Of all Quirk’s service offerings, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is one of the longest running. The growth of the Internet as a defining characteristic of modern culture, and the growth of business opportunities in this space, is a story that is closely paralleled by the story of search engines’ rise to prominence. The Internet without search engines would be a very different, far less useful, place – both for consumers and businesses.

The fact is that the majority of users on the Internet (and that includes the mobile Internet) use search engines to find what they’re looking for. So if you’re not up to date with why or how to optimise your digital presence to take advantage of the phenomenon that is search, you could find yourself effectively hidden from the majority of users on the Web. And that would be a sin.

With that said, I’d like to tell you more about Quirk’s new course in Search Engine Optimisation. This course is a comprehensive review of everything you need to know to ensure your websites (and digital strategies as a whole) are set up to take full advantage of organic search traffic.

The course covers the fundamental principles of SEO in great detail. This includes the technical and structural aspects of websites that need to be considered; the role of keywords and keyword planning; the role of content and content strategies; and finally strategies to build links to your website, which are vital for SEO.

There is a practical focus, as the course employs numerous concrete examples and case studies from Quirk’s own extensive SEO experience. There is also a theoretical, or “meta” focus, in which SEO is examined within the bigger picture of the dynamic search environment. This is intended to equip students to deal with deal with managing knowledge and change in the SEO environment.

The course also covers the integration of SEO with other eMarketing tactics and strategy development. It also highlights the latest emerging trends and techniques in SEO. Topics covered here include local search, mobile search, personalised search, and SEO for Flash sites.

Course Outline

• Introduction to Search and SEO
• Making Your Site Accessible to Search Engines
• Keywords and Content
• Advanced Content Optimisation and Strategies
• Building Credibility (linking strategies)
• Managing SEO (including emerging trends)

The SEO course is an online course run over six weeks. All course interaction takes place via the Quirk Learning Centre. Here students will be able to engage with one another and with the course convenors, as well as download their course material, which includes course notes, videos, a discussion forum, weekly assignments and reading lists.

This is probably a good time to introduce myself: as Quirk’s new head of SEO, overseeing the development of this course has been my first priority. I will also be on hand to help out during the course, answering queries and looking at assignments.

A lot of research has gone into developing this course to reflect the most current thinking in SEO, and it is highly recommended for anyone interested in (or responsible for) bringing high value search traffic to their digital offerings.

Also check out:

• Tips for Getting More Out of Your eMarketing Education
• The Internet and Adult Education