If you are here reading my post, you probably are a blogger or looking to be one. And we bloggers know how important it is to drive good traffic to your site. Without readers, all the work and money you put into your blog will be for absolutely nothing.
That is where SEO or search engine optimization comes in. This can be a daunting task but I know just the right way to make it easy. You see, I have been in this SEO game for many years and I am very fortunate and grateful that I started absorbing the skill sets of SEO many years ago.
Now, times have definitely changed from when I first started. There are so many SEO tools today that can help improve your search rankings and bring more traffic to your blog that did not exist some years ago.
Some of my absolute favorite and top tools include Ahrefs, Answer the Public, Screaming Frog, SurferSEO, and LinkWhisper. These tools will not only improve your visibility on search engines, but they will also help drive more traffic to your blog when used correctly.
Read on as I discuss how exactly these tools will help you succeed as a blogger and how I use these tools in the most effective way. I will go over 6 of the best SEO Tools for driving more blog traffic that I personally use for this exact blog that you are reading.
I will give you the key features of each and tell you what each one of them does. From link building, keyword research, and competitor analysis to website analysis, there is so much to gain from using these SEO tools.
SEO and Blogging
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is all about improving the ranking and visibility of a webpage or website SERPs (search engine result pages). Having a good SEO strategy in place will not only increase your reach but also attract more organic traffic to your blog.
Now let’s talk about SEO tools. These are the programs geared towards helping you optimize your web pages and the entire website for search engines.
The tools give you several insights into your blog’s general performance, keyword research, and competitor analysis, among others. They also help you with link-building and website analytics. They will save you a lot of effort and time.
Why Use SEO Tools for Increasing Blog Traffic
In my many years using SEO Tools, I have understood that one of the main advantages of using these tools is that they will help you identify the right keywords to target for your blog. Using the right keywords will help you in two major ways.
One, you will increase the chances of ranking higher on search engines because you will be writing content that people are really looking for. Two, you are definitely going to get more organic traffic.
Another key advantage of using SEO tools is that they help optimize your blog structure for search engines. High-quality SEO tools will give you suggestions on how best to optimize your blog titles, headings, meta descriptions, on-page elements, and images for images.
Last but not least, SEO tools are going to help monitor and track the performance of your blog so you know what is working and what is not.
You will be able to easily analyze the traffic that’s coming in, track your rankings, and see your backlinks to determine which areas need improvement so you can further optimize them.
Why Are Blogging SEO Tools Important And Are They Needed?
Here are a few reasons why SEO Tools are important and why you should definitely consider using them:
Keyword Recommendation and Research
I regularly use SEO Tools to do just this and I can tell you they have never disappointed. You probably already understand how fundamental good keyword research is. For you to succeed in blogging, this is like literally the one thing you do not want to ignore.
The blogging tools will do the keyword research for you and recommend the most appropriate ones to use. So using them will help you ensure your blog and blog content is properly optimized for search engines. You will therefore stand a good chance to rank higher and attract more organic traffic to your blog.
With keyword research tools like Ahrefs Keyword Explorer, you can stay ahead of the competition and create content that resonates with your target audience.
Article Analysis
Another key area I often use these tools on is article analysis. Most of these tools will analyze your blog content and show potential areas of improvement. With insights on stuff like readability, correct use of keywords, and how to correctly use titles and meta tags, you are going to be way ahead of your competitors.
One of the content analysis use I often use is SurferSEO. This tool is amazing; it gives you detailed recommendations on keywords, the length of your content, how to use headers and subheaders, and how many videos and images you should use in your content.
Search Engine Snippet Preview
This is something that many bloggers ignore but is very important. Good blogging tools will help you optimize your meta descriptions and titles, which as you might already be aware, are very essential for getting more clicks from SERPs. They will show how your snippets will appear and recommend improvements if any.
I must mention a tool that I always use for this purpose: RankMath. It helps me ensure that my snippets are correctly displayed in search engine results to entice readers to click through my pages. We will discuss more about this later.
They Compare Your Blog to your Competitors’
There are so many bloggers like you out there probably doing the same content as you. So knowing what they are doing right or wrong will serve to your advantage. SEO Tools can help you do just that. They will give you insights into which keywords, backlink profiles, and blog strategies your competitors are using and what is helping them rank.
SEMrush is one such tool that can help you stay up-to-date on the tactics your competitors are using so you can readjust your SEO strategy accordingly.
Website Crawling
Sometimes, I get technical issues on my blogs that may affect the performance of my SEO strategy. The good thing is, they never affect my SEO because I use the right tools that crawl my blogs.
