Where can one learn about advanced SEO?

[jjdubya]

I already know basics and I am interested in perhaps going into the field. I want to know if there are courses on how to become an SEO professional or similar resources to help me
a) improve my SEO techniques
b) understand how to work in the field [finding jobs, pricing projects, setting up a business, etc]

p.s. I am also interested and knowlegabe in PPC advertising, and User Interface design.

[imisidro]

SEO is a very dynamic field where search engines make changes to their algorithms without any warnings that taking a course on the topic will render your learnings outdated by the time the course is completed.

Forums where serious webmasters and SEO folks gather are a good place to start. I suggest you join WebmasterWorld.com http://www.webmasterworld.com -- their forums are participated in by employees of Google, Yahoo and other SEs. And the discussions are typically very technical -- every hiccup of the datacenters are analyzed and every variable from duplicate content to sandboxing to redirects are analyzed and discussed endlessly

Other great sites that you need to check out include

Search Engine Watch http://forums.searchenginewatch.com/
Digital Point http://forums.digitalpoint.com/

Attend SEO conferences. The most important are Search Engine Strategies http://searchmarketingexpo.com/ These conferences are attended by the whos who in search engine marketing, including the search engines themselves

Also keep track of the announcements from the search engines particularly their press releases and blogs. With Google, always read Matt Cutts' blog

Google Press Releases http://googlepress.blogspot.com/
Matt Cutts Blog http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/ (Matt is a Google software engineer)

[cinabolic]

Good luck on that!

[Danny DeMichele]

Your best bet is to attend the main insdustry seminars and use that knowledge with your own websites. These are the 2 that I recommend and are well worth their weight in gold:

http://www.pubcon.com
http://www.searchenginestrategies.com

Going to these 2 shows once a year will keep you very well informed.

Also, Marketing sherpa has a new book out that speaks to specific search strategies and it is only $300.

As well, check out seobook.com from aaron wall. Very good information and often updated.

[AK]

You could stat by charging a small fee to help some of your local websites - think of business associates and friends.

Attend industry events.

These guys have a course: http://www.webceo.com/training.htm

Check out http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/ he is an expert and is starting to coach SEM & SEO firms.

[Jojo G]

You can read some info here - http://mysite.verizon.net/resnwm24/learnseotechniques/

[Jake K]

Try SEO Elite

[seo2ceo]

The above answers are right...

For more information about Search Engine Optimization...you can contact http://www.sem-consultant.com/

We provide training and development program on SEO as well.

[thesearchguy]

I agree - the above answers are all great. I did not see a few sources of great SEO merit.

1. Matt Cutts - MattCutts.com: He is the acclaimed "Google Guru" and one of their Organic results wizards. His site and much of his info is pure 'Gold' for any novice or seasoned professional.

2. Danny Sullivan - SearchEngineLand.com: He recently left SearchEngineWatch, and went off on his own with other Industry Veterans. The new site is full of tips and insights into the SEO/PPC world.

3. BruceClay - BruceClay.com: He literally wrote the 'SEO Code of Ethics' that many of us "White Hat" optimizers follow. His SEOToolset has been in use for almost 5 years, and he has remained top in his field. Training and certification offered!

That's all I have to add...hope it helps.

Best,
TheSearchGuy