How Hard Is SEO: What You Need to Know Before Getting Started

SEO might seem easy for those who already know how to use it. But what about those with zero experience?

How hard is SEO if you don't know the first thing about it?

The truth is that anyone can learn SEO. It just takes some time, dedication, and practice.

That being said, it isn't enough to take a short SEO course to call yourself an expert. It's not a skill you can master overnight. There's much more to it.

SEO is all about continuous improvement. If you want to master SEO, you need to keep track of constant changes and trends in the industry.

In this article, we'll talk about whether SEO is hard to learn and where to even start.

🤔 How Hard Is SEO to Learn?

Anyone with basic knowledge of digital marketing has heard of SEO. But is learning SEO difficult if you don't know anything about it?

It depends on a few factors, which include:

1. Prior experience
2. Basic understanding
3. Technical skills
4. Knowledge of algorithm changes
5. Time and dedication

How hard SEO is to learn depends on prior experience, for the most part.

If you have a basic understanding of SEO concepts, the entire journey will be much easier. For example, keyword research, on-page SEO, link building, search volume, etc.

You can read various online resources, articles, and beginner's guides for help.

The most challenging part of SEO might be the technical aspects. This can include HTML, CSS, and website structure. The more you understand technical SEO, the easier it will be for you to get into it.

You also need to understand how search engine algorithms work.

SEO is an ever-evolving field. Search engines update their algorithms all the time. This means you must stay up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices.

Keeping pace with these changes can be challenging. That's why learning SEO takes time and dedication.

To conclude, it's mainly up to you. If you set aside enough time and effort, you'll be able to master search engine optimisation.

🎓 Who Can Do SEO?

You may think that you need a digital marketing degree for SEO. Or special technical expertise. But it's quite the opposite. Anyone can do SEO.

People interested in SEO usually have a background in this field. It can be computer science or digital marketing.

You will find SEO less complicated if you have:

• Technical knowledge
• An analytical mindset
• Marketing experience
• Content creation ability

SEO involves understanding how search engines work. This includes search algorithms and ranking factors.

If you have a background in computer science or web development, you might already know the basics of SEO.

SEO also involves analysing data, tracking website performance, and making data-driven decisions. Having an analytical mindset helps in these scenarios.

You can use your skills to interpret these website metrics. This includes finding areas that need improvement. It can also mean knowing how to optimise your site for search engine crawlers.

While technical skills are crucial, understanding digital marketing is just as important. You need to understand things like consumer behaviour, market trends, and competitor analysis.

Even if you don't have these skills, that doesn't mean you can't learn SEO.

You can master search engine marketing with online resources and a good SEO course. But if you want to be an expert, it takes time and dedication.

SEO also requires creating content.

You need to be able to create high-quality, relevant content. Your content needs to appeal to both search engines and readers. That's why you should have strong writing skills.

⏳ How Long Does It Take to Learn SEO?

As we said before, learning SEO takes time. But how much time do you need to master SEO?

Let's make this clear: you can't learn SEO overnight.

You need much longer than that to learn how ranking factors and search engines work. SEO is all about continuous learning.

To learn SEO, you need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends in search engine algorithms.

This involves studying various resources such as online courses, books, and industry blogs. It can also include attending conferences or webinars.

Practical experience through real-world projects is always a plus.

How much time you'll need to learn SEO depends on your background knowledge. It also depends on how committed you are to acquiring this new skill.

That's why it's difficult to determine exactly how much time you'll need. You might only need a few months to learn SEO. But it might also take years before you fully understand how it works.

The reason it takes so much time is because SEO is always changing. It's an ever-evolving field.

Active learning is always better than passive learning. In other words, hands-on experience pays off more than attending an SEO course.

It's also true that most SEO companies don't hire people with no SEO experience. So, you might need to know the basics of SEO beforehand.

📝 What You Need to Know as an SEO Beginner

Before starting with SEO, you need to understand how it works. You also need to understand basic SEO concepts, which can include:

• Search engines
• Target audience
• Keyword research
• Google algorithm
• Search traffic
• Optimisation
• Keyword difficulty
• Internal linking
• Google Search Console

If you want to learn how SEO works, visit our blog. You can find various texts on SEO and how to use it.

Only when you understand what these SEO basics mean can you start using them.

