When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate
There are 4 modules in this course
Unlock the secrets of SEO! Dive into the fascinating world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and discover how major search engines like Google rank websites and content. This introductory course is your gateway to mastering the art of SEO, offering a thrilling blend of theory and hands-on practice to boost your visibility on Google.
Course Highlights:
Demystifying SEO -
Uncover the inner workings of Google, the world's most popular search engine. Gain insider knowledge on how search algorithms evaluate and rank content, giving you a competitive edge in the digital landscape.
SEO Evolution and Future Trends -
Stay ahead of the curve by exploring the ever-changing SEO landscape. Learn to anticipate and adapt to future developments, ensuring your skills remain cutting-edge and relevant.
Proven Strategies and Tactics -
Master core SEO techniques to drive organic search traffic to your websites. Discover powerful methods to improve your search rankings while avoiding Google penalties.
Hands-on Experience -
Put theory into practice with exciting exercises designed to enhance your Google visibility. These engaging activities will solidify your understanding and provide immediate, real-world application of SEO principles, or help you create your own portfolio so you can get started with a career in SEO.
This course is the first in our comprehensive SEO Specialization. By the end, you'll have a solid foundation in SEO and delve deeper into this exciting field. Get ready to transform your digital presence and unlock new opportunities in the world of search engine optimization.
Welcome to the first week of the course! In this module, you will be able to define Search Engine Optimization and learn about the basics of SEO and how it helps users and website owners. We'll discuss and identify career paths and options for both SEOs and complementary roles. We'll also identify 3 key areas of SEO and their differences. Finally, we'll summarize how SEO has evolved and its future. Let's get started!
Course Navigation and Online Safety Statement•10 minutes
From Advice to Action: SEO Career Guide•50 minutes
Timeline of Google Search•15 minutes
Evolution of SEO•15 minutes
3 assignments•Total 115 minutes
Introduction to Google SEO Quiz•45 minutes
SEO Starter Quiz•10 minutes
Building Your Expertise as an SEO•60 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 15 minutes
Building Your Expertise as an SEO (Optional)•15 minutes
Current SEO Best Practices
Module 2•2 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, we'll be discussing items that SEOs spend a great deal of time dealing with: SEO best practices, the algorithm updates that look for them, and potential penalties for not adhering to them. By the end of this module, you'll be able to illustrate the concept of relevancy as it applies to search results. We'll discuss algorithm updates to keep search engine results high quality, and understand why a pro-active mindset is beneficial. You'll review and understand the different types of updates and how they might impact your website. Then, you'll learn how to identify potential reasons your site was impacted by an update. Let's get started!
What's included
4 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
Show info about module content
4 videos•Total 24 minutes
5 Best Practices for SEO•4 minutes
Algorithm Updates: History, Part 1•9 minutes
Algorithm Updates: Important Algorithms, Part 2•8 minutes
SEO Resources (Optional)•2 minutes
1 reading•Total 45 minutes
Introduction to Search Engine Algorithms•45 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Current SEO Best Practices Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 15 minutes
Your SEO Approach•15 minutes
SEO of Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond
Module 3•6 hours to complete
Module details
In this module, you’ll be able to analyze the role of social media and other emerging technologies on the landscape of SEO today, tomorrow, and beyond. We’ll explain how concepts like topic association and semantic analysis relate to the relevancy and trustworthiness of search results. Then, we’ll discuss the continued importance that speed and user experience play in search and how Google’s core web vitals help to monitor and manage performance in these areas. You’ll also analyze two updates, EEAT & YMYL, and how these updates work together to provide an improved search experience. You’ll then compare and contrast how rich results, featured snippets, and rich snippets work to better understand the differences and how to incorporate these into your SEO strategy. We’ll review AI Overviews and how it might impact search behavior. You’ll write your own content for a website that will improve search results. Finally, you’ll develop an optimization strategy that will increase traffic from search engines, and demonstrate the impact of brands and branding on search results. We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!
