{
 "site": "https://bestseocourse.info",
 "checked": "2026-09-09",
 "criteria": [
  {
   "key": "curriculum_freshness",
   "name": "Curriculum freshness",
   "rubric": "How recently the material was updated and whether updates are dated. 5 = dated updates at least monthly. 3 = updated within the last 12 months. 1 = undated or older than two years. 0 = retired or unavailable."
  },
  {
   "key": "instructor_credibility",
   "name": "Instructor credibility",
   "rubric": "Is a named person accountable for the material, with a public record you can check? 5 = named practitioner with a long public track record who teaches in person. 3 = named staff instructors. 1 = anonymous or team-authored with no accountable name."
  },
  {
   "key": "evidence_transparency",
   "name": "Evidence and testing transparency",
   "rubric": "Does the course show its tests? 5 = live tests with dates and outcomes published to members. 3 = case studies with numbers. 1 = claims without data. 0 = none."
  },
  {
   "key": "depth",
   "name": "Depth of material",
   "rubric": "Hours and scope. 5 = 20+ hours or a growing library. 4 = 10 to 20 hours. 3 = 5 to 10 hours. 2 = 2 to 5 hours. 1 = under 2 hours."
  },
  {
   "key": "live_access",
   "name": "Live support and access",
   "rubric": "5 = weekly live calls with the named instructor plus daily community access. 4 = live calls with staff. 3 = community Q&A only. 1 = email support. 0 = none."
  },
  {
   "key": "tools_templates",
   "name": "Practical tools and templates",
   "rubric": "5 = working software or repositories you can run. 4 = templates, SOPs and prompt libraries. 2 = worksheets. 0 = none."
  },
  {
   "key": "value",
   "name": "Value relative to price",
   "rubric": "What you get per dollar for the stated audience. Free courses score 5 by definition if the material is competent. Paid products are judged on inclusions per month or per one-time fee."
  },
  {
   "key": "audience_fit",
   "name": "Suitability for the stated audience",
   "rubric": "Does the course deliver what it says it is for, to the people it says it is for? 5 = precise, honest fit statement and the material matches it. 3 = broad claims. 1 = mismatch between marketing and material."
  }
 ],
 "courses": [
  {
   "slug": "ai-seo-rainmakers",
   "name": "AI SEO Rainmakers",
   "short": "a paid AI SEO training community founded by Charles Floate in August 2026 and published by SEO.Stream, running on Skool",
   "official_url": "https://seo.stream/",
   "founder": "Charles Floate",
   "publisher": "SEO.Stream",
   "year": "August 2026",
   "status": "live",
   "format": "Paid community on Skool with a weekly 3.5-hour live call, recorded courses, a live testing lab and downloadable tool repositories",
   "format_short": "Live community + courses",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "$279 per month (Skool listing, 9 Sep 2026); seo.stream stated $259 per month or $1,990 per year on 27 Aug 2026. Rises $10 for every 25 new members; rate locked at joining.",
   "price_short": "$279/mo",
   "price_number": 279,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://www.skool.com/ai-seo-rainmakers/about",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "price_history": [
    [
     "2026-08-15",
     "Founding rate $179 per month for the first 100 seats, per seo.stream. Filled the same day."
    ],
    [
     "2026-08-22",
     "$259 per month after the community passed 250 members, per seo.stream's timeline."
    ],
    [
     "2026-08-27",
     "$259 per month or $1,990 per year stated on seo.stream/about."
    ],
    [
     "2026-09-06",
     "$269 per month reported by a third-party review site (aiseorainmaker.com). Third-party, not checked by us on that date."
    ],
    [
     "2026-09-09",
     "$279 per month shown on the Skool listing, checked by us. The listing also states the next step is $289."
