Knowing how to rank websites is a very profitable skill.

The things that will get you kicked from Google are: automatically generated content, link schemes, no or very little original content, cloaking, hidden text, and scraped content or sneaky redirects.

This guide started off as an attempt to help teams that were already within Google master the art of SEO. It later opened up to all, helping all publishers and webmasters, especially those who are new to the subject gain traction.

This guide is roughly a 30 page document that covers all areas that a beginning webmaster needs to comprehend. It is broken down into six different digestible categories for easy learning, with subsections within those categories.

1. WEB-SAVVY-MARKETING

The topics covered include: search engine optimization basics, how to improve the structure of your site, optimizing content, dealing with crawlers, and promotions and analysis.

Web-Savvy Marketing is ideal for learning the fundamental concepts of SEO and how to implement them. This site combines online learning with the ability to access professionals who can train you in a one-on-one setting.

Each of these topics are broken down for you to understand how to utilize each, and why it is important to apply them. Although this is as starter guide for search engine optimization, there are still several useful techniques that even seasoned webmasters can benefit from here.

2. SEO 101

Google’s Digital Marketing Course provides tips for SEO professionals, developers, and webmasters. This information will allow you to make the most of their platform, as they intended it.

The absolute basics as written by Jill Kocher. This piece focuses on the vital aspect of keyword research.

You won’t encounter any revolutionary algorithmic information but they will give you real-world (or in this case, online) knowledge to help you thrive within the system.

This underrated aspect of SEO can sink any new project.

Google has the best internet-savvy professionals on its staff. It’s rare for a corporation to give a seminar on how to take advantage of their software. It’s almost preposterous that it’s free, but Google wants you to succeed in optimizing content to their high standards.

Her article offers practical solutions to fundamental problems any SEO layman would make.

Before, starting your first SEO project make sure you take Jill’s common sense advice to heart and put it into practice.

After you’re comfortable, consider indulging her 201 advanced courses. Here she concentrates more on technical points instead of philosophy.

Reading both pieces will give you a strong foundation in theory, practice, and skill. Excellent technique is nothing without a strong base in the essential reasoning of SEO.

Likewise, good keyword research will go nowhere without the proper competence.

Both skills have a role, and it’s never too late to go back to the basics.

Whether it's a refresher or a crash course, SEO 101 will set you up, and 201 will get you going to the top sooner rather than later.      

3. GOOGLE

General Search Console Help. This page is full of webmaster guidelines that should be read to make sure that your site remains compliant with the guidelines that Google enforces.

There are several basic principles that Google continually imposes to keep the integrity of the site. Some of the basic principles are:

make pages primarily for users, not for search engines; don’t deceive your users, avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings and think about what makes your website unique, valuable, or engaging.

The things that will get you kicked from Google are: automatically generated content, link schemes, no or very little original content, cloaking, hidden text, and scraped content or sneaky redirects.