They give me information on things like broken links, page load speed and even duplicate content. This way, I can easily correct the issues before they bring any damage or affect the overall website performance.
Performance Analytics
I always advise bloggers and website owners to never ignore performance analytics. This is the only way you are going to know how your blog is performing in general as well as bounce rates, user behavior, or even traffic sources.
Knowing and properly analyzing this data will help understand opportunities and trends so you can optimize your blog correctly.
They Improve Content Quality
As we have discussed above, SEO tools will help you get the right keywords for your blog content. Additionally, they will reveal which type of content your competitors are writing and how it is ranking.
This knowledge comes in handy when creating content for your blog. You will be able to come up with better content that easily resonates with your audience.
They Monitor Backlinks
Monitoring backlinks to your blog will help track which sites are linking to your content so you can use the opportunity for link building. And as I have always said, you want to be able to build good relationships with other websites and bloggers. This ultimately helps you rank better on search engines.
Website Speed Optimization
Your website speed affects user experiences so it is always a good idea to ensure it is at its best. Note also that your rankings on search engines are affected by your website speed. Therefore, the last thing you want is a slow-loading blog.
With the right SEO tools, you will get information on how your website speed is doing you can make any necessary changes if required.
They Track Performance
Tracking your blog performance is crucial. You get data on user engagement, conversion rates, traffic, et cetera. This information can be used to make your blog more effective and help your overall SEO strategy.
Free vs. Paid SEO Tools
Caught between free and paid SEO tools? It happens and when I was first starting out, I had the same dilemma. To be honest, there are so many free SEO tools out there that work just fine. They can be very helpful if you are on a budget and don’t have a lot of work going on on your blog.
However, getting a paid tool is going to give access to premium features that will definitely set you apart from your competition.
Free tools are often perfect for bloggers that are just starting out. They will give you a basic understanding of your blog’s SEO, such as performance, and basic keyword research, among other things. You will also get to know how to track your progress over time.
Examples of free SEO tools include Yoast SEO, Google Analytics, Google Trends, and Google Search Console. Google Analytics will, for instance, help you track your blog’s traffic, and your user behavior, among other key metrics. It is also going to help you which pages are performing and which ones require more input.
Google Console will monitor your site maps, and search performance, and help you know crawl errors.
Paid SEO tools often come with more advanced features. They make it way easier to track the performance of a website, identify improvement opportunities and keep you ahead of your potential competitors.
Examples of paid SEO tools include SurferSEO, RankMath Pro, Screaming Frog, and Ahrefs. I tried most of these tools and I can tell you they are all worth the money. Ahrefs will give you in-depth keyword research, backlink analysis, and site auditing.
I like Rankmath for its wide range of features including site audits, content analysis, keyword research, and rank tracking.
In general, while you can use free SEO tools if you are on a tight budget or just starting out with blogging, I would advise investing in paid SEO tools because they offer superior features. They also provide more opportunities for customization.
This can make all the difference when it comes to serious blogging. You just have to understand your needs and know where to put your money if you decide to go down that road.
What are the Best SEO Tools for Bloggers?
Here are my top 6 SEO Tools for bloggers:
1. RankMath
RankMath is among the most powerful SEO tools for bloggers out there. It is easy to use and comes with a WordPress plugin. This tool also comes with several premium features which include XML sitemap generation, content analysis, keyword optimization, and keyword research.
I also liked the user-friendliness of the tool. The interface allows you to easily optimize your content for any search engine.
Key Features
- Content analysis
- Keyword research and optimization
- XML sitemap generation
I must mention that RankMath is best suited for WordPress bloggers who are in need of a one-in-all tool. With the many features this tool has, you can start getting results in no time. It will save you a lot of time with its user-friendly interface.
Cost: While there is a free version, the premium features go for between $59 and $499 per year. However, trust me the cost will be worth it. The tool has several positive reviews from users who have found it effective. Check it out today.
2. SurferSEO
This is among my favorite content optimization tools. It is an AI-driven SEO tool that will help you optimize content for your blog. SurferSEO works by analyzing the top-ranking blogs or pages for given keywords and then provides you with data-driven recommendations so you can improve your content.
Key Features
- AI-driven content optimization
- Content Editor
- Keyword research
- SERP analyzer
This tool will work best for bloggers or website owners who need to analyze their competition. If you have competitors whose content you want to analyze so you can improve on yours, then SurferSEO will be perfect for you.
With the AI-driven features the tool is going to help you improve your content relevance and therefore your ranking on search engines.
