A GUIDE TO BECOMING AN SEO EXPERT IN 2023

Before we delve into the steps to become an SEO expert, let's grasp the significance of this role. An SEO expert is not just a professional; they are the architects of digital prominence. They employ an array of techniques to enhance a website's visibility and ranking in search engine result pages (SERPs). The SEO expert's toolkit includes content optimization, on-page and off-page SEO, understanding JavaScript frameworks, responsive design trends, search engine marketing (SEM), social media optimization (SMO), and paid-advertising strategies.

Here is a list of the most popular and most widely used SEO tools in every SEO Experts Arsenal:

Google Analytics: Provides detailed website traffic and user behavior data, helping you analyze the effectiveness of your SEO strategies.

Google Search Console: Offers insights into how Googlebot views your site, helps identify and fix issues, and provides performance data.

SEMrush: A comprehensive SEO tool that offers keyword research, competitor analysis, site auditing, and backlink analysis.

Ahrefs: Known for its robust backlink analysis and competitive research capabilities, it also provides keyword research and site auditing tools.

Moz Pro: Offers a range of SEO tools, including site auditing, keyword research, and link building, with a focus on actionable insights.

Screaming Frog SEO Spider: A desktop website crawler that helps identify technical SEO issues and provides data for site optimization.

SEOptimer: A quick website audit tool that identifies on-page SEO issues and offers recommendations for improvement.

Majestic: Specializes in backlink analysis and provides data on trust flow, citation flow, and backlink history.

Rank Ranger: Offers rank tracking, competitor analysis, and comprehensive reporting for SEO and digital marketing campaigns.

Ubersuggest: A free keyword research tool that provides data on search volume, keyword ideas, and content opportunities.

SpyFu: Focuses on competitor analysis, allowing you to see your competitors' keywords, ad campaigns, and organic search rankings.

Serpstat: Provides in-depth keyword research, site analysis, and backlink data, as well as content and PPC analysis.

BuzzSumo: Helps you find popular content in your niche and identifies influencers for content promotion.

Siteliner: Analyzes your website for duplicate content and broken links, which can negatively impact SEO.

SerpBook: A rank tracking tool that monitors keyword positions in search results and provides historical ranking data.

MozBar: A browser extension by Moz that displays SEO metrics for any webpage you visit, making on-the-fly analysis easier.

Raven Tools: Combines SEO, social media, content, and PPC tools in one platform for comprehensive digital marketing analysis.

Moz Local: Helps manage local SEO by ensuring consistent business listings across various directories and platforms.

BrightLocal: Offers local SEO tools for managing business listings, online reviews, and local search rankings.

Woorank: Provides a website audit and in-depth analysis of on-page and off-page SEO factors.

Linkody: Monitors your backlink profile and sends alerts for new backlinks or lost links.

WebCEO: A multifunctional SEO platform offering keyword research, site auditing, link building, and reporting.

KeywordTool.io: A keyword research tool that provides long-tail keyword suggestions and search volume data.

SEObility: Offers on-page optimization, site auditing, and backlink analysis tools for website optimization.

Cora SEO Software: Analyzes on-page factors to help optimize your website's content and structure for improved rankings.

LinkResearchTools (LRT): Focuses on link analysis, penalty recovery, and link auditing to improve your backlink profile.

These tools can assist you in various aspects of SEO, from keyword research and site auditing to backlink analysis and competitive research. Depending on your specific needs and budget, you can choose the tools that align with your SEO goals.

Here is a list of open-source SEO TOOLS:

Open Web Analytics: An open-source web analytics platform that helps track user behavior and measure the success of your SEO efforts.

Matomo (formerly Piwik): A free and open-source web analytics platform that offers insights into website traffic, user behavior, and more.

WebGazer: An open-source SEO tool that helps identify technical issues on your website and provides recommendations for improvement.

XML-sitemaps.com: A free online tool for generating XML sitemaps to improve search engine indexing.

GTMetrix: A web performance and page speed analysis tool that helps you optimize website loading times, a crucial factor in SEO.

SeoPanel: An open-source SEO control panel that allows you to manage various SEO tasks, including keyword tracking and website analysis.

