BLOG

How to learn SEO: A step-by-step guide for beginners

Learn SEO from the basics to advanced concepts. This guide covers everything you need to become an SEO expert and improve your website’s ranking.

hero image blog
📝 Category:

SEO

📆 Last update:

08/2025

Key Takeaways

How do you learn SEO? The SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an essential skill to boost the visibility of a website on Google and other search engines.

Whether you are autoentrepreneur, site creator, web editor, or small business, learning SEO can transform your online presence. This year, with 80% of web traffic comes from organic searches (source: BrightEdge), mastering SEO is an essential asset.

What is SEO and why is it important?

SEO, or natural referencing, brings together techniques for optimizing a website so that it appears at the top of the search results (SERP) on Google, Bing, or Yahoo. It is divided into three pillars:

  • On-page SEO : Content, keywords, HTML tags.
  • Off-page SEO : Backlinks, online reputation.
  • Technical SEO : Speed, structure, indexing.

Why is it important?

  • Visibility : 53% of clicks go to the first 3 Google results (source: Backlinko).
  • Cost-effectiveness : Unlike paid advertising, SEO attracts free traffic over the long term.
  • Confidence : Sites that are well ranked are perceived as more credible.

Essential steps to learn SEO

Here are the key steps to mastering the basics of SEO, even without technical experience:

🔑 Step-by-Step SEO Guide for Beginners (2025)
🔑 Step 📖 Description 🛠️ Action 🔧 Recommended Tools
🔍 Understand Search Engines How Google crawls, indexes, and ranks pages (crawling, indexing, SERP) ► Watch an SEO introduction video (e.g. Ahrefs YouTube channel) YouTube (Ahrefs, Google Search Central)
🔑 Keyword Research Identify your audience’s search queries to target content effectively ► List 5 relevant keywords for your niche Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic
✍️ Create Optimized Content Integrate keywords into titles, headings, and body text while respecting search intent ► Write a 500-word article targeting one primary keyword Google Docs, Grammarly
🛠️ On-Page SEO Optimize title tags, meta descriptions, URLs, images, and Hn headings ► Check your tags using Google Search Console Yoast SEO (WordPress), Google Search Console
⚙️ Technical SEO Ensure speed, mobile-friendliness, and absence of indexing errors ► Test your site with PageSpeed Insights Google PageSpeed Insights, GTmetrix
🔗 Build Backlinks Acquire links from reputable sites (guest posts, partnerships) ► Contact 1 blog in your niche to propose a guest post Hunter.io, BuzzSumo
📊 Track Performance Monitor rankings and traffic to refine your strategy ► Set up GA4 & Search Console, review monthly reports Google Analytics 4, Google Search Console

example : A blogger followed these steps to rank his article “easy vegan recipes” on the 1st Google page in 3 months.

Top tips for making rapid progress

Ahrefs Academy
  • Practice regularly : Apply what you learn to a test site or your own project.
  • Stay up to date : Follow Google updates (e.g. Core Updates 2025) via blogs like Search Engine Journal.
  • Test and analyze : Experiment with keywords or tags, then measure the results.
  • Join a community : Participate in forums like Reddit r/SEO or LinkedIn groups to discuss.
  • Be patient : SEO results often take 3-6 months, but they are sustainable.

tip : Create a small WordPress or Webflow site to test your SEO skills without risk.

Recommended SEO resources for beginners

🔧 Top SEO Resources and Tools for Beginners & Experts (2025)
🔧 Resource 📖 Type 📝 Description 💰 Cost
📄 Google SEO Starter Guide PDF Guide Official Google guide covering SEO fundamentals with focus on E-E-A-T and UX. Free
📺 Ahrefs YouTube Channel Videos Free tutorials on keyword research, backlinks, and SEO audits. Free
📰 Search Engine Journal Blog Latest SEO news, practical guides, and algorithm update analyses. Free
🎓 Yoast SEO Academy Online Course Free and paid courses for WordPress optimization, including technical SEO and content. Free / €49+
🎓 Semrush Academy Online Course Free courses and certifications in SEO, PPC, content, and competitive analysis. Free
📊 Google Search Console Tool Performance analysis, indexation error detection, and search query insights. Free
🔍 Ubersuggest Tool Keyword research, competitor analysis, and content suggestions. Free / $12+/month
⚙️ Surfer SEO Tool On-page optimization, AI content writing, content audits, and SERP analysis. $89/month (Essentials) – $179/month (Scale) – $249/month (Enterprise)
🤖 Scalenut Tool AI briefs, semantic optimization, content creation, and performance tracking. $39/month (Essential) – $79/month (Growth) – $149/month (Pro)
🔧 Moz Pro Tool Full SEO suite: keywords, technical audits, backlinks, and ranking tracking. $99/month (Standard) – $179/month (Medium) – $299/month (Large) – $599/month (Premium)
🔧 Semrush Tool Complete SEO suite: keywords, backlinks, technical audits, and competitive intelligence. $139/month (Pro) – $249/month (Guru) – $499/month (Business)

example : A writer used Ubersuggest to identify low-competition keywords, ranking his blog on the first page in 2 months.

