12 top-rated tools that SEO experts use

The following tools are all well-established and trial-tested by SEO specialists. They are the absolute best examples of how a piece of software can make your optimization efforts a whole lot easier.

#1: Google Search Console

As the most obvious choice among SEO tools, the Search Console by Google grants you access to stats and the state of your presence in Google SERP (Search Engine Results Page). What makes it even more practical for use is the simple fact that it is free for anyone with a website. So, how does it work?

• You need to verify your website – either by indexing it through Google Analytics or by adding some code to it.
• Even without having an actual account, you can control which of your site pages get indexed and which parts of it search engine bots see.
• As an added benefit, the Search Console as an SEO checker tool can help you to better grasp how Google and its users view your website. As a result of that data, you can further optimize and improve your website, both for users and search engines.

#2: Ahrefs

As a top contender among SEO keyword tools, Ahrefs is only second to Google when it comes to website crawling capabilities. As a top-rated SEO analysis tool currently available, you will find that a large number of SEO experts rely on Ahref’s Site Audit feature. It can easily red-flag the parts of your website you need to resolve to gain a higher ranking on search results. Additionally, the reason why this is on our list of top-rated tools that SEO experts are the competitive edge it gives. You can use it to explore the backlink profile of your competitors and the most popular content in your niche.

#3: SEMRush

When talking about the SEO community favourites among tools, we can’t skip SEMRush. One of the features you need to try out is the Domain vs Domain analysis – a feature that can cross-compare your rankings with that of your top competitors. Of course, the easy access to rankings and any immediate changes only adds to the usefulness of SEMRush. With the analytics reports this on-page SEO checker tool offers, you can easily explore any of the following information:

• Your website’s search data
• Amount of traffic on your web pages
• Competitor SEO efforts and tactics
• Keywords and domains comparison, etc.

Using SEMRush is an established practice in the digital marketing world, especially when you’re searching for ways to boost your online presence. It is excellent for planning out new directions in which to take your business, developing strategies for practically any niche you can think of. One of the examples would be the relocation and logistics industry, where it has proven to be crucial in developing marketing activities for moving companies.

#4: KWFinder

Are you searching for quality long-tail keywords to target without having to battle too much competition for them? If so, then an SEO keyword tool like KWFinder might be the perfect fit for your company. The Rank Tracker tool it uses enables a quick way to pinpoint your rankings based on a single key metric. Plus, a completely new range of keyword ideas will open up to you.

#5: Moz

The continuous up-to-date status and chat option are just two of the most notable reasons why people include Moz among the top-rated tools SEO experts actually use. Moz is a full-service piece of SEO software, with an ocean of useful information, whether you are looking for a site crawl or keyword recommendations.

#6: Majestic

As far as experts in the SEO and marketing industries are concerned, Majestic definitely takes the cake as a marketing SEO tool. With features such as The Majestic Million (ranking of top million websites) and The Site Explorer (overview of your online store and backlinks profile), it offers great insights. Additionally, it functions as an SEO keyword tool. And you can use it to find the best keywords for your particular business to rank for.

#7: Google Trends

Despite begin around for decades, Google Trends is an SEO checker tool that has always been underutilized. However, it can be detrimental in the business growth of any company, no matter the stage. How? Simple – it offers detailed insight into current trends circling around any particular topic that comes to mind. With it, you can get top queries, rising queries, interest over time, and the interest-based on geo-location.

#8: SEOQuake

Are you just starting out your business and don’t really have the funds to invest in the top-rated tools SEO experts actually use? No worries. That’s why there are tools like SEOQuake – rated best among the free SEO tools out there! As an extension of Google Chrome, this tool is phenomenal when it comes to on-page audits, assessing internal & external links, as well as analyzing the competition. Other features:

• Keyword density analysis
• Easy-to-read SEO dashboard
• Export data

#9: Screaming Frog

If you are on the lookout for an SEO tool to help you save time, look into the potential that Screaming Frog offers. When it comes to speed of analyzing websites, there are but a few other tools that can really compare to this one. It is faster than most other solutions out there, making it the obvious choice among top-rated tools that SEO experts actually use. Other data that it offers include duplicate content, errors to fix, bad redirections, and areas of improvement for link building.

