SEO for Writers is an online course for writers, editors, and content creators. This writers course teaches learners how to get their content to rank in Google. Course creator Larry Ludwig claims to have “cracked the Google code.” He teaches students how to achieve and retain Google ranking, despite frequent algorithm updates.
For this review, we show you the course’s pros and cons, plus what to expect from it. We also take a closer look at who Larry Ludwig is and what makes him a trusted authority in the field of writing and SEO. To give you an idea, Larry made headlines after successfully selling his Investor Junkie for $6 million - a website that attracts over 300,000 monthly unique visitors.
So can SEO for Writers help take your game to another level? Writers who equip themselves with SEO skills can truly have greater earning opportunities online. We share about which business models are available out there. We also discuss another business model that’s fairly less competitive but potentially generates a bigger income than being an SEO writer.
SEO for Writers: Pros and Cons
Pros
Larry Ludwig is a trusted expert. As someone with over 2 decades of industry experience, Larry’s insights are valuable for anyone who wants to learn about SEO and writing.
Free updates. Students get access to course updates or additions without extra charge.
Free access to the private Facebook group. Students can join live calls, ask questions, and network with Larry and other SEO experts in this exclusive online community.
Cons
Lack of reviews. While the SEO for Writers course displays positive testimonials from students, it’s hard to find unbiased course reviews online. We see no reviews on Reddit, Quora, Trust Pilot, and other platforms.
Limited Facebook group access. Apparently, course students only get free access to the Facebook community for 1 year.
Price
The price of SEO for Writers is $197.
Refund Policy
The refund policy of SEO for Writers is a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. Unsatisfied students can request for a refund within 30 days after purchase.
Origin
2018
Reputation
Larry Ludwig is an industry expert with over 20 years of experience creating websites, working with major clients and building his own brand.
3 reasons writers should learn SEO
1. Writers with SEO skills produce high-quality content
Writers should know SEO so they can produce engaging, optimized content. While content writing is mostly about good storytelling, it’s also about learning how to write for search engines. That way, the articles can gain maximum online exposure over competitors. According to Larry Ludwig, it’s important for writers to “understand that people go to search engines to solve a specific problem.” The writers should then “write content to solve the problem (the people) are seeking to resolve.”
2. SEO writers can find more employment opportunities.
Editors and blog owners these days aren’t only looking for excellent writers. They also prefer those who understand SEO writing. As you acquire the knowledge and skills, you become more in demand as a writer. Marketing your professional services will not be as hard. Besides, SEO is “one of the few long games in blogging that can reap benefits for years,” says Larry.
3. SEO writers can boost their earnings.
With organic search engine traffic, you get more unique visits to your articles and thus, increase your chances of earning. Whether you are hoping to make money as a freelance writer or are writing for your own website, learning how to get your content ranking in Google can always be an advantage.
What's included in SEO for Writers?
This lesson shares SEO’s secret “Black Box.” According to the course, SEO has “nothing to do with Google.”
This lesson discusses the do’s and don'ts of effective SEO writing.
This lesson covers the importance of keywords and how to do keyword research for free.
This lesson teaches about the essential step-by-step process of having your article rank up on Google search results.
This lesson focuses on how the right headline can help your article rank online.
This lesson shares how your URL slug can contribute to your SEO ranking.
This bonus content shows how to use the SEO tool Surfer for competitor research and better ranking results for your articles.
Who is SEO for Writers for?
SEO for Writers is for bloggers, writers, and editors aiming to learn and master SEO strategies. The online course is also ideal for every freelance writer who writes for different clients or the entrepreneur who writes content for their own websites. According to the SEO for Writers site, this course focuses on “improving your content so it can be better found by the search engines.” We also read that course creator Larry Ludwig is passionate about helping business owners “effectively leverage technology and digital marketing.”
Who is Larry Ludwig?
Larry Ludwig is the CEO and founder of Ludwig Media. He is an affiliate marketer, blogger, SEO expert, and an entrepreneur from Uniondale, New York. He studied BS Computer Science at Clemson University from 1989 to 1993.
In 1994, he was hired by ad agency Poppe Tyson to create websites for multiple businesses. This gave him the opportunity to work with top brands, such as AT&T, IBM, ING Bank, JP Morgan Chase, LensCrafters, Minolta, and Valvoline, among others. He would eventually work as a Senior Web Developer for Nomura Securities International and as Account Manager for Commerce One.
In 1999, he co-founded the Delta Computer Group’s Delta Internet Group. In 2002, he would become Empowering Media’s founder and principal consultant where he helped build tech infrastructure for the websites of Comedy Central, Nielsen, Thought Catalog, and more. By 2009, he created his own website, Investor Junkie. As its founder and Editor-in-Chief, he wanted to combine his interest in investing and his skills in SEO. He would later grow this investment review website to attract about 300,000 unique visitors per month. In 2018, Larry would make headlines after selling Investor Junkie to XL Media for $6 million. Later in the same year, he launched Ludwig Media as its CEO and founder. He now hosts his SEO for Writers course under the LarryLudwig.com website.
