Updated September 2026: This page previously advertised a February 2021 cohort and an older SEO curriculum built around tactics such as forum links, blog comments and expired-domain link plans. Those details are no longer presented as current.
The 2026 curriculum below focuses on the skills that matter now: technical SEO, search intent, content quality, internal architecture, Search Console, structured data, Core Web Vitals, responsible link earning and systematic content consolidation.
SEO foundations
- How search engines crawl, render and index websites
- Search intent
- Keyword/topic research
- Information architecture
- On-page optimization
- Technical SEO
- Authority and links
- Measurement and reporting
Google Search Console
Search Console should be a core part of SEO training. Learn how to read clicks, impressions, CTR, positions, page/query relationships, indexing reports and enhancement data. For established websites, Search Console often tells you more about real opportunities than a generic keyword list.
Keyword and topic research
Modern keyword research is built around intent and content architecture rather than creating one article for every slight phrase variation. The training covers:
- Search Console opportunity analysis
- Google Keyword Planner and Trends
- Third-party tools
- SERP analysis
- Topic clustering
- Commercial versus informational intent
- Keyword-to-URL mapping
- Cannibalization detection
See my updated Keyword Research 2026 guide.
Technical SEO
- Indexability and robots directives
- XML sitemaps
- Canonical URLs
- 301 and 302 redirects
- Duplicate/parameter URLs
- JavaScript rendering basics
- HTTPS
- Broken links
- Status codes
- Mobile usability
- Site architecture
Core Web Vitals and performance
SEO practitioners should understand LCP, INP and CLS, but performance should be treated as a user-experience and technical-health issue rather than a shortcut to rankings. Learn how to identify slow templates, oversized media, rendering problems and unnecessary scripts.
On-page SEO
- One clear page intent
- Useful title and H1 alignment
- Logical H2/H3 structure
- Intro that answers the query
- Original examples and first-hand evidence
- Internal links
- Image alt text where relevant
- Clear metadata for CTR
Content quality and freshness
Changing “2025” to “2026” without updating the information is not a content refresh. Training covers how to identify outdated claims, obsolete screenshots, unsupported statistics, AI drafting residue, thin pages and overlapping articles.
A proper refresh can include factual updates, better structure, current sources, internal links, consolidation and stronger first-hand experience.
Content consolidation and cannibalization
One of the most useful skills for mature websites is deciding when not to create another page. Learn how to identify pages targeting the same intent, choose a winning URL, merge useful content, add a 301 redirect and update internal links.
Structured data
Understand where schema is appropriate and why it must accurately describe the visible page. Training includes Article, Breadcrumb, organization/local-business context and other relevant structured-data concepts without promising that markup guarantees rich results.
Links and authority
The old curriculum heavily emphasized manufactured backlink tactics. The 2026 approach is different. Focus on earning references through useful assets, research, expert commentary, partnerships, PR, relevant outreach and genuinely valuable content.
Do not build a strategy around spammy blog comments, forum profiles, automated Web 2.0 links or large-scale low-quality guest posts simply to manipulate ranking signals.
SEO audits
Learn a repeatable audit process covering:
- Search Console trend analysis
- Crawling/indexation
- Canonical and redirect issues
- Content duplication/cannibalization
- Internal linking
- Metadata and headings
- Structured data
- Page performance
- Backlink risk/opportunity
- Prioritized recovery plan
Use my current SEO Audit Checklist 2026 as a companion resource.
SEO and AI search
Search results increasingly include AI-generated experiences and richer SERP features. The practical response is not to write robotic “AI SEO” copy. Build content that is easy to understand, supported by evidence, clearly structured and genuinely useful enough to be cited or chosen by users.
Local SEO
- Google Business Profile fundamentals
- Consistent business information
- Location/service landing pages
- Reviews and reputation
- Local citations where useful
- Local intent and conversion tracking
Analytics and SEO KPIs
Measure more than ranking positions. Depending on the site, useful KPIs include qualified organic leads, ecommerce revenue, assisted conversions, non-brand clicks, landing-page engagement, impressions, CTR and conversions by page cluster.
Who this training is for
- SEO freelancers
- Bloggers/content teams
- Business owners
- Agency marketers
- In-house SEO specialists
Important enrollment note
The old February 2021 start date and old fees are historical and are no longer shown as active 2026 enrollment terms. Confirm current live-course availability separately. This page now represents the current curriculum rather than an expired cohort advertisement.
Final takeaway
SEO in 2026 is less about collecting isolated tricks and more about building a technically accessible, well-structured site with clear intent, useful content, strong internal relationships and credible authority. That is the focus of the updated training.