Looking for the best SEO training in Vancouver? I’ve got you covered.
Here are the top 4 offline and online SEO courses you should consider investing in in 2024:
1. Gotch SEO Academy
I (Nathan Gotch) founded this program, and I’m an SEO specialist with over a decade of experience leading successful campaigns.
You’ll learn:
- How to start an SEO agency even without experience
- How to get predictable SEO results and organic traffic using systems, templates, and step-by-step SOPs.
Here’s how everything you’ll get from this industry-leading training program:
Up-to-**** Course Material
We just launched the new SEO Expert Certification v2.0, which shows you how to use AI in your SEO process.
These new systems allow you to get SEO results faster than ever by leveraging this amazing technology.
Here’s the SEO system at a high level:
- Keyword Research: You’ll learn the art and science of finding, qualifying, and prioritizing your keywords, which will ensure you’re targeting the right keywords that your potential customers are searching.
- Technical SEO Audit + Optimization: This process will help you discover and prioritize technical and user experience issues that are hurting your website rankings. The good news is that you don’t need to be a web developer to execute these changes.
- SEO Content Creation, Upgrades, and Optimization: You’ll learn how to create SEO content that ranks.
- Link Bait Development + Link Building Strategies (Off-Page SEO): Backlinks are among the most important factors influencing search rankings. I’ll show you how to create content that websites **** linking to so you can grow your site’s authority.
- Local SEO: All other SEO efforts help with local pack rankings. But there are specific variables you need to optimize for to rank. I’ll show you exactly what to do.
You’ll also get access to SEO Agency Accelerator, which will show a proven process for starting and scaling an SEO agency.
Systems, Templates, and SOPs
We don’t consider this a “course.” Instead, it’s actionable training that you can deploy and get results ASAP. There’s zero fluff.
Follow the demonstrations, use the systems, and get consistent and repeatable results.
You can also use these systems to train your team, which allows you to scale your SEO campaigns.
Weekly Coaching
You can have the best systems in the world, but your situation will always be unique.
That’s when our twice-a-week SEO coaching sessions come into play.
I’ve led over 300 coaching sessions, and these are an opportunity for you to stay on the cutting edge of SEO and get the most pressing SEO and business questions answered by someone who’s done it.
Private Community
Our community is another layer where you can get the support you need. If you have a question between our calls, drop it in the group, and our industry experts will help you.
Also, I answer every question in the group live on the weekly calls. Don’t worry if you can’t make it because of timezone differences.
We record and transcribe every call, so it’s easily searchable within our custom training platform.
Certifications
Our program allows you to earn an SEO Specialist, SEO Expert, and SEO Master Certification. These certifications prove to the job market that your SEO and marketing skill set is credible because Gotch SEO Academy is a trusted training provider.
Check out our alumni directory to see other member stories.
Custom Learning Experience
We don’t use a cookie-cutter LMS. Instead, our platform is custom-built and unique to provide the best and most enjoyable user experience.
But don’t my word for it.
Look at the hundreds of Gotch SEO Academy testimonials to see how other students have used our program to achieve their SEO and business goals.
2. British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
BCIT offers a broad search engine marketing program on SEO and paid search.
Their search engine optimization course will show you how to use SEO tools to:
- Conduct SEO audits
- Perform keyword research that attracts your target audience
- Develop strategies for on-page SEO
- Execute technical SEO changes
- Learn link building techniques to acquire more backlinks
The course content also teaches the basics of Google Ads, which complements the SEO process.
You need a prerequisite for this SEO class; the investment is $536.
It’s an asynchronous learning environment for marketing professionals, meaning you can quickly go through the courses. However, there’s no community, coaching, or additional support.
You’ll need to be a self-starter willing to make many mistakes (without additional guidance).
The investment is much smaller than Gotch SEO Academy because you don’t get support outside the training.
BCIT’s program is a good place to start if you’re new to search engine marketing and want to learn how search engines work.
But if you’re looking for a more advanced SEO strategy (that will deliver results), you’d be better off jumping into Gotch SEO Academy.