Joomla SEO Suite: A set of open-source SEO extensions for Joomla websites, helping you optimize on-page SEO and site structure.

Opencart SEO Pack PRO: An SEO extension for OpenCart e-commerce websites, enabling better product and category optimization.

Nutch: An open-source web crawler and search engine that can be used to build your custom search engine.

phpMyAdmin: A popular open-source tool for managing MySQL databases, which is essential for handling SEO data.

Search Engine Ranking Monitor (SERM): A PHP-based open-source tool for tracking keyword rankings and monitoring your website's SEO performance.

Fathom Analytics: A simple, privacy-focused website analytics platform that can provide insights into your website's traffic without compromising user data.

TinyCP: An open-source web control panel that allows you to manage server configurations for improved website performance.

SEO Panel: An open-source SEO control panel that offers features like keyword tracking, site audits, and backlink analysis.

SimpleBackups: A free open-source tool for creating and scheduling website backups, ensuring data integrity for SEO purposes.

Here are some SEO Plugins for WordPress every SEO Expert should know of:

AccessibilityPlus - Improve pagespeed insight or lighthouse accessibility scores by fixing recommended issues.

Slim SEO - A fast and automated SEO plugin for WordPress.

UnBloater - The perfect Google PageSpeed Insights Score 100/100 Mobile & 100/100 Desktop for any modern WordPress Theme.

Simple Sitemap - HTML sitemap to display content as a single linked list of posts, pages, or custom post types. You can even display posts in groups sorted by taxonomy!

WPCode Pro | Code Snippets - Easily add code snippets in WordPress. Insert scripts to the header and footer, add PHP code snippets with conditional logic, insert ads pixel, custom content, and more.

XML Sitemap Generator for Google - This plugin improves SEO using sitemaps for best indexation by search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo and others.

External Related Posts - Grabs related links from Google Blog Search, inserts a link to them into your post and gives them a pingback.

Infinite Scroll Random Post - This plugin will add Infinite Scroll with Random Posts at the end of each Post Single Page.

Inline Related Posts - Inline Related Posts AUTOMATICALLY inserts related posts INSIDE your content, capturing immediately the reader's attention

No Category Base (WPML) - Removes '/category' from your category permalinks. WPML compatible.

Opace Essential SEO Toolkit - The Opace Essential SEO Toolkit is a collection of useful SEO tools, which can be accessed using any post type. Simply click and open your URL using a wide range of SEO tools.

Rapid Canonical URLs - Reduce 301 redirects and HTTP requests by using HTML5’s history API to show visitors the correct, canonical URL.

SEO Auto Linker - SEO Auto Linker is based on the original SEO Auto Links plugin by Maarten Brakkee. It allows you to setup a list of keywords with default internal and external links. Development of the original plugin seems to have ended as it broke after migrating to PHP 8. If you have a deactivated version of the original plugin, keep it deactivated. Install this one and the original settings will be used.

Here is a list of Link-Building Software used by some SEO experts:

Remember, automated link-building tools can be risky, as they can lead to spammy or low-quality links that may harm your website's SEO. It's important to use such tools cautiously and ensure that the links they build are relevant and high-quality. Here are a few free and open-source tools that can help with various aspects of link-building:

1. Scrapy: An open-source web crawling framework in Python that can be used to extract data from websites, including identifying potential backlink sources.

2. GSA Search Engine Ranker: While not open source, GSA SER is a widely-used tool for automating the process of creating backlinks. It should be used with caution to avoid low-quality link-building.

3. Xenu's Link Sleuth: Although primarily used for website auditing and broken link identification, it can help discover potential link-building opportunities by checking outbound links on other websites.

4. SEO SpyGlass: It's not open source, but it offers a free version. This tool can help you find backlink opportunities by analyzing your competitors' backlink profiles.

5. LinkMiner: A browser extension that can be used to find broken or dead links on a web page, which can be potential opportunities for building new backlinks.

6. Check My Links: A browser extension for Google Chrome that helps identify broken links on a webpage, which can be a way to discover link-building opportunities.

PLEASE NOTE: It's important to reiterate that automated link-building should be used with caution. It's often better to focus on creating high-quality, valuable content and engaging in manual outreach to build authentic, relevant backlinks. Automated tools can be a risky shortcut that may result in penalties from search engines if used improperly.

