News of an exciting training opportunity
Im finally in a position to talk about an exciting new project I’ve been working on. Fresh Egg are about to launch an exciting new training programme for people who want to gain a professional insight of practical Search Engine Optimisation, The SEO Intern Training Programme.
There’s nothing particularly new or exciting about SEO training itself. Lots of companies have offered various training models for many years. People who wish to learn the basics of SEO have been able take remote learning courses, or attend workshops, for many years. But this project is exciting because it is different.
Ours isn’t some out-of-context course. In our programme, the trainee comes to work with and for us, tutored and guided by both myself and the SEO Director of Fresh Egg, Lee Colbran. Our SEO training provides actual professional SEO practice in real life client campaigns.
Attendees of the Fresh Egg SEO Internship Training not only gain access to the experience of two fine and long established SEO professionals, they also gain experience all of their own. Real world experience of the practice and business of providing SEO and SEM services. No made-up exercises. No artificial scenarios. We are offering genuine, commercial Search Engine Marketing business experience.
The Market Demands SEO Training
Search engine marketing is in very hot, and ever-increasing, demand. The growing demand far outstrips the rate at which newcomers to Search Engine Optimisation can teach themselves the craft. There is already a serious shortage of skilled persons - a skills gap, and far too little has been done to address this by our industry at large.
Last year I saw many vacancies for SEO and SEM related jobs that went unanswered, (in some cases unanswered for more than 6 months), despite some offering some pretty attractive salaries (one of which was over £110,000 salary, almost $200,000 US dollars per year, with performance bonuses on top). Even many of the prestigious SEO companies I have dealt with and spoken to over the past year have mentioned on numerous occasions how hard they are finding it to recruit good staff.
I have to admit that I have not experienced that shortage personally. The recruitment tasks that I have needed to do in the past couple of years have gone very well. But I am not at all complacent about this issue. This shortage of skilled staff has reached many companies that I respect, and will reach me too, sooner or later, unless something is done.
I am fully committed to the belief that it is up to us, within the industry, to stop relying on the growth of natural talent to hire, and instead start to nurture and develop the future pool of talent. It is time to stop relying on windfall talent for the future. It is time for serious and innovative training programmes to narrow the skills gap. I believe that the SEO Internship Programme is just such an innovation.
SEO Intern Training and SEO Intern Scholarship
There are two different programmes that we are opening with. The first of these is what I see as our ‘Standard SEO Internship’ training programme.
SEO Internship Training
Places on this course cost the intern £500 per week, meaning that the full 2 week course costs a total of £1,000. This fee provides the intern with bed and breakfast accommodation from Sunday night to Friday morning (we assume most trainees would return home for the weekend).
Interns must pass through our selection process. Our selection process helps us to ensure that this opportunity is given to the candidates who can gain the most from it. It helps us to maximise the benefit that these training opportunities present.
Each day of the ten working days of this course, the accepted Intern begins by having one of the practices of the SEO business explained in detail. He is then able to put this knowledge into practice immediately in a genuine professional project.
The specific areas of training we propose are:
- Search psychology: understanding how and when people search, the shopping process, etc. The trainee puts this into practice by looking at the stats of a client and comparing this to a cognitive walkthrough, after which he will make suggestions to improve conversion rates.
- Key Word and Search Phrase research: using various tools, the intern is taught to perform key word research and analysis. The intern then performs keyword research and analysis on a client project.
- Stats and Analytics: understanding and using stats and analytics to make data into information. The intern then puts this into practice by reporting stats for clients, and by looking for the best opportunities for fast gains on minimal effort in rankings. i.e. looking for phrases where small changes could yield the biggest benefit.
- Site Analysis: the intern learns how and why we perform analysis of websites and the major features we are looking to improve. The trainee learns about effective site structure, dynamic sites, and URL rewriting. The Intern puts this into practical application by performing a pre-audit on a potential client.
- Effective Meta Data: understanding what role titles and descriptions (and other tags) play in SEO and click-through ratios. The intern puts this knowledge into practice by adding or adapting the basic Meta data on a client site.
- Copy and Content: copy and content are the main events. There is no point in attracting customers if there is nothing to interest and engage them once there. Creating copy and content is also the key to viral marketing and link-building campaigns. The intern puts this into practice by writing articles and press releases.
- Link Strategy: understanding why and how links are so critical to SEO, and which kinds of links count. This is put into practice by performing directory submissions, and more creative link building work, for a client.
- SEM business and account management: The SEO learns about how the actual business side of maintaining an SEO company can be done. The intern then gains practical experience by helping the sales team to make proposals, and/or by giving campaign management update reports to clients.
- Project Immersion: understanding how the SEO must get an instinctive and meaningful understanding of each campaign, its objectives, and the working practices, KPIs, and resources of each client.
SEO Intern Scholarship
Our second offering is the Intern Scholarship Program. This course is given free and is paid off by being a full one-month placement (meaning they pay the cost in sweat equity). The Scholarship does not typically include accommodation, and is usually offered to more local candidates than the standard SEO Internship. This product is intended to create local excellence (and thus a superb potential future recruitment pool).