    ]
   ],
   "refund": "7-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked; members keep files downloaded in that time. One-click cancellation inside Skool, no notice period.",
   "refund_short": "7 days",
   "refund_url": "https://seo.stream/about/",
   "community": "Yes. Skool community with daily posts from the founder; access to courses is tiered by contribution level inside the community, not by paying more.",
   "community_short": "Skool, founder posts daily",
   "live": "Weekly 3.5-hour live call every Wednesday hosted by Charles Floate, recorded. Includes live site audits of member sites.",
   "live_short": "Weekly 3.5h call with founder",
   "testing_short": "Live tests with dates and confidence ratings",
   "tools_short": "Downloadable repos and a skills library",
   "ai_coverage": "The entire product. Crawler access for AI agents, chunk-level content structure, entity building, third-party mentions, parasite pages on high-authority domains, and a monthly measurement loop that scores AI visibility.",
   "ai_focus": "Core. The whole curriculum.",
   "scope": "The Foundations to AI SEO (14 lessons, about 75 minutes); Vibe Coding for Digital Marketing (35 lessons); tools, repos and setup guides; a level-gated Dark Library; Advanced AI SEO due October 2026; weekly call recordings accumulate from 19 August 2026.",
   "certificate": "No. The Foundations course ends with a scored AI visibility baseline for your own site, not a certificate.",
   "fit_short": "Working SEOs, agency owners, affiliate operators",
   "notfit_short": "Complete beginners; anyone wanting a course to finish",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 5,
    "instructor_credibility": 5,
    "evidence_transparency": 5,
    "depth": 3,
    "live_access": 5,
    "tools_templates": 5,
    "value": 3,
    "audience_fit": 5
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://seo.stream/",
    "https://seo.stream/about/",
    "https://www.skool.com/ai-seo-rainmakers/about",
    "https://charlesfloate.com/"
   ],
   "score_total": 36,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "traffic-think-tank",
   "name": "Traffic Think Tank",
   "short": "a paid private Slack community of search marketers, owned by Semrush and operated as a Search Engine Land community since July 2026",
   "official_url": "https://trafficthinktank.com/",
   "founder": "",
   "publisher": "Semrush Inc. (Search Engine Land)",
   "year": "2017 (third-party; not stated on the official site)",
   "status": "live",
   "format": "Paid private Slack community with an academy of recorded courses; no live-call cadence stated",
   "format_short": "Slack community + academy",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "$119 per month (USD, from the register page's structured data; not displayed as text). Annual memberships receive 20% off the monthly rate. Price locked while membership is maintained.",
   "price_short": "$119/mo",
   "price_number": 119,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://trafficthinktank.com/register/",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "No refund terms stated. No minimum commitment; cancel any time from the membership section and retain access to the end of the billing period.",
   "refund_short": "Not stated; cancel anytime",
   "refund_url": "https://trafficthinktank.com/",
   "community": "Yes. Private Slack community; the academy and mastermind are housed inside Slack.",
   "community_short": "Private Slack",
   "live": "Not stated. No live call, webinar or office-hours cadence on the homepage, register page or FAQ.",
   "live_short": "Not stated",
   "testing_short": "Peer discussion; no published tests",
   "tools_short": "Not stated",
   "ai_coverage": "As a discussion topic only. The homepage describes members sharing what is working in SEO, PPC and AI. No AI Overviews, GEO or LLM curriculum is claimed.",
   "ai_focus": "Partial. Discussion topic, not curriculum.",
   "scope": "Academy courses named in the site navigation include Money Site from Scratch, International SEO and 7-Figure Agency. Hours not stated on the current site; Semrush's 2023 acquisition announcement cited 300+ hours from 90+ experts (third-party).",
   "certificate": "Not stated",
   "fit_short": "SEOs who want a large peer group across SEO, paid and AI",
   "notfit_short": "Anyone wanting structured AI-search training or live instruction",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 3,
    "instructor_credibility": 3,
    "evidence_transparency": 2,
    "depth": 4,
    "live_access": 3,
