What is the best way to learn SEO (Search Engine Optimization) techniques?

I’m not at all sure if this is what you want to know, but try this. Pull up Google’s web page. At the top of the screen you get a bunch of links:
Web, Images, Videos, Maps, News, Shopping, Gmail, and more

Click on “more” and you get these:
Books, Finance, Translate, Scholar, Blogs,
YouTube, Calendar, Photos, Documents, Reader Sites, Groups,
and even more.

Click on “even more” and so on.

A relatively easy way is to use the free Google Analytics and WebMaster Tools. Set up an iGoogle account for yourself and start using them.There is a lot of explanation as to hows, whys, and wherefors as well as the tools you need to effect changes on your sites.

@anartist I’m not looking to boost the rankings of any site in particular, just trying to learn SEO in general so I could apply that knowledge to any site. Thanks for the reply.

@gorillapaws It would help if you had at least one site to use to practice on, even a small personal site, because just reading, unreinforced by doing, is a much harder way to learn.

Hubspot has some free resources and seminars. Most of it is designed to get you to sign up for their tools. They are very good.

These are industry standard blogs/sites, become acquainted and use their free resources…

http://www.seomoz.org/
http://www.seobook.com/
http://www.mattcutts.com/blog/
http://searchengineland.com/
http://www.stuntdubl.com/
http://www.sugarrae.com/
http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/

Next sign up for the following email newsletters:

http://www.mediapost.com/ most important
http://adage.com/

Last of all get involved in social networks. You can start with a Twitter account and follow all the people on the following list:

http://twitter.com/doctor_claw/online-marketing/members

Hope this helps! Feel free to PM me for more info if you need it.

@drClaw thanks so much! I stumbled across The Art of SEO the other day in my search. It seems like it’s full of good juicy technical info, you haven’t read it by any chance have you?

I have not read it, but it is written by some of the brightest people in the industry and would be a great read.

There are many material available on net now a days.I prefer Google webmaster beginners guide and SEMOZ tutorials for beginner.