The selection process for scholarships is just as exacting as for the internships, perhaps even more so. Preference is given to candidates who are local, and may even represent potential staff at a future time. It is an amazing opportunity for an applicant to be able to spend a month with the guidance and mentorship of top SEO professionals, and to gain a month of work experience in a leading SEO company.
The same topics and areas of SEO knowledge are provided as with our standard Internship, but a far greater amount of experience is gained in the additional time. There are no fees for this training, but accommodation is not provided, and trainees on the SEO Scholarship programme can expect hard work for their month, ensuring truly realistic experience is gained in addition to the mentoring and knowledge.
The doors are wide open
We are launching these training programmes almost immediately, and are now ready to accept applications for the first Internships or Scholarships to run sometime in October. We already have 2 bookings for November, but I’ll leave that story for their own news scoop.
For readers who know my background, I’m sure you can appreciate my excitement. I have spent a decade supporting and mentoring new talent in forums and via private communications. My years as an unpaid administrator at Cre8asite, trying to help webmasters, marketers and new SEOs get the same passion for SEO that I have, make this feel like the culmination of my efforts, and my joy in teaching.
This project genuinely excites me. It seems so obvious now that training needs to incorporate the genuine work experience that employers and clients demand. I feel that this venture opens a world of opportunities. Do you feel it too?
Similar posts you may like..
Share This Post
More Subscription Options
(No Ratings Yet)
Lee
19.09.06
I’m very excited by this as well.
I am confident that anyone coming to Fresh Egg will come away with some great experience and knowledge of real-time SEO and the day to day planning of ongoing campaigns from conception to delivery.
This is an excellent initiative, and one that will allow Fresh Egg to create partnerships with progressive SEO’s that are looking to drive their career further forward.
[Reply]
Lee
20.09.06
Hey Ammon its Lee from cre8asite..
Upon completeing the Internship, are you given any kind of documentation to prove you have been through your process.. Or maybe even some sort of logo to display on your own site (Like the adwords professional logo) etc..
I only ask as if I’m going to invest that amount of money, I would hope to be able to gain immediate benefits and being able to approach clients (Or businesses seaking SEO’s) showing credentials would be pretty good..
Let me know either here.. via PM or email me .. Thanks
[Reply]
Ammon
20.09.06
Hi Lee.
There is indeed a cerificate. Nicest one we can get printed.
We hadn’t thought of doing a web logo as, well, I distrust the validy of most of the award logos I see around. However, we’ll think about it and see.
Most importantly, at least for long-term careers, you can include us on your CV as an actual work reference too. That can obviously be of great benefit when so many employers are looking for experience.
We will be keeping records of each Intern and their performance so that we can provide an accurate assessment and testimonial anytime they ask. For privacy reasons, we never supply these directly to any company or employer without the express permission of the Intern of course.
As a final award, a free helping of innebriation may also be provided at the end of the final day, giving you a hangover to proudly display all through the weekend.
[Reply]
Lee
20.09.06
Thanks Ammon .. I currently seeking some help financially and will contact you about the Training… Is there some sort of cut off date??
[Reply]
Ammon
20.09.06
There is no cut-off for training applications. This is an ongoing programme. We are not planning to ever accept more than a maximum of two interns at any one time, simply because this course is so intensive - lots of one-to-one attention and guidance. We can’t weaken that value by taking on more trainees than we can spend proper mentorship time with, regardless of demand.
However, if you want one of the very first places on this programme then I’d certainly suggest getting your application in within the next week if you can, as we hope to have screened and selected our first Interns to begin work here in the latter half of October.
[Reply]
Bill
20.09.06
This looks like a wonderful and innovative program, Ammon.
Kudos to you, and the FreshEgg team for giving people a chance to learn in an intensive and immersive manner.
I could see this course providing a lot of value not just to people who want to pursue careers in Search Engine Optimization, but also in web design and development. Having a sense of how search engines and marketing issues can affect pages that you create for clients is invaluable.
Nice going.
[Reply]
Ammon
20.09.06
Hi Bill,
Yes indeed.
We believe that web developers, designers, and even campaign managers could gain an immense amount of value from this programme. Its value to SEOs may be the most obvious, but its value is not limited just to those who want a career in SEO.
This programme gives first-hand insight and experience of how a professional SEO agency works. This is of high value to anyone who will have to work with such agencies, giving them a firm understanding of how to integrate such services, and of what things an SEO agency can do that will bring the most value (and of course, what things some companies might offer that really isn’t of value).
[Reply]
Adrian
21.09.06
Hey Ammon, great idea this, I’m sure anyone who takes advantage of it would get their moneys worth :)
Do you think the training course would be suitable for people who are already in marketing, but aren’t necessarily used to marketing web sites?
I get the feeling that’s not really what you’re doing, but I can think of a few people who would benefit from it :D
[Reply]
Ammon
21.09.06
One of the great things about a training programme that is as completely one-to-one with a mentor as this is, is that the training is always adapting to the trainee naturally.
