i would like to suggest u just go through this forum u no need to join any corces.u will learn all the seo techniques here.and u can find all useful matirial here.
Seojig - Where can I find some main strategies to follow? I'm searching through the forums, but it's all a lot to take in. A place to start would be nice. Thank you.
It will be good if there is indeed a Recognized Institution where we can get SEO certification, but at the moment there is none. You could try looking at brainbench or you can try Google Analytics Authorized Consultancy test.
I have learned a lot on this forum so I do agree with you. I was asking since there seems to be a ton of jobs from companies looking for SEO/SEM Managers and I do have some knowledge of this but not as much as I need. I thought getting a certification would be helpful in achieving a position like this and most of these positions pay very well to my surprise. I also looked at Sempo.org and they are having open enrollment right now for their courses but its quite expensive and set up as a work from home / online / independent study type course. Do you suggest having my resume reflect more of the SEO/SEM knowledge and experience? The other issue is my own site(s) I have to work on getting higher in the rankings to show my knowledge. I come from the educational world, so I figured since I needed a degree or two with certifications for teaching, that a certification would be helpful if I was interested in trying to get a position.
Thanks I looked at it after doing a search on google for "SEO certification" and it seemed a little off to me.
Well think of a certification only when you are looking for a job. I never looked for a job, though i tried the Expert Rating test and certification. I got some marks and they sent me certificate but infact it is useless.
Even if you are looking for a job certification would be useless... its all about your portfolio and the work u have done thats it. Try and make a few sites that will rank well enough for some competitive search terms and show that off... it will have a much more lasting impact than any certification. As for learning stuff just follow all the blogs like seomoz and bluehat... they should give u loads of ideas.
Wonderful! Thank you for all the advice and I will read the blogs you are suggesting. This forum has been so informative, willing to help and appreciate all the helpful information. Lisa
if you get any certification its basically useless because there a no large organizations backing them. Maybe when the industry matures a little
any seo "certification" is worthless! There is such a dynamic "unknown" factor to it. It's not like learning html or networking. Having an seo certification would be like having a quantum physics certification. It just doesn't make sense.
I agree. At SEO conferences I see Bruce Clay and other's offering certifications and when I ask who backs it...the answer is simply....we do. sounds very arrogant to me.
I really appreciate everyone's help. I will continue working on site rankings and reading the forums and blogs and getting more knowledgeable about SEO / SEM. It seems to be the overall opinion. Thanks! Lisa
Gee Lisa.. U have my email, what more do you need? Truly I could care less what 'so-called' certification some one may have. It's about their knowledge and ability to answer common questions I put forth. The paper means nada. NOW - that said - if the course itself is full of bootilicious SEO goodness, then it may give you that knowledge. That is what is important I suppose. Does the accomanying course/curriculum TEACH.. something I believe U are familiar with... he he U could always check out the (tongue in cheek) Not So Elite Retreat he he.... now that's fun learnin for ya -
I do have your e-mail address and don't want to bog you down with 20 questions. It was a question I asked since I figured it was something on my mind. I knew I could teach from a young age but no school would let me teach without a degree and certification so I gather that is where this question stems from. Thanks!
SEO certification is worthless, but Analytics certification may be worthwhile. I just completed the Google Analytics IQ test and while I didn't find it worth $50 for what I got out of it, at least it is certification with credible backing (although in the same vein as some of the comments posted earlier, someone unfamiliar with Google Analytics or the certification test would have no way to benchmark its validity as a real indicator of skill level). Time will tell.