3. Brainstation
You can earn a basic SEO certification from Brainstation.
In their program and boot camp, you’ll get your feet wet with a keyword strategy, on-page optimizations, off-page optimizations, and how SEO fits into the web design process.
They also invite guest speakers from successful companies like X, Chief, and Wealthsimple.
This is a cool opportunity to see how SEO works within enterprise situations.
Brainstation is located at 455 Granville St, Suite 400, Vancouver, Canada, if you prefer to learn in person.
Keep this in mind, though:
No successful SEO professionals or entrepreneurs would have the time to show up in person to teach consistently.
In this scenario, you’re likely learning from a professor, not a practitioner.
I recommend learning from someone playing the SEO game daily (like what you get with Gotch SEO Academy).
4. University of Canada West (UCW)
UCW has partnered with Digital Marketing Institute to offer an 11-hour SEO program to help you become “career-ready.”
Like the BCIT program, UCW’s program is self-paced and will help you understand the basics of search engine algorithms. You’ll get full access to the course but won’t get much support outside of it.
Unfortunately, this old style of course isn’t conducive to student success. The average completion for asynchronous online courses is less than 10%.
I discovered this fact with the old version of my program, Gotch SEO Academy.
I dug into the analytics and discovered that only 15% of students completed the training. And another 10% never even logged into the course.
When I learned this, I completely rebuilt the program from scratch to make it what it is today.
And now, we have an 80% course completion rate.
Our training is still asynchronous, but other pieces, like coaching and community support, support the students at a higher level.
If you’re looking for surface-level SEO or PPC information, you may want to consider UCW.
But then, once you’re ready to go to the next level, I recommend advancing to Gotch SEO Academy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should business owners invest in SEO or digital marketing courses?
Understanding best practices is a must if you want your business to succeed with SEO. Even if you don’t want to handle SEO in-house, you still understand what a proper SEO process looks like.
I’m also talking about definitions of SEO lingo or theory. You need to see what a real system looks like.
Then, once it’s revealed, you’ll be equipped to vet SEO companies properly.
Many shady actors are selling SEO services because there is no barrier to entry. However, there are massive gaps in SEO skills.
If you learn from real expert instructors, you’ll never lose money hiring a subpar SEO and marketing agency.
Are SEO tools necessary for training?
Working smarter, not harder, is 100% applicable to SEO. The industry is very ******, and you have multiple vehicles for creating operational leverage.
One of the best vehicles is to invest in SEO software because it makes the process 100x easier.
I use Semrush, Rankability (content optimization tool), ChatGPT, Detailed, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console daily.
Some other tools I use (more infrequently) are Screaming Frog, SEO Testing, Siteliner, and Agency Analytics for tracking search engine rankings.
How do you pick the best SEO courses to invest in?
Look at reviews and case studies. For example, many of the programs on this list lack credible results.
There are two exceptions:
Gotch SEO Academy has hundreds of verified testimonials and 5-star reviews on Google and Brainstation, which have many testimonials (but none specific to its SEO programs).
What should you expect from an SEO training course?
You should expect better SEO results based on the systems you’re learning.
Sadly, most SEO training programs teach surface-level information that isn’t actionable.
You don’t need more SEO techniques. You need better systems.
Everyone knows you need to eat less food and exercise to lose weight.
More information isn’t the problem. It’s the habits and systems that create a lack of success.
What’s the future of SEO?
Google is the most popular website on the Internet, owning 90% of the search market share. So, as long as people are searching, SEO has a future.
Keep in mind that SEO doesn’t just apply to Google. It applies to every search engine, including YouTube, Amazon, Etsy, and TikTok.
Learn to optimize everywhere, and you’ll be unstoppable.
What about other marketing channels?
I don’t recommend relying solely on Google SEO for website traffic, leads, and sales.
You should build an omnipresent digital marketing strategy focused on your online presence. This strategy should include social media marketing, content marketing, PR, and advertising.
These other channels can help you build brand awareness and even drive branded searches on Google.
Think of yourself more as a digital marketer than just an SEO expert.