#10: CORA

CORA is a preferred choice for those looking for a more advanced-level SEO tool. As far as tools are concerned, it’s definitely not among the cheapest ones out there, but it is all-inclusive. So, you will definitely be getting your money’s worth by opting for using it. In fact, according to current trends and comments, a high number of medium-large businesses tend to use it to discover all the weaknesses and potential improvements for their websites.

#11: Serpstat

There are always those searching for all-in-one tools that can help their businesses grow online. If that is your goal as well, then you should definitely look into the opportunities that Serpstat offers to users. SEO, PPC, or content marketing – this growth-hacking platform manages it all. Simple to use, it offers you an optimal way to:

• resolve SEO tasks;
• analyze competitors;
• manage your team.

When it comes to SEO in particular, Serpstat has proven outstanding for keywords and competition analysis. Among its many features, Missing Keywords is the most popular one. It identifies the keywords your competitors rank for in the top-10 search results and you don’t.

#12: Woorank

A generally fantastic solution for tracking and reporting on marketing data, Woorank comes both in free and paid versions. From discovering the keywords your competitors are targeting to reporting on how certain keywords perform during the course of time, this tool really does live up to its place on this list. And in addition to it all, it helps identify potential issues with your website the likes of duplicate content, downtime, and security issues. And, more importantly, it provides clear guidelines on how to fix them.

Other worthy mentions when it comes to top-rated tools that SEO experts actually use:

• Ubersuggest – keyword tracking tool
• Answer The Public – free SEO tool
• SpyFu – free SEO tool
• Siteliner – SEO analysis tool
• Fat Rank – SEO analysis tool
• Keywords Everywhere – SEO keyword tool

A word to the wise…

Having an extensive list of top-rate tools that SEO experts actually use is great but it is far from a slam dunk. In fact, it is only the first step to crossing a long bridge before actually reaching that place where your business prospers into something lasting. So, you need to consider that next step carefully. Whether you decide to start learning on your own, hire an in-house SEO specialist or an entire SEO agency – the choice falls on you.

For more interesting information and news about the world of SEO and digital marketing, explore our blog further. And if you have any additional questions, we are here to answer them.

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Focus on Longtail Keywords

Longtail keywords represent an excellent way to significantly improve your search traffic. Far too often, businesses fail to realize the immense value that these keywords possess. For starters, there is usually much less competition. The longer the phrase, fewer sites will have information to match it and fewer users will be searching for it.

Similarly, longer tail keywords are typically much more targeted. If a prospective customer is searching for a long tail phrase that your business has content for, they are significantly more likely to purchase from you. Moreover, longer tail keywords already include the shorter and more popular terms. As an example, ‘luxury red woman’s handbag’ already includes the woman’s handbag keyword. This allows you to rank for more keywords and helps to open up more sources of traffic.

Aim for Keywords with High Buyer Intent

Keywords with high buyer intent are by far the most valuable. “Buy now”, “product” and “review” keywords are chief amongst these. These are the type of keywords that suggest someone has already made up their mind about purchasing and is just searching for the ideal offer. If you can rank for terms such as discounts, deals, coupons and free shipping, you’re likely to enjoy a very high conversion rate.

Your prospect has already decided to purchase and if you’re able to effectively differentiate your offer with a high-value keyword, these are the easiest customers to close. Similarly, product keywords like branded searches, specific products, comparisons and reviews are all very high value. Whilst not as much of a sure thing as the “buy now” keywords, these have a very high conversion rate. Combine an engaging headline with some convincing copywriting and these keywords take on an even higher value.

Analyse the Competition

Competition is king in SEO. Whilst it’s important to be proactive and to get out ahead, keeping an eye on your rivals is also very important. Specifically, look to identify keywords that your competitors are ranking highly for but that you don’t rank for at all. By simply optimizing some of your existing content for each of these keywords, you’ll likely notice a significant traffic boost.

This is known as content gap analysis, where you attempt to ensure that you have content that supports each of your customer’s primary questions and concerns during their purchase journey. The best part is that this is a relatively simple strategy to implement. Not only will it increase the number of keywords that your site ranks for, but it will also help take your competitors back a notch.

Start Grouping Keywords

Organizing your keywords into themes keyword groups have become an increasingly important part of any SEO campaign. This refers to effectively targeting relevant keywords with high-quality content and combining this with user-friendly navigation. If you’re able to do this correctly, Google will reward you with higher quality scores, improved click-through and conversion rates and better organic search rankings.

