SEO

How To Choose The Best SEO Writing Course For You

Published

2 years ago

May 18, 2022

In a fascinating burst of synchronicity, I was halfway finished with this blog when the news hit about Google’s digital marketing certification course mentioning keyword density and word count. Sigh.

This is one of my rant-filled blog posts. You’ve been warned.

Are you confused by all the SEO writing course options out there?

That makes perfect sense, especially since new courses keep popping up — and they all seem so different.

Some SEO writing courses are short and cheap — but the materials are often more like an overview, and the information may not be current.

Other SEO writing courses may be more in-depth and updated — but the cost is higher. (I’ve seen some over $2,500.)

How do you choose?

Not all writers need ALL the bells and whistles. Sometimes, you just need an SEO writing overview — and then you can dive in more deeply if it makes sense. Sometimes, it pays to go all-in and review more robust SEO writing courses.

Fair disclosure: I created the SEO Copywriting Certification training over ten years ago because the information back then was non-existent. Since then, I’ve developed white-label SEO writing courses for organizations (like The Freelance Writers Den and AWAI) and have customized in-house courses for big brand companies. So, I’m big on quality, accurate instruction.

Here are some things to consider.

Why are you searching for an SEO writing course?

Do you want to get a sense if SEO writing would be fun? Dipping your toes in the water with a less-expensive training (or even one that’s no cost) is a great way to see if you want to learn more.

If SEO writing is a big part of your job (or freelance business), investing in a more expensive course may be wise. You’ll be able to master SEO writing more quickly and will learn how to work with different types of sites and situations.

How old is the SEO course?

SEO writing courses do not age like fine wines. Although some SEO content writing tips like “write for your reader” have stood the test of time, other aspects move more quickly. If an SEO writing training is more than two years old, there are probably some out-of-date elements. (After all, how often do I write about Google doing something new?)

I find that I have to make significant updates to my SEO writing course at least once a year, with minor updates in-between. Yes, THAT’S how much things change.

Who is the instructor, and what is their experience?

Here’s the thing: you want to learn SEO writing from a writer who has successfully written content for various sites — and has done it for several years (five or more.) Experience matters, especially when sorting through misinformation and common SEO myths.

My guess is the instructor for Google’s SEO certification course got the SEO writing part wrong because they didn’t know any better. There’s a high probability that the author heard the familiar “two-percent density” and word count myth, thought it was real, and included the information on the slide.

I’m not saying that SEO writing courses created by companies (instead of SEO writing experts who regularly write content) are bad. I’m just saying to consider the source — even if that source is Google.

Side note: Google has removed the slide discussing keyword density.

Is the training solely focused on SEO writing?

Some “SEO writing courses” include only a couple of chapters about SEO — and the rest of the course discusses how to use a software tool, other types of copywriting, or business tips. This format is fine if you just need general SEO information — but not so great if you want to dive in more deeply.

If your learning focus is just SEO writing, pay attention to the course curriculum (especially if you’re purchasing the course) and ensure it has the information you need.

Do you want feedback and the ability to ask questions?

Here’s the reality: Cheaper courses tend to have little-to-no email support and few training calls. Why? Because good support takes time and is expensive to provide. If you’re the type of person who loves asking lots of questions (I’m one of them!), spending more will give you the learning experience you need.

Some people want to receive personalized help so they can upskill even faster. You can dramatically shorten your learning curve by working with course trainers one-on-one — but this is the most expensive option.

Does the course format work with your work and learning schedule?

No matter what, taking an SEO writing course means a considerable time investment. Two big questions to factor into your decision are:

Is the class set up in a way that “clicks” best with how you learn?
Will you have enough time to take this class and successfully complete it?

For instance, some people love short-term courses that run for a limited time — it forces them to stay on task and get the work done. BUT, if you’re already working 50+ hour weeks, you may not have the available brain space for a short-term class.

Other people need the flexibility of a self-directed course with the option of live (or recorded) updates. BUT, if you’re the type of person who needs a sense of urgency, self-directed may be challenging.

You’ll want to consider your learning style and available time before purchasing an SEO writing course. After all, the best SEO writing course is the one you love, you learn from — and you have time to finish.

What do you think?

Do you have a question about finding the best SEO writing course for your needs? Leave a comment below. Or head over to the SEO writing tips Facebook group and share your thoughts.

SEO

Google Declares It The “Gemini Era” As Revenue Grows 15%

Published

11 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Max

Alphabet Inc., Google’s parent company, announced its first quarter 2024 financial results today.

While Google reported double-digit growth in key revenue areas, the focus was on its AI developments, dubbed the “Gemini era” by CEO Sundar Pichai.

The Numbers: 15% Revenue Growth, Operating Margins Expand

Alphabet reported Q1 revenues of $80.5 billion, a 15% increase year-over-year, exceeding Wall Street’s projections.

Net income was $23.7 billion, with diluted earnings per share of $1.89. Operating margins expanded to 32%, up from 25% in the prior year.

Ruth Porat, Alphabet’s President and CFO, stated:

“Our strong financial results reflect revenue strength across the company and ongoing efforts to durably reengineer our cost base.”

Google’s core advertising units, such as Search and YouTube, drove growth. Google advertising revenues hit $61.7 billion for the quarter.

The Cloud division also maintained momentum, with revenues of $9.6 billion, up 28% year-over-year.

Pichai highlighted that YouTube and Cloud are expected to exit 2024 at a combined $100 billion annual revenue run rate.