    "tools_templates": 1,
    "value": 4,
    "audience_fit": 3
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://trafficthinktank.com/",
    "https://trafficthinktank.com/register/",
    "https://trafficthinktank.com/faq/",
    "https://searchengineland.com/search-engine-land-traffic-think-tank-481570",
    "https://www.semrush.com/news/242246-semrush-acquires-leading-marketing-education-company-traffic-think-tank/"
   ],
   "score_total": 23,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "ai-ranking-datawise",
   "name": "AI Ranking by DataWise SEO",
   "short": "a paid Skool community run by Nicolas Gorrono that bundles the DataWise SEO software with AI-search training for local businesses, agencies and operators",
   "official_url": "https://www.datawiseseo.com/community/",
   "founder": "Nicolas Gorrono",
   "publisher": "AI Ranking SpA (DataWise SEO)",
   "year": "Not stated",
   "status": "live",
   "format": "Paid Skool community with 50+ recorded lessons, bundled DataWise SEO software and two live sessions a week on the higher tier",
   "format_short": "Skool community + software",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "$27 per month (Starter/Standard) or $47 per month (Pro/Premium), billed through Skool; a $3,000-a-year VIP tier appears on the Skool plans page only. Three official pages show three different tier lists.",
   "price_short": "$27 to $47/mo",
   "price_number": 27,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://www.datawiseseo.com/pricing/",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "7-day money-back guarantee on the community (DM the founder for a 100% refund in the first 7 days); the software terms separately state a 14-day money-back guarantee on the first paid period. Card required at signup; no free trial.",
   "refund_short": "7 days",
   "refund_url": "https://www.datawiseseo.com/pricing/",
   "community": "Yes. Skool (paid tier, 701 members on 9 September 2026) plus a free Skool tier.",
   "community_short": "Skool",
   "live": "Two live sessions a week on the Pro/Premium tier, recorded; a 1:1 onboarding call with the founder on Pro. The Starter tier has no live calls.",
   "live_short": "2 live calls/week (Pro tier)",
   "testing_short": "Not stated",
   "tools_short": "Bundled DataWise SEO software",
   "ai_coverage": "Core positioning: getting cited by ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini and Google AI Overviews, plus GEO strategy. Courses include AI SEO Masterclass, AI Fundamentals and Content Automation.",
   "ai_focus": "Core, aimed at local and small-business SEO.",
   "scope": "50+ structured video lessons; a 7-Day SEO Action Plan updated May 2026; hours not stated.",
   "certificate": "No",
   "fit_short": "Local businesses, agencies and solo operators on a budget",
   "notfit_short": "Anyone needing published tests or enterprise depth",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 4,
    "instructor_credibility": 3,
    "evidence_transparency": 2,
    "depth": 3,
    "live_access": 4,
    "tools_templates": 5,
    "value": 5,
    "audience_fit": 3
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://www.datawiseseo.com/community/",
    "https://www.datawiseseo.com/pricing/",
    "https://www.datawiseseo.com/terms",
    "https://www.skool.com/ai-ranking/about",
    "https://www.skool.com/ai-ranking/plans",
    "https://airankingskool.com/community/premium/"
   ],
   "score_total": 29,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "blueprint-training",
   "name": "The Blueprint Training",
   "short": "Ryan Stewart's agency-operations membership with recorded training, the Agency OS software, templates and twice-weekly live coaching",
   "official_url": "https://theblueprint.training",
   "founder": "Ryan Stewart",
   "publisher": "The Blueprint Training LLC",
   "year": "2015",
   "status": "live",
   "format": "Monthly or yearly membership: 42 recorded videos across 8 modules, Agency OS software, 128 templates and SOPs, AI agents for Claude, live coaching twice a week, private community",
   "format_short": "Membership + software + coaching",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "$199 per month (shown as a limited-time sale from $299) or $1,999 per year; team seats $59 per month each. Non-refundable.",
   "price_short": "$199/mo",
   "price_number": 199,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://theblueprint.training",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "All sales final and non-refundable once access is granted, per the terms. Cancel at least 30 days before the next billing cycle to avoid the next charge.",