Each of these will dramatically improve the results of your SEO and PPC campaigns. A higher quality score will result in better ad positioning with lower overall costs. Similarly, better organic search rankings give your brand a ton of free exposure that can result in extra sales for years to come. Perhaps most importantly, higher click-through and conversion rates will increase your bottom line.

Leverage Google Trends

To stay in front of the competition in your industry, you need to stay ahead of trends with your keywords and content. One of the best tools on the market for this is Google Trends. With Google Trends, you’re able to analyse what has been popular in your industry and the world at large with just the click of a button. Importantly, you can run comparative queries with some of your top existing keywords, against ones you feel have strong future potential.

Whilst it isn’t a foolproof method, this does provide a great indicator of where you should be placing your attention as a business. Trending topics are notorious for their ability to attract attention and can be vital in positioning your company as an innovative industry leader. Depending on your industry, there’s a good chance your competitors aren’t using this effectively. This allows you to leverage one of the world’s largest companies to your advantage.

Develop A Branded Keywords Strategy

Branded keywords are some of the most important for a company to rank for. Imagine a potential customer type in your business name and you don’t appear on the first page. This is a definite warning sign that will make several customers hesitant to purchase from you. Whilst most SEO strategies aim to improve traffic from audiences that are unfamiliar with your brand, it’s important not to neglect those who already know and purchase from your business.

The goals of any effective SEO campaign should centre around generating leads, improving website traffic and increasing your conversion rate. As such, optimising content around your brand and keywords with high buyer intent should be a necessary component of your overall strategy. These are typically very easy to rank for as well due to your high relevancy score.

Implement Local Keywords

Local keywords have consistently proven to be amongst the highest value of all. Convenience has always been one of the most important factors for individuals when purchasing and it doesn’t get much more convenient than a local business. Tying in with our earlier points, these keywords tend to also have high buyer intent. In fact, recent statistics suggest that 76% of people who search for a business on their smartphone will visit within 24 hours.

Simply optimising your content for the service you provide, and your location is likely to have a hugely positive impact on your SEO. You can do this by updating the content on your website and including a prominent Google Business page. This helps to increase your reach of potential customers and generate more valuable leads in the process.

Author Bio:

Nital is the founding director at Octos Digital Marketing Agency . He has served big corporate brands of Australia and has more than 10 years of experience under his belt with a profound level of expertise in search strategies, planning and management.

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Why has the role of SEO copywriters become so important for online businesses?

Finding the perfect balance has become essential in every sphere of life, be it personal or business. For expert online advertising and marketing efforts, this balance has proven to be found in a combination of content and design. And SEO copywriters have found their calling in being the blacksmiths of such combinations – ones that maximize leads while minimizing bounce rates.

Never underestimate the manner in which a professional SEO copywriter helps your business grow.

What is unfortunate for most businesses is that this is not something that just anyone can do. You need to find the right person for the job to ensure the best possible results. Hence, you need to make sure that the copywriter you find fits your business profile in the best manner possible. Thus, if you were a company looking for industry-specific marketing and SEO expertise, you would turn to teams that work within your industry and are experts for that particular branch.

The best part of hiring professionals to handle your website content is that they will go beyond that one task. They can also provide you with a detailed content strategy that will result in a copy that:

• Ranks you higher on Google search results in terms of relevant keywords for your particular area, services and products.
• Boosts your conversion rate with charged and inspirational call-to-actions that will hold the attention of customers.
• Provides budget-accommodating marketing campaigns that follow your business plan and schedule.

The primary focus here is to secure more time to focus on other aspects of the development of your business. So, here are the top 5 ways in which an SEO copywriter helps your business grow:

#1: SEO copywriters are well-versed in all aspects of online marketing

Forging a concrete online marketing strategy for your business is a demanding endeavour. The copy you come up with has to be able to engage audiences, be valuable and visible in the eyes of search engines, and inspire visitors to become customers.

A good marketing strategy is essential in the toolkit of any SEO copywriter worth his or her salt.

And this is exactly the way in which an SEO copywriter helps your business grow – with the practice of optimized content that will contain the technical aspects that offer value, all the while appealing to target audiences to act. Your marketing-versed SEO copywriter can help you leverage that content in your larger marketing strategy.

