Free SEO Tools

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2024-03-14T09:07:32-04:00

1) Google Trends gives you real-time insights into the hot topics that people are searching for now.

I rarely use this as most of my clients have very specific needs and keywords but I guess some developers may find this useful.

2) Google Ads Keyword Planner allows you to discover new keywords and get search volume and forecasts.

I use this regularly at the start of a new website project. I enter what I think is a relevant keyword to get started and then run the tool to get a bunch of results. I then download this as a CSV file and open it up in Excel. In Excel I get rid of all the columns that I don't need and create a new one which is number of monthly searches divided by the numeric competition level. I then sort the whole table on this new column in descending sequence. This brings to the top the most useful keywords that are either high volume or have the least competition.

Strangely, I usually struggle to find this tool and Google seem to keep moving it as well which doesn't help!

3) SEO Search Keyword Tool This is a Google Chrome extension and I had to install something called sync first in order to install it. I fed in a seed keyword and it gave me a list of other keywords, each one has a rank but I'm not clear what that rank signifies.

I think I prefer to use the keyword planner as at least I understand what it is telling me.

4) Soovle Like the previous tool, Soovle appears to generate a whole load of suggested keywords based upon a seed keyword. I get put off by anything that suggests signing up for a free trial so not for me I'm afraid.

5) ChatGPT ChatGPT creates content and when I asked for an article about free SEO tools this is what I got:

"Title: Unlocking Your Website's Potential: Top Free SEO Tools for Optimizing Online Presence

In the dynamic landscape of online marketing, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) remains a cornerstone for businesses aiming to enhance their digital visibility and attract organic traffic. However, navigating the complexities of SEO can be daunting, especially for those with limited resources. Fortunately, there exists a plethora of free SEO tools that can empower website owners and marketers to refine their strategies, boost rankings, and ultimately drive conversions. Let's explore some of these invaluable resources.

1. Google Search Console:

Google Search Console is a fundamental tool provided by the world's most popular search engine. It offers insights into how Google perceives your website, identifies indexing issues, and provides recommendations for improving site visibility. With features like performance tracking, keyword analysis, and URL inspection, Google Search Console equips users with essential data to optimize their online presence effectively.

2. Google Analytics:

Another indispensable offering from Google, Google Analytics, provides comprehensive analytics to understand website traffic and user behavior. By tracking metrics such as traffic sources, user demographics, and engagement metrics, website owners can make data-driven decisions to refine their content and SEO strategies. Understanding user intent and behavior is crucial for tailoring content and optimizing conversion paths.

3. Google Keyword Planner:

Keyword research forms the backbone of any successful SEO strategy. Google Keyword Planner enables users to discover relevant keywords, assess their search volumes, and analyze keyword competition. By identifying high-traffic keywords with low competition, website owners can create targeted content that resonates with their audience and improves their chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

4. Ubersuggest:

Ubersuggest is a versatile SEO tool that provides a range of features for keyword research, competitive analysis, and site audit. With its user-friendly interface and comprehensive insights, Ubersuggest is an invaluable resource for optimizing content, identifying backlink opportunities, and monitoring website performance. From generating content ideas to tracking keyword rankings, Ubersuggest streamlines the SEO workflow for businesses of all sizes.

5. MozBar:

MozBar is a browser extension offered by Moz, a renowned authority in the field of SEO. This handy tool provides instant insights into key SEO metrics such as domain authority, page authority, and backlink profile. By overlaying these metrics onto search engine results pages, MozBar empowers users to evaluate the competitiveness of search queries and identify optimization opportunities. Additionally, MozBar offers on-page analysis features to assess the SEO-friendliness of individual web pages.

6. AnswerThePublic:

Understanding the questions and concerns of your target audience is essential for creating relevant and engaging content. AnswerThePublic is a free tool that generates insights into popular search queries based on user intent. By visualizing search data in the form of question clusters, prepositions, and comparisons, AnswerThePublic helps website owners identify content gaps and craft compelling content that addresses the needs of their audience.

7. Screaming Frog SEO Spider:

Screaming Frog SEO Spider is a powerful desktop application for website crawling and analysis. While the free version has certain limitations, it remains a valuable tool for uncovering technical SEO issues such as broken links, duplicate content, and missing metadata. By conducting comprehensive site audits, Screaming Frog SEO Spider enables users to identify and rectify issues that may hinder their website's performance in search engine rankings.

In conclusion, the availability of free SEO tools has democratized the process of optimizing websites for search engines. From keyword research and content ideation to technical analysis and performance tracking, these tools offer a wealth of resources to help businesses enhance their online visibility and attract qualified traffic. By leveraging these tools effectively, website owners and marketers can stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of SEO and drive sustainable growth for their businesses."

