Market Motive - Take their SEO Course?

[StephBertha]

Hi there,

I'm considering taking Market Motive's online SEO course for $3,500. It's a steep price for me so I wanted to ask you guys if this is a wise choice. The course would grant me certification and is around 90 days to complete.

Has anyone had any experience with this course? It seems a little old, but Market Motive claims they update their videos.

[KyleChamp]

I agree with EGOL 100% on this. When I first started learning SEO I went to different forums and browsed the threads for hours. I joined SEOMOZ and read everything and watched everything I could get my hands on.

Eventually when I felt I had a good base, I created a website about a hobby I was into at the time, something that I was passionate about so it would keep me interested. That’s where I really started to learn SEO. After starting that site, I could pinpoint sections I was lacking and ask specific questions to the SEO community and do more research on it.

In my honest opinion, $3,500 is WAY too much since you can find anything and everything to need to know about SEO for free. Just need the motivation.

[EGOL]

I have a little different point of view.

If you are a very smart and very motivated person I would join SEOmoz for a few months and  get all of the learning possible here.  EVERYTHING.  At the same time I would start a website and start experimenting with what I have learned.   (Do not do  this on a site that a business or employees depend upon!)

Ask lots of questions here in Q&A.  Not general questions.  Ask very specific questions about what you don't understand.

Then, after you have learned a lot and have a site working to the best of your ability, hire an SEO for consultations on your site.  Have him/her look at what you have done and recommend on how it can be better.  Keep working on that site.

I believe that this study, work, and consultation will yield really good results and give feedback on a practical project.  And since you have skin in the game you will work harder and see practical benefit than simply working through a course that might not be directly relecant.

[AWCthreads]

Hi Stephanie,

I took the course last fall and recommend it if you have the basics down. It is pricey, but you get a LOT of information to digest that is immediately actionable. I'm an in-house SEO and told the boss if we're going to go to the "next level" I needed some training. Soaking up GWT best practices will only get you so far in my opinion and eventually you'll probably feel like you've plateaued. Here's a few observations on the course:

1. If you have a basic understanding of SEO and need more comprehensive and advanced training - it is very thorough. Almost too much information and in some cases not enough depth when needed. On-page optimization, site hierarchy/structure, local SEO and link building strategies were excellent.

2. The information is actionable. You can implement what you're given as you're getting it.

3.  Yes, some of the information/techniques are dated and could be fresher. It might be easier to keep it fresh if the scope was not so broad. Having said that, I like the breadth of the training.

4.  They have a support program where course instructors can answer student questions on-line. It's a great concept, but could be better executed in my opinion. I felt the instructor's were too busy with their own jobs, clients, life, etc. to provide timely answers and depth to students inquiries.

5. One hour a week we get to have a live chat webinar with the course instructor. I liked it but I could have spent a half hour myself asking questions that came up from the course due to its volume of strategies.

6. I would have liked more current "real world" examples of sites using the practices so we can see the tactics in action.

Now, I feel like I need advanced Analytics and CRO training to compliment the SEO training I've received. There's a lot to do and do well.

[RyanKent]

Steve Ollington is a Mozzer with a great reputation. He has taken the class and spoke very highly of it for advanced SEO training. Below is an article Steve wrote where he reviewed numerous training courses.

http://www.davidnaylor.co.uk/seo-training-courses-for-seo-certifications