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SEO University

Learn SEO by the work in front of you

SEO University is free and does not require an account. Browse 79 live article lessons across ten topic areas, from getting started and choosing keywords to technical SEO and link building. The median lesson length is 3,417 words.

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Choose a starting path

Start with the question you need to answer

You do not need to read everything in order. Pick the area closest to the work you are doing now.

New to SEO

Start with the foundations, terminology and the role of search.

Open these lessons

Working on keywords and content

Learn how keyword choices, content planning and on-page work fit together.

Open these lessons

Improving on-page or technical foundations

Focus on pages, site structure, technical checks and search changes.

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Building links

Explore off-page SEO, outreach and different approaches to earning links.

Open these lessons

Working on ecommerce or local SEO

Choose guidance specific to stores or location-based visibility.

Open these lessons
See all topic areas

Curriculum

79 live article lessons across ten practical SEO topics

Every lesson shown in the redesigned index opens a live article on the SEO Buddy blog. Across the 79 included articles, the median length is 3,417 words.

  • Getting Started — 7 lessons
  • Winning keywords — 6 lessons
  • On-Page SEO — 10 lessons
  • Off-Page SEO — 22 lessons
  • Master content — 11 lessons
  • SEO for ecommerce — 2 lessons
  • Local SEO — 3 lessons
  • Technical SEO — 3 lessons
  • Penalties & Updates — 3 lessons
  • Others — 12 lessons
Start with Getting Started Put SEO work into a checklist

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Getting Started — 7 lessons

Build a working understanding of SEO

Use these seven live article lessons to understand how search visibility works, what SEO work involves and how to approach it without treating rankings as guaranteed.

  • Understand the main areas of SEO.
  • Separate foundational work from outcome promises.
  • Learn the language used across keyword, content, technical and link-building work.
  • Decide which area to study next.

Getting Started

7 lessons
What is SEO? How do search engines work? What is On-Page SEO? What is Off-Page SEO? Google Ranking Factors Why does your business need SEO? How to do SEO yourself?
Start with ‘What is SEO?’ Try seven free Checklist steps

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Winning keywords — 6 lessons; Master content — 11 lessons

Connect search intent, keyword choices and useful content

Use these 17 live article lessons when you need to decide what a page should address, how a topic fits your audience and what content work should follow.

  • Research the language used around a topic.
  • Consider intent before choosing a keyword.
  • Plan content around a defined purpose.
  • Improve usefulness rather than writing only for a search engine.

Winning keywords

6 lessons
Types of Keywords LSI Keywords Keyword Research Keyword Mapping Google Keyword Planner How to Find Easy-to-Rank Keywords?

Master content

11 lessons
What is Content Strategy? SEO Copywriting Write Great Content that Ranks Updating Old Content What is Content Pruning? Paraphrasing Tools Blog Post Templates How to avoid Plagiarism? Content Distribution Strategy What is Content Syndication? Create Content Briefs
Start with ‘Types of Keywords’ See the SEO Checklist

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On-Page SEO — 10 lessons; Technical SEO — 3 lessons; Penalties & Updates — 3 lessons

Understand the work that helps search engines access and interpret a site

These 16 live article lessons cover page-level choices, technical foundations and the need to reassess guidance when search systems or policies change.

  • Review page structure and on-page signals.
  • Understand technical foundations and common checks.
  • Separate a technical issue from a content or authority problem.
  • Revisit time-sensitive advice when search systems change.

On-Page SEO

10 lessons
On-Page SEO Checklist On-Page SEO Audit Heading & Subheadings Internal Linking SEO Friendly URLs Image SEO Rich Snippets Canonicalization Orphan Pages Google Trust Signals

Technical SEO

3 lessons
Technical SEO Checklist Sitemap Page Speed SEO

Penalties & Updates

3 lessons
June 2019 Google Core Update New rel="ugc" and rel="sponsored" attributes What are Toxic Backlinks?
Start with ‘On-Page SEO Checklist’ Put the work into a checklist

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Off-Page SEO — 22 lessons

Learn how different link-building methods work

Off-Page SEO is the largest section in SEO University, with 22 live article lessons. Use it to understand link opportunities, outreach, placement methods and the limits of link metrics before selecting a paid option.

