SEO Blog:

University SEO Qualification

30th July 2010

Yes, that’s right, it will possible to get standardised SEO qualifications from a university in the UK in the near future. A while ago I filled in a questionnaire from the University of Salford in Greater Manchester, and they’ve just announced their Search and Social Media Marketing Course. It is accredited by SEMPO as well as getting the thumbs up from some of the industries finest.

My hope is that this is the start of a wider change in the way that SEO is conducted, and maybe even regulated. Some might say that it is up to individual practitioners to police their own practices, and that a minimum standard of sorts is also up to each person. I agree with that sentiment to a certain extent, but that’s because I can spot the elements that form good practice (no point saying “best practice” as that will likely change with the algorithms). The idea of working standards is that customers would have an obvious benchmark or yardstick to begin comparing providers.

OK, it wouldn’t be perfect- just being qualified is no guarantee that practices would always be adhered to, and with SEO it’s the results that matter, sometimes maybe more than how they are achieved(?).

In many ways I still agree with Jane Copland’s points from back in 2008, but the Salford course isn’t degree level, so it is not strictly a fair comparison.

If you’re interested in the course take a look at www.searchmarketing.salford.ac.uk. You can also have a gander at their Search Engine Marketing Management training too.

Overall I think the more people that can get a handle on SEO, and can understand the fundamentals by doing it, the better.

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