One of the phases of assessment even at the selection process is determining what an Intern candidate is wanting to get out of the training, what they wish to learn most, etc. I think that we have set this up in a way that it is suitable for anyone who can benefit from the experience and tutoring. The selection process is designed to ensure that we never take on an Intern who won’t get superb value from the experience.
Anyone who feels they could gain value from this probably can, and are most welcome to apply. Our selection process will then ensure that we all agree they’ll get full value before we accept them. We are not about to waste anyone’s time.
[Reply]
Jonathan
21.09.06
Hello Ammon.
The Scholarship does not typically include accommodation, and is usually offered to more local candidates than the standard SEO Internship. This product is intended to create local excellence (and thus a superb potential future recruitment pool).
Does London count as local Ammon?
If not, the beach will probably surfice.
The only part of the scheme I am not mad on, is the getting bladdered at the end.
Cheers, Jon.
[Reply]
Yuri
22.09.06
I’d gladly provide some overseas SEO work for a recommendation. Any chance of you creating some programmes for overseas interested types of persons? I am sure it’d be a success.
On the other hand, you’d have to make your selection process stricter and not to disperse your attention among hundreds of parties. A tough call, isn’t it?
P.S. Just in case you don’t recognize a name of Yuri, this is A.N.Onym from Cre8 :)
[Reply]
Ammon
22.09.06
Jon asked: “Does London count as local Ammon?”
It does for us if it does for you, Jon.
If you can be at work for 9am each day (Monday to Friday), and don’t mind travelling home after you finish work at 5:30pm, and can keep that pace for the whole month of the Scholarship course without getting too tired to give your best, then you are local enough.
(And getting bladdered is entirely optional, honest!)
[Reply]
Ammon
22.09.06
Yuri asked: “Any chance of you creating some programmes for overseas interested types of persons?”
Good to see you, Yuri.
Of the first 4 enquiries and applications we took for the SEO Intern Training, three of the four were from the USA. So we already offer something for people who are overseas - experience in a UK based SEO company.
Somehow I don’t think that’s quite what you meant though.
What is unique about this programme is putting two very special things together. The first of those things is the dedicated daily face-to-face training and mentoring from highly skilled SEOs with years of experience. The second is in-house work experience of the company where those mentors practice their profession daily - seeing and experiencing the business first-hand.
Neither of those things can realistically be provided to the same quality remotely, so instead we are making the model (and performance data when we have it) open to others to follow and emulate.
[Reply]
Yuri
25.09.06
Yes, but your program does require physical presence, and that’s not what I meant, as you rightly supposed.
You know, I don’t think I can find the right words to say how highly I estimate an opportunity of being mentored by you, but the thing is I don’t have the budget to go to the UK, let alone get into the program.
After some thinking, it is obvious that it wouldn’t make sense to oursource any part of your work overseas to an individual without consistent proven record, even if you only pay for the work in a form of a recommendation. Worth a try, though ;)
P.S. You know, I am thinking of getting an apprentice, too. Doing the grunt work alone just doesn’t cut it any more :) Maybe opening a local workshop for the IT department students might be worthwhile, eh?
[Reply]
BJ Wright
29.09.06
Have the scholarships been filled? I emailed about 4 days ago and haven’t recieved a response? Did my email make it through? How many people are you going to be taking on?
As you can see I am anxious to hear back from you!
Thanks,
BJ Wright
[Reply]
Adam
30.09.06
This is an ongoing course and spaces will be available on an ongoing basis. Fresh Egg does have a process of choosing applicants and can’t assure that everyone will get a placement. I have not seen your email but Ammon will be in contact with you next week. I hope you have a successful application and look forward to the possibility of welcoming you to Fresh Egg at a later date. If you don’t hear anything you can email Ammon directly on ammon@freshegg.com
[Reply]
tamar
22.11.06
Hi Ammon, Lee, Adam, and group:
I am interested in participating and have sent an email about three weeks ago. Have you received it yet?
I, too, am excited in this opportunity and do look forward to hearing from you.
Thanks!
[Reply]
Ammon
22.11.06
Hi Tamar,
I’ve not recieved an email from you. Can you send one to Ammon, at freshegg.com and we’ll get right on it. The info we’ll be asking you for is what your current level of experience is, what skills you have, and all that other resume/CV type stuff, along with asking what in particular you hope to learn or achieve from the training. If you can attach a CV/Resume with your email then it will speed things up a little.
[Reply]
tamar
22.11.06
Done — thanks Ammon!
If you don’t receive it, please drop me an email.
[Reply]
Ammon
23.11.06
I have it now, Tamar, so you’ll hear back shortly. Thanks for your application.
[Reply]
Adam Stafford
03.09.08
We are in the process of considering new Internship applications - please call Adam on UK 01903 24 77 88 or email adam at freshegg.com
[Reply]
Internship
16.02.09
I just came across this now, so I’m presuming that I’m a little late. How did the course go? Are their plans for another course sometime soon?
[Reply]
seo
26.07.09
This is a good idea training people to do seo.
[Reply]