Keyword Research & Content Planning

Discover what your audience is searching for and identify content opportunities with these research tools.

Free Keyword Tools

• Google Keyword Planner: Direct from Google Ads, shows search volumes and competition (requires Google Ads account).
  → Access Tool
• Ubersuggest (Free Tier): Neil Patel’s tool offering keyword ideas, content suggestions, and competitor analysis.
  → Try Ubersuggest
• AnswerThePublic: Visualizes search questions and queries around your keywords. Great for FAQ and content ideas.
  → Search Questions
• Google Trends: Track search interest over time, compare terms, and identify seasonal patterns.
  → Explore Trends
• AlsoAsked.com: Shows “People Also Ask” questions in a branching diagram format.
  → Find Questions

Freemium Keyword Tools

• Ahrefs Free Tools: Keyword generator, SERP checker, and website authority checker with limited daily uses.
  → Keyword Generator | SERP Checker
• SEMrush Keyword Magic (Limited Free): Access to 10 free searches daily from their massive keyword database.
  → Use Tool
• Moz Keyword Explorer: 10 free queries per month with detailed SERP analysis.
  → Explore Keywords
• Keywords Everywhere (Browser Extension): Shows search volume, CPC, and competition directly in search results.
  → Install Extension

Long-Tail & Semantic Research

• LSI Graph: Find latent semantic indexing keywords to improve content relevance.
  → Generate LSI Keywords
• Keyword Tool (Keywordtool.io): Generates long-tail keywords from Google Autocomplete.
  → Find Keywords

Site Speed & Performance Testing

Page speed directly impacts rankings and user experience. These tools help identify and fix performance issues.

Google Performance Tools

• PageSpeed Insights: Analyzes Core Web Vitals and provides specific optimization recommendations for mobile and desktop.
  → Test Now
• Chrome User Experience Report (CrUX): Real-world performance data from Chrome users visiting your site.
  → Access CrUX
• Web.dev Measure: Comprehensive performance audit with actionable insights.
  → Run Audit

Third-Party Performance Tools

• GTmetrix: Detailed waterfall charts, video playback, and performance monitoring from multiple locations.
  → Test Performance
• Pingdom Website Speed Test: Simple, fast testing from 70+ global locations.
  → Speed Test
• WebPageTest: Advanced testing with multiple browsers, connection speeds, and detailed diagnostics.
  → Advanced Testing
• Lighthouse CI: Automate performance testing in your development workflow.
  → Setup Guide

Image & Asset Optimization

• Squoosh: Google’s image compression tool supporting modern formats like WebP and AVIF.
  → Compress Images
• TinyPNG/TinyJPG: Compress PNG and JPEG images without visible quality loss.
  → Optimize Images
• SVGOMG: Optimize SVG vector graphics for web use.
  → Optimize SVGs

Technical SEO & Site Auditing

Ensure search engines can properly crawl, index, and understand your website with these technical tools.

Crawling & Site Audits

• Screaming Frog SEO Spider: Desktop crawler that audits up to 500 URLs free. Identifies broken links, duplicate content, and technical issues.
  → Download | User Guide
• Sitebulb (Free Trial): Visual website crawler with intuitive reporting and prioritized recommendations.
  → Try Sitebulb
• Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (Free): Monitor your site’s SEO health and backlink profile at no cost.
  → Sign Up Free

Mobile & Responsive Testing

• Mobile-Friendly Test: Google’s official mobile usability checker.
  → Test Mobile
• Responsinator: Preview your site on various device sizes simultaneously.
  → Check Responsive
• BrowserStack (Free Trial): Test on real devices and browsers remotely.
  → Start Testing

Structured Data & Schema

• Google Rich Results Test: Validate structured data and preview how rich snippets will appear.
  → Test Rich Results
• Schema Markup Validator: Official Schema.org validation tool.
  → Validate Schema
• Schema Markup Generator: Create JSON-LD structured data without coding.
  → Generate Schema
• Structured Data Testing Tool: Test and troubleshoot all types of structured data.
  → Documentation

Security & HTTPS

• SSL Labs Server Test: Comprehensive SSL/TLS analysis and grading.
  → Test SSL
• Security Headers: Check HTTP security headers configuration.
  → Scan Headers

Backlink Analysis & Link Building

Monitor your backlink profile and discover link building opportunities with these tools.

