In this guide, we shed light on some of the mysteries of SEO marketing. We cover the basics and point you in the right direction of the best SEO tools for beginners.
Some of the tools on this page are free. Other tools you have to pay for on subscription or make a one-off payment.
Free SEO Tools
1. Google Search Console
Search Console is by Google. It is one of the best free tools for newbies online. Google Search Console offers insights into how your website performs in Google Search.
Getting started is easy. You can check websites and URLs, which is a great feature. If you are new to digital marketing, this is a useful way to get started with SEO.
Key features include:
● Search traffic – find out what keywords drive traffic to your site or URL.
● Indexation – check what pages are indexed by Google.
● Mobile compatibility – this function lets you identify mobile-related issues
● Sitemap – submit your site map to Google for indexation.
2. Google Analytics
This is such a cool tool. It gives you valuable information on how users behave when they visit your site. What pages do they check out and visit the most? It allows you to ask yourself why visitors favour some pages and not others.
Key features include:
● User behaviour – how users interact with your site.
● User Acquisition – discover how visitors find your site.
● Conversions – this function lets you track goals and other stats.
3. Google Keyword Planner
We all know keywords are a must, but what keywords are right for your content? Google Keyword Planner makes it easy for you to find the best keywords. Before publishing new content, this keyword planner is a must.
Key features include:
● Search volume – this feature lets you estimate monthly search volume for a specific keyword.
● Keyword ideas – Have you got a keyword idea in mind? Before you create or add content, check your idea is a good one with Keyword Ideas.
● Competition – How competitive are your keywords? Sometimes, targeting less competitive keywords is better.
4. Google Page Speed Insights
Website loading speed is super important. Most of us navigate away from websites that load slowly. There are many reasons for slow-loading websites.
Google Page Speed gives you ideas on how to improve site speed. This is especially useful for sites with many mobile users.
Key features:
● Page load time – find out how long it takes for your site to load.
● Recommendations – This is a fantastic function that gives you tips on how you can improve your site.
● Performance Score – a neat function that assigns a score to your site.
5. Screaming Frog SEO Spider
A quirky name for an SEO tool, but that does not mean it is not useful. This is an excellent tool for analysing your site and identifying varied issues.
It lets you conduct a technical SEO audit of a website that you own.
Key features:
● XML sitemap – when you haven’t created an XML sitemap previously, this function assists you in creating one. You can also use it to validate an existing XML map.
● Crawling – A function that lets you find missing meta tags and broken links. It also helps with other technical issues.
● Site structure – analyse your site structure and find issues that need fixing.
Paid SEO Tools
Of course, there are also SEO tools for which you have to pay.
These tools are all slightly different. Before you go ahead, make sure you can afford the payment plans. Some of them command rather a hefty sum of money. Unless you are a professional, they may be too expensive for you. Still, they are worth checking out.
1. SEMrush
This platform has been around for some time. Because of its pricing, the platform is mainly geared towards pros, but that does not mean you should not consider SEMrush.
Key features:
● Keyword research
● Site audits
● Backlink analysis – this function is one of the platform’s best features.
Keywords in SEMrush may rank slightly differently. Don’t forget Google’s Keyword Planner targets keywords popular in Google searches. That does not mean there are no other keywords relevant to your content.
2. Ahrefs
Ahrefs is popular with many big brands including Adidas and Adobe. The platform also boasts eBay and IBM. That’s great, but remember these companies have huge marketing budgets. Ahrefs lets you choose from four different pricing plans.
Key features:
Site Audit – identify both opportunities and SEO issues.
Keyword Explorer – a great way to find keywords and asses hod difficult they are to rank. The Explorer is one of the best features of the platform.
Site Explorer – a feature that lets you find organic keywords and help with your site’s backlink profile.
3. Moz
Moz, or Moz Pro as it is called these days, is one of the most cost-effective Paid-For SEO tools online. It has two pricing plans making it easy to choose a plan.
The platform has grown from its humble beginnings in 2004 and now boasts a range of high-profile users including Trivago.
Keyword features:
Site audit – easy to understand SEO audits
Link Explorer – a tool that identifies the best link-building opportunities. It is one of the best features of the platform. Handy SEO tips are included.
Keyword Explorer – helps find keywords and their difficulty.
Valuable Tips For SEO Beginners
SEO seems like a minefield when you are first getting started. So, what should you focus on?
Here’s a quick rundown of the most valuable takeaway points:
● Keyword research – important if you have your own site or add content to other sites such as Hubpages.
● Content Creation – high-quality, valuable content is important.
● Backlink Building – quality, relevant backlinks are super important.
● Technical SEO – you need to write for search engines and people.
● Mobile Optimisation – more important than ever.
● Local SEO – for businesses that mainly operate in the local community. This is super important.
Final Thoughts
Effectively using these tools helps you improve your website’s visibility. Organic traffic lets you attract a sustainable stream of visitors and improve SEO.
SEO is not a one-off event. It is a journey. To get the most out of SEO, you need to evolve. Staying on top of your site and adapting to digital marketing changes are both important.
