SEARCH

UC Irvine Offers Free Webinar on Search Engine Optimization

Free webinar Sept. 9 previews program designed to enhance the Internet marketing abilities of businesses.

---

The University of California, Irvine Extension, the continuing education arm of UC Irvine, today announced the availability of a new Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialized Studies Program. This program is designed to meet the growing demand for Internet marketing strategists who can improve the visibility of a website via unpaid organic search results. Available for the first time this fall quarter, registration is currently open.

"The SEO Specialized Studies Program will enable participants to deploy various techniques to promote website visibility such as removing barriers to the indexing activities of search engines, modifying content, and leveraging HTML source code to increase a website's relevance to keywords," said Dr. Dave Dimas, director of UC Irvine Extension's engineering, sciences and information technology programs. "As consumers become more sophisticated in their searches, more organizations are seeking skilled staff to optimize website structure to maximize rankings, site visits and sales. This is just one of the many offerings from UC Irvine Extension that expands professionals' Internet marketing abilities."

Through the completion of courses in this specialized studies program, students will gain: the ability to measure the website ranking before and after SEO implementation; a detailed understanding of the mechanics of search engines such as Google, Yahoo, Bing and Baidu; an in-depth understanding of the Google Analytics tool, an overview of the technologies, techniques and strategies required to achieve high rankings on search engines; an understanding of the importance of web analytics in marketing; and how to utilize statistical information to optimize the natural ranking of a website.

Those seeking to demonstrate industry-recognized credentials and expertise in SEO to employers, clients and colleagues have the option of receiving a Specialized Studies Award upon completion of 12 credit units.

A free information session webinar will be hosted by course instructor, Dr. Ash Pahwa. With over 25 years of experience in the industry and currently the founder of A+ Web Services, an Internet marketing and web analytics service company, Pahwa will present top trends in the industry and the benefits of the program on Sept. 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. PDT.

The new program boasts a distinguished list of course instructors, including Mike Moran, international speaker and author of Search Engine Marketing, Inc. and Do It Wrong Quickly: How the Web Changes the Old Marketing Rules, who is also part of the SEO Specialized Studies advisory board responsible for the development of the program curriculum.

To register for the webinar, visit www.extension.uci.edu/events. For more information about the Search Engine Optimization courses, or to sign up online, please visit: http://unex.uci.edu/certificates/it/seo/ or call 949-824-5414.