Free Backlink Checkers

• Google Search Console Links Report: See your most linked pages and referring domains directly from Google.
  → View Links
• Ahrefs Backlink Checker (Free): Check top 100 backlinks for any website.
  → Check Backlinks
• Moz Link Explorer (Free Tier): 10 queries per month with link metrics and spam score.
  → Explore Links
• Ubersuggest Backlink Analyzer: View referring domains and new/lost backlinks.
  → Analyze Backlinks

Link Building Tools

• HARO (Help a Reporter Out): Connect with journalists seeking expert sources for link opportunities.
  → Join HARO
• Hunter.io: Find email addresses for outreach campaigns (limited free tier).
  → Find Emails
• Check My Links (Chrome Extension): Find broken links on any page for broken link building opportunities.
  → Install Extension

Competitor Link Analysis

• SEO SpyGlass (Free Version): Analyze competitor backlink profiles and find link opportunities.
  → Download Tool
• Majestic (Free Account): Limited access to Site Explorer and link data.
  → Create Account

Local SEO & Business Listings

Optimize your local search presence and manage business listings across the web.

Google Local Tools

• Google Business Profile Manager: Essential for local visibility in Maps and Search. Manage reviews, posts, and business info.
  → Manage Profile | Help Center
• Google Maps Platform: Embed maps and add location features to your website.
  → Get Started
• Local Services Ads: Pay-per-lead advertising for service businesses.
  → Learn More

Citation & Listing Management

• Moz Local Check: Free scan showing how your business appears across major directories.
  → Run Scan
• BrightLocal Citation Tracker: Find and audit your business citations across the web.
  → Check Citations
• Whitespark Local Citation Finder: Discover citation opportunities in your niche and location.
  → Find Citations

Review Management

• Google Alerts: Monitor brand mentions and potential review sites.
  → Set Alerts
• ReviewTrackers (Free Trial): Monitor reviews across 100+ sites.
  → Try Free
• Grade.us: Automate review requests and improve ratings.
  → Learn More

Local Rank Tracking

• LocalFalcon: Accurate local rank tracking with geo-grid technology.
  → Track Rankings
• GeoRanker: Track local search rankings from specific locations.
  → Start Tracking

Content Optimization & AI Tools

Create and optimize content that ranks well and engages readers using these modern tools.

Content Analysis & Optimization

• Clearscope (Free Trial): AI-powered content optimization based on top-ranking pages.
  → Try Clearscope
• SurferSEO (Trial): Real-time content editor with SERP analysis and optimization scores.
  → Start Trial
• Frase (Limited Free): AI content briefs and optimization based on SERP data.
  → Try Frase
• Hemingway Editor: Improve readability and clarity of your content.
  → Edit Content
• Grammarly (Free Tier): Grammar, spelling, and basic style checking.
  → Install Grammarly

AI Writing Assistants

• ChatGPT: Generate content ideas, outlines, and drafts (requires editing for SEO).
  → Access ChatGPT
• Claude (Anthropic): Advanced AI assistant for research and content creation.
  → Try Claude
• Jasper AI (Trial): AI copywriting tool with SEO templates.
  → Start Trial
• Copy.ai (Free Tier): Generate marketing copy and content ideas.
  → Try Free

Content Research & Planning

• BuzzSumo (Limited Free): Find trending content and influencers in your niche.
  → Search Content
• Reddit Keyword Monitor: Find content ideas from Reddit discussions.
  → Browse Subreddits
• Exploding Topics: Discover trending topics before they peak.
  → Find Trends

Rank Tracking & SEO Reporting

Monitor your search rankings and create professional SEO reports with these tools.

