Regardless of what the critics are saying, search engine optimization (SEO) is a still crucial part of your marketing strategy.
But there’s no denying that it can be a complicated task to handle. Trying to figure out page rank, keywords and other SEO elements can be a confusing and at times overwhelming process.
But it doesn’t have to be.
Thankfully, there are a plethora of tools available to help you get better results and more effectively use your time spent managing SEO campaigns.
Here’s a brief look at seven must-have tools that can have a major impact on your SEO efforts.
Google Keyword Planner
Before you can start targeting keywords, you need to know what users are actually typing when they conduct a search.
Google Keyword Planner takes the guesswork out of this process by helping you find query volume statistics for a wide range of keyword options.
This tool also offers insights on the level of competition and a suggested bid for each keyword so you can more effectively use your AdWords budget and set up a successful SEO campaign.
Moz Open Site Explorer
Trying to get high-quality backlinks for your site can be a challenging process. After all, how can you tell which websites are truly reputable and will help you rise in Google search results?
Thankfully, Moz’s Open Site Explorer is an excellent tool for researching backlinks. Simply use the URL search to find link-building opportunities with reputable sites, or conduct an analysis of your own site to find and remove links that could be hurting your SEO credibility.
QuickSprout Website Analyzer
Successful SEO efforts go beyond targeting the right keywords and generating quality backlinks. In many instances, the usability of your website can play a significant role in how highly it is ranked by Google.
Quick Sprout helps you recognize ways to improve your website by conducting a full analysis of your site so you can improve your content and make it more user-friendly.
In addition to analyzing your SEO, Quick Sprout also takes a look at your site’s social connectivity and provides comparisons to your competitors, making it an extremely insightful tool.
Seobility Keyword Research Tool
With Seobility’s free Keyword Research Tool, users can easily discover similar keywords that could be attractive to target. This is a great resource for new content ideas with specifically focused keywords.
The Keyword Research Tool has various sorting and filter options that you can use to narrow your search to keywords with high search volumes and low competition.
Seobility provides users with keywords search ideas from various categories, including:
- Similar keywords that are related to the term you entered
- Questions related to the keyword that are frequently asked by search engine users
- Related searches that Google displays in its search results
- Auto complete searches suggested by Google as the term is being typed in
- Related terms from the same broad category as the keyword entered
SEO Book
SEO Book offers several free SEO tools to help simplify your SEO needs.
With features such as a meta tag generator, keyword density analyzer, and keyword and link suggestion tools, SEO Book provides several options to help you set your on-site SEO efforts on the right course and ensure that you are using keywords properly.
AuthorityLabs
Sure, it’s great to run SEO campaigns. But it’s even better when you can see the results of your efforts.
With AuthorityLabs, you can easily keep track of your keyword rankings and see how your campaigns are having an impact on your SEO outcomes.
With a free account, you can monitor one domain and up to 10 keywords, but paid memberships will allow you to monitor greater numbers of domains and keywords—an excellent asset for marketers who manage SEO campaigns for multiple websites.
This tool’s tracking features even allow you to view results at zip code and city levels to determine your results in niche locations.
Google Analytics
You can’t talk about essential SEO tools without discussing the granddaddy of them all: Google Analytics.
Google Analytics provides you with the most thorough rundown of how visitors find and interact with your website, allowing you to glean valuable insights that can help you improve your user experience.
Google Analytics provides you with the data to evaluate your conversion rate, ad and content performance, and other factors that influence the success of your SEO efforts.
If there is only one tool that you decide to use in your attempts to master digital marketing, it should be this one.
Conclusion
These SEO tools are just a few of the great options that can help you on the road to digital marketing success.
Whether you need help perfecting your on-site SEO, finding quality backlinks or simply determining which keywords you should target, these tools will help you get the best results from your digital marketing efforts.
Ready for more tools?
If you want to explore even more marketing tools, beyond just the world of SEO, check out my FREE guide, 50 Inbound Marketing Tools. You can grab a your digital copy in just a few clicks, right here.
Or just tap on the big image below to keep exploring new tools….