❌ SEO pitfalls to avoid

  • Follow outdated techniques : Avoid “keyword stuffing” or the purchase of poor quality backlinks, which are penalized by Google.
  • Ignore search intent : An article on “best coffee maker” should offer recommendations, not a coffee story.
  • Neglecting technical SEO : A slow or non-mobile-friendly site loses positions.
  • Expect immediate results : SEO is a marathon, not a sprint.
  • Copy content : Duplicate content hurts your rankings.

Accessible courses for beginners

🔧 Top SEO Learning Resources for Beginners and Pros (2025)
🔧 Course 📚 Type 💰 Cost ✨ Details 👥 For Whom?
📄 Google Digital Garage Free course Free Basic SEO module with certification, focusing on Google E-E-A-T and UX Complete SEO beginners
🎓 HubSpot Academy Free course Free Courses on SEO and content marketing, including content strategy and keyword research Novice marketers and bloggers
🌐 Coursera – SEO Foundations MOOC Free (certification €29+) Introduction to SEO by UC Davis, covering technical basics and content fundamentals Students and entry-level professionals
📰 Yoast SEO Academy Online course Free / €49+ WordPress SEO courses, including on-page and technical optimization WordPress beginners
📺 Ahrefs YouTube Channel Tutorial videos Free Practical tutorials on keywords, backlinks, and SEO audits Self-learners and bloggers
💡 FutureLearn – SEO Basics MOOC Free (certification €49+) Fundamental SEO principles with focus on search intent Curious beginners and creators
🎥 Udemy – SEO 2025 Complete Guide Paid course €19.99 (frequent promo) Comprehensive guide for beginners: keywords, on-page, backlinks, analytics Motivated beginners and freelancers
🏫 Semrush Academy Online course Free Free courses with certifications on SEO, keywords, and Semrush tools Beginners and Semrush users
🎓 Skillshare – SEO Bootcamp Online course Free (7-day trial) / €13+/month Hands-on projects for SEO, focused on content and strategy Creatives, freelancers, and bloggers
🔧 Moz SEO Essentials Online course Free / $149 (certification) Courses on SEO fundamentals, backlinks, technical audits, and Moz tools Beginners and professionals in learning mode

Note : In France, some SEO courses are eligible for CPF (e.g.: LiveMentor training courses).

How long does it take to acquire the basics?

  • Basics (1-3 months) : Understand keywords, optimized content, and Google Search Console. Practice 5-10 hours/week.
  • Intermediate level (6-12 months) : Master technical SEO, backlinks, and data analysis.
  • Visible results : 3-6 months for rankings on keywords with low competition.

example : A self-employed woman learned the basics in 2 months via Yoast Academy, ranking her coaching site on the 1st page for “Paris wellness coach”.

Academy Yoast

Examples: Case study

Scenario: A pastry SME wants to attract more local customers.

  • Step 1 : Search for keywords like” Artisanal pastry Lyon ” with Ubersuggest.
  • Step 2 : Creation of an optimized page with title tags and meta descriptions.
  • Step 3 : Added optimized photos and a blog about local desserts.
  • Step 4 : Obtaining backlinks through partnerships with food blogs.
  • Result : +50% organic traffic in 4 months, 20% more sales.

Final tips

Learning SEO is accessible to everyone with practice and reliable resources. Start with a concrete project, such as a blog or a showcase site, and work your way up step by step. Use free tools like Google Search Console and Ubersuggest, and get inspired by blogs like Backlinko.

Join communities to discuss, and stay patient: SEO is a skill that pays off in the long run.

Learn SEO

learn, word, scrabble

Today, where digital dominates everything else, the reasons to learn and understand SEO are several. It is a growing field that has an impact on the growth and success of almost every type of business. So it's no surprise that learning SEO can be a good thing for the success of your business or career:

However, some of the main reasons for doing so are as follows:

  • For your brand to be discovered online
  • To stand out from your competitors
  • To save money that you should have spent on ads.
  • Generate leads organically with minimal investment

In addition, SEO acts as a catalyst by increasing the commercial value of your visit by 429% with a Blog.

While the domain of digital marketing continues to intensify, the demand for SEOs is increasing. One of the main reasons for this is the growing need for businesses to achieve maximum reach and visibility organically.

After all, the organic search generates over 50% of all web traffic. This is evidenced by the fact that the demand for SEO professionals increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the job market hit a record low.

Now that you know the many benefits you can get from learning SEO, here's how you can get started.

