Course Introduction and Specialization

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From the course by University of California, Davis

Introduction to Search Engine Optimization

2564 ratings

University of California, Davis

Introduction to Search Engine Optimization

2564 ratings

Course 1 of 6 in the Specialization Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Ever wonder how major search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo rank your website within their searches? Or how content such as videos or local listings are shown and ranked based on what the search engine considers most relevant to users? Welcome to the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). This course is the first within the SEO Specialization and it is intended to give you a taste of SEO. You will be introduced to the foundational elements of how search engines work, how the SEO landscape has changed and what you can expect in the future. You discuss core SEO strategies and tactics used to drive more organic search results to a specific website or set of websites, as well as tactics to avoid to prevent penalization from search engines. You will also discover how to position yourself for a successful career in SEO should this subject prove interesting to you. We hope this taste of SEO, will entice you to continue through the Specialization.

From the lesson

Getting Started & Introduction to SEO

Welcome to the first week of the course! In the lessons that follow, you will discuss and define the foundational overview of SEO and explore types of careers and salary expectations within SEO industry. By the end of this module, you should be able to define Search Engine Optimization and explain the basics of SEO as a business (as well as how SEO shapes the Internet itself.) You'll also be able to explain the differences between three main SEO job types, and be prepared to choose a career that best suits your current goals.

Course Introduction and Specialization3:00

Meet the Instructors

Rebekah May
SEO Manager & Lead SEO Instructor, Lead Qual
UC Davis Division of Continuing and Professional Education

[MUSIC]

Hello.

My name is Rebekah May, and I'd like to introduce you to the Introduction to

Search Engine Optimization.

I've been in the SEO field now for nearly a decade,

and I've worked in agency settings, in-house settings, and as a consultant.

I feel like SEO is a very exciting career choice that never grows old.

It's constantly evolving.

It really fits well with a variety of backgrounds and interests.

I've always had a strong interest in marketing and psychology and

found that search engine optimization really bridged those two interests well.

SEO has allowed me to understand how website visitors think and

act when performing searches online.

And I can use this knowledge when looking at keywords,

creating content recommendations, and more.

All of which you will learn in upcoming lessons.

I'm excited to introduce you to the world of SEO and

share upcoming information covered in these lessons.

This course is intended to provide you with a fundamental understanding of search

engine optimization or SEO By exploring the early days of the web

all the way through discussion of search engines as we know them.

Along the way,

you will learn about the different careers available to SEO practitioners.

As well as some of the influential minds that have shaped both the profession and

the technology behind it.

After you have completed this course,

you'll be able to describe the process by which a search engine indexes and

catalogs a site, and the underlying technology that allows it to do so.

While we discuss those technological advancements, we'll be paying special

attention to search engine algorithms, and how their evolution has shaped the way

we search as well as the best practices we follow as SEO professionals.

These best practices and the penalties that come from violating them

are what help us ensure reliable, trustworthy search results.

In addition to the current environment of SEO,

you'll be asked to think about how technology might evolve in the future, and

how this will impact search engines and the way we build websites.

[MUSIC]

During the later sections of the course, we'll discuss existing websites, and how

they have successfully or unsuccessfully managed the changing SEO landscape.

And when you finish the course,

you should feel well equipped to create your own content strategy that will

improve your site's visibility as well as being able to monitor website's health and

optimize its content to improve traffic and search ranking.

This course is open to all skill levels.

So, some of this information may be a refresher for you.

However, I hope you'll come away with a new appreciation for the art of SEO and

feel prepared for other courses in the specialization

as well as the potential career in search engine optimization.

I'm excited to have the opportunity to present this material to such

a broad audience.

And I can't wait to hear from everyone as we move forward.

Welcome to the course, now let's begin.

[MUSIC]

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