen written down anywhere online or otherwise.

Have you tried antibiotics.?:|

Earl

 

[littlelady]

Hahaha I used a company called Lavora web to promote my business got absolutely nothing from it freeuk business index is quite good ...I spent a lot with Lavora but you live and learn