In a fast-paced era where information is readily available, it's important to stay on top of things. And if your game is SEO, there are plenty of ways to stay on top of news, trends, tips and tricks, and stay informed.
From free visual-driven guides and videos on YouTube and other training-specific platforms like Google Skillshop, to proven case studies, trial and error, and walkthroughs of what actually works, the world (and What is not), a wealth of free knowledge shapes our industry. It also keeps top brands at the forefront of the digital ecosystem.
Here are my 9 ways to stay on top of news, changes, and innovative ideas, keep your SEO sharp, and keep your knowledge at its best throughout your career.
1. Read SEO publications and blogs
This is the obvious and probably the most common one (you're obviously reading this right now), but its value may be unparalleled.
The same platform we use to research and troubleshoot every day – search engines – allows us to quickly find articles on a variety of topics that can help us understand complex concepts and new ideas. Masu. And you can do this anytime and anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.
Many of these publications allow you to subscribe to newsletters, so your news will literally be delivered to your inbox.
In addition to Search Engine Land, other publications worth your time include Search Engine Roundtable and brand-supporting blogs like Semrush, Ahrefs, and Moz.
One of the most respected online sources for more information about Google Search is the Google Search Central Blog (formerly the Google Webmaster Central Blog).
By subscribing to blogs and using Feedly or similar curated feeds, you can easily access and organize your reading resources for daily updates.
2. Webinars and YouTube
You can learn almost anything on YouTube. The world's most popular video search engine is a treasure trove of potentially life-changing knowledge and guidance.
This includes knowledge and guidance in SEO and digital marketing.
Whether you want to learn about a particular complex aspect of SEO or dig into industry news and new tactics, YouTube offers countless user-generated content that proves valuable to millions of people every day. I am.
Some of the most valuable videos on YouTube (at least those related to digital marketing and other professional fields) are pre-recorded webinars.
These webinars are typically run by brands and thought leaders in their respective fields, are recorded during their initial broadcast, and then published on YouTube for people to watch on-demand. Make good use of them.
3. Podcast
The growth of podcasts over the past decade has been incredible.
What once seemed limited to obscure interviews on eclectic and controversial topics, now educational content ranges from peanut allergies to murder mysteries and everything in between, including SEO It has evolved into
Some solid podcasts that focus on SEO and digital marketing include:
Do your research, find the one or two that give you the most value (and entertainment), and stay on top of news and trends at your convenience.
4. Follow thought leaders
One of the strongest entries on this list, SEO thought leaders are helping shape the digital marketing industry and how we are constantly learning and strategizing. Most of these people share their thoughts and reflections daily.
You can see the evidence everywhere on social media – X and LinkedIn are one of the most powerful platforms for real-time SEO tips and tricks.
The SEO community is full of passionate players. Those who do not follow at least a handful of these thought leaders are simply doing themselves a disservice.
Some of my favorite people who focus on SEO every day are:
Official Googlers also tend to be helpful:
These thought leaders keep us informed and inspired to do revolutionary things. You can usually follow them in many places, not just X.
Many people become industry friends when you interact online or meet at conferences.
Get the daily newsletter search that marketers rely on.
5. Online groups and communities
Online forums and communities were once the lifeblood of SEO communication and troubleshooting, and they continue to be very influential today.
Classic spaces like WebmasterWorld still encourage discussion and engagement, as do sites like Webmasters Stack Exchange, SEO forums, and the long-standing Moz community.
With the advent of social media and other industry communication platforms, troubleshooting forums are crowded, but either way you can find almost any answer you need.
6. Conference
Conferences provide a unique opportunity to listen, learn and, if you're interested, speak and present.
Typically held over several days with many of the most popular and insightful subject matter experts in SEO (and other marketing channels), these opportunities aren't free, but the value is priceless.
Depending on each conference's participation options and price range, you can either find a reputable conference relatively close to where you live or work, or you can attend a conference remotely (usually at a discounted rate).
Some of the best conferences include:
Conferences are an investment that companies should always make. These are great for networking with top professionals and provide an authentic way to meet online SEO connections face-to-face.
Tools help you learn how to work faster and more efficiently, but they also shape the SEO industry.
Most digital marketing SaaS tools can help you:
- Identify unique issues with your client's digital presence.
- Simplify tasks.
- Discovering new ways to identify and solve things in everyday life.
Their content team also consistently produces solid content that we can use to our advantage.
8. Use search and its features
We can read hundreds of articles a week using all the tools available to us, but if we are not engaged in search in real time, our knowledge will always remain limited.
We need to use all the tools and techniques to make our job easier, but using, testing, and exploring Google Search and all other related search engines will always be important.
Google is always testing new things (so don't get carried away with any changes you notice), but there's only one way to know the best search experience.
Test, experiment, hypothesize and test some more.
9. Let's work!
There's really only one way to be a good SEO. And that's SEO.
Part of an SEO's job is to stay on top of news, trends, and innovations.
Learning and growing in the trenches is the most effective and only true way to earn achievements.
The changes I have seen over the past 13 years have been amazing and even mind-boggling at times.
And it's all just beginning.
I do the work. Stay informed.
And enjoy the ride.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily those of Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.