   "refund_short": "None; 30-day cancel notice",
   "refund_url": "https://theblueprint.training/terms-and-conditions/",
   "community": "Yes. The checkout lists a private Slack community; a Skool community with 4,900+ members also exists. Which is current is not stated.",
   "community_short": "Slack and/or Skool",
   "live": "Live coaching twice a week with Ryan Stewart and David Krevitt, plus bootcamps.",
   "live_short": "2 live calls/week with founders",
   "testing_short": "Agency case studies; no SEO tests",
   "tools_short": "Agency OS software, 128 templates, AI agents",
   "ai_coverage": "AI as workflow tooling: six pre-built Claude agents for proposals, onboarding, audits, project plans, reporting and content. No AI-search or GEO curriculum is claimed. Requires your own Claude Pro or Team plan.",
   "ai_focus": "Workflow only. No AI-search curriculum.",
   "scope": "8 modules, 42 videos; modules 1 to 4 total 7 hours 54 minutes on the homepage; modules 5 to 8 not itemised. 128 documents.",
   "certificate": "No",
   "fit_short": "Agency owners and freelancers scaling delivery",
   "notfit_short": "Affiliates, in-house SEOs, anyone wanting AI-search tactics",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 4,
    "instructor_credibility": 5,
    "evidence_transparency": 2,
    "depth": 4,
    "live_access": 5,
    "tools_templates": 5,
    "value": 3,
    "audience_fit": 5
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://theblueprint.training",
    "https://theblueprint.training/terms-and-conditions/",
    "https://blueprint.spiffy.co/checkout/bpt-program",
    "https://www.skool.com/the-blueprint-training/about"
   ],
   "score_total": 33,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "tech-seo-pro",
   "name": "Tech SEO Pro",
   "short": "Kristina Azarenko's self-paced technical SEO course from MarketingSyrup SEO Academy, 13 modules and 18+ hours for a one-time $697",
   "official_url": "https://techseo.pro/",
   "founder": "Kristina Azarenko",
   "publisher": "MarketingSyrup SEO Academy",
   "year": "Not stated (live by 2022 per third-party)",
   "status": "live",
   "format": "Self-paced recorded course with lifetime access, free future updates, templates and a member community; no live calls",
   "format_short": "Recorded course",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "$697 one-time, or two payments of $357. Add-ons sold separately (SEO for LLMs: GEO Blueprint, Website Migrations).",
   "price_short": "$697 once",
   "price_number": 697,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://techseo.pro/",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "No refunds. All course sales are final, per the academy terms. Payment plans must be completed.",
   "refund_short": "None",
   "refund_url": "https://marketingsyrup.com/terms-conditions/",
   "community": "Yes, a member community to consult with other SEOs; platform not stated.",
   "community_short": "Member community (platform not stated)",
   "live": "No. Pre-recorded; three guest-speaker sessions are included as recordings.",
   "live_short": "None",
   "testing_short": "Not stated",
   "tools_short": "Audit checklist, prioritisation framework, templates",
   "ai_coverage": "Positioned as still relevant in the AI search era; one guest module covers AI Overviews and news sites. A separate paid course, SEO for LLMs: GEO Blueprint, covers AI search and is not included.",
   "ai_focus": "Minimal. AI search sold as a separate course.",
   "scope": "13 modules, 66+ lessons, 18+ hours plus homework; certificate of completion; licence valid for one user.",
   "certificate": "Yes, certificate of completion",
   "fit_short": "Intermediate SEOs whose gap is technical SEO",
   "notfit_short": "Beginners; anyone wanting AI-search or live instruction",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 3,
    "instructor_credibility": 4,
    "evidence_transparency": 2,
    "depth": 4,
    "live_access": 3,
    "tools_templates": 4,
    "value": 3,
    "audience_fit": 5
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://techseo.pro/",
    "https://marketingsyrup.com/academy/",
    "https://marketingsyrup.com/terms-conditions/",
    "https://marketingsyrup.thrivecart.com/tech-seo-pro/"
   ],
   "score_total": 28,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "ahrefs-seo-course",
   "name": "Ahrefs SEO Course for Beginners",
   "short": "Ahrefs' free 14-lesson beginner SEO course taught by Sam Oh, with a separate free Answer Engine Optimization course",
