Who Should Take a Search Engine Optimization Training Course?

You might be surprised to hear this, but a search engine optimization training course can benefit many different roles within a company — not just the obvious ones like marketing.

That is because for SEO to succeed, everyone in the company has to be on board, from the C-suite down to IT. That includes all decision-makers and everyone who touches a company website.

In this article, I’ll briefly explain the roles that can benefit from a search engine optimization training course and why.

• Business owners / C-suite
• Marketing managers
• Content strategists / Creators
• IT professionals
• Newbie SEOs
• Experienced SEOs
• FAQ: How can different roles within a company benefit from search engine optimization training? 

Business Owners / C-Suite

You are a decision-maker if you own a small business or are an executive at a mid to large-sized company. That means you set the priorities and, often, allocate the budgets.

If you do not understand the fundamentals of search engine optimization and how it can drive revenue for your business, you likely won’t:

• Prioritize SEO
• Make good decisions about SEO

Sure, you could rely on your team to make a case for SEO to get buy-in, or you could take an SEO training course at your own pace to really boost your digital marketing know-how. (Tip: We have a Free Executive Guide to SEO one-hour video course that gives you the basics. And for you SEOs out there, get your boss to take this … it will make your life much easier.)

Given that many C-suite positions do not require technical digital skills, a search engine optimization training course complements continuing education company goals.

Marketing Managers

Managers hire the right people with the right skills and often stay out of the details. But first, marketing managers need to understand what are the right SEO skills they need to hire.

And once they hire the right person or people, they need to be able to have intelligent conversations about the company’s SEO strategy and where it’s headed.

These conversations need to be tailored to both the teams working on SEO and the C-suite. Research shows that when CMOs are able to master marketing strategy, their budgets are more likely to be protected during a downturn, and they enjoy a 48% longer tenure.

Marketing managers and all of their staff and contributors should consider our SEOtraining.com membership site. No matter how senior you are, you will find that a quality program like ours that standardizes the training across your teams can change your life even more than you would expect.

Content Strategists / Creators

Getting the content piece right in your company’s SEO strategy is one of the most important steps you can take.

Eighty-six percent of B2B companies are already using their website and blog to distribute content as part of their content marketing plan, according to data from the Content Marketing Institute’s 11th Annual B2B Content Marketing Benchmarks, Budgets, and Trends report.

Yet the majority of respondents reported their content marketing strategy was only “moderately successful.” What’s more, 60% said the creation of new web content contributed to their success. But only 37% reported search engine rankings as a marker of their results.

So content strategists and creators need to be able to understand:

• The importance of content in SEO
• What types of content matter in SEO
• How to create quality content for SEO
• How to optimize content for SEO
• How to track content performance in SEO

Creating quality content that can compete in the search results is the No. 1 reason that content strategists and creators take a search engine optimization training course.

Read more: How B2Bs Can Make Their Content Marketing Perform Better

IT Professionals

This one might be the most surprising to you. But we find that the IT department often slows down SEO initiatives in many companies.

It is absolutely essential that IT folks understand why they are receiving requests from the SEO team to make updates to the company website.

IT people usually have a packed schedule filled with fixing bugs, putting out fires, and addressing people’s requests. If they do not understand the importance of making changes for the SEO team, those SEO requests can get put on the “lower priority” list.

I wrote about this issue in an earlier article here and highlighted data showing technical fixes can take up to a month or more to implement on a website.

So if you can swing it, ensure your IT people take a search engine optimization training course too.

Newbie SEOs

Professionals who want to add SEO to their skill set, new SEO hires at a company, or switching careers can benefit from a search optimization training course. In fact, SEO training is one of the best ways to get up to speed quickly on the fundamentals of SEO.

Experienced SEOs

Why would an experienced SEO take an SEO training course? As a refresher, of course. While the fundamentals rarely change, how we go about doing them does. Plus, search engines and the industry as a whole are fast-moving, so there is always something new to learn.

In fact, we’ve had SEOs with many years of experience under their belt come back to Bruce Clay Inc. for training once per year as part of their continuing education. It’s also why we continually update and expand our course materials.

Final Thoughts

Anyone who touches your company website should understand SEO. This is especially important when you have multiple departments and teams all making decisions about the website.

That means every decision should consider the question: How will this impact our SEO? The downside of not doing so is that one ill-fated change can ruin a company’s rankings and traffic, which can directly impact revenue.

See a demo and find out more about what’s included in our SEO training and membership program.