SurferSEO saves me time with its recommendations when creating content. I also automate many SEO tasks with this tool so I can have more time to look at things in my SEO strategy. I must also mention that SurferSEO is among the most reviewed SEO tool with many positive reviews.
Cost: The pricing plans start from $49 per month.
3. LinkWhisper
LinkWhsiper is another SEO tool that comes with a WordPress plugin. It is very good for link building, web content analysis, and suggesting opportunities for internal link building. These features will not only help you to improve your website structure but also improve your search engine visibility.
Key Features
- Internal linking suggestions
- Automatic link updating
- Anchor text analysis
- Broken link checking
If you are looking to improve your blog’s structure as well as improve your search engine visibility, then this tool is going to serve you write. It will definitely help you get more organized and keep your blog user-friendly.
Automating internal linking and giving your opportunities for link building is going to save you time while still improving your blog ranking.
Cost: LinkWhisper plans range from $77 to $347 per year. Many website owners and bloggers have used this tool and given it a thumbs up. Look it up online and you will see many positive reviews.
4. Ahrefs
This is a one-in-all SEO tool that will offer you features like keyword research, site audit, and rank tracking. Ahrefts comes with a huge database of backlinks, keywords, and search results that will provide relevant and accurate data.
It has a content explorer that allows you to easily find popular content in your niche. You can then use the tool to analyze the content’s performance so you can get killer ideas for coming up with your own content.
The site audit feature will check for any technical issues and then provide suggestions on how best to fix them.
Key Features
- Site audit
- Content explorer
- Keyword research
- Rank tracker
- Backlink analysis
Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO tool that can be used for various purposes. Its keyword research tool allows users to find relevant keywords for their content, while its backlink analysis tool helps in analyzing competitors’ backlinks and finding new opportunities to build links.
Its site audit feature can be used to identify and fix any technical SEO issues on a website.
The SEO tool saves time by providing accurate and relevant data in a single platform, which helps in streamlining the SEO process. Its keyword research and content explorer features provide content ideas that can save time in brainstorming new topics.
Cost and Pricing: Ahrefs offers a 7-day trial for $7, after which its pricing starts at $99 per month for the Lite version, which includes access to its keyword research, backlink analysis, and rank tracker tools. The Standard, Advanced, and Agency plans are priced at $179, $399, and $999 per month, respectively.
5. Answer the Public
If you want a keyword research tool that will give you long-tail keywords for your content ideas, then this SEO tool will be the best one for you. I have used it before and noticed it visualizes data so you can easily understand it.
Key Features
- Data comparison
- Keyword research
- Exports as a CSV
- High-resolution visualization
Answer the Public will give you insights into what is being searched in relation to some specific keyword or topic. The tool is best suited for bloggers looking for content ideas based on what users are searching for.
By providing you with many long-tail keyword ideas arranged in a visually-appealing format, it is going to save you a lot of time that you would otherwise use to brainstorm ideas and manually look for keywords.
Cost: There is a free version that gives users a limited amount of keyword suggestions. The pro version goes for $99 per month or you can pay $79 monthly but billed yearly. Of course, the pro version comes with unlimited searches, access to CSV exports, and priority customer support.
6. Screaming Frog
This is a top-notch tool that will help ensure your blog or website is technically optimized. If you have a larger website that has many pages, you might want to get this tool. It quickly scans for issues that would take hours on end to find.
Key Features
- Link Analysis
- Website crawling
- Metadata analysis
- Broken link detection
- Duplicate content identification
Basically, this tool is a website crawler that will allow you to perform detailed blog analysis, find duplicate content and broken links, and optimize metadata. I find it best for performing technical SEO audits.
Screaming Frog will save you time by automating blog crawling and doing blog analysis. It also gives you a comprehensive report which makes it easier for you to quickly and effectively deal with issues.
Cost: There is a free version that limits crawling to 500URLs. The paid version goes for $259 per year and comes with unlimited crawling.
This tool is also among the best rates ones for website crawling. Bloggers like it for its attention to detail when it comes to crawling and analysis to identify technical issues.
Free Google SEO Tools
If you are on a budget, you can use free Google SEO tools to optimize your blog. They can be very helpful. Here are four free Google Tools available to you:
Google Search Console
This tool gives bloggers insights into website performance. With this tool, you can easily see which keywords your blog is ranking for, the click you are getting and how many impressions your blog has.
You also get to know which pages on your blog are the most popular. With this information, you will get to know how best to improve your website.
Google Trends
Want to see how often specific keywords and search terms are being used over a period, this tool will help you do just that. The tool will help identify keywords that are popular and know which search terms are being searched more. This information will go a long way helping to create useful content that actually ranks.