  • Distinguish submission opportunities from outreach prospects.
  • Understand why a site metric does not guarantee quality or results.
  • Compare self-serve outreach with team-handled placement delivery.
  • Avoid treating links as guaranteed rankings or AI citations.

Off-Page SEO

22 lessons
What is Link Building? Link Building Checklist What is Link Velocity? Domain Authority Nofollow vs. Dofollow How to find backlink opportunities Link Building Strategies How to get .GOV Backlinks? How to get .EDU Backlinks? Wikipedia Backlinks Create Linkable Assets Blog Commenting Broken Link Building Reciprocal Link vs 3-Way Link Exchange Contextual Backlinks Infographic Link Building Leverage Expired Domains White Hat Link Building Competitor Backlink Analysis Should You Buy Backlinks How to Outsource Link Building? Guest Post Pitch Email Templates
Start with ‘What is Link Building?’ Choose a link-building method

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SEO for ecommerce — 2 lessons; Local SEO — 3 lessons

Focus on the search job specific to your business model

Ecommerce and local SEO have different page types, audiences and discovery paths. These five live article lessons provide focused entry points for stores and location-based businesses.

  • Ecommerce SEO for stores, categories and product pages
  • Local SEO for businesses serving defined locations
  • Practical links to broader keyword, content and technical topics

SEO for ecommerce

2 lessons
Ecommerce SEO Collect More Reviews

Local SEO

3 lessons
Local SEO Checklist Introduction to NAP Ask for Google Reviews
Start with ‘Ecommerce SEO’ See the full curriculum

Others — 12 lessons

Explore SEO topics that cross the main curriculum areas

Some SEO questions do not sit neatly inside one discipline. These 12 live article lessons cover broader or cross-functional topics that support the main curriculum.

Others

12 lessons
Google Search Operators How to create an SEO campaign How long does it take to learn SEO? Competitive Analysis SERP Analysis Landing a Job in the SEO Industry What is Digital PR? Google Cache Search Leveraging 'People Also Search For' How to Use Facebook Ad Library? How to Write a Follow-Up Email? Domain History Lookup
Browse other SEO lessons Return to the curriculum

Editorial trust

Useful lessons should show who wrote them and when they were reviewed

Before relying on a lesson, check who wrote it, when it was published, when it was last reviewed and which sources support time-sensitive claims. Where those details are not shown, treat the lesson as undated guidance rather than a current standard.

Browse the curriculum Read first-person SEO journeys
  • Written by
  • Originally published
  • Last reviewed
  • What you will learn
  • Sources and references

Put learning into practice

Choose a practical next step when you are ready

Education can help you understand the work. The next step depends on whether you need to organize SEO tasks, build links or learn from other practitioners’ experience.

  • Turn SEO work into a 122-step Checklist.
  • Compare submission, outreach and handled link placements.
  • Browse 173 public first-person SEO journeys.
Put the work into a checklist Choose a link-building method Browse My SEO Journey

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University questions

What to know before you start

Is SEO University free?

Yes.

Do I need an account?

No. SEO University is ungated.

Where should a beginner start?

Begin with Getting Started, then move to the topic that matches your current work.

Is every lesson shown available?

Yes. The redesigned index includes 79 lesson titles, and every one opens a live article.

How long are the lessons?

The median length across the 79 included articles is 3,417 words.

Who wrote and reviewed the lessons?

Authorship and review data are still being audited across the curriculum. Where those details are unavailable, the content is not described as recently reviewed.

Is this education or a product pitch?

SEO University is a free learning resource. Relevant product links appear as optional next steps rather than requirements for access.

Browse the curriculum Read the blog