Fabrice Canel and Krishna Madhavan from the Microsoft Bing team posted a useful blog post named Does Duplicate Content Hurt SEO and AI Search Visibility? The short answer is yes, and the long answer is also yes.

I like how Fabrice Canel put it on X, "Similar pages blur signals and weaken SEO and AI visibility." Yep, when you give search engines, like Bing, mixed and confusing signals, it is possible for that to cause issues with traditional and AI search. This is why John Mueller from Google keeps talking about consistency.

That being said, the Bing blog post goes into the AI aspect of all of this. It reads:

• AI search builds on the same signals that support traditional SEO, but adds additional layers, especially in satisfying intent. Many LLMs rely on data grounded in the Bing index or other search indexes, and they evaluate not only how content is indexed but how clearly each page satisfies the intent behind a query. When several pages repeat the same information, those intent signals become harder for AI systems to interpret, reducing the likelihood that the correct version will be selected or summarized.
• When multiple pages cover the same topic with similar wording, structure, and metadata, AI systems cannot easily determine which version aligns best with the user's intent. This reduces the chances that your preferred page will be chosen as a grounding source.
• LLMs group near-duplicate URLs into a single cluster and then choose one page to represent the set. If the differences between pages are minimal, the model may select a version that is outdated or not the one you intended to highlight.
• Campaign pages, audience segments, and localized versions can satisfy different intents, but only if those differences are meaningful. When variations reuse the same content, models have fewer signals to match each page with a unique user need.
• AI systems favor fresh, up-to-date content, but duplicates can slow how quickly changes are reflected. When crawlers revisit duplicate or low-value URLs instead of updated pages, new information may take longer to reach the systems that support AI summaries and comparisons. Clearer intent strengthens AI visibility by helping models understand which version to trust and surface.

It is really a good blog post, and goes into tons of details. And I believe this is all relevant for Google Search and Google AI responses as well.

So read the Does Duplicate Content Hurt SEO and AI Search Visibility blog post.

ð Santa may check his list twice, but duplicate web content is one place where less is more. Similar pages blur signals and weaken SEO and AI visibility. Give your site the gift of clarity in our latest Bing Webmaster Blog. https://t.co/TPrOQGywHJ #Bing #SEO #AIsearch pic.twitter.com/EXwx8cSFw0

'" Fabrice Canel (@facan) December 19, 2025

Update from John Mueller of Google:

Yes! I think it's even more the case nowadays. Mainstream search engines have practice dealing with the weird & wonky web, but there's more than just that, and you shouldn't get lazy just because search engines can figure out many kinds of sites / online presences.

— John Mueller (@johnmu.com) December 24, 2025 at 8:41 AM

Forum discussion at X.

LLaunching a new website is exciting, but it’s also when SEO plays a crucial role in ensuring long-term success.

New website coming SOON

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of how I approach SEO for new websites:

Understand the Purpose and Audience

Before diving into technical SEO, I focus on understanding the website’s purpose and target audience.

Define objectives: Is the website meant to generate leads, sell products, or provide information?

Identify the audience: Who will visit the website? Their preferences, problems, and search behaviour guide my strategy.

Keyword Research

Effective keyword research is the backbone of SEO. For a new website.

• Use tools like SEMRush, Ahrefs, or Google Keyword Planner.
• Target low-competition, long-tail keywords to quickly gain traction.
• Analyze competitor keywords and gaps.
• Create a seed list of primary, secondary, and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords.

Structure the Website

Site structure impacts SEO and user experience.

My process includes:

• Flat structure: Ensures every page is accessible within 3 clicks.
• Logical hierarchy: Groups pages into categories for clarity.
• SEO-friendly URLs: Keep them short, descriptive, and keyword-optimized.
• Internal linking: Helps Google understand relationships between pages.

Technical SEO Setup

The technical foundation is essential for search engines to crawl and index the site. I focus on:

• Installing Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
• Submitting an XML Sitemap to Search Console.
• Setting up a robots.txt file to control crawling.
• Ensuring the website is mobile-friendly with responsive design.
• Improving Core Web Vitals: Optimize load time, interactivity, and visual stability.
• Enabling HTTPS for a secure browsing experience.

Content Creation

Content drives organic traffic, so I prioritise:

• Writing SEO-optimized blog posts targeting keywords.
• Creating cornerstone content that answers key user queries.
• Ensuring content is informative, actionable, and engaging.
• Using multimedia (images, videos, infographics) to boost user interaction.