#2: Keyword research is an essential part of the process

What’s the point in winning 1^st place for keywords that no one in your area searches for? Instead, SEO copywriters have the tools and methods that can help differentiate between the important and irrelevant keywords for your particular line of business. And this will be of use later on as well, given that you will be able to expand your target audience based off of the keywords your SEO experts define as important. An SEO copywriter helps your business grow in a multitude of ways, among which you might find the potential to analyse and upgrade your website to ensure maximum efficiency and revenue.

#3: Keywords need to be naturally imprinted in the copy to provide value

So, you’ve dug up all the relevant keywords that you need to position for – now what? This is just the beginning of a long-term battle in the world of search engine optimization. You now need to figure out how often to use those specific keywords and where to place them to receive the most value from them. And these are all inquiries that experienced SEO copywriters can answer and resolve if given a chance to do so.

#4: Keep tabs on the competition to stay in the race

Hiring a professional copywriter goes beyond securing optimized website content. In order to create compelling content that matches the needs of your target audience and industry, you first have to know them. This is where an expert SEO copywriter steps in. They:

• research the competition and they’re rankings and strategies
• analyse your audience base and their expectations
• discover new opportunities to promote your business online etc.

The job of the copywriter goes beyond the calling of writing – it requires much more than that.

#5: Save time and energy while securing quality content

Most people underestimate the investment it takes to achieve the level of a professional SEO copywriter. Content creation is an acquired skill that takes years of hands-on experience to comprehend and perfect. So, instead of wasting your time on learning more about SEO, you can simply hire a professional that already has the knowledge you need.

Thus, you end up saving yourself hours and days of researching and writing content for those 10 pages on your website and can focus on other aspects of growing your company.

The post 5 Ways A SEO Copywriter Can Help Your Business Grow appeared first on SEMA.

There are several temptations that will coerce website owners and managers to get quick results with their link building efforts. Little do they know that they are indeed investing in a ticking time bomb and Google’s webspam team are the ones holding the trigger. Only when they receive a manual or algorithmic penalty do they realise the damage. But by then, it is too late.

So given all of the changes and the updates that have occurred in the link building space, how should webmasters and website managers approach their link acquisition efforts in order to get SEO results that matter. Below are also a few approaches that should be considered in 2018.

Stop Thinking in Terms of Building Links in High Quantity 

Although this has been mentioned several times over the last decade, there are still SEO experts that focus on building links in a high quantity. It’s easy to compare the link volume that competitors have and feel that the only way to compete with them is if your link volume is at the same level as theirs.

This isn’t always the case. Highly relevant and authoritative links that also build traffic can positively impact the website’s SEO performance.

Focus on Relevancy

This is critical to your site’s SEO success. A guide from The Hoth outlines a couple of ways this can be achieved. The first is gaining links from websites whose content is specific to your niche. For example, if you operate a dog washing website, generating links from dog grooming and pet care websites will impact the SEO performance of the site more than getting a link from the Huffington Post.

The second approach is to build relevant content at the page level on an authoritative website. If you look at the dog washing example, a page from a local city magazine could feature a story dedicated to dog washing and grooming. Despite the general nature of the website’s content, there should be benefits to receiving a link from this type of page-level content relevancy.

Don’t Just Build for Authority, Build a Portfolio

Another area where people tend to miss the mark when it comes to link building is that they focus solely on building links to improve the authority of the site. This is common with SEO specialists who focus on improving the domain authority of the website.

It’s important to look at the portfolio of links that are built. Are they from various sources such as forums, directories, blog comments, Question and answer sites, and even blog posts?

Combine Your Link Building Efforts with Good Technical and Content Optimisation

The success of your link building efforts is determined by the perceived value of the content that you are pitching and the technical foundation that will allow the search engine spiders to crawl and index the site’s content and links on a page. Many SEOs bypass these factors in order to focus solely on the link acquisition.

Good content doesn’t have to be a series of articles (although it is a good place to start). It could be a tool, an infographic, images, gifs, memes, videos or anything else. The main thing is the content needs to be valuable to a scalable audience. (Usually a market of 10,000 people or more). Given that the average link acquisition rate is 2%, there is the potential to earn 200 links to a valuable piece of content.

Now that you have these suggestions, it is time to go out there and scale your link acquisition efforts in the right way. Build the foundation and invest in developing a link portfolio that will impact your SEO rankings and organic search traffic over the long-term.

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