Main page / Courses / SEO / Beginner SEO with Semrush

Beginner SEO with Semrush

If anyone knows search engine optimization, it's Semrush. So why not kickstart your SEO journey with this free course, designed with Semrush tools in mind? If you're looking to get started with keyword research, or building backlinks with Semrush, this is the course for you!

Who is this сourse for?

This course is for any beginner in SEO who wants to get started using Semrush tools. Whether you're already familiar with SEO jargon and want the low-down on Semrush, or want to start from scratch, you're in the right place.

What you’ll learn

You'll learn all the basics of SEO through Semrush tools, from keyword research and On-Page SEO, to identifying backlink opportunities. Our tool walkthroughs will also help you set this up for your own site.

Earn Your Certificate from Semrush Academy

Semrush has been recognized by the search community across the globe, winning several accolades as the best SEO software suite. Learn more

Semrush Academy

This course was developed by a team of industry-leading experts at Semrush with diverse marketing backgrounds. They offer engaging, up-to-date content tailored to the dynamic digital marketing landscape. Enrolling in this course will equip you with the essential skills to thrive in today's digital world.

Kyle Byers

Kyle Byers is the Director of Organic Search at Semrush. He leads Semrush’s global SEO, CRO, Organic Content, and International Blogs teams. Kyle has built and led SEO and digital marketing teams both agency-side and in-house for startups, Fortune 500 companies, and everything in between. His work has been featured and cited in major media and industry publications.

Rita Cidre

Rita Cidre is a marketing leader, instructor, and storyteller with 15 years of experience working at the intersection of marketing and content. Rita has held growth marketing leadership roles at Zillow Group, Time Inc., and National Public Radio (NPR). Currently, as the Head of Academy at Semrush, she builds innovative educational programs and courses designed to empower digital marketers around the globe.

Course Structure

Welcome to SEO with Semrush

Welcome to Beginner SEO with Semrush! Meet our Head of Academy, Rita, who will be going over what you can expect to be covered in this course.

1 video

2 minutes

Housekeeping

Make sure to download our worksheet and have a Semrush account (and Project) ready to go to get the most out of this course!

1 video

1 minute

Strategy: What is SEO?

In this video, Kyle Byers, Head of Organic Search at Semrush, will explain exactly what search engine optimization means, the different forms it may appear in, and why it's so important, even if you don't work with it directly.

1 video

4 minutes

Strategy: The 3 Components of SEO

In this video, Kyle explains the 3 key components of SEO: On-page, Off-page, and Technical, as well as a brief intro to how keywords work.

1 video

3 minutes

Strategy: Intro to Keyword Research

Learn how to identify the best keywords for your website using Semrush. This video covers search volume, keyword difficulty, relevance, and search intent—helping you choose keywords that drive traffic and conversions. Whether you're targeting head, medium-tail, or long-tail keywords, you'll get actionable insights to improve your SEO strategy.

1 video

10 minutes

Walkthrough: Find the Right Keyword for Your Page

In this walkthrough, Rosa, a Scale Success Manager at Semrush, will teach you how to find keywords for your site, from choosing keyword intent to localization, using the Keyword Overview and Keyword Magic tools.

1 video

5 minutes

Strategy: On-Page SEO

In this video, Kyle dives into on-page SEO, including SERPs, where it's appropriate to add your keywords, and what makes a great title tag and meta description.

1 video

10 minutes

Walkthrough: How to Apply the Suggestions

In this walkthrough, Rita teaches you how to create your own great meta description for SERPs using your keyword research and AI, and warns against keyword stuffing.

1 video

3 minutes

Walkthrough: SEO Content Template and SEO Writing Assistant

In this walkthrough, Rosa teaches you how to use Semrush's SEO Content Template and SEO Writing Assistant. You'll learn how to increase your overall SEO score with readability, tone of voice, and originality.

1 video

6 minutes

Bonus: Local SEO Strategy and Walkthrough

A quick mention of Local SEO, and why if you're a brick-and-mortar store who wants to get their name out there on Google Maps and other platforms, you should register a Google Business Profile!

1 video

1 minute

Strategy: Technical SEO

In this video, Kyle discusses technical SEO, why it's arguably the most important of the 3 SEO components, and touches on how search engines work to understand crawlability.

1 video

4 minutes

Walkthrough: How to Run a Site Audit

In this walkthough, Rosa teaches you how to conduct a site audit using Semrush's Site Audit tool, including how often to audit your site, how to amend errors, and how to log issues for future reference.

1 video

4 minutes

Strategy: Off-Page SEO

In this video, Kyle explains off-page SEO, also known as off-site SEO. You'll learn about backlinks, how they work, and why they're fundamental to succeeding in SEO, as well as the Semrush tool that can help you find where to target them.

1 video

8 minutes

Walkthrough: Set up Backlink Tools

In this walkthrough, Rosa teaches you how to set up the Semrush Backlink Tools. She'll go into how to identify backlink gaps and how to acquire them, from analyzing competitors to sending out requests.

1 video

5 minutes

Strategy: How to Find Backlink Opportunities

In this video, you'll learn some practical ways to build backlinks, from guest blogging to finding unlinked brand mentions.

1 video

4 minutes

Congratulations and Next Steps

Congrats! You've reached the end of the course! Before you start celebrating, make sure to take the exam, claim your certificate, and show it off on LinkedIn! Be sure to tag us—we love to see your achievements!

1 video

1 minute

Would You Recommend this Course?

One last thing! If you enjoyed this course (or even if you didn't, we won't take it personally), please give us some feedback so we can keep making even better free content in the future!

1 video

1 minute

Special offer: take your SEO to the next level

If you’re interested in levelling up your SEO skills, check out Traffic Think Tank Academy. The Semrush-owned platform has over 200 hours of advanced SEO content from SEO experts including Nick Eubanks, Sam Torres and Lazarina Stoy. Join Traffic Think Tank's 14-day trial to explore a community where SEO professionals share knowledge and solve real challenges together.

1 video

2 minutes

Enroll for free

Start your SEO journey today with this course, packed with strategies you can implement right now.