For those of you working in digital marketing, content creation or online brand development- SEO or Search Engine Optimization is an important box to tick off every time something goes online. While there are many courses out there with specializations on advanced SEO, beginner’s SEO, link building, KW (keywords) research, competitor analysis, inbound marketing etc.- it gets difficult to know when to get an SEO diploma. But before that, let us take care of the elephant in the room.
Is an SEO certification worth the investment?
Well, the answer to that question is- it depends. Technically, the answer to this question depends on a few factors:
i. Where you are in your SEO journey:
If you are someone who has years of experience in the SEO market and already has an established client base, it is not that important. In the marketplace, network and reputation matters more than anything else. Experienced SEO personnel get more clients via their existing client base and thus a certification would add little value. On the other hand, if you are new to SEO or are still building your network, an SEO certificate will make it easier for clients and employees to trust your skills from the get-go.
ii. How you see your career panning out:
If you want to stay as a small part of the industry with no long term plans or no ambition for more income, then a certification will probably not be a good investment to expect a return out of. However, for those who dream big and want to make a mark, an SEO certification is definitely a must.
iii. How much you want to invest:
We understand that not everyone has the same amount of starting capital. And that’s okay. There are multitudes of SEO courses out there ranging from tens to thousands of dollars. There are even websites which offer you diplomas for free. The content and benefits from these courses will definitely vary with price, but it’s no shame to start out with a cheaper certificate and then build your way up.
When to get SEO certified?
SEO sounds simple enough, right? Just make sure that your website or content matches with Google Analytics trends and you have your product. This easy explanation of the profession is often what lures newcomers into the business. However, it gets a lot more complicated than that. Optimizing content is based on a complex set of methodologies that require knowledge about SEO theories and constantly need to adapt to search trends and the ever-changing algorithms.
So the short answer to this question is, right away!
Looking to build your business or brand online? Get SEO certified.
Bootstrapping a website? Get SEO certified.
Looking for a job in marketing? Get SEO certified.
Want your business to show up higher on search results? Get SEO certified.
So what are you waiting for? Kickstart your career and take search engine optimization classes today!
