SEO is a dynamic and growing career field that demands knowledge and skills in a variety of website optimization strategies and tactics in order to be successful. This course is designed to provide you with a solid foundation in SEO including the different elements comprising a website optimization client report, and arm you with skills you need to develop a tactical approach to SEO.
Whether you have successfully completed the other courses in the Search Engine Optimization specialization or are taking just this course, this project is your chance to apply the knowledge you’ve acquired to practice important SEO tactics and optimize a site of your choice from the ground-up. You will identify optimization opportunities on a site and discover valuable tips for pitching your plan and managing your relationship with your client, you will then develop a customized SEO solution for the website you chose, and go through each of the major steps needed to execute your strategy including keyword research, competitive analysis, improving the site’s meta-data and on-page elements. Along the way, you will receive feedback through the peer review process. This community of fellow learners will provide additional input to help you refine your approach to SEO and present your findings to clients and management.
This course is part of the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization
Website Optimization Client Report Project
Offered By
About this Course
4.8
73 ratings
What you will learn
Create an SEO Pitch
Prepare and perform a competitive analysis
Analyze and create a keyword map
Create a final report of your findings and recommendations for SEO and present your recommendations to your client
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
111 hours to complete
Getting Started and Milestone 1: Gauging a Site's Opportunity for Improvement
In this first milestone, you will identify a potential client’s website by using your skills to gauge a website’s opportunity for improvement and higher ranking. Once you have selected a website, you will create an SEO pitch to inform and persuade a potential client to adopt a new SEO strategy. Finally, you will develop a set of kick-off questions that will help gather the information you need to begin to develop your SEO strategy.
2 videos (Total 9 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz
5 readings
A Note from UC Davis10m
Identifying a Potential Client - Resources (Part 1)10m
Create an SEO Pitch - Resources (Part 2)30m
Develop Kickoff Questions - Resources (Part 3)20m
Kick-Off Questions Template1m
Week
217 hours to complete
Milestone 2: Initial Research Phase
In this milestone, you will focus on the initial research required to begin optimizing a website. This milestone has three main activities including developing a buyer persona, conducting keyword research, and performing competitive research. These activities will help you identify your target audience, frame your keyword research, and gain insight into your competition. The information you gather from this research process will help you develop a successful strategy for the website.
1 video (Total 8 min), 6 readings, 1 quiz
1 video
6 readings
Developing a Persona - Resources (Part 1)30m
User/Buyer Persona Template1m
Performing Keyword Research - Resources (Part 2)40m
Keyword Research Example & Template1m
Conducting a Competitive Analysis - Resources (Part 3)50m
Keyword Competitive Analysis Template1m
Week
312 hours to complete
Milestone 3: Conducting a Content Audit and Technical Review
In this third milestone, you’ll examine the content of your competitors’ sites through a content audit to better position your own SEO campaign. You’ll also conduct an internal content audit to compare your site to those of your competitors and identify areas for improvement. Also in this milestone, you will develop a keyword matrix to help you determine which keywords should be assigned to specific pages on your site. In the final part of the milestone, you’ll perform a technical review of the site to identify any technical factors that may impact the ranking of the website. Each of these activities is critical to On-Page SEO.
1 video (Total 8 min), 9 readings, 1 quiz
9 readings
Competitive Content Analysis (Part 1)30m
Competitive Analysis Template1m
Internal Content Audit - Resources (Part 2)30m
Internal Content Audit Template1m
Keyword Mapping - Resources (Part 3)50m
Keyword Mapping Template1m
Technical SEO - Resources (Part 4)20m
Error Tracking Template1m
Technical Audit Template1m
Week
46 hours to complete
Milestone 4: Presenting Your Findings
In this final milestone, you will develop a comprehensive presentation representing all the work you have done throughout the course. Using a standard outline, you’ll create one cohesive Word document and present your findings, analysis, and recommendations to your peers. The final presentation will also include a video in which you present your case to a potential client or employer outlining how your SEO strategy will improve ranking and business.
2 videos (Total 6 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz
2 readings
Presenting Your Findings - Resources30m
SEO Audit Template1m
4.8
19 Reviews57%
started a new career after completing these courses
44%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
25%
got a pay increase or promotion
Top Reviews
If you want to be an expert in SEO and work in the field this is the series of courses to lean the craft.\n\nWhen you complete this course you will be ready to put your skills to work!
Really enjoyed this course, it was consistent with everything I have learned in a professional SEO agency and taught many new things as well as provided good practical resources.
Instructor
Rebekah May
SEO Manager & Lead SEO Instructor, Lead QualUC Davis Division of Continuing and Professional Education
About University of California, Davis
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.
About the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialization
This Specialization will teach you to optimize website content for the best possible search engine ranking. You'll learn the theory behind Google search and other search engine algorithms; you'll also build practical, real-world skills that you can apply to a career in digital marketing or online content development, including on-page and off-page optimization, optimizing for local and international audiences, conducting search-focused website audits, and aligning SEO with overall business strategies. Each course is intended to build on the skills from the previous course, thus we recommend you take the courses in the order they are listed. The Specialization culminates in a hands-on Capstone Project, in which you will apply your skills to a comprehensive SEO consulting task.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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