   "official_url": "https://ahrefs.com/academy/seo-training-course",
   "founder": "Sam Oh",
   "publisher": "Ahrefs",
   "year": "Not stated (Ahrefs Academy since 2017)",
   "status": "live",
   "format": "Free recorded video course, no sign-up required; a separate free AEO course and a free tool certification",
   "format_short": "Free recorded course",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "Free. No sign-up required for the beginner course. The Ahrefs Certification (for the tool) is also free and requires an Ahrefs account.",
   "price_short": "Free",
   "price_number": 0,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://ahrefs.com/academy/seo-training-course",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "Not applicable; free.",
   "refund_short": "Free",
   "refund_url": "https://ahrefs.com/academy",
   "community": "No",
   "community_short": "None",
   "live": "No",
   "live_short": "None",
   "testing_short": "Examples; no course-specific tests",
   "tools_short": "Tool walkthroughs only",
   "ai_coverage": "A separate free Answer Engine Optimization course (12 lessons, 1 hour 26 minutes) covers how AI platforms decide what to cite, naming ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Perplexity and Gemini.",
   "ai_focus": "Separate free AEO course.",
   "scope": "SEO Course for Beginners: 14 lessons, 2 hours, 5 modules. AEO Course: 12 lessons, 1 hour 26 minutes. How to Use Ahrefs: 62 lessons, 3 hours 18 minutes.",
   "certificate": "No for the SEO and AEO courses; yes for the separate Ahrefs Certification (67 questions, 75% pass mark, valid one year)",
   "fit_short": "SEO beginners, small business owners, marketing leads",
   "notfit_short": "Anyone past the basics",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 3,
    "instructor_credibility": 4,
    "evidence_transparency": 2,
    "depth": 2,
    "live_access": 0,
    "tools_templates": 1,
    "value": 5,
    "audience_fit": 5
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://ahrefs.com/academy",
    "https://ahrefs.com/academy/seo-training-course",
    "https://ahrefs.com/academy/aeo-course",
    "https://www.ahrefs.com/certification"
   ],
   "score_total": 22,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "semrush-academy",
   "name": "Semrush Academy",
   "short": "Semrush's free SEO courses with certification, including a Brian Dean crash course and two 2026 AI-search courses",
   "official_url": "https://www.semrush.com/academy/",
   "founder": "",
   "publisher": "Semrush",
   "year": "Not stated",
   "status": "live",
   "format": "Free self-paced video courses with exams and one-year certificates; occasional webinars",
   "format_short": "Free courses + certificate",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "Free, including certification.",
   "price_short": "Free",
   "price_number": 0,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://www.semrush.com/academy/certification/",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "Not applicable; free.",
   "refund_short": "Free",
   "refund_url": "https://www.semrush.com/academy/faq/",
   "community": "No",
   "community_short": "None",
   "live": "Webinars listed on the academy home page; no stated cadence",
   "live_short": "Webinars, no cadence",
   "testing_short": "None",
   "tools_short": "None",
   "ai_coverage": "Two courses: AI Search Operating System (9 lessons, about 40 minutes, Leigh McKenzie) and On-Page SEO and AI Search Essentials (23 lessons, about 2 hours), the latter with a Generative Engine Optimization lesson.",
   "ai_focus": "Two short AI-search courses.",
   "scope": "SEO Crash Course with Brian Dean (7 lessons, 51 minutes); On-Page SEO and AI Search Essentials (23 lessons, about 2 hours); Keyword Research Essentials (24 lessons, 1 hour 47 minutes); AI Search Operating System (9 lessons, about 40 minutes); exams of 10 to 15 questions, certificates valid one year, three attempts.",
   "certificate": "Yes, valid one year",
   "fit_short": "Beginners and people who want a free certificate",
   "notfit_short": "Anyone wanting depth or instructor access",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 4,
    "instructor_credibility": 4,
    "evidence_transparency": 2,
    "depth": 3,
    "live_access": 1,
    "tools_templates": 1,
    "value": 5,
    "audience_fit": 4
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://www.semrush.com/academy/",
    "https://www.semrush.com/academy/courses/",
    "https://www.semrush.com/academy/certification/",
    "https://www.semrush.com/academy/faq/"
   ],
