Hi! What are your favorite affordable books, articles, videos, etc. for SEO beginners?

I am interested in self-paced courses that are affordable and preferably free. I work as a book editor and am considering transitioning to content editing with SEO skills. I have familiarized myself with basic terminology through videos but am unsure of where to proceed next. I am seeking beginner-friendly content that can help me expand my knowledge. I have used some free Ahrefs tools and am wondering if a paid subscription is necessary to enter the field. Can you recommend Ahrefs or Moz? Do you have any preferred book or video series suggestions? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Learningseo.io is a good starting point, covering various SEO disciplines curated by industry professionals. The platform provides information on fundamentals, including content, and free tools. Google Search Console and Ad Planner are free Google tools that offer insights into basic principles. Paid tools can increase efficiency, but a free Semrush plan might be more useful than Ahrefs for beginners. For staying up-to-date on SEO trends, Niche Pursuits podcast and SEO Roundtable on YouTube are valuable resources. To learn SEO effectively, it’s recommended to read articles from reputable SEO blogs, including those by SEO tool providers, as they present diverse perspectives. Instead of purchasing courses, focus on applying acquired knowledge by creating a website or working for an agency. Grumpy SEO Guy podcast provides in-depth SEO knowledge, starting from episode 21.