These open-source SEO tools and software can assist website owners, marketers, and developers in various aspects of search engine optimization, ranging from on-page optimization and analytics to technical SEO and website performance.

It's essential to differentiate between an SEO specialist and an SEO expert. While the terms are often used interchangeably, an SEO expert is a specialist who has honed their skills through more than seven years of practical experience in the field. Not all SEO specialists reach the level of expertise; it is a distinction earned through successful SEO campaigns and the ability to identify and research key phrases that improve visibility in search engines while focusing on conversions and return on investment (ROI).

Technical SEO plays a pivotal role in ensuring websites are not only discoverable but also user-friendly. In this comprehensive guide, we navigate the intricacies of technical SEO with a focus on the Apache web server running on a Linux environment, harmonizing the realms of SEO, Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript frameworks, and the versatile WordPress content management system (CMS).

At its core, Technical SEO, or Technical Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of optimizing a website and web server in order to improve page speed, user experience, and thus recieve higher more targted keyword rankings and increased flux in organic traffic from SERPs. It goes beyond just aiming for the number one ranking. To secure a place on the first page of Google for keywords that matter, a solid foundation in Technical SEO, On-page and Off-page SEO is essential in order to win at Technical SEO for better Google SEO.

The Significance of Technical SEO

Technical SEO, often considered the backbone of a website's SEO strategy, revolves around optimizing the technical aspects of a website to enhance its visibility in search engine result pages (SERPs). In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, the complexities of technical SEO have grown exponentially, necessitating a profound understanding of both SEO principles and the technical infrastructure on which websites operate.

The Apache Web Server and Linux: A Robust Foundation

Apache, an open-source web server, and Linux, an open-source operating system, are stalwarts of the digital realm. Together, they form a robust foundation for hosting websites. Understanding their dynamics is vital for SEO experts navigating the technical intricacies of web optimization.

The Apache Web Server: Apache is renowned for its reliability, scalability, and versatility. SEO experts working with Apache must master server configurations, virtual hosting, SSL certificates, and URL rewriting. These elements play a pivotal role in ensuring a website's technical readiness for optimal SEO performance.

Linux Operating System: Linux, with its open-source nature, offers a stable environment for web hosting. SEO experts delving into technical SEO must acquaint themselves with Linux commands, file systems, and permissions. This knowledge empowers them to navigate the Linux environment efficiently, ensuring the seamless operation of websites.

Database Management with MySQL

MySQL, an open-source relational database management system, is often the database of choice for web applications. SEO experts engaging in technical SEO must grasp the intricacies of MySQL, including database design, optimization, and management. This knowledge enables them to fine-tune websites for optimal performance and user experience.

The Power of PHP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript

To optimize a website's technical SEO, SEO experts must have a command of programming languages and technologies. PHP, a server-side scripting language, is integral to web development, enabling dynamic content generation. Proficiency in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript is equally crucial. These languages dictate a website's structure, presentation, and interactivity. SEO experts must harness their capabilities to ensure websites are SEO-friendly, responsive, and visually appealing.

Harnessing JavaScript Frameworks

JavaScript frameworks have revolutionized web development, enabling the creation of dynamic, interactive websites. SEO experts must not only understand the role of JavaScript in enhancing user experience but also ensure that search engine crawlers can effectively index JavaScript-based content. This duality of functionality and SEO readiness is the hallmark of technical SEO excellence.

WordPress CMS: A Versatile Platform

WordPress, a popular CMS, offers a versatile platform for website creation and management. SEO experts proficient in WordPress must navigate its themes, plugins, and architecture to optimize websites for search engines. They also ensure that content is organized, structured, and easily discoverable by both users and search engine crawlers.

Optimizing Technical SEO with Precision

Technical SEO is a multifaceted endeavor, encompassing various aspects such as website speed optimization, mobile responsiveness, schema markup, structured data, canonicalization, XML sitemaps, and server status codes. SEO experts must orchestrate these elements with precision to create a technically sound and SEO-friendly website.

The SEO Expert's Role in Technical SEO

SEO experts act as the architects of technical SEO, ensuring that websites are not only discoverable but also provide an exceptional user experience. Their proficiency in SEO principles, Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript frameworks, and WordPress empowers them to fine-tune websites for optimal SEO performance.