   "score_total": 24,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "hubspot-aeo-fundamentals",
   "name": "HubSpot AEO Fundamentals",
   "short": "HubSpot Academy's free Answer Engine Optimization certification, which replaced its retired SEO Certification in 2026",
   "official_url": "https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/aeo-fundamentals-certification-en",
   "founder": "",
   "publisher": "HubSpot Academy",
   "year": "2026 (replaced the SEO Certification; June 2026 per third-party)",
   "status": "live",
   "format": "Free self-paced video course with a certification exam",
   "format_short": "Free course + certificate",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "Free.",
   "price_short": "Free",
   "price_number": 0,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/aeo-fundamentals-certification-en",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "Not applicable; free.",
   "refund_short": "Free",
   "refund_url": "https://academy.hubspot.com/",
   "community": "No dedicated community; HubSpot user groups and a support forum exist",
   "community_short": "None",
   "live": "No",
   "live_short": "None",
   "testing_short": "None",
   "tools_short": "AEO Grader in the companion HubSpot course",
   "ai_coverage": "The whole course: rethinking visibility for answer engines, optimising for AI citations, measuring AEO. A companion course, Implementing AEO With HubSpot, uses HubSpot's tools.",
   "ai_focus": "Core, at an introductory level.",
   "scope": "AEO Fundamentals: 7 lessons, 19 videos, 2 hours 20 minutes. Implementing AEO With HubSpot: 7 lessons, 23 videos, 2 hours 58 minutes.",
   "certificate": "Yes",
   "fit_short": "Marketers who want a free AI-search primer with a certificate",
   "notfit_short": "Practitioners who need tactics and tests",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 4,
    "instructor_credibility": 3,
    "evidence_transparency": 2,
    "depth": 2,
    "live_access": 0,
    "tools_templates": 2,
    "value": 5,
    "audience_fit": 3
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/aeo-fundamentals-certification-en",
    "https://academy.hubspot.com/courses/seo-training",
    "https://offers.hubspot.com/academy-aeo-certifications"
   ],
   "score_total": 21,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "yoast-ai-for-seo",
   "name": "Yoast AI for SEO training",
   "short": "Yoast Academy's short AI-for-SEO course, included with Yoast SEO Premium rather than sold separately",
   "official_url": "https://yoast.com/academy/ai-for-seo-training/",
   "founder": "",
   "publisher": "Yoast",
   "year": "2024",
   "status": "live",
   "format": "Recorded course, 3 modules and 10 video lessons, bundled with paid Yoast plans",
   "format_short": "Bundled recorded course",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "Not sold separately. Included with Yoast SEO Premium at $118.80 per year (ex VAT), and with other paid Yoast plans.",
   "price_short": "With Yoast Premium ($118.80/yr)",
   "price_number": 118.8,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://yoast.com/academy/ai-for-seo-training/",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "Plugins refunded in full within 30 days of first purchase; not on renewals or monthly subscriptions. Academy courses refunded only for technical access problems, not once sections are completed.",
   "refund_short": "30 days on the bundle",
   "refund_url": "https://yoast.com/refund-policy/",
   "community": "No",
   "community_short": "None",
   "live": "No",
   "live_short": "None",
   "testing_short": "None",
   "tools_short": "Yoast plugin features",
   "ai_coverage": "What AI is, its impact on search and content (including model collapse), and using AI tools in an SEO workflow. No explicit AI Overviews, LLM or GEO wording on the course page.",
   "ai_focus": "Introductory; about using AI tools, not about being cited.",
   "scope": "3 modules, 10 video lessons; under 2 hours to refresh, 4 to 6 hours in depth.",
   "certificate": "Yes",
   "fit_short": "WordPress site owners who already pay for Yoast",
   "notfit_short": "Anyone buying a course on its own merits",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 3,
    "instructor_credibility": 1,
    "evidence_transparency": 1,
    "depth": 2,
    "live_access": 0,
    "tools_templates": 2,
    "value": 3,
    "audience_fit": 3
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://yoast.com/academy/ai-for-seo-training/",
    "https://yoast.com/academy/",
    "https://yoast.com/refund-policy/"
   ],
