8. Complement your SEO

Ready to complement your SEO knowledge and become a more versatile digital professional? You’ve found the right resources to expand your expertise beyond traditional search optimization. Whether you’re aiming to understand the technical foundations with HTML & CSS, dive into JavaScript for modern web challenges, or master analytics tools like Looker Studio and Google Analytics, these carefully curated guides will help you grow.

Building complementary skills isn’t just about adding tools to your toolkit—it’s about becoming the SEO professional who can speak developers’ language, analyze data like a pro, and communicate recommendations that actually get implemented. From mastering soft skills that drive stakeholder buy-in to exploring App Store Optimization for mobile-first strategies, each resource here has been selected for its practical value and real-world application.

For those ready to take the entrepreneurial leap, you’ll also find proven guides on starting your own SEO business. Take your time exploring these resources—the journey to complement your SEO knowledge is ongoing, and each new skill makes you more valuable in the evolving digital landscape.

 

On this page

HTML & CSS

How To Learn HTML for SEO

Guide from Joe Hall

 

HTML tags you can’t do without in 2021

Guide from SE Ranking

 

8 HTML Tags Essential for SEO

Guide from Andrei Prakharevich / SEO Powersuite

 

HTML Basics

Guide from Mozilla Developer Network

 

Intro to HTML/CSS: Making webpages

Guide from Khan Academy

 

Javascript

JavaScript basics

Guide from Mozilla Developer Network

 

The Modern JavaScript Tutorial

Guide from JavaScript.info

 

HTML/JS: Making webpages interactive

Guide from Khan Academy

 

Modern JavaScript Fundamentals

Guide from Dan Wellman / EnvatoTuts+

 

Learn JavaScript – Full Course for Beginners

Guide from freeCodeCamp.org

 

Soft Skills

21 Soft Skills to supercharge your in-house SEO team

Guide from John Shehata / Semrush

7 critical communication skills that get SEO recommendations implemented

Guide from DEPT

 

14 Skills Every SEO Expert Should Have in 2023

Guide from Hannah Evon / Higher Visibility

 

Thriving as an SEO Specialist: Frameworks & Tips to Manage Complex SEO Processes

Presentation from Aleyda Solis

 

Start an SEO Business

How to Start an SEO Company

Guide from seo.co

 

How to Start an SEO Business in 6 Steps

Guide from Joshua Hardwick / Ahrefs

 

How to Build a Successful SEO Agency

Guide from Anastasia Sidko / SEMrush

 

How Can I Set Up an SEO Agency?

Guide from Tony Wright / SEMrush

 

Starting your own SEO Agency (Webinar)

Webinar from Majestic

 

App Store Optimization

What is App Store Optimization? Ultimate Guide to ASO in 2021

Guide from Genie / App Radar

 

App Store Optimization (ASO) Guide

Guide from The Tool

 

The Complete App Store Optimization (ASO) Guide (2021)

Guide from Jonathan Fishman / Storemaven

 

A Complete Guide to App Store Optimization (ASO)

Guide from Lee Wilson / Search Engine Journal

 

An In-Depth Guide to App Store Optimization (ASO)

Guide from Connor Lahey / SEMrush

 

Google Analytics

The Beginner’s Definitive Guide to Google Analytics

Guide from Phil Pearce / SEMrush

Google Analytics Tutorial 2021 // Step-By-Step Google Analytics 4 & Universal Analytics Walk-Through

Video from Loves Data

 

The Ultimate Guide to Google Analytics in 2021

Guide from Aja Frost / Hubspot

 

How to Use Google Analytics to Improve SEO Performance

Video from Michal Pecánek / Ahrefs

 

15 Ways to Use Google Analytics to Track Your SEO Efforts for Free

Guide from Elise Dopson / Databox

 

Google Analytics 4 Guides Series

Video from Himanshu Sharma / Optimize Smart

 

Looker Studio [Google Data Studio]

Reporting with Google Looker Studio (Google Data Studio)

Guide from Philipp Roos / Ryte

Google Looker Studio: The Ultimate Guide in 2023 [+17 Expert Tips]

Guide from Aja Frost / Hubspot

 

An In-Depth Guide To Get Started With Looker Studio (The New Google Data Studio)

Video from Loves Data

 

The Ultimate Guide to Google Looker Studio 2023

Guide from Chris Hamlin / Data Studio Templates

 

Google Data Studio / Looker Studio Tutorial with Free PDF ebook

Guide from Himanshu Sharma / Optimize Smart

 

How To Create an SEO Dashboard in Looker Studio

Guide from Francis Angelo Reyes / Lupage Digital

 

Google Tag Manager

The Beginner’s Guide to Google Tag Manager

Guide from Shannon Dunn / Brain Labs Digital

 

The Beginners Guide to Google Tag Manager

Guide from Phil Pearce / SEMrush

 

Google Tag Manager Tutorial: A Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Started With GTM

Guide from Jeff Sauer / Data Driven

 

Google Tag Manager: A Simple Tutorial

Guide from Caroline Forsey / Hubspot

 

The Beginners Guide to Google Tag Manager

Guide from Measure School

 

The Quick & Practical Guide To Google Tag Manager (With 10 Videos!)

Guide from Leveling Up

 

GTM Tips

Guide from Simo Ahava

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Strengthening SEO Knowledge
What skills should I learn first to complement my SEO knowledge?

Start with HTML & CSS fundamentals if you’re handling technical SEO tasks, or dive into Google Analytics and Looker Studio if you need to demonstrate ROI and make data-driven decisions. For client-facing roles, soft skills and communication techniques often provide the quickest wins. The best starting point depends on your current role and immediate needs.

How do these complementary skills improve my SEO work?

Understanding HTML and JavaScript helps you identify and fix technical issues faster, while analytics mastery with tools like Looker Studio transforms your reporting capabilities. Soft skills ensure your recommendations get implemented, and knowledge of related fields like App Store Optimization opens new service opportunities. Each skill multiplies your effectiveness as an SEO professional.

Can I learn these skills while working full-time in SEO?

Absolutely. Most professionals dedicate 30-60 minutes daily to learning new skills. Start with one area that directly impacts your current projects—for instance, if you’re struggling with reporting, begin with Looker Studio tutorials. The resources here are designed for busy professionals, offering practical lessons you can immediately apply to your work.

The SEO Learning Roadmap

Take a look at the SEO learning roadmap below, featuring the different areas, from the basics of SEO, to the most common activities and phases of the SEO Process:

Start learning SEO with the fundamental concepts and areas, why they're important, and the basics to execute them: keyword research, content optimization analysis, technical optimization and link building.
Once you know the main SEO concepts, it's time to put them in practice by learning to develop an SEO process, from establishing a strategy and setting goals to management, measurement, and reporting.
Learn to implement the most important SEO configurations in the top Web platforms in the market, along with considerations to take into account.
It's time for an SEO deep-dive into those particular areas and common scenarios where you have a bigger interest or need to tackle.