What are SEO for Writers' claims?
1. SEO for Writers claims Larry has “cracked the Google code.”
According to the website, Larry has “cracked the Google code.” We read that after "years of trial and error," he finally understood what it takes to "build up traffic consistently." He also adds that he's able to achieve top ranking results despite Google's frequent algorithm updates.
2. You only need organic search traffic to boost your article's ranking.
The course places heavy emphasis on the role of search engines in ranking articles. It reaches a point when they dismiss social media tools as simply "all the rage." According to them, it's "critical" writers understand "how Google discovers content" and make sure that their articles rank there.
Debunking SEO for Writers' claims
1. Frequent Google algorithm updates can be tricky.
Google constantly updates its algorithm. In fact, the search engine giant may implement thousands of changes every year. While most changes are usually minor, major updates can directly affect and disrupt your search engine ranking.
SEO is always dynamic, so strategies must change constantly in order to comply with modern algorithm changes. As you stay updated and learn how to adapt, you can secure your ranking online and avoid the possibilities of being penalized.
“The world of Google updates is vast and ever-evolving,” writes SEO specialist Greg Beddor in a Medium post. “SEO experts must continually adapt and evolve with these changes to ensure their websites remain visible and valuable in search results.”
2. Social media can help in your overall SEO strategy.
While it’s true that about 87% of all website traffic is from organic search, social media also plays a big role in any effective SEO and marketing campaign. It helps you establish your online presence, build your authority, and connect you with your target audience.
According to Hubspot, social media SEO “allows you to optimize your social profiles so you can better attract potential customers through search.” Statista also shares that 4.88 billion people - or 59.9% of the world population - use social media today.
Meanwhile, here’s a graphic from LyfeMarketing, illustrating the role of social media in boosting your SEO performance:
What is SEO?
SEO is the process of improving your website to attract attention from your target audience. Through search engine optimization, you can boost the ranking of your website, web page, or content on SERPs (search engine results pages). As you increase your online visibility, more people will find you as they search for your keywords on Google, Microsoft Bing, and other search engines.
SEO activities usually fall under two categories: on-page (on-site) and off-page (off-site). On-page SEO activities include creating quality content, using keywords strategically, adding relevant images, improving meta description and title tags on your blogs. Meanwhile, off-page SEO includes guest posting, link building, podcasting, influencer marketing, and social media marketing.
What are the best business models for SEO?
How to learn SEO in 2023?
Can you learn SEO in one day?
No, you can’t learn SEO in one day. While it’s possible to understand the basics in a day, it usually takes months or years to learn and master the craft. As mentioned, Google algorithm updates can be quite tricky. SEO specialists work in a dynamic and continually evolving industry. They’ll constantly have to study, adjust, and adapt to keep up with modern changes.
Is AI replacing SEO?
No, AI is not replacing SEO. While artificial intelligence can be a valuable tool, it cannot replace search engine optimization. This is because SEO requires human expertise, not only in content creation but also in adapting to algorithm updates.
We asked ChatGPT the same question,. Interestingly, the chatbot was quick to point out that AI is not replacing SEO but simply “transforming and enhancing it.”
Alternative SEO courses
Conclusion: What is the best way to make money with SEO?
Learning SEO is definitely a great idea for writers who want to take their skills and earnings to the next level. Since the SEO for Writers course is one of the cheapest courses out there, it may indeed be worth checking out. Plus, with its money-back guarantee, there isn’t any risk at all. You can request a refund if you are unsatisfied with the course.
That said, I still recommend local lead generation as a better option for those who want to explore SEO and make money from it. If you’re a new writer, penetrating the market and finding high-paying clients can be a struggle. You’ll be directly competing with long-time writers with solid portfolios. Plus your income is usually output-based so you’ll have to work continually to keep earning.
With lead generation, you are targeting local business owners as your clients. Once you build and rank a lead gen site that produces leads, businesses will be more than willing to pay you each month. Since you’re focusing on the local market, your sites may immediately reach top search engine results within 6 weeks to 6 months. You’ll only need to do little work after your site gets a good online ranking.
Case in point, I created this tree care website in 2015 and it has been making me passive income since. My client gets over 200 monthly phone calls from the leads and happily pays me $2,000 per month. The amazing part is I only spent 15 hours building and ranking this site. And now that I own several of these lead gen sites, I make a monthly income of up to $52,000. I also share my trade secrets with interested students through my lead generation coaching program.