On-Page SEO Optimization

Every page is optimized to rank effectively. My on-page checklist includes:

• Crafting compelling title tags and meta descriptions.
• Using header tags (H1, H2, H3) for better readability and keyword placement.
• Optimizing images with alt tags and compressed file sizes.
• Adding internal and external links to boost authority.

Building Backlinks

Backlinks signal authority to search engines. For a new website

• Build citations and directory links for local businesses.
• Leverage guest blogging on niche-relevant sites.
• Conduct outreach campaigns for high-quality backlinks.
• Avoid spammy or black-hat link-building practices.

Regular Monitoring and Optimization

SEO is a continuous process. Post-launch

• Track performance: Use tools like Google Analytics and Ahrefs to measure organic traffic and keyword rankings.
• Analyze user behavior to identify bounce rates, exit pages, and session durations.
• Update content regularly to stay relevant.
• Fix crawl errors, broken links, or duplicate content to maintain site health.

Local SEO (If Applicable)

For businesses targeting specific locations

• Set up Google My Business and optimise the profile.
• Add NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency across citations.
• Encourage customer reviews for credibility.

Remember

SEO for a new website requires a strong foundation, strategic planning, and consistent effort.

From technical optimizations to creating valuable content and building backlinks, I ensure every step aligns with the website’s goals and audience needs.

SSEO strategies sound great on paper. In reality, growth comes from fixing boring problems, making small improvements consistently, and learning from real data.

This 90-day SEO plan is built around what actually works in 2026, with examples and insights you’ll recognize if you’ve ever worked on a real website.

Days 0 – 30: Fix What’s Broken Before Trying to Grow

Most SEO failures happen because teams skip the basics and jump straight to content production.

Every SEO win I’ve seen started with fixing technical issues no one wanted to look at.” SEO Consultant, B2B SaaS

Run a Full SEO Audit

A proper audit often reveals surprising problems.

Real example: A SaaS website publishing weekly blogs saw no traffic growth. The audit revealed 40% of its pages weren’t indexed due to incorrect canonical tags. Fixing that alone led to a 22% increase in organic traffic within a month.

Fix Crawl Errors and Broken Links

Broken links don’t just hurt SEO, they frustrate users.

Real example: An education platform fixed over 300 broken internal links after a site migration. Within weeks, crawl stats improved and several previously “lost” pages started ranking again.

If Google struggles to move through your site, users probably do too.

Set Up Search Console and Analytics

Without clean data, SEO decisions become guesswork.

Real example: After properly setting up GA4 events, a hiring tech company realized its highest-traffic page had the lowest conversion rate, leading to a content rewrite that doubled demo sign-ups.

Do Keyword Research Based on Intent

High-volume keywords often bring the wrong audience.

Real example: A recruitment SaaS stopped targeting “video interview software” alone and created content around long-tail queries like “one-way video interview for universities”. Result: fewer visits, but higher-quality leads.

Intent beats volume every single time.

Days 31 – 60: Improve Content and Build Trust

Once the foundation is solid, content starts doing the heavy lifting.

Update Old Content Before Writing New Posts

Refreshing content is faster, and often more effective.

Real example: A healthcare blog updated 15 older posts with new data, FAQs, and better formatting. No new content was published for a month, yet organic traffic grew 18%.

SEO isn’t always about creating more—it’s about improving what already exists.

Write Long-Tail, Problem-Focused Content

Long-tail keywords attract users who are closer to action.

Real example: Instead of generic blogs, a B2B brand published content answering very specific questions like “How to reduce interview drop-offs in campus hiring.” These pages didn’t go viral, but they converted.

Start Backlink Outreach the Right Way

Link building works best when it feels natural.

Real example: A SaaS company earned backlinks by contributing expert quotes to industry articles instead of cold pitching guest posts. Fewer emails, better links.

One contextual link from the right site is worth more than ten generic guest posts.

Optimize for Featured Snippets and Rich Results

Clear answers help both users and search engines.

Real example: Adding short Q&A sections helped multiple blog posts earn featured snippets, increasing click-through rates without ranking #1.

Days 61- 90: Scale, Optimize, and Convert

At this stage, SEO shifts from traffic to business impact.

Scale What’s Already Working

Not all content deserves scaling, only what performs.

Real example: After noticing high engagement on “how-to” guides, a SaaS brand doubled down on that format. Those guides became their top organic lead drivers.