SEO basics

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is based on understanding how search engines work. There are three fundamental processes you need to know:

Exploring, Indexing, and Classifying

Search engines operate in three main steps:

  1. Exploration : Robots roam your website to discover the content.
  2. Indexing : The discovered content is stored in a database.
  3. The ranking : The pages are ordered in the search results.

The quality of these processes determines your visibility in search engines.

Keywords

The keywords are essentials for SEO. They represent the terms that your potential customers use to search for your products or services.

For a bakery in Adelaide, examples of relevant keywords would be:

  • “Designer cakes in Paris”
  • “Best bakery in Paris”

Integrating these keywords wisely into your content improves your chances of appearing in relevant search results.

Backlinks

Backlinks are inbound links to your site. They play a crucial role in SEO because:

  • They signal to Google the credibility of your content
  • They increase your organic search traffic
  • They are among Google's top ranking factors.

An effective backlink strategy can significantly improve your online visibility.

Contents

Content is at the heart of SEO. Quality content:

  • Improve your visibility in search engines
  • Converts visitors into customers
  • Provides the information needed for exploration and indexing

Over 50% of marketing professionals consider page content to be one of the most effective SEO tactics.

Google algorithms

Understanding Google's algorithms is crucial for SEO. Some important updates you should know:

  • Google Panda (2011): Introduction of the “quality score” for websites
  • Penguin (2012): Targeting unethical link building tactics
  • Core Web Vitals: User Experience Assessment Based on Three Key Metrics

These updates influence how Google assesses and ranks websites.

Key ranking factors

Several elements are essential for a good ranking:

  1. Website security : Use of the HTTPS protocol
  2. Mobile usability : Adaptation to mobile devices
  3. Links : Importance of inbound, outbound, and internal links
  4. Contents : Quality and relevance of the content
  5. Site speed : Fast page load time

These factors, combined with the careful use of keywords and the optimization of Core Web Vitals, determine your position in the search results.

Keyword research and competition analysis

The implementation of an effective SEO strategy is based on two crucial activities: keyword research and competition analysis. These elements form the foundation of an optimized online presence.

Keyword research

google, internet, search

Keyword research is essential for attracting targeted traffic to your website. It consists of identifying the terms and phrases that your target audience uses to search for products or services that are similar to yours.

A well-conducted keyword research process will allow you to:

  • Discover the most popular search queries in your field
  • Evaluate search volume for each keyword
  • Understand the competition around these terms

For effective keyword research, consider using specialized tools such as:

SEO tools will help you standardize the process, especially useful if you manage a large volume of content.

Competitive analysis

competitor, website, marketing

Competitive analysis goes hand in hand with the keyword research. It allows you to Understand the SEO strategies of your competitors and to identify improvement opportunities for your own site.

To start your competitive analysis:

  1. Identify your main competitors by doing a Google search for your target keywords.
  2. Use tools like Ahrefs Site Explorer to analyze the top-ranking pages.
  3. Look at keywords that are good for your competitors.

Competitive analysis involves auditing keywords, content, and other SEO elements used by your competitors. This approach allows you to reverse engineer their strategies and incorporate the most effective tactics into your own SEO strategy.

Use of Google search operators

cyber, search, security

Les Google search operators are powerful tools to refine your searches and get more accurate information. They can be particularly useful when analyzing the competition.

Some examples of useful search operators:

  • site: to limit the search to a specific field
  • Intitle: to find pages with keywords in the title
  • Inurl: to identify pages with keywords in the URL

Skillful use of these operators can greatly improve the efficiency of your research and analysis.

Ongoing skills development

ai generated, student, minimalist

SEO is a field that is constantly evolving. To remain competitive, it is crucial to continue to learn and adapt. Here are a few ways you can do this:

  • Follow recognized SEO experts on social networks
  • Participate in webinars and conferences on SEO
  • Experiment on your own projects or websites

Remember that mastering SEO takes time. Patience and regular practice are key to developing your skills.

Conclusion

After fighting a global pandemic, one thing is certain for businesses today: you can't afford to take your digital presence for granted.

That said, if you're just starting to see the benefits of your digital marketing and want to get started with SEO, it's never too late.

Start by learning the fundamentals of SEO, and continue to practice on a project to ensure that your skills are put to use. With the growing demand for SEOs around the world, learning SEO will only open the door to a lot of opportunities for you.

FAQS

Can I learn SEO on my own?

Yes, self-taught SEO learning is common, with resources in Online and courses available.

How do I get started with SEO?

Start with the basics of SEO and practice on real projects to develop your skills.

Is SEO hard to learn?

Although intimidating at first, the basics are quickly assimilated, but expertise requires practice and consistency.

You’ll Also Love…

Discover other carefully selected articles to deepen your knowledge and maximize your impact.