7. ClickFlow
Update: this tool is no longer free to use but you can get a trial for $1. I don’t consider $1 a reason for exclusion on this list.
Most marketers tend to create new content and build backlinks to increase their traffic.
The ClickFlow Content Decay Tool is unique. It shows you old web pages that are not performing well. These pages are excellent candidates for content refreshment.
First, connect the Content Decay tool to your Google Search console.
ClickFlow will import your data and give you a report showing you which pages have seen the most traffic in the last 12 months.
These posts can be updated to regain lost traffic. You can simply expand on your content and add examples to make it more detailed.
Assessment
You can measure the content refreshes if you upgrade to a paid ClickFlow Account.
ClickFlow will display the effect of updates on traffic and rankings page-by-page.
8. Answer The Public
Answer The Public uses Google Suggest for all questions related to any industry, keyword, or topic.
Simply type in your keyword to get a list of related questions.
Assessment
The tool's visual presentation is what I love about it. This tool is also great for content planning. Many questions can be used as headers or FAQ sections.
SEO is not limited to Google. You can rank higher on Amazon and YouTube, Bing, as well as tons of other websites using Answer The Public.
9. Keyword.io
KeywordTool.io is a similar concept to Google Suggest but only for a few sites such as Amazon, Play Store, and YouTube.
Assessment
There are many free tools available for SEO on Google. But, if you're focused on optimizing for other engines, tools like KeywordTool.io are a great resource.
10. Google SERP Preview Tool
You may have noticed that Google cuts off some listings because their titles are too long.
Google does not use character counts in meta tags. This is a common misconception. They actually count pixels.
Google SERP Tool will show you how many pixels are in your meta tags and whether they will be removed by Google.
It also gives you an idea of how your web pages will appear on Google.
Assessment
Your click-through rate can be affected by the preview Google displays in search results. This handy tool allows you to see what other users see in the search results.
11. Pagespeed Insights
Speed is everything. This is especially true for mobile users.
Pagespeed Insights shows you how to make your website load quickly on every device.
This is critical to your site's optimization; users hate waiting on pages to load.
Assessment
This tool is easy to use and free. It also provides essential information that will help speed up site loading times.
12. SEOptimier
SEOptimer gives you an overview of both your on-page and content SEO.
Just enter your URL and the tool will provide a free SEO website audit. It also recommends tasks that you can do to improve your SEO.
Assessment
Are you unsure where your SEO is failing? This tool will show you how your website loads on both mobile and desktop devices. Even social sharing data can be viewed.
13. XML-Sitemaps.com
XML sitemaps creates a sitemap that you can submit through Google Search Console. Sitemaps are useful for search engines to crawl your website. However, creating them can feel complicated for smaller businesses and SEO novices. This tool makes it easy.
FAQ: Free SEO Tools
What is the best SEO tool for free?
It all depends on your needs! Ubersuggest can be used for keyword research, backlinks, and competitive research. XML-sitemap.com allows you to easily create XML sitemaps, while Google Analytics gives you tons of information about how users interact on your site.
Remember that the tool is less important than your understanding of it.
You could have the most expensive tool available and if you only know how to use 25% of it, you’re going to think it’s garbage.
If it came down to it, I could use a combination of the free tools in this list and dominate your average user of a paid platform.
What tools are necessary for SEO?
To track your progress, you will need a keyword research tool such as Ubersuggest, an overall tool such as Google Analytics, and a content editing tool like ClickFlow.
Do I need to pay for SEO tools?
No.
You can find tons of SEO tools for free, such as Ubersuggest, Answer the Public, and Google Analytics.
Free SEO Tools Free Summary
These SEO tools are free and can help you get started. Some of them can be quite powerful if used well.
SEO is a serious business.
And if you're serious about getting it right, you'll need to spend money on the best tools. Without a paid subscription, you won't be able to do extensive SEO work.
These are some of the items that are not usually available for free.
Heatmaps: A heat map tool such as Crazy Egg, is essential if you are interested in usability and conversions.
Rank Reports: Knowing where your website ranks within the SERPs is an important aspect of SEO. Rank trackers can show you which page or position you are on and allow you to track your rank over time.
Backlink Analysis: Analyzing backlinks is a tedious task. You will need to know the details behind them, such as anchor text, DA level, and site quality.
What other SEO tools have you found useful?