Getting started with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) can feel overwhelming for beginners, but with the right guidance and resources, you can quickly get to grips with the basics. This guide is designed to help you get started with SEO in a structured way, and we've included links to training materials from some of the most respected sources in the field.
1. understand the basics of SEO
Before diving into the details, it's important to understand what SEO is and why it's important. SEO is about optimizing your website so that it ranks higher in search engines' organic (non-paid) search results, leading to more traffic and potentially more customers.
Here are some resources to understand the basics:
- Moz Beginner's Guide to SEO: A comprehensive guide that explains the basics of SEO in an easy-to-understand way.
- Neil Patel's What is SEO?: A simple explanation of what SEO is and why it's important.
- Google's Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Starter GuideGoogle's own guide offering official recommendations and best practices.
2. Keyword research
Keyword research is one of the first steps in an SEO strategy. This involves identifying which keywords and phrases your potential customers use when looking for products or services that you offer.
Resources to learn about keyword research:
- Google Keyword Planner: A tool from Google that helps you find and analyze relevant keywords.
- Ahrefs' Keyword Research Guide: A practical guide on how to do keyword research.
- Neil Patel's Keyword Research Guide: A beginner-friendly walkthrough of how to find and use keywords.
3. On-page SEO
On-page SEO is about optimizing the content and structure of your website. It includes everything from writing SEO-friendly headlines and texts to optimizing images and using internal links.
Key resources for on-page SEO:
- Moz's On-Page Ranking Factors: An overview of important factors to consider when optimizing your website.
- Yoast's SEO Guide: A guide to help you optimize your pages' content, with a special focus on WordPress sites.
- Search Engine Land's On-Page SEO Guide: Practical tips and strategies for on-page optimization.
4. Technical SEO
Technical SEO focuses on the technical aspects of your website, such as its speed, mobile-friendliness, and how easily it can be indexed by search engines. It is an important part of SEO because a technically sound website can improve your rankings.
Learn more about technical SEO:
- Moz's Technical SEO Guide: A comprehensive guide covering everything from site speed to structured data.
- Neil Patel's Technical SEO Guide: A guide explaining the basics of technical SEO and how to improve your website's performance.
- Google's Mobile-Friendly Test: A tool from Google to check if your website is mobile-friendly.
5. Off-page SEO and link building
Off-page SEO is mainly about building up your website's authority through external links (backlinks) from other websites. It is one of the most powerful factors affecting your website's ranking in the search engines.
Resources to get started with off-page SEO:
- Moz's Link Building Guide: A beginner's guide to understanding and implementing link building.
- Neil Patel's Off-Page SEO Guide: A guide that focuses on advanced link building and off-page SEO techniques.
- Search Engine Land's Link Building Guide: A guide explaining how links affect your SEO and how to build them.
6. learn how to analyze and measure your SEO performance
To know if your SEO strategy is working, you need to analyze and measure your website's performance. Google Analytics and Google Search Console are two of the most important tools for this purpose.
Key tools and resources:
- Google Analytics Academy: Free courses to help you understand and use Google Analytics to measure your website traffic and user behavior.
- Google Search Console Help: Official resources from Google to understand how you can use Search Console to monitor and maintain your site's visibility in search results.
7. Keep learning and updating your knowledge
SEO is a constantly changing field, so it's important to stay up to date with the latest trends and algorithm updates from Google. Follow blogs and news sources from trusted players in the SEO industry.
Here are some recommended websites to follow:
- Moz Blog: Updates, tips and in-depth articles on all things SEO.
- Search Engine Land: A leading news source for SEO news, trends and best practices.
- Neil Patel's Blog: Practical SEO advice and strategies from one of the most famous figures in digital marketing.
Conclusion
Getting started with SEO can be challenging, but with the right resources and a structured approach, you can quickly start improving your website's visibility. Start by learning the basics, focusing on keyword research, on-page and technical SEO, and then build on that with off-page SEO and continuous measurement of your results. Over time, you'll develop a deeper understanding of how search engines work and how you can use SEO to drive long-term growth for your website.
Good luck with your SEO journey!

Oliwer Brewitz
Account Manager & Project Manager
Want help with SEO & AI automation?
Contact me today to find out how we can help you with SEO & beat the competition in search results.
Email me at oliwer@affiliated.se or call me on +46 704 55 14 48