Google Analytics
This is basically a blog analysis tool. It gives you information on the traffic coming to your website. You will get to know how many visitors you are getting. You also get to know where the traffic is coming from and which exact pages are responsible for the traffic.
Another key detail Google Analytics gives you is how long visitors to your site actually stay on the site. With this information, you can identify specific areas that need improvement and create content that will get you even more traffic.
Google Page Speed Insights
This tool will analyze your website pages and give you information on the speed of each page. If it is too low, the tool also gives you recommendations on how to improve. As I mentioned earlier, the speed of your pages is a critical factor that you cannot ignore. Therefore, this is definitely a handy tool.
Google Page Speed Insights can also help you identify and fix issues that slow down your website or blog.
In general, these four free Google SEO Tools are incredibly useful when used correctly. If you are not looking to invest in paid SEO tools, try these four to get some incredible insights on how to improve your blog.
My Favorite SEO Tools for Blogs
Time and money invested in great SEO courses and training are by far the best tools for bloggers. You cannot put a price on learning how to use tools and SEO effectively for success from coaches and mentors that have proven their way.
However, it is important to note SEO isn’t just about getting any tools and starting to use them. To be effective, you must first understand how to apply them effectively. Without this, the time and money you invest in these SEO tools may be for nothing.
It is, therefore, important to invest in SEO courses and training sessions which can help you develop the understanding and skills required to effectively use different SEO tools. You have to have an understanding of such stuff as link-building strategies, keyword research, search engine algorithms, and on-page optimization, among others.
When you get this knowledge, it will be easier for you to apply it and actually improve the ranking of your blog. SEO courses and training sessions also give you the chance to stay up-to-date with the latest changes and trends in the industry. Note that SEO is always changing so what may work for you today may not necessarily be relevant tomorrow.
You, therefore need to stay afloat by getting educated on SEO. This way, you will always know what new things are happening and what is no longer relevant so you can adjust your strategy accordingly.
Additionally, learning about SEO will save you money in the long run. Why would waste your time trying this and that while wasting money when you can take one or two courses and gain knowledge from the experts in the industry? You will achieve your SEO and blogging goals faster by taking these courses.
In general, it is okay to try the many SEO tools available today, but it would also be a wise decision to take an SEO course so you can make the most of these tools. Armed with knowledge, there is nothing you cannot do. You will start seeing results in no time.
6 Best SEO Tools for Driving More Blog Traffic: FAQ
What are SEO tools?
These are software programs that help bloggers and website owners to improve their search rankings. They help you improve your visibility by analyzing data, making recommendations, and providing insights.
Are SEO tools necessary for bloggers?
Yes, for you to be successful at blogging, it is important that you invest in good SEO tools. They will give you valuable insights and data that will not only help you rank better but also improve your structure and overall blog performance.
How do paid SEO tools differ from free SEO tools?
Paid SEO tools often have better, more powerful features than free SEO tools. They offer deeper insights, more comprehensive data, and better data analysis than free tools. Also, they are often more user-friendly and provide better customer support.
Are there free SEO tools?
Yes, you will find many free SEO tools online. While they can be valuable especially if you are on a tight budget, paid SEO tools are better in many ways. Some examples of free SEO tools include the free Google SEO tools discussed above.
What should I look for in an SEO tool?
When choosing an SEO tool, you should consider its features, ease of use, customer support, pricing, and compatibility with your website platform. You should also look for tools that provide insights and data that are relevant to your specific goals and needs.
Can SEO tools guarantee high search engine rankings?
No, SEO tools cannot guarantee high search engine rankings. However, they can provide valuable insights and data that help you optimize your website’s content, structure, and performance, which can improve your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.
What are some common mistakes bloggers make when using SEO tools?
Some common mistakes bloggers make include focusing too much on keyword density, ignoring the user experience, using black hat techniques, and not analyzing their data to make informed decisions.
My Final Helpful Thoughts
SEO tools are essential for bloggers who want to improve their website’s ranking and increase traffic and engagement. These tools provide insights and data that enable bloggers to make informed decisions, optimize their content, and enhance user experience. There are various free and paid SEO tools available in the market, each with unique features and benefits.
It is important to invest in learning how to use these tools effectively to achieve maximum results. Ultimately, the goal of using SEO tools is to create a better user experience, improve website traffic and engagement, and achieve long-term success in the highly competitive world of blogging. With the right SEO tools and knowledge, bloggers can enhance their online presence and achieve their goals.