In a digital landscape teeming with over one billion websites, the challenge is to secure a prominent place in the SERPs. Approximately 68 percent of online experiences begin with a search engine query, making SEO an essential component of any digital marketing strategy. For a business to thrive in this digital age, it must be easily discoverable with a quick Google search. SEO serves as the key to this digital prominence. 

Modern SEO strategies involve a series of tactics and strategies aimed at improving a website's online visibility for searche phraes that are relevant to the users intent and its niche, which is a Google Ranking Factor today. A failure to rank can be attributed to various factors, including:

• Better Search Intent and Long Form Content from competitors

• Ineffective keyword usage

• Poor link-building practices

• Slow page loading times

• A subpar user experience

Understanding the Mechanics of Search Engines

To excel in the field of SEO, one must comprehend the inner workings of search engines. Search engines aim to provide users with the most relevant web pages based on their queries. While search engines guard their algorithms, there are well-known factors that influence rankings. In 2019, the top SEO ranking factors, as per OptinMonster, include domain age, URL, and authority, links, mobile-friendliness, optimized content, page speed (including mobile), real business information, a secure website, social signals, technical SEO, and user experience (Google RankBrain).

Understanding the Significance of Google SEO

At the heart of the digital realm lies the behemoth that is Google, the search engine that dominates the online experience for countless users. Google SEO, or search engine optimization tailored for Google's algorithms, is the key to unlocking the door to online prominence. It is the process of optimizing web content to ensure that it ranks high in Google's search results. This is a pivotal strategy for businesses, as a prominent position on Google can translate into a substantial increase in organic website traffic.

The Complexities of Google SEO

Google SEO is a multifaceted endeavor, requiring in-depth knowledge and a nuanced approach. SEO experts are akin to digital architects, constructing strategies that encompass keyword research, content optimization, on-page and off-page SEO, technical auditing, and the craft of user experience (UX) enhancement. To understand the profound nature of Google SEO, let us delve into its core components:

Keyword Research and Optimization: The foundation of Google SEO lies in the meticulous selection and optimization of keywords. SEO experts are adept at identifying relevant keywords that align with the business or individual's objectives. These keywords are strategically woven into the website's content to improve its search engine ranking.

Content Optimization: Google places immense importance on the quality of content. SEO experts create high-quality, engaging content that not only appeases search engines but also resonates with the target audience. This is a delicate balance that requires a deep understanding of user intent and content creation.

Technical Auditing: The technical aspects of a website play a crucial role in Google SEO. SEO experts ensure that the website is accessible to both users and search engine crawlers. This involves optimizing website architecture, enhancing loading times, and ensuring mobile responsiveness.

Link-Building: Building high-quality, authoritative backlinks is an integral part of Google SEO. These links act as a vote of confidence from other websites and play a significant role in determining a website's authority and ranking.

User Experience Enhancement: SEO experts focus on optimizing user experience. A seamless and user-friendly website is more likely to rank higher on Google.

The Alchemy of Google SEO

Google SEO is not a one-size-fits-all approach. It is an ever-evolving field that requires SEO experts to stay updated with the latest trends, algorithms, and best practices. Google continuously refines its algorithms to deliver the most relevant search results to users. An SEO expert's role is to adapt and refine strategies to align with these changes, ensuring consistent prominence on Google.

The Strategic Imperative of Google SEO

In a world where digital presence is synonymous with success, Google SEO is not a luxury; it is a strategic necessity. A prominent position on Google's search results pages can open doors to a steady stream of organic leads and targeted website traffic. This translates into growth, profitability, and the fulfillment of digital objectives.

The demand for SEO expertise continues to surge as companies recognize the importance of optimizing their online presence. SEO experts are tasked with increasing web traffic, executing digital campaigns, and driving new business. In today's digital era, an SEO expert is expected to account for roughly half of a website's traffic. With top-ranking websites receiving approximately 68 percent of clicks, SEO expertise can significantly impact a business's growth and revenue.

SEO brings various benefits to businesses, including a great return on investment (ROI), improved online visibility, enhanced brand credibility, and valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences. SEO empowers businesses to harness the full potential of their digital marketing efforts.