Generative AI Integration in Search

Google experimented with AI-powered features in Search Labs before recently introducing AI overviews into the main search results page.

Regarding the gradual rollout, Pichai states:

“We are being measured in how we do this, focusing on areas where gen AI can improve the Search experience, while also prioritizing traffic to websites and merchants.”

Pichai reports that Google’s generative AI features have answered over a billion queries already:

“We’ve already served billions of queries with our generative AI features. It’s enabling people to access new information, to ask questions in new ways, and to ask more complex questions.”

Google reports increased Search usage and user satisfaction among those interacting with the new AI overview results.

The company also highlighted its “Circle to Search” feature on Android, which allows users to circle objects on their screen or in videos to get instant AI-powered answers via Google Lens.

Reorganizing For The “Gemini Era”

As part of the AI roadmap, Alphabet is consolidating all teams building AI models under the Google DeepMind umbrella.

Pichai revealed that, through hardware and software improvements, the company has reduced machine costs associated with its generative AI search results by 80% over the past year.

He states:

“Our data centers are some of the most high-performing, secure, reliable and efficient in the world. We’ve developed new AI models and algorithms that are more than one hundred times more efficient than they were 18 months ago.

How Will Google Make Money With AI?

Alphabet sees opportunities to monetize AI through its advertising products, Cloud offerings, and subscription services.

Google is integrating Gemini into ad products like Performance Max. The company’s Cloud division is bringing “the best of Google AI” to enterprise customers worldwide.

Google One, the company’s subscription service, surpassed 100 million paid subscribers in Q1 and introduced a new premium plan featuring advanced generative AI capabilities powered by Gemini models.

Future Outlook

Pichai outlined six key advantages positioning Alphabet to lead the “next wave of AI innovation”:

Research leadership in AI breakthroughs like the multimodal Gemini model
Robust AI infrastructure and custom TPU chips
Integrating generative AI into Search to enhance the user experience
A global product footprint reaching billions
Streamlined teams and improved execution velocity
Multiple revenue streams to monetize AI through advertising and cloud

With upcoming events like Google I/O and Google Marketing Live, the company is expected to share further updates on its AI initiatives and product roadmap.

Featured Image: Sergei Elagin/Shutterstock

SEO

brightonSEO Live Blog

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Entireweb News Bot

Hello everyone. It’s April again, so I’m back in Brighton for another two days of ~~sun~~, sea, and SEO!

Being the introvert I am, my idea of fun isn’t hanging around our booth all day explaining we’ve run out of t-shirts (seriously, you need to be fast if you want swag!). So I decided to do something useful and live-blog the event instead.

Follow below for talk takeaways and (very) mildly humorous commentary.

SEO

Google Further Postpones Third-Party Cookie Deprecation In Chrome

Published

1 day ago

April 25, 2024

Max

Close-up of a document with a grid and a red stamp that reads "delayed" over the word "status" due to Chrome's deprecation of third-party cookies.

Google has again delayed its plan to phase out third-party cookies in the Chrome web browser. The latest postponement comes after ongoing challenges in reconciling feedback from industry stakeholders and regulators.

The announcement was made in Google and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) joint quarterly report on the Privacy Sandbox initiative, scheduled for release on April 26.

Chrome’s Third-Party Cookie Phaseout Pushed To 2025

Google states it “will not complete third-party cookie deprecation during the second half of Q4” this year as planned.

Instead, the tech giant aims to begin deprecating third-party cookies in Chrome “starting early next year,” assuming an agreement can be reached with the CMA and the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

The statement reads:

“We recognize that there are ongoing challenges related to reconciling divergent feedback from the industry, regulators and developers, and will continue to engage closely with the entire ecosystem. It’s also critical that the CMA has sufficient time to review all evidence, including results from industry tests, which the CMA has asked market participants to provide by the end of June.”

Continued Engagement With Regulators

Google reiterated its commitment to “engaging closely with the CMA and ICO” throughout the process and hopes to conclude discussions this year.

This marks the third delay to Google’s plan to deprecate third-party cookies, initially aiming for a Q3 2023 phaseout before pushing it back to late 2024.

The postponements reflect the challenges in transitioning away from cross-site user tracking while balancing privacy and advertiser interests.

Transition Period & Impact

In January, Chrome began restricting third-party cookie access for 1% of users globally. This percentage was expected to gradually increase until 100% of users were covered by Q3 2024.

However, the latest delay gives websites and services more time to migrate away from third-party cookie dependencies through Google’s limited “deprecation trials” program.

The trials offer temporary cookie access extensions until December 27, 2024, for non-advertising use cases that can demonstrate direct user impact and functional breakage.

While easing the transition, the trials have strict eligibility rules. Advertising-related services are ineligible, and origins matching known ad-related domains are rejected.

Google states the program aims to address functional issues rather than relieve general data collection inconveniences.

Publisher & Advertiser Implications

The repeated delays highlight the potential disruption for digital publishers and advertisers relying on third-party cookie tracking.

Industry groups have raised concerns that restricting cross-site tracking could push websites toward more opaque privacy-invasive practices.

However, privacy advocates view the phaseout as crucial in preventing covert user profiling across the web.

With the latest postponement, all parties have more time to prepare for the eventual loss of third-party cookies and adopt Google’s proposed Privacy Sandbox APIs as replacements.

Featured Image: Novikov Aleksey/Shutterstock