Rich Results and Structured Data, Part 1•3 minutes
Rich Results and Structured Data, Part 2•6 minutes
The Ever-Changing Appearance of Search Results•6 minutes
AI Overviews (AIO)•22 minutes
How Does Branding Influence Website Rank?•8 minutes
6 readings•Total 155 minutes
Core Web Vitals•20 minutes
EEAT & YMYL•15 minutes
Featured Snippets and Rich Results•20 minutes
BERT•10 minutes
Strengthening Your Keyword Strategy•60 minutes
How Branding and SEO Work Together•30 minutes
3 assignments•Total 90 minutes
SEO of Today, Tomorrow and Beyond Quiz•30 minutes
EEAT Site Evaluation•30 minutes
Search Appearance Audit•30 minutes
4 discussion prompts•Total 60 minutes
SEO of Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond•15 minutes
EEAT Site Evaluation (Optional)•15 minutes
Search Appearance Audit (Optional)•20 minutes
Poll Family & Friends•10 minutes
Your Audience and Building Personas
Module 4•4 hours to complete
Module details
You've made it to Module 4! In this module, you’ll learn about and understand common behaviors of web searchers that can help you market to different types of consumers. You’ll identify the best ways to build a persona and gather user data. We’ll discuss how SEO can work with a wider marketing team and other stakeholders in the persona development process. We’ll close out this course by using a variety of research methods and tools to develop a persona of an ideal buyer. Let's get started!
UC Davis, one of the nation’s top-ranked research universities, is a global leader in agriculture, veterinary medicine, sustainability, environmental and biological sciences, and technology. With four colleges and six professional schools, UC Davis and its students and alumni are known for their academic excellence, meaningful public service and profound international impact.
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Learner reviews
4.6
10,377 reviews
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D
DV
4·
Reviewed on Jun 11, 2020
The course was very comprehensive and exhaustive on On-Page SEO.Can include more details about Off-Page SEO and Domain related SEO.Overall a very well explained and useful Course.Thank you Very Much.
V
VJ
5·
Reviewed on Feb 17, 2019
An extremely well thought out and structured course. Absolutely loved all the lessons, quiz and reading material. I am motivated to continue through the rest of the courses in this specialization.
A
AB
5·
Reviewed on Mar 9, 2020
Excelente curso, muy didactico, toda la información es totalmente actualizada y de suma utilidad para todo aquel que desee niciar una carrera como SEO o tener conocimiento básicos sobre el tema.
You'll learn how Google SEO works and how to improve a site's visibility with a user-first approach. It starts with how search engines rank pages, then builds into topics like algorithm updates and user intent. You'll apply those ideas through guided activities such as evaluating a website or building a buyer persona.
Do I need any SEO background before taking this course?
No, you don't need prior SEO experience. The course starts with what SEO is, how search engines work, and why visibility matters before moving into topics like updates, search appearance, and personas. If you've worked with websites or marketing content before, some examples may feel more familiar, but the course doesn't assume that background.
Is this course beginner-friendly for SEO?
Yes, it's beginner-friendly if you want a broad introduction to SEO rather than advanced execution details. The course explains core ideas in plain language and reinforces them with quizzes, guided exercises, and short assignments like site evaluations and persona work. If you already know SEO basics and want deep technical implementation, it may feel too introductory.
How long does it take to complete this course?
Plan on about 17 hours total. At around 10 hours a week, many learners could finish in about 2 weeks, with time split across lessons, readings, and quizzes. The course also includes guided assignments and audits, so the workload isn't only video-based.
Are there hands-on exercises or projects in this course?
Yes, but the hands-on work is guided rather than project-heavy. You'll complete activities such as choosing websites for practice, evaluating a site's EEAT or search appearance, and building a buyer persona based on user intent and keyword research. That gives you a chance to apply each concept as you learn it without needing a large standalone project.
What SEO topics are covered in this course?
You'll cover search engine basics, ranking, and how Google updates can affect visibility. The course also gets into user-first SEO through personas, user intent, content planning, and current topics such as Core Web Vitals and EEAT. Overall, it gives you a practical overview of how to evaluate and improve a site's presence in search.
What can I actually do after finishing this course?
After finishing, you should be able to explain how Google Search and SEO work together and make beginner-level recommendations for a website. You can assess possible reasons for a traffic drop, spot issues tied to user experience or trust, and outline a simple optimization strategy for improving visibility. For example, you should be able to review a site's search appearance or create a buyer persona to guide content choices.
Is this course more theory or hands-on?
It's more concept-first than project-first. Most of the course focuses on understanding how search works, how updates shape SEO, and how to think through user-focused strategy, with guided assignments used to reinforce the ideas. That's a good match if you want clear explanations and structured practice rather than a tool-heavy build course.
Why choose this course over other SEO courses?
This course is a strong choice if you want a broad introduction to Google SEO that stays current without getting overly technical. Instead of focusing only on tactics, it connects search engine behavior, algorithm updates, user intent, and search appearance through guided audits and persona-based assignments. It's a better fit than narrower SEO courses if you want to understand both how ranking works and how to make user-first decisions for a real site.