FAQ: How can different roles within a company benefit from search engine optimization training?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has emerged as a pivotal strategy for businesses aiming to enhance their online presence and drive organic traffic. While SEO is often associated with marketing teams, its impact extends far beyond this domain. From business owners to IT professionals, diverse roles within a company can reap significant benefits from comprehensive SEO training.

Business owners and C-suite executives play a critical role in setting the direction and priorities of a company. A solid understanding of SEO fundamentals empowers them to make informed decisions directly impacting revenue. Prioritizing SEO becomes seamless when decision-makers comprehend its potential to drive organic traffic and elevate the company’s digital footprint.

For marketing managers, SEO training translates into strategic prowess. Armed with the right SEO skills, they can intelligently guide their teams and engage in meaningful conversations with the C-suite. Research reveals that mastering marketing strategy correlates with budget protection during economic downturns, emphasizing the need for well-rounded SEO education.

Content strategists and creators, on the other hand, hold the key to crafting compelling narratives that align with SEO goals. Understanding the significance of content in SEO, and mastering optimization techniques, empowers them to create quality content that resonates with both search engines and target audiences. Tracking content performance and optimizing accordingly ensures the content’s visibility and impact.

Surprisingly, IT professionals also stand to gain from SEO training. Often tasked with website maintenance, IT departments can inadvertently hinder SEO initiatives due to a lack of understanding. Bridging this gap through SEO training ensures that technical fixes are prioritized, minimizing delays and streamlining website optimization efforts.

Finally, both newbies and experienced SEOs find value in continuous learning. SEO is an ever-evolving field, and staying updated is crucial for success. Newcomers benefit from rapid skill acquisition, while experienced practitioners gain refreshed perspectives and insights, ensuring their strategies remain effective in the dynamic digital landscape.

Search Engine Optimization Training transcends conventional boundaries, enriching various roles within a company. Whether through informed decision-making, strategic marketing, optimized content creation, or streamlined IT collaboration, the ripple effects of SEO training contribute to holistic business growth and success.

Step-by-Step Procedure: Unlocking Business Success with SEO Training

1. Identify Role-Specific Benefits: Determine how SEO training aligns with the responsibilities of different roles within your company.
2. Evaluate Training Providers: Research and select reputable SEO training providers that offer comprehensive courses tailored to diverse professional needs.
3. Engage Decision-Makers: Convince business owners and C-suite executives of the strategic advantages of SEO training for informed decision-making.
4. Empower Marketing Managers: Encourage marketing managers to acquire SEO skills to guide teams effectively and secure a budget allocation.
5. Optimize Content Creation: Train content strategists and creators on content optimization techniques, including keyword integration and performance tracking.
6. Bridge IT Knowledge Gap: Enlighten IT professionals on the importance of SEO-related technical fixes and streamlining website optimization processes.
7. Encourage Ongoing Learning: Motivate both novice and experienced SEOs to embrace continuous learning to stay current with industry trends.
8. Set Training Objectives: Define specific goals for each role undergoing SEO training, ensuring relevance and practical application.
9. Customize Training Modules: Tailor training modules to address the unique requirements of each role, enhancing engagement and learning outcomes.
10. Implement Knowledge Transfer: Facilitate sharing of newly acquired SEO knowledge across departments, fostering a collaborative approach.
11. Measure Training Impact: Establish metrics to gauge the impact of SEO training on decision-making, content performance, and website optimization.
12. Track Organic Traffic Growth: Monitor website traffic trends post-training to quantify the positive impact of SEO education.
13. Promote Cross-Role Learning: Organize knowledge-sharing sessions where different roles exchange insights gained from SEO training.
14. Foster Continuous Improvement: Encourage iterative optimization of SEO strategies based on insights gained from training.
15. Align SEO with Business Goals: Showcase how SEO training aligns with overall business objectives, enhancing its perceived value.
16. Celebrate Success Stories: Highlight instances where SEO training led to tangible positive outcomes, inspiring others to embrace the training.
17. Invest in Advanced Training: For experienced SEOs, consider advanced training programs that delve deeper into specialized areas of SEO.
18. Stay Updated: Regularly review and update SEO training materials to reflect the latest industry trends and algorithm updates.
19. Facilitate Peer Learning: Foster a culture of continuous learning by encouraging peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and collaboration.
20. Leverage SEO Insights: Integrate insights gained from SEO training into broader business strategies, maximizing its transformative potential.

Bruce Clay is founder and president of Bruce Clay Inc., a global digital marketing firm providing search engine optimization, pay-per-click, social media marketing, SEO-friendly web architecture, and SEO tools and education. Connect with him on LinkedIn or through the BruceClay.com website.

See Bruce's author page for links to connect on social media.