   "score_total": 15,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "affiliate-lab",
   "name": "The Affiliate Lab",
   "short": "Matt Diggity's affiliate SEO course, launched 2018, closed in 2025",
   "official_url": "https://diggitymarketing.com/",
   "founder": "Matt Diggity",
   "publisher": "The Affiliate Lab (LeadSpring)",
   "year": "2018",
   "status": "retired",
   "retired_note": "Closed in 2025. The archived sales page (captured 30 May 2025) carries an official closure banner; affiliatelab.im now redirects to diggitymarketing.com. Last official price was $997 one-time with no refunds.",
   "format": "Recorded course with a private Facebook group (closed)",
   "format_short": "Closed",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "Not for sale. Last official price $997 one-time (archived page, 30 May 2025). No refunds.",
   "price_short": "Closed (was $997)",
   "price_number": null,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20250530120854/https://affiliatelab.im/",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "Historic: no refunds.",
   "refund_short": "Closed",
   "refund_url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20250530120854/https://affiliatelab.im/",
   "community": "Historic: private Facebook group",
   "community_short": "Closed",
   "live": "None",
   "live_short": "Closed",
   "testing_short": "Closed",
   "tools_short": "Closed",
   "ai_coverage": "None stated on the archived page.",
   "ai_focus": "None",
   "scope": "Historic: 320+ videos, 100+ hours.",
   "certificate": "Not stated",
   "fit_short": "Not for sale",
   "notfit_short": "Not for sale",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 0,
    "instructor_credibility": 0,
    "evidence_transparency": 0,
    "depth": 0,
    "live_access": 0,
    "tools_templates": 0,
    "value": 0,
    "audience_fit": 0
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://web.archive.org/web/20250530120854/https://affiliatelab.im/",
    "https://diggitymarketing.com/about-me/"
   ],
   "score_total": 0,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "clickminded",
   "name": "ClickMinded SEO Course",
   "short": "ClickMinded's paid SEO course, no longer listed; the company now sells AI marketing tools",
   "official_url": "https://www.clickminded.com/",
   "founder": "Tommy Griffith (third-party attribution)",
   "publisher": "ClickMinded LLC",
   "year": "2012",
   "status": "retired",
   "retired_note": "No public sales page as of 9 September 2026. The SEO training URL redirects to a free guide; the course library was folded into the mOS subscription in 2024 to 2025 and is no longer named on the current mOS page. Terms still offer a 14-day refund on course purchases.",
   "format": "Recorded course (no longer listed)",
   "format_short": "Not listed",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "Not listed. Historic standalone price $997 (third-party). Current mOS subscription $25 per month billed $299 per year, or $39 per month, with no named SEO course.",
   "price_short": "Not listed",
   "price_number": null,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://www.clickminded.com/products/mos/",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "Terms: full refund on a course purchase or first subscription payment within 14 days.",
   "refund_short": "14 days (terms)",
   "refund_url": "https://www.clickminded.com/terms-conditions/",
   "community": "No",
   "community_short": "None",
   "live": "No",
   "live_short": "None",
   "testing_short": "None",
   "tools_short": "AI marketing tools (mOS)",
   "ai_coverage": "The free SEO strategy guide mentions AI Overviews and LLM search; no course.",
   "ai_focus": "None",
   "scope": "Historic: 80+ hours across the whole course library (archived 2024 to 2025 homepages).",
   "certificate": "Historic: yes",
   "fit_short": "Not for sale as a course",
   "notfit_short": "Not for sale as a course",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 0,
    "instructor_credibility": 0,
    "evidence_transparency": 0,
    "depth": 0,
    "live_access": 0,
    "tools_templates": 0,
    "value": 0,
    "audience_fit": 0
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://www.clickminded.com/",
    "https://www.clickminded.com/products/mos/",
    "https://www.clickminded.com/terms-conditions/",
    "https://web.archive.org/web/20250126134118/https://www.clickminded.com/"
   ],
   "score_total": 0,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "authority-site-system",
   "name": "The Authority Site System (Authority Hacker)",
