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SEO Basics
If you're on this page, you probably want to learn the basics of modern SEO, right? Never fear! Here at Moz, we practically invented basic SEO, and we'll keep you up to date on the latest standards.
If you haven't already, you probably want to read the newly updated Beginner's Guide to SEO. It explains key concepts like how search engines work, keyword research, and the importance of links.
Here, we've listed some of our favorite posts on SEO basics, and you'll find the most recent blog posts below.
SEO 101: The Beginner's Guide to SEO : Start here to understand the basics of modern SEO.
SEO Learning Center : Moz's free SEO learning resources are continually updated, and a virtual encyclopedia of SEO tips and tactics.
The Web Developer's SEO Cheat Sheet 3.0 : If you're looking for basic technical SEO considerations, this 4 page downloadable cheat sheet will get you started on the basics of meta tags and more.
How to Rank : The SEO Checklist: Ranking in Google really isn't as hard as some folks make it seem. In this video, our SEO guru Rand Fishkin gives you a simple checklist for greater visibility.
Keyword Research : The Beginner's Guide to SEO: SEO almost always starts with keywords, so we thought this would be a good place for you to start too.
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8 Old School SEO Practices That Are No Longer Effective
Are you guilty of living in the past? Using methods that were once tried-and-true can be alluring, but it can also prove dangerous to your search strategy. In today's Whiteboard Friday, Rand spells out eight old school SEO practices that you should ditch in favor of more effective and modern alternatives.
How Long Do Backlinks Take to Show Effect?
The eternal question: How much time does it take for a link to affect rankings? Kristina Kledzik breaks out the entire process from start to finish.
How to Make the SEO Case to Small Businesses
Belief in the process can be the make-or-break factor when it comes to convincing small businesses they need SEO. Overcoming skepticism can be daunting, but there are strategic ways to go about pitching your case to potential clients that will smooth the way for you. In today's Whiteboard Friday, Rand covers a 5-step process to making the SEO case to those small and medium businesses that need a little extra push to help you help them.
Why Now, More Than Ever, SEO Is Not Just About Google
As SEOs, we tend to hyper-focus on every little thing Google does. It's important to keep in mind that it's bigger than optimizing for a single search engine. Roy Hinkis is here to explain why.
Be Your Site's Hero: An Audit Manifesto – Next Level
SEO comes with a lot of "whys" that can be difficult to answer. Jo Cameron is here to remove some of the mystery and level up your site audit skills with the help of ace tips, Bonnie Tyler, and a hefty toolkit in the newest installment of our Next Level educational series!
The 2016 State of Link Building Survey - Results & Analysis
There have been some surprising shifts in how the marketing industry's changed its views of link building since 2014. Nicholas Chimonas breaks down the results of 2016's State of Link Building Survey for us.

Are Keywords Really Dead? An Experiment
Keywords or concepts? Wondering about what works in the now, Sam Nemzer devised an experiment to discover what the SERPs have to reveal about how Google interprets different yet synonymous keyword phrases.
How to Create Content That Earns Engagement, Trust, and Loyalty for Your Brand
Content is meant to support your marketing efforts; it shouldn't define them. Ronell Smith talks about the goals you shouldn't be setting for your content marketing efforts, the ones you should focus on, and the best ways to get started on the road to brand loyalty.
The App Store Optimization Checklist: Top 10 Tips
The world is going mobile, and those apps ahead of the curve in ASO and app indexing trends will be those that nab market share from traditionally web-dominated search results. Ashley Sefferman will help you get ahead of the pack with these 10 awesome tips to check off your app optimization list.
SEO, PPC, Content Marketing, or SMM: Which Services Sell Best?
Are you selling the digital marketing services people actually want to buy? Alex Tachalova shares her insights from researching the searchability and salability of the top four digital marketing niches: SEO, PPC, SMM, and content marketing.