My feelings about using this are that the information seems useful and relevant. There are a few tools that I don't recognise that may warrant further investigation at some point. I suppose my worry is that if I rely too heavily on AI generated content, will my website be penalised by Google and will other sites also have the exact same content that I have. My gut tells me that it is much better to write your own content or to use AI generated content but then use that as a starting point and personalise it to make it your own.

6) Gemini This is also a content creator and so I asked for the same article I asked of Chat GPT and here is what I got:

Conquer SEO Without Breaking the Bank: Free Tools for Stellar Rankings

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can feel like a magic trick for some – a mysterious art reserved for digital marketing whizzes. But the truth is, anyone can grasp the fundamentals of SEO and significantly improve their website's search ranking with the help of some fantastic free tools.

This article equips you with a treasure trove of free SEO resources to optimize your website and attract organic traffic. Let's dive into the toolbox:

Keyword Research: Unearthing the Golden Nuggets

Answer the Public: This ingenious tool generates a mind-boggling array of long-tail keyword ideas based on prepositions and questions people use in real searches. Find gold like "what is the best..." or "how to..." related to your niche.
Google Keyword Planner: While primarily aimed at pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, the Google Keyword Planner is a goldmine for SEO research. Discover search volume, competition level, and uncover hidden keyword gems.
Google Trends: See how search interest fluctuates for specific keywords over time. This helps tailor your content strategy to trending topics and capitalize on seasonal surges.

Technical SEO: The Nuts and Bolts

Google Search Console: This free service from Google is an absolute must-have. It provides insights into your website's health from a search engine's perspective. Identify crawl errors, broken links, and mobile usability issues – all crucial for a search-friendly website.
Google Mobile-Friendly Test: With mobile browsing dominating the landscape, ensure your website offers a seamless experience on smartphones. This tool from Google analyzes your site and provides valuable feedback for mobile optimization.
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (Free Version): This free tier offers a glimpse into Ahrefs' powerful SEO suite. Analyze your website's backlinks, identify broken links, and get basic on-page SEO recommendations.

Content Optimization: Speak the Search Engine's Language

Yoast SEO (WordPress Plugin): If you use WordPress, Yoast SEO is a fantastic plugin that guides you in optimizing your content for specific keywords. It analyzes readability, suggests internal linking opportunities, and helps craft compelling meta descriptions.
Hemingway Editor: This free online editor helps ensure your content is clear, concise, and easy to read. It highlights overly complex sentences and suggests simpler alternatives – a boon for user engagement and SEO.
SERP Snippet Optimization Tool by HigherVisibility: Craft attention-grabbing snippets – the text that appears below your website link in search results. This free tool helps you optimize your title tags and meta descriptions for maximum click-through rates.

Bonus Tools: Taking Your SEO Up a Notch

Ubersuggest: This freemium keyword research tool offers a generous free plan that allows you to discover keyword ideas, search volume, and competition level.
Google Analytics (Free Version): While not strictly an SEO tool, Google Analytics provides valuable insights into your website traffic. See where your visitors come from, which pages perform best, and identify areas for improvement to optimize user experience and SEO.

Remember, SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. By consistently using these free tools and implementing their recommendations, you'll gradually climb the search engine rankings and attract a steady stream of organic traffic to your website.

So some different tools to look at and I quite like the opening and closing paragraphs although my reservations about using AI generated content remain the same.

7) Hemingway This is similar to Grammarly which I have (when I remember to switch it back on). It critiques your content for free but I think that eventually you will have to pay if you want it to rewrite your content for you.

8) Grammarly I have this installed and I used to have it set to run all the time. However, I started to find it annoying in certain circumstances so although it is still installed it is not running all the time. In fact, I rarely switch it on at all now.

9) Copyscape Now this could be useful to me. It identifies duplicates of your content so it could be good if you want to know if anyone else is using the same AI generated content as you perhaps. With this is mind I tried entering this page that you are on now into the search box and it found no results. Thats good news.

10) Google SERP Snippet Optimizer I'm not sure how useful this is. It shows you what your Title and Meta Description will look like in a Google search page. There are limits which seem to be specified in pixels which is curious. Most of the limits I have seen have been in the numbers of characters and recently I realised that the limits are different if you are on a mobile.

11) Word Counter This is a word or rather a character counter which could be useful if you need to optimise a meta description for instance. I often find myself copying text into a Word document, just so that I can use the word count feature there.