SEO growth accelerates when you stop experimenting and start repeating success.

Improve Landing Pages and Conversions

SEO traffic only matters if it converts.

Real example: Changing a CTA from “Book a Demo” to “See How It Works for Your Hiring Team” increased conversions by 27%, with no traffic increase.

Review Results and Plan the Next Cycle

SEO is iterative.

Real example: One team found that pages ranking in positions 5–10 were the fastest wins. They focused solely on improving those pages during the next 90 days—and saw quicker results than chasing new keywords.

The second 90-day SEO plan always performs better than the first—because now you have real data

Final Thoughts

SEO in 2026 isn’t about hacks or shortcuts. It’s about:

• Fixing real problems
• Writing content for real users
• Measuring real outcomes

A 90-day SEO plan gives you direction—but the results come from execution, iteration, and patience.

IIf you’re just getting into SEO, it can be confusing to know where to start or which tools are actually useful. I’ve put together this list of 16 tools because they’re easy to understand, beginner-friendly, and genuinely helpful for improving your website. Whether you want to find the right keywords, check your site’s health, spy on competitors, or make your content better, these tools will make the whole process a lot easier. Think of this as a quick guide to the essentials you should know before diving deeper into SEO.

1. Google Analytics

TRAFFIC ANALYSIS: Track the number of visitors, their source, and their behavior on your site.

USER INSIGHTS: Measure your website’s conversion rates and identify areas for improvement.

CONVERSIONS TRACKING: Understand user demographics, interests, and engagement to refine your strategy.

2. Google Search Console

PERFORMANCE MONITORING: Track your site’s search performance and discover which queries bring the most traffic.

INDEXING STATUS: Ensure your website’s pages are properly indexed by Google.

ERROR DETECTION: Identify and fix crawling, indexing, and mobile usability issues quickly.

3. Ahrefs

BACKLINK ANALYSIS: Explore your site’s backlink profile and identify high-quality link opportunities.

COMPETITOR RESEARCH: Analyze competitor content and keywords for a competitive edge.

KEYWORD RESEARCH: Discover keyword search volume and traffic potential.

4. SEMrush

COMPREHENSIVE KEYWORD RESEARCH: Access detailed keyword data, including trends and competition levels.

SITE AUDIT: Identify technical SEO issues and optimize your site for better performance.

COMPETITOR ANALYSIS: Monitor your competitors’ rankings and content strategies to stay ahead.

5. Yoast SEO

ON-PAGE OPTIMIZATION: Get real-time suggestions for optimizing content, titles, and meta descriptions.

READABILITY CHECK: Improve readability with easy-to-follow recommendations.

XML SITEMAPS: Automatically generate sitemaps to help search engines index your site efficiently.

6. Mozbar

QUICK SEO METRICS: Instantly view key SEO metrics like domain authority for any website.

ON-PAGE ANALYSIS: Evaluate the SEO elements of any webpage, including titles, meta tags, and headings.

SERP OVERLAY: See how your website ranks on search engine results pages (SERPs) with ease.

7. Screaming Frog

KEYWORD SUGGESTIONS: Discover volume new keywords with search, competition, and cost-per-click data.

CONTENT IDEAS: Generate ideas for content based on top-performing pages and search trends.

SEO AUDITS: See how your website ranks on search engine results pages (SERPs) with ease.

8. Ubersuggest

SITE CRAWLING: Identify broken links, redirects, and other issues by crawling your entire site.

TECHNICAL SEO INSIGHTS: Analyze key SEO elements like meta tags, headers, and content structure.

DUPLICATE CONTENT DETECTION: Find and fix duplicate content issues that can harm your rankings.

9. Google Keyword Planner

KEYWORD DISCOVERY: Find new keywords related to your business with search volume and competition metrics.

AD CAMPAIGN PLANNING: Optimize your PPC campaign with precise keyword targeting.

BUDGET-FRIENDLY: A free tool from Google, making it accessible for all beginners.

10. Keywords Everywhere

KEYWORD METRICS: Access search volume, CPC, and competition data directly in your browser.

TREND ANALYSIS: Identify trending keywords and topics to capitalize on new opportunities.

COST-EFFECTIVE: Affordable keyword research tool with a pay-as-you-go model.

11. Rankmath (WordPress)

ADVANCED SEO FEATURES: Access features like rich snippets, 404 monitoring, and redirections in one plugin.