1. Increased Website Traffic: Effective SEO strategies can improve your website's visibility in search engine results, leading to more organic traffic.

2. Higher Quality Traffic: SEO efforts can target specific keywords and demographics, attracting visitors who are more likely to convert into customers.

3. Improved User Experience: SEO involves optimizing website structure and content, making it more user-friendly and engaging.

4. Enhanced Credibility and Trust: Websites ranking high in search results are often perceived as more trustworthy and credible by users.

5. Cost-Effective Marketing: Organic search traffic is free, reducing the need for costly paid advertising.

6. Better Mobile Experience: Mobile optimization is a crucial aspect of SEO, ensuring your website performs well on mobile devices.

7. Competitive Advantage: Outranking competitors in search results can give your business a competitive edge.

8. Brand Visibility: SEO can increase your brand's online presence, helping potential customers find you easily.

9. Local SEO for Local Business: Local SEO tactics can boost your visibility in local searches, attracting nearby customers.

10. Analytics and Insights: SEO tools provide valuable data and insights about your website's performance and user behavior.

11. Increased Conversion Rates: SEO-optimized websites tend to have better conversion rates as they provide a more relevant user experience.

12. Long-Term Strategy: SEO is a sustainable, long-term strategy that can provide ongoing benefits over time.

13. Global Reach: SEO can help you reach a global audience, expanding your business beyond geographical boundaries.

14. Adaptation to Algorithm Changes: SEO experts stay updated with search engine algorithm changes, ensuring your website remains relevant and compliant.

15. Content Marketing Integration: SEO and content marketing often go hand in hand, helping you create valuable, shareable content.

16. Measurable Results: SEO efforts are quantifiable, allowing you to track progress and measure the impact of your strategies.

17. Enhanced Social Media Presence: SEO can boost your social media visibility, driving more traffic from social platforms.

18. Improved Site Speed: SEO optimization often includes improving website loading times, leading to a better user experience.

19. Reduced Bounce Rates: Targeted SEO strategies can reduce bounce rates by providing users with the information they seek.

20. Continuous Growth: SEO is an ongoing process that can lead to consistent growth in website traffic and conversions.

21. Positive User Experience: A well-optimized website provides a smoother and more satisfying user experience.

22. Easier Site Maintenance: SEO practices often lead to cleaner, better-organized websites that are easier to maintain.

23. Better Understanding of Market Trends: SEO experts monitor market trends and user behavior, providing insights for strategic decision-making.

24. Higher ROI: Compared to traditional advertising, SEO typically offers a higher return on investment.

25. Accessibility and Inclusivity: SEO practices can make websites more accessible to all users, including those with disabilities.

26. Enhanced Social Sharing: SEO-optimized content is more likely to be shared on social media platforms, increasing its reach.

27. Global Market Entry: SEO can be instrumental in expanding your business into new international markets.

28. Reputation Management: SEO can help manage online reputation by promoting positive content and pushing down negative search results.

29. Cross-Device Compatibility: SEO strategies ensure your website is compatible with various devices and screen sizes.

30. Business Growth: Ultimately, SEO can contribute to business growth, increased revenue, and long-term success.

To embark on the journey of becoming an SEO expert, follow these seven essential steps:

1. Learn the Basics: Begin by understanding how search engines operate and the fundamentals of SEO.

2. Grasp SEO Strategies: Delve into SEO concepts, strategies, and best practices.

3. Participate in SEO Training: Enroll in SEO training courses to gain structured knowledge.

4. Stay Updated: Keep abreast of industry trends and news to adapt to evolving SEO strategies.

5. Familiarize Yourself with SEO Tools: Explore SEO tools that aid in analysis and optimization.

6. Experiment: Implement SEO tactics on your website or blog to gain practical experience.

7. Showcase Results: Display your efforts and results to potential employers, showcasing your expertise.

In a world where digital prominence reigns supreme, SEO expertise is the key to unlocking success. Becoming an SEO expert is not just a professional choice; it is a strategic imperative. The digital realm is in a state of perpetual transformation, and the SEO expert is the steadfast navigator guiding businesses and individuals to prominence.