Your rankings climbed. Your conversions increased. And then you hit a wall.
It’s a position that many companies have been in, and one that often leads to costly solutions—hiring SEO agencies, building new teams, creating more strategies—without guaranteed results.
But there is a better solution, two of them, actually. SEO training and SEO coaching could get you back on track and set you up for long-term success.
What is the Difference Between SEO Training and SEO Coaching?
SEO training and SEO coaching both aim to teach you and your company about key elements of SEO. But there are key differences between these two methods:
- SEO training focuses on fundamental SEO, including technical, on-page, and off-page SEO. It is targeted toward relevant employees in your organization and is often arranged using in-person lessons.
- SEO coaching focuses more on specific strategies and methods that are relevant to your business, helping you to think and create campaigns like an SEO expert.
What is SEO Training?
Many companies choose to outsource their SEO to experienced agencies or consultants. They put their site and rankings in the hands of experienced professionals who will do what’s needed to get the desired results.
They might get those results, but in the end, the client largely remains in the dark about the steps that were taken and the reasons those rankings improved.
If the rankings drop—whether because of a fundamental change in the site’s content or a Google algorithm update—the company may be forced to sign another contract and start another project.
SEO training can remedy this. It’s an SEO education package that covers the fundamentals of SEO and teaches in-house teams how to manage everything themselves.
It’s not just the basics, either. A good SEO training package will teach key members of the organization’s team how to create strategies while accounting for technical, on-page, and off-page SEO, as well as auditing/reporting.
Pros and Cons of SEO Training
An SEO educator can teach an individual or team how to create successful strategies. Rather than relying on outsourcing, they can focus on building their own teams and implementing strategies.
They’ll learn everything they need to get a project off the ground, from finding keywords and planning content to building links. It’s more work in the short-term, but it’s usually cheaper in the long-term, and it keeps everything in-house, negating the need for outside agencies and consultants.
The downside is that it doesn’t focus on the specific needs of a company or the requirements of its industry. The fundamentals don’t change that much from one industry to the next, but the level of competition can vary greatly across different sectors and some need a more personalized approach than others.
What is SEO Coaching?
SEO coaching is more personal. It incorporates elements of SEO training in that it covers many of the basics, but it goes much further than that, teaching entrepreneurs and executives how to think like an SEO expert.
It’s industry-specific, so rather than learning how to implement general SEO strategies, it focuses on areas that are relevant in the entrepreneur’s industry.
Pros and Cons of SEO Coaching
As SEO coaching is more personalized, it can be a more expensive option. The total cost will depend on the level of involvement and the degree of coaching, as well as the total number of sessions and the skill of the consultant.
However, if they’re paying for SEO coaching, an entrepreneur or executive can learn how to think like an SEO expert. They’ll have direct contact with someone who knows how to create successful strategies and can deal with any issue that may arise.
Do I Need SEO Training or SEO Coaching?
There is no “better” option here. It all depends on what you’re hoping to achieve and how much involvement you want.
If you’re building an in-house SEO team for a growing business, SEO training is probably the best solution.
The educator will teach your team how to create and implement strategies. They’ll learn all of the fundamentals while also discovering the tools and resources needed for continued education.
A single session may be all they need to get started, after which they can learn as they create.
If you already have an SEO team and have created multiple campaigns that aren’t really working for you, SEO coaching could be more suitable. They can address the issues and teach team leaders how to navigate them.
You’re effectively learning how to think and act like an SEO consultant, and that sort of education will pay for itself in the long term.
Entrepreneurs may also benefit more from SEO coaching. Assuming they are doing the work themselves, they’ll need to learn about building a personal brand. The fundamentals are important, but it’s imperative that they learn the nuances of SEO strategies so they can continue to build their personal brand without continued assistance.
SEO training and SEO coaching often go hand in hand, and companies that provide one will usually offer the other. Such is the case here at Optics In, where we offer both training and coaching services. So, if you’re not sure which one is more suited to your business goals, get in touch and we will help.
Summary: Improve Your SEO Outlook with Training or Coaching
SEO is not a one-and-done strategy. It takes time to create a winning campaign, and it needs ongoing work to adapt to changing algorithms and trends while continuing to push out new content and build more brand authority.
It can get very expensive, especially if you’re relying on full-service SEO agencies to do all of the work for you. SEO training/coaching is a cheaper alternative and a long-term solution.
Get in touch today using the form below or visit our SEO Training and SEO Coaching pages to learn more about these services and the benefits they provide.
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