The Best SEO Tools for Beginners (Free & Paid)

What's up guys - Today, we're diving into the best SEO tools for beginners. If you're just starting out, it can feel overwhelming with all the options available. But don't worry, I'm here to break it down for you

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Understanding Your Own Data

Google Search Console

First things first, if you want to analyze your own website, you don't really need to pay for any tools. The number one recommendation I have is Google Search Console. I've talked about this tool many times on the channel, but if this is your first time hearing about it, here's the scoop:

Google Search Console is your closest connection to understanding what Google thinks of your website. It provides a plethora of detailed analytics, which is fantastic.

- Performance Insights: You can see how your website is performing overall.
- Traffic Details: Discover your top pages, top countries, devices used, and more.
- Indexing Information: Check how many pages are indexed versus not indexed, along with sitemap details.

For beginners, plugging your website into Google Search Console is a must. It helps you understand how your site is performing and what the traffic looks like.

Google Analytics

Next up is Google Analytics, another Google product. This tool allows you to see where your traffic is coming from.

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- User Acquisition: You can analyze the source of your traffic and the trends over time.
- Real-Time Stats: You can even see how many people are currently on your site in the last 30 minutes!

Both Google Search Console and Google Analytics are essential if you want to check out your own traffic.

Exploring Competitor Data

If you're interested in digging into competitor data, there are a few free tools you can use.

Google Ads Keyword Planner

First, let's talk about Google Ads. If you navigate to tools and settings in the new design, you'll find the Keyword Planner. Here's how it works:

1. Type in any keyword you'd like, for example, "SEO tool."
2. Set the language and location preferences.
3. You'll receive a list of keywords along with their average monthly searches, three-month change, year-over-year change, and top of page bid.

This tool gives you a good idea of how competitive a keyword is. However, one frustrating aspect is the way average monthly searches are displayed. For instance, it might show a range of 1,000 to 10,000 searches. It's hard to know if it's closer to 1,000 or 10,000, and that can make a big difference!

Keywords Everywhere

Another fantastic tool I recommend is Keywords Everywhere. Take a look at their pricing; their bronze plan costs about $2.25 a month, billed annually.

Even though it's a bit annoying to pay, it's worth it! When you use this extension, you get:

- Keyword Volume: See the search volume for every keyword you type into Google.
- CPC and Competition: Get insights into cost-per-click and competition metrics.
- Trend Data: Access additional details that can help in your research.

If you're a beginner who doesn't want to pay for tools, this is a great extension to have!

SEO Quake by SEMrush

Another extension you should consider is SEO Quake by SEMrush. If you create a free account on SEMrush, you can use this tool effectively.

For instance, when I typed in the keyword "butter," I received the keyword difficulty score (in this case, 74), which indicates how difficult it would be to rank for this keyword.

- Authority Score: You'll also see the authority score for websites ranking for that keyword.
- Traffic Estimates: Although I can't recall all the metrics, you can dive deeper into SEMrush's data with just a free account.

While I'm on a free SEMrush plan, I should probably upgrade, but honestly, it's pretty pricey at over $140 a month! However, for beginners, the free account with SEO Quake will give you a solid amount of data.

Affordable SEO Tools

Once you've exhausted your free credits and tools, you may want to consider an affordable option.

Clicks.so

I'd recommend Clicks.so, a tool I've personally built. For just $25 a month, you get a comprehensive SEO toolkit. It's akin to SEMrush but at a fraction of the price.

What does it offer?

- Keyword Research: Find relevant keywords for your niche.
- Site Stats: Examine what your competitors are doing.
- Backlink Check: Analyze backlinks to improve your own strategy.
- Site Audits: Run thorough site audits to identify issues.

There are plenty of videos on this channel showcasing all the different tools available, but for $25 a month, Clicks.so is the best solution if you're ready to step up your SEO game.

Conclusion

So there you have it! Those are the best SEO tools for beginners. Start with the free options to get a grip on your own data, explore competitor strategies, and when you're ready, Clicks.so could be your go-to for a comprehensive SEO toolkit.

Let me know if you have any questions, and I'll see you guys in the next one!

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