Start with keyword research fundamentals. Spend two weeks learning one tool deeply—Ahrefs, Semrush, or even free Google Keyword Planner. Your goal is understanding search volume, keyword difficulty, and user intent (informational, commercial, transactional, navigational). Pick 10 keywords across intent types and study the top 5 results for each. Note patterns: word count, heading structure, content depth, whether they answer the question in the first 100 words. Next, practice matching search intent. Write your first 5–10 articles targeting low-competition keywords (KD under 20 if using Ahrefs). Focus on answering the query completely in the opening paragraphs, then expanding with related subtopics users actually search for. Use tools like AlsoAsked or AnswerThePublic to find question clusters. Avoid fluff—every paragraph should serve the searcher or support a ranking signal. Analyze your results after 60–90 days in Google Search Console. Which pieces rank? Which don't? Compare your content structure, word count, and internal linking to pages that outrank you. This feedback loop is where real learning happens. At Ottawa SEO, we've seen writers improve faster by publishing imperfect content and iterating than by taking endless courses. Study technical basics that affect content: title tag optimization (keep primary keyword within first 60 characters), meta descriptions (140–155 characters with a call to action), URL structure (short, keyword-included), and image alt text. Learn when to use H2s vs H3s based on content hierarchy, not arbitrary rules. Read 2–3 SEO blogs weekly—Ahrefs blog, Search Engine Journal, or Backlinko for foundational tactics. But spend 80% of your time writing and reviewing performance data, not consuming theory. Build a swipe file of 20–30 high-ranking articles you admire and reverse-engineer their approach. After writing 20 pieces and tracking their rankings for three months, you'll know more than most certified SEO content writers.