How to Learn SEO for Free as a Complete Beginner
This is what I would do if I started over
I remember being a complete beginner to Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
Everything seemed so overwhelming (and expensive).
If I could go back, I know exactly how I would skill up faster and easier. Specifically, I would use three grassroots approaches to learn SEO for free.
This is exactly how I would do it.
1. Learn by Doing: Start a Simple Website and Rank for Keywords
One of the most effective ways to learn SEO is by diving head-first into creating and optimizing your website. Follow these steps to build a strong foundation:
A. Choose Your Niche and Keywords
First, decide on your niche or the topic about which you’re passionate.
Next, research relevant keywords using free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or Keyword Tool. Look for low-competition, long-tail keywords with decent search volume.
These are easier to rank for and will help you gain valuable insights into the SEO process.
B. Build Your Website
Create a simple website using platforms like WordPress, Bluehost, and HostArmata. Choose a clean and responsive theme (like Astra), ensuring that your site is mobile-friendly and loads quickly.
C. Optimize Your Content
Now that your website is up and running, start creating content around your chosen keywords.
Focus on quality, not quantity. Write well-researched, engaging, and shareable articles that provide value to your readers.
Make sure to optimize your content for your target keywords.
Include them in your:
- Page title
- URL
- Meta description
- Headers (H1, H2, H3)
- Image alt tags
- First 100 words of the content
- Throughout the article (maintain a 1–2% keyword density)
D. Monitor Your Progress
Track your website’s performance using free tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
Analyze the data to identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments. Remember, SEO is an ongoing process that requires patience and persistence.
You’ll learn more “in the trenches” of SEO than you will in a million hours of reading generic tips online.
2. Use Free Plugins like Rank Math for On-Page SEO Guidance
Using a free SEO plugin, like Rank Math, can help you optimize your on-page SEO elements.
Rank Math evaluates various aspects of your content and provides an SEO score, along with actionable recommendations.
A. Install Rank Math
To get started, install the Rank Math plugin on your WordPress website. Once activated, follow the setup wizard to configure the basic settings.
I personally use RankMath on all of my websites (and I love it).
B. Use Rank Math’s Analysis and Recommendations
After installation, you’ll see the Rank Math SEO score and suggestions in the WordPress editor when creating or editing a post.
The plugin evaluates the following aspects of your content:
- Title
- Content length
- Visual elements (images and videos)
- Keyword density
- Meta description
- URL structure
- Headers
- Internal and external links
- Image alt tags
Use these suggestions to improve your content and optimize it for better search engine visibility.
C. Utilize Rank Math’s Additional Features
Rank Math also offers other valuable features, such as:
- XML sitemap generation
- 404 error monitoring
- Redirections management
- Rich snippets/schema markup
- Google Search Console integration
These features can further enhance your SEO efforts and provide valuable insights into your website’s performance.
3. Analyze Small Websites That Rank High on Google
A great way to learn SEO is by studying small websites that rank on the first page of Google for several keywords.
By analyzing these websites, you can gain insights into the factors that contribute to their success. The hardest part is finding the websites but you can use tools like Ahrefs or Moz Bar to make it much easier.
A. Identify High-Ranking Small Websites
Use a tool like Ahrefs’ Free Website Authority Checker to find small websites with high domain authority.
To find these sites, search Google for your target keywords.
Then look for smaller sites that appear on the first page of the results.
B. Analyze Their Site Design and Navigation
Examine the site’s overall design, layout, and navigation. Take note of the following:
- Is the design clean and user-friendly?
- Is the site mobile-responsive?
- Are the menus and navigation intuitive?
- Does the site load quickly?
These factors contribute to a better user experience, which is crucial for SEO.
C. Evaluate Their Content and Formatting
Study the content and formatting of their articles.
Look for patterns in the following areas:
- Length and structure of the articles
- Use of headings and subheadings
- Paragraph length and readability
- Use of images, videos, and other visual elements
- Internal and external linking strategies
- Keyword usage and density
Understanding what works for these successful websites can help you refine your content strategy.
D. Research Their Targeted Keywords
Find out which keywords these websites are targeting.
You can use free tools like Keywords Everywhere or MozBar to identify the keywords they rank for. This will give you an idea of the types of keywords you should target and the competition level you can expect.
Final Thoughts
Be patient, persistent, and willing to learn from your experiences, and you’ll be on your way to becoming an SEO pro.