Free Rank Tracking

• Google Search Console Performance: Official ranking data from Google with impressions and CTR.
  → View Performance
• SERPWatcher (Free Trial): Track rankings with daily updates and mobile tracking.
  → Start Tracking
• Rank Tracker (Free Version): Desktop software for unlimited keyword tracking.
  → Download
• SmallSEOTools Rank Checker: Quick manual rank checking for specific keywords.
  → Check Rankings

SERP Analysis

• MozBar (Free Extension): See DA/PA metrics and on-page elements while browsing.
  → Install MozBar
• SEOquake: Browser extension showing key SEO metrics in search results.
  → Add Extension
• Detailed SEO Extension: Chrome extension for quick on-page SEO analysis.
  → Install Extension

Reporting Tools

• Google Data Studio (Looker Studio): Create custom SEO dashboards with data from multiple sources.
  → Create Dashboards
• Microsoft Clarity: Free heatmaps and session recordings to understand user behavior.
  → Install Clarity
• Agency Analytics (Trial): White-label SEO reporting for agencies.
  → Try Free

WordPress SEO Plugins & Tools

Essential plugins and tools specifically for WordPress websites.

SEO Plugins

• Yoast SEO (Free/Premium): Most popular WordPress SEO plugin with content analysis and XML sitemaps.
  → Download Plugin | Free Training
• Rank Math (Free/Pro): Feature-rich alternative with Schema markup and keyword tracking.
  → Get Rank Math
• All in One SEO (AIOSEO): Comprehensive SEO toolkit with local SEO features.
  → Install AIOSEO
• SEOPress (Free/Pro): Lightweight, white-label ready SEO plugin.
  → Download SEOPress

Performance Plugins

• WP Rocket (Premium): Caching plugin that improves Core Web Vitals.
  → Learn More
• W3 Total Cache (Free): Comprehensive caching and performance optimization.
  → Install Plugin
• Autoptimize: Optimize CSS, JS, and HTML for better performance.
  → Download
• Smush (Free/Pro): Image compression and lazy loading.
  → Get Smush

Schema & Structured Data

• Schema Pro: Easy Schema markup without coding.
  → Get Schema Pro
• WP Review: Add review Schema and rating systems.
  → Install Plugin

Redirects & Links

• Redirection: Manage 301 redirects and track 404 errors.
  → Download
• Broken Link Checker: Automatically detect and fix broken links.
  → Install Plugin

SEO Learning Resources & Communities

Stay updated with the latest SEO trends and best practices through these educational resources.

Official Documentation

• Google Search Central: Official SEO guidelines and documentation from Google.
  → Browse Docs | Starter Guide
• Google Search Central Blog: Updates about algorithm changes and new features.
  → Read Blog
• Bing Webmaster Guidelines: Best practices for Bing optimization.
  → View Guidelines

Free Courses & Certifications

• Google Analytics Academy: Free courses on GA4 and data analysis.
  → Start Learning
• HubSpot Academy SEO Course: Free certification with 6 hours of content.
  → Enroll Free
• Moz SEO Learning Center: Comprehensive guides for all skill levels.
  → Learn SEO
• SEMrush Academy: Free courses with certificates.
  → Browse Courses

SEO News & Updates

• Search Engine Land: Breaking news and in-depth SEO analysis.
  → Read News
• Search Engine Journal: SEO news, guides, and webinars.
  → Visit SEJ
• Search Engine Roundtable: Daily SEO news digest by Barry Schwartz.
  → Daily Updates

Communities & Forums

• r/SEO (Reddit): Active community for SEO discussions and advice.
  → Join Community
• WebmasterWorld: Long-standing forum for technical SEO discussions.
  → Browse Forums
• SEO Signals Lab (Facebook): Large Facebook group for SEO testing and discussion.
  → Join Group

YouTube Channels

• Google Search Central: Official channel with guidance from Google.
  → Subscribe
• Ahrefs: Data-driven SEO tutorials and case studies.
  → Watch Videos
• Neil Patel: SEO and digital marketing strategies.
  → View Channel