Today it’s not about ‘get the traffic’ — it’s about ‘get the targeted and relevant traffic.’
Adam Audette
Chief Knowledge Officer, RKG
And I couldn’t agree more!
Your ideal audience is searching for your content. You just need to make sure that it is positioned well for them to find it.
Over the last five years, I’ve learned that’s where free SEO tools come in handy.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a free and strategic way to increase the amount and quality of traffic your blog receives.
In order to successfully build this foundation for your blog, you need to understand:
With this information, you can make sure that your website is targeting your ideal reader, connecting with them intentionally and on auto-pilot!
So let’s dive in and review the seven best and free SEO tools to help you accomplish this.
Ubersuggest was created by online marketing expert, Neil Patel, and it is my absolute favorite SEO tool!
This tool helps you find the keywords that you want your content to rank for, shows you the amount of traffic it generates on Google, as well as other keyword ideas!
If you’re interested, you can even see what type of posts you’re competing with. That way you know how to stand out from the crowd online.
Simply put, Google Trends shows you can in real time what type of searches are popular for specific keywords across different regions and languages.
Don’t ignore this best-kept secret!
Pinterest is widely known as the place to discover new recipes or DIY ideas but it truly is a visual search engine that Google actually ranks in search results.
No matter what blogger niche you’re in – Pinterest can help you find the word(s) you need to understand what keyword you need to target. All it takes is a simple search to discover what they are!
Yes, it’s a free SEO tool from Google!
By using it, you will better understand your customers historically and in real-time.
Google Analytics provides five key categories to track data, which are:
Each category provides an in-depth analysis of who is enjoying the content on your site.
For example, the Demographics Overview under the Audience category will show you the age and gender of the users visiting your site (as shown in the screenshot below).
Information like this can help you as a blogger strategically tailor your content for steady and targeted website traffic.
An extra tip! If you have a blog built on WordPress, you can integrate your Google Analytics dashboard to your site by installing the Google Analytics Dashboard for WP plugin by ExactMetrics.
If you want to shine, and understand how you shine, in Google Search results, this is the free SEO tool for you!
Google Search Console is an easy way to review how your content is performing on Googe and it points out what areas your website needs to fix in order to improve that performance.
In fact, think of Google Search Console as a real-time performance review (like the annual one you’ve probably had at work).
And FYI, the more you dig in Google Search Console, the more useful information you’ll find!
Did you know that how fast your website loads affects how it’s ranked in search engine results?
If not, now you know it does!
Google PageSpeed Insights will show you how fast your website, or specific pages on your website, load on Desktop and Mobile. Then it’ll also share what specific issues you need to fix in order to increase your site speed.
This is crucial info!
Why?
Well, have you tried navigating a website that takes a long time to load? What do you do if it takes more than 10 seconds?
You move on to the next site – whether or not they have the best content possible.
I rest my case.
Last but not least, another one of my favorite free SEO tools is Yoast SEO.
Unlike the other tools, this is a free plugin for WordPress websites that also has premium features available for purchase.
Nevertheless, the free features are a great place to start!
Yoast SEO helps content creators with technical website things like XML Sitemaps and canonical URLs to content and SEO analysis while writing a blog post. See the screenshot of one of my recent blog posts below.
But there’s more!
Despite the fact that Yoast SEO is a plugin, everyone (bloggers included) can access the Yoast.com website for beginner to advanced reading on SEO. It’s an invaluable resource!
Sisters, I know that this may seem like a lot of information and like you have one more thing to add to your to-do list.
But I can tell you that in 5 years of blogging, this has been one of the secrets to my success!
And I don’t just mean success in making money and participating in cool campaigns.
I’m referring to long-term success that is built on getting targeted website traffic by using these 7 free SEO tools. Actually, here’s my most recent site audit from UberSuggest to convince you!
I’ve got to admit, it’s been too long. I miss creating content, and I miss y’all – my readers and followers. It’s been 4 years
Honestly, I struggle with pricing my products. And as an entrepreneur, am I even allowed to admit that out loud? Even as I write this
So you want to start buying from Black-owned businesses… Here’s a doable way that you can! Start with one (1) purchase. No matter how big
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Tamara Sykes
A digital marketer dedicated to helping you create a business and life that you love.