You should also take the time to learn about ranking factors. These are factors search engines use to rank your website in search results. Search engine results pages (SERPs), to be more precise.

As a beginner, you should also understand different types of SEO. These include:

1. On-page SEO
2. Off-page SEO
3. Technical SEO
4. Local SEO

On-page optimisation includes keyword research, content creation, meta tag optimisation, etc.

Off-page optimisation includes SEO techniques like link building.

Technical SEO involves site speed and mobile responsiveness.

Local SEO focuses on businesses that target specific locations. For example, local retail shops, pet stores, restaurants, etc.

✅ Tips for Getting Started with SEO

So, you've decided to learn SEO. Where do you even start?

Here are some tips on how to get started with SEO:

1. Get to know the basics.
2. Understand how Google and other search engines work.
3. Learn how to conduct keyword research.
4. Create high-quality content.
5. Use different SEO tools.
6. Learn from others.
7. Practice, experiment, and keep track of everything.
8. Be patient.

We've already talked about the importance of understanding the basics.

Since SEO is related to other types of online marketing, it's important to know how they work, too. For instance, social media marketing and email marketing.

There are many analytics and keyword tools you can use. Tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics can measure SEO performance.

It's always a good idea to learn from others. Turn to SEO communities, forums, and online groups for help. You can ask questions, share experiences, and learn from others in the field.

The best advice we can give you is to hone your SEO skills. Try and see what happens. Find out how search engines react to different SEO processes you use.

It's also important to see how your target audience reacts to your efforts. Then be prepared to adapt your strategy based on their reaction.

Finally, be patient. This entire learning process will take time. All SEO professionals know that SEO takes time to work.

🧠 What Are the Most Challenging Parts of SEO?

Some parts of SEO are harder to understand than others. This mainly refers to search algorithms.

It's no secret that algorithms are always changing. To be more precise, search engines are constantly updating their algorithms. Sometimes it's hard to keep up.

This doesn't only mean that you have to keep up with algorithms. You also have to adapt your SEO campaigns based on those changes.

This is very important for search engine rankings.

How do you even do this? Well, it requires monitoring and optimising your site. You'll have to optimise your content, keywords, and links appropriately.

By doing this, you'll increase organic traffic and search rankings.

Another challenging part of learning SEO is the technical side. If you don't have any experience in technical optimisation, you can always hire an expert.

You should also know that SEO is a competitive field. Every website in your industry will be competing for high rankings. They all have the same goal - to reach the top of Google search results.

That's why you need to use SEO effectively. Coming up with a good strategy is not enough. You also have to keep an eye out for your top competitors.

The better you get at SEO, the better your strategies will be. You'll know how to leverage link-building opportunities. You'll also know which long-tail keywords to use for better rankings.

 🤝 Hiring an SEO Agency

Learning SEO isn't for everyone.

Not everyone has the time or resources to learn SEO. But if you want to optimise your own website, you can get some help.

You have the option to hire a digital marketing agency.

Here are some reasons why you might want to hire a digital marketing agency to do your SEO:

• Professional knowledge and experience
• Staying updated on the latest trends
• Knowledge of technical SEO
• Access to advanced tools
• Customised strategies
• Resource efficiency
• Avoiding penalties
• Focusing on core tasks

SEO agencies offer years of experience in the field. They keep up with the latest SEO trends, algorithm updates, and best practices.

They often have access to premium SEO tools. These technologies can help improve your website's performance. Not to mention they can be expensive to use on your own.

SEO can be a time-consuming process that requires ongoing attention. By outsourcing SEO to an agency, you can free up your time and resources.

An SEO agency can develop a tailored SEO strategy based on your goals and needs. These experts can conduct in-depth keyword research. They can also do market research to create a plan that aligns with your business goals.

SEO experts know which strategies to avoid. For instance, black-hat strategies, which can lead to a Google penalty.

Finally, hiring an SEO agency lets you focus on your own tasks. You can concentrate on what you do best for your business.

📣 Start Your SEO Journey with RankRise

If you're interested in learning SEO, RankRise can help you.

We're a digital marketing agency specialising in SEO. We can help you write high-quality content and create effective strategies. Our goal is to help you increase your online visibility.

RankRise has the experience and knowledge to help you reach your goals.

If you want to know more about our services, feel free to reach out to us.