Opportunities in search engine optimization (SEO) are growing by leaps and bounds. Every position – from SEO copywriter to SEO consultant to social media specialist – pays very well; hence the need for SEO training courses is more in demand than ever.

Some SEO courses are online, others are offline, and then there's what I call a hybrid of the two – DVDs and ebooks that teach these skills. So, how do you know which one to choose? Which option is best for you, and is one better than the other?

As the owner of an SEO writing company, and the developer/instructor of an SEO copywriting course (online and off), I field questions like. Before I answer these questions, let's discuss some basics as it relates to SEO training.

SEO Training Class: 4 Basics You Should Know

1. Broad: Search engine optimization is a broad field. You can find SEO courses that teach everything from "just" how to write this type of content, to those that cover the whole shebang -- from the writing to on- and off-page optimization. So be sure that the course you're considering teaches the skill set you want to learn

2. Which Is Better – Online or Off? The second thing you should know is that – for the most part – whether a class is given online or off doesn't make it better or worse. It just makes how the course is taught different, that's all.

3. Instructor: The third thing you should know is that SEO courses are given by everyone -- from universities, to internet marketing firms, to individual industry professionals.

The main thing you want to look for here is whether the person/institution is actively engaged in search engine optimization. Why? Because search rules change all the time (it is "web" technology after all). So what was relevant in 2012 may be old hat in 2013.

4. Cost: The final thing you should know is that the cost of SEO training courses are all over the map – from a few hundred, to a few thousand, dollars per class. While cost will probably be a determining factor, it shouldn't be the only one.

A course that costs just a few hundred dollars could be just as good – or better – than one that costs a few thousand dollars. It all depends on which skills are being taught, by whom and if they're actively involved with search marketing.

Should You Take an Online or Offline SEO Course? Answer These 3 Questions to Help You Decide

Following are three questions that will help you clarify which type of SEO course training is best for you.

I. Can You Afford Offline Training? Usually, an online SEO class costs less because there are fewer expenses associated with giving it, eg, renting space, fuel costs, equipment costs, etc. So, even if taking an offline class seems like the better option for you, it's a moot point if you can't afford it. So, answer this question first.

II. How Much Do You Know about SEO? If you have a fairly good foundational grasp of SEO, then an online class could be a good option because it means you don't require the hand-holding that a lot of newbies to this niche need. .

Conversely, if you know practically nothing about search engine optimization and find the terminology around it challenging to grasp (eg, meta tags, reciprocal links, stemming, latent semantic indexing, static content), then an in-person class is usually the better option.

III. How Do You Learn? Everyone ingests information differently. Some do just fine by researching concepts on their own and learning that way, while others  need an instructor in front of them to explain things – and ask questions as needed – before they grasp a concept.

One way is no better or worse than the other; it's just different.

So, which learning method describes you? If you're what I call an "independent" learner, then an offline SEO class may work for you. If you're more dependent when it comes to grasping foreign concepts like those found in search engine optimization, an offline course will probably work for you.

With this insight, you should be able to narrow down your choices when it comes to finding a suitable SEO course.

Author Bio:
Yuwanda Black heads New Media Words (NewMediaWords.biz), an SEO writing company she founded in 2008. In 2007, she started earning $250+/day writing SEO content -- in less than three weeks. In 2009, she developed an SEO course that teachers aspiring freelancers the skills they need to do the same. You can take the class online -- or in person in Jamaica!