Free SEO tools every marketer should use
Getting noticed on Google doesn’t always mean spending big. In fact, there are plenty of fantastic free tools out there that can help you improve your website, track your progress, and get more visitors. Here’s a roundup of some of the best ones you should have in your toolkit.
Google Search Console
This is a must. It shows how your site appears in Google search, what keywords people use to find you, and flags any technical problems. You can also see which pages get the most clicks and how often your site shows up in search results.
Google Analytics
While not strictly just for search, this tool helps you understand what people do once they land on your website. Which pages keep them around? Where do they drop off? This insight is gold for shaping your content strategy.
Google Keyword Planner
Yes, it’s designed with ads in mind, but you can use it for free to find new keyword ideas and see search volumes. Great for discovering what words people are actually typing into Google.
Ubersuggest
This tool by Neil Patel gives you keyword ideas, shows how competitive a term might be, and offers basic site audits. It has a solid free version that’s perfect if you’re just starting out.
AnswerThePublic
Type in a keyword, and it spits out a whole bunch of questions people are asking around that topic. It’s a brilliant way to find fresh content ideas that your audience is already curious about.
Screaming Frog SEO Spider (free version)
This desktop app crawls your website and spots common problems like broken links, missing meta tags, or duplicate content. The free version crawls up to 500 pages, which is plenty for many small websites.
Yoast SEO (for WordPress users)
If you’re on WordPress, Yoast is a popular plugin that guides you in optimizing each page. It checks things like headings, keyword usage, and readability, helping you tick off important on-page basics.
MozBar
This is a handy browser extension that lets you see the page authority and link data for any page you visit. It’s great for quick competitor checks or evaluating sites you might want to get a mention from.
PageSpeed Insights
Google’s own tool that analyzes your website speed on mobile and desktop. Slow sites can hurt your rankings, so this tool highlights what to fix for faster load times.
Schema Markup Validator
Structured data helps your pages stand out in search results with extras like star ratings or event dates. This tool checks if your code is set up correctly.
A quick takeaway
You don’t need to spend a fortune to improve your online presence. These free tools give you plenty of data to spot what’s working, find new opportunities, and make sure your site is friendly to both visitors and search engines.
