BOOK REVIEW · SEO
The SEO Workbook
In short: McDonald’s workbook is exactly that — a course you do, not just read, with worksheets, checklists, and tool lists. It is structured like the Stanford continuing-ed classes he teaches, which makes it unusually practical for self-learners and small teams.
What it covers.
Built around exercises rather than essays, the book walks you through SEO as a sequence of tasks you complete, with free companion resources and tool recommendations.
- Keyword research, step by step
- On-page optimization checklists
- Content and link-building tasks
- Local SEO worksheets
- Free companion tools and templates
- A do-it-yourself project structure
Who it’s for.
Self-learners, small-business owners, and marketers who learn by doing rather than reading. Advanced SEOs will find it basic. Instructors and bootcamps use it as courseware, which is a fair signal of how structured the exercises are.
Evergreen
- The exercise-driven format
- Keyword and on-page fundamentals
- Tool-list approach
Read with a 2026 eye
- Specific tool screenshots
- Annual editions drift — buy current
Key ideas worth stealing.
McDonald’s “learn by doing” structure beats passive reading for beginners — completing the worksheets builds real muscle memory.
The free companion tool lists and templates extend the book well beyond its page count, which is unusually generous.
How it reads.
Practical and task-oriented, like a class you work through. Not a narrative — a doing-book.
The RGM verdict.
A genuinely useful trainer if you will actually do the exercises. It is closer to a course workbook than a reference, which is its strength and its limit. Pair it with RGM’s on-page SEO guide. If you are the kind of learner who skips the exercises, buy a reference instead — this book only pays off if you do the work.
Best for someone setting up SEO for one site who wants a guided path from zero to launched.
Asked & answered.
Who should read The SEO Workbook?
Self-learners and small-business owners who prefer doing exercises to reading theory. It is a hands-on trainer, not an advanced reference.
Is The SEO Workbook updated?
McDonald revises it regularly, so buy the most recent edition to avoid dated tool screenshots.
Does it include tools and templates?
Yes — a key selling point is its free companion resources, tool lists, and worksheets that extend the book.