12) Rich Results Test I use this quite often to check that all my hard work, building structured data schemas has not been wasted.

13) Wappalyzer This says that it lets you analyse a website's technologies. I'm not sure that I have a use case for needing this so I didn't sign up for the free trial.

I got a bit bored at this point reviewing the list so I will stop there. A lot of the entries seemed to be in there so that the author could highlight '35 free SEO tools' in the title of the article.

What I consistently do use are SEO PowerSuite tools: Rank Tracker and Website Auditor; Google Keyword Planner, Google Search Console and the Bing equivalent and the Rich Results Checker. I also have a Diib account with a few websites logged to it and I find their weekly and monthly emails quite helpful, especially ones relating to backlinks (which I don't really have covered anywhere else).

14) Disavow File. 24th March 2024 - I stumbled upon this one today having had to create a new Disavow file. I came upon this site which has a disavow checker and creator: https://disavowfile.com

I think I prefer to use the keyword planner as at least I understand what it is telling me.

5) ChatGPT ChatGPT creates content and when I asked for an article about free SEO tools this is what I got:

"Title: Unlocking Your Website's Potential: Top Free SEO Tools for Optimizing Online Presence

1. Google Search Console:

2. Google Analytics:

3. Google Keyword Planner:

4. Ubersuggest:

5. MozBar:

6. AnswerThePublic:

7. Screaming Frog SEO Spider:

6) Gemini This is also a content creator and so I asked for the same article I asked of Chat GPT and here is what I got:

Conquer SEO Without Breaking the Bank: Free Tools for Stellar Rankings

This article equips you with a treasure trove of free SEO resources to optimize your website and attract organic traffic. Let's dive into the toolbox:

Keyword Research: Unearthing the Golden Nuggets

Answer the Public: This ingenious tool generates a mind-boggling array of long-tail keyword ideas based on prepositions and questions people use in real searches. Find gold like "what is the best..." or "how to..." related to your niche.
Google Keyword Planner: While primarily aimed at pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns, the Google Keyword Planner is a goldmine for SEO research. Discover search volume, competition level, and uncover hidden keyword gems.
Google Trends: See how search interest fluctuates for specific keywords over time. This helps tailor your content strategy to trending topics and capitalize on seasonal surges.

Technical SEO: The Nuts and Bolts

Google Search Console: This free service from Google is an absolute must-have. It provides insights into your website's health from a search engine's perspective. Identify crawl errors, broken links, and mobile usability issues – all crucial for a search-friendly website.
Google Mobile-Friendly Test: With mobile browsing dominating the landscape, ensure your website offers a seamless experience on smartphones. This tool from Google analyzes your site and provides valuable feedback for mobile optimization.
Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (Free Version): This free tier offers a glimpse into Ahrefs' powerful SEO suite. Analyze your website's backlinks, identify broken links, and get basic on-page SEO recommendations.

Content Optimization: Speak the Search Engine's Language

Yoast SEO (WordPress Plugin): If you use WordPress, Yoast SEO is a fantastic plugin that guides you in optimizing your content for specific keywords. It analyzes readability, suggests internal linking opportunities, and helps craft compelling meta descriptions.
Hemingway Editor: This free online editor helps ensure your content is clear, concise, and easy to read. It highlights overly complex sentences and suggests simpler alternatives – a boon for user engagement and SEO.
SERP Snippet Optimization Tool by HigherVisibility: Craft attention-grabbing snippets – the text that appears below your website link in search results. This free tool helps you optimize your title tags and meta descriptions for maximum click-through rates.

Bonus Tools: Taking Your SEO Up a Notch

Ubersuggest: This freemium keyword research tool offers a generous free plan that allows you to discover keyword ideas, search volume, and competition level.
Google Analytics (Free Version): While not strictly an SEO tool, Google Analytics provides valuable insights into your website traffic. See where your visitors come from, which pages perform best, and identify areas for improvement to optimize user experience and SEO.

So some different tools to look at and I quite like the opening and closing paragraphs although my reservations about using AI generated content remain the same.

12) Rich Results Test I use this quite often to check that all my hard work, building structured data schemas has not been wasted.

13) Wappalyzer This says that it lets you analyse a website's technologies. I'm not sure that I have a use case for needing this so I didn't sign up for the free trial.

I got a bit bored at this point reviewing the list so I will stop there. A lot of the entries seemed to be in there so that the author could highlight '35 free SEO tools' in the title of the article.

14) Disavow File. 24th March 2024 - I stumbled upon this one today having had to create a new Disavow file. I came upon this site which has a disavow checker and creator: https://disavowfile.com

Free SEO Tools

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