EASY-TO-USE INTERFACE: Intuitive setup and configuration process with detailed SEO analysis.

INTEGRATION: Seamlessly integrates with Google Search Console and other tools for enhanced tracking.

12. Answer the Public

CONTENT INSPIRATION: Find new keywords related to your business with search volume and competition metrics.

KEYWORD INSIGHTS: Discover related keywords and phrases for better content targeting.

VISUAL DATA: Easy-to-interpret visualizations help you quickly grasp audience interests.

13. GT Metrix

SPEED ANALYSIS: Test your site’s loading speed and receive actionable insights for improvement.

PERFORMANCE SCORE: Get detailed performance scores and recommendations to optimize your site.

HISTORICAL TRACKING: Monitor changes in your site’s performance over time with historical data.

14. SEO Quake

SEO OVERVIEW: A quick overview of any webpage’s SEO elements including meta tags and keywords.

SERP ANALYSIS: Compare multiple websites directly in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

FREE TOOL: A cost-effective option for beginners to get started with SEO analysis.

15. Majestic SEO

LINK ANALYSIS: Dive deep into your website’s backlink profile with trust flow and citation flow metrics.

SITE EXPLORER: Explore any domain in detail, uncovering top pages, referring domains, and backlinks.

LINK CONTEXT: Understand the context of your backlinks, including the surrounding content and anchor.

16. Copyscape

PLAGIARISM DETECTION: Ensure your content is original and avoid duplicate content penalties.

CONTENT PROTECTION: Protect your website from unauthorized content copying.

EASE OF USE: Simple interface that provides quick and accurate results.

Conclusion

SEO gets much easier once you know which tools to rely on. You don’t need to use everything at once—just start with a few and slowly build your workflow as you get comfortable. The tools in this list cover all the basics you need as a beginner, from researching keywords to checking site performance and improving your content. With a bit of practice, you’ll start seeing what works, what doesn’t, and how to make steady progress.

Related blog: How I Do SEO for New Websites

Introduction to SEO

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is the process of optimising your website so that it appears higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).

It helps to:

• Increase website traffic
• Generate more leads
• Improve brand awareness
• Boost your online sales

Concepts We’ll Cover

• SEO Basics
• Types of SEO
• Keyword Research
• Search Engine Mechanics
• SEO Tools
• Advanced Tactics

Do You Want to Learn SEO Practically?

What You Will Learn in This Article?

• How Search Engines work (SEO Basics)
• How to do in-depth SEO Audit
• How To Do Keyword Research
• SEO Strategies used by Agencies
• How to Rank on the 1st page of Google for Target Keywords
• Master Technical SEO to beat your competitors
• How to create high-quality backlinks
• How to use AI to scale your SEO Efforts

What is SEO?

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, which is a process to help search engines understand your website content and help users find your site.

Key Goals:

• Boost Website Traffic
• Enhance Visibility
• Drive Conversions

SEO’s Impact on Business Growth:

Businesses prioritising SEO grow faster, showing a 14.6% conversion rate from SEO-driven leads. So, What Kinds of SEO You Need.

Types of SEO

It’s important to understand and implement all types of SEO. Together they play an important role in improving your site’s ranking and visibility.

3 Types of SEO

• Off-Page SEO
• On-Page SEO
• Technical SEO

On-Page SEO

• Focuses on keyword optimization and high-quality content
• Improves user experience through meta tags and headers

Off-Page SEO

• Builds authority with backlinks
• Enhances reputation through external site interactions

Technical SEO

• Optimizes site speed and mobile-friendliness
• Fixes crawlability and indexing issues

We have just scratched the surface. It’s time to take a deep dive into the world of SEO. Ready to lock the secrets of SEO and boost your online visibility?

How Search Engines Work

• Crawling: Search engines scan the web to discover new and updated content.
• Indexing: The collected content is stored and organized in the search engine’s database.
• Retrieval: The search engine retrieves and ranks the most relevant content from its index for a user query.
• Ranking: Based on algorithms, search engines rank indexed content to show the most relevant results for a query.

Importance of Algorithms

Algorithms determine which content ranks first in search results. Google uses 200+ factors, including:

• Keyword Relevance
• Mobile-Friendliness
• Backlink Quality

Ensures the most accurate and relevant results for users.

Organic vs. Paid Search Results

Paid	Organic
Paid ads (PPC) for quick visibility	Free, earned through SEO
Appear at the top of search results	Ranked by relevance and content quality
Short-Term