   "short": "Authority Hacker's affiliate-site course, closed to new enrolments in December 2024 and replaced by the AI Accelerator membership",
   "official_url": "https://www.authorityhacker.com/ai-accelerator/",
   "founder": "Gael Breton and Mark Webster",
   "publisher": "Judgement Media Ltd (Authority Hacker)",
   "year": "Not stated",
   "status": "retired",
   "retired_note": "Every legacy course URL now redirects to the AI Accelerator, an AI-automation membership at $99 to $149 per month that is not an SEO course. Third-party sources date the closure to 16 December 2024; Authority Hacker publishes no closure page.",
   "format": "Recorded course with community (closed)",
   "format_short": "Closed",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "Not for sale. The replacement AI Accelerator is $99 per month billed annually ($1,188) or $149 per month billed monthly, with a 14-day refund on annual plans only.",
   "price_short": "Closed",
   "price_number": null,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://www.authorityhacker.com/ai-accelerator/",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "AI Accelerator: 14-day money-back on annual subscriptions only.",
   "refund_short": "Closed",
   "refund_url": "https://www.authorityhacker.com/legal/refund-policy/",
   "community": "AI Accelerator: yes, 1,000+ members",
   "community_short": "Closed",
   "live": "AI Accelerator: weekly office hours with the founders",
   "live_short": "Closed",
   "testing_short": "Closed",
   "tools_short": "Closed",
   "ai_coverage": "The replacement product is AI automation for business owners, not AI search; it includes an SEO and AI search audit workflow but no GEO or AI Overviews curriculum.",
   "ai_focus": "None (replacement is AI automation)",
   "scope": "Historic: not stated.",
   "certificate": "Not stated",
   "fit_short": "Not for sale",
   "notfit_short": "Not for sale",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 0,
    "instructor_credibility": 0,
    "evidence_transparency": 0,
    "depth": 0,
    "live_access": 0,
    "tools_templates": 0,
    "value": 0,
    "audience_fit": 0
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://www.authorityhacker.com/ai-accelerator/",
    "https://www.authorityhacker.com/legal/refund-policy/",
    "https://www.authorityhacker.com/authority-site-system/"
   ],
   "score_total": 0,
   "score_max": 40
  },
  {
   "slug": "gotch-seo-academy",
   "name": "Gotch SEO Academy",
   "short": "Nathan Gotch's SEO academy, now Rankability Academy, with no public sales page",
   "official_url": "https://www.rankability.com/",
   "founder": "Nathan Gotch",
   "publisher": "Gotch SEO, LLC (Rankability)",
   "year": "2015 (third-party)",
   "status": "retired",
   "retired_note": "Every public Academy URL redirects to the Rankability homepage and the member site is login-only. No current price, format or curriculum could be verified. The academy terms state a 72-hour refund window.",
   "format": "Not verifiable",
   "format_short": "Not listed",
   "mode_schema": "online",
   "price_text": "Not listed. Third-party reports of $497 per month are unverified. Rankability software is $99 to $399 per month and its pricing page does not mention the academy.",
   "price_short": "Not listed",
   "price_number": null,
   "currency": "USD",
   "price_source_url": "https://www.rankability.com/pricing/",
   "price_checked": "2026-09-09",
   "refund": "Academy terms: refund within 72 hours of initial payment only.",
   "refund_short": "72 hours (terms)",
   "refund_url": "https://www.rankabilityacademy.com/terms/",
   "community": "Private group on the member platform (login only)",
   "community_short": "Not verifiable",
   "live": "Not stated",
   "live_short": "Not verifiable",
   "testing_short": "Not verifiable",
   "tools_short": "Not verifiable",
   "ai_coverage": "Rankability software is positioned for AI search; the academy curriculum is not public.",
   "ai_focus": "Not verifiable",
   "scope": "Not verifiable",
   "certificate": "Rankability runs a certified-experts directory",
   "fit_short": "Not verifiable",
   "notfit_short": "Not verifiable",
   "scores": {
    "curriculum_freshness": 0,
    "instructor_credibility": 0,
    "evidence_transparency": 0,
    "depth": 0,
    "live_access": 0,
    "tools_templates": 0,
    "value": 0,
    "audience_fit": 0
   },
   "sources": [
    "https://www.gotchseo.com/academy/",
    "https://www.rankability.com/pricing/",
    "https://www.rankabilityacademy.com/terms/"
   ],
   "score_total": 0,
   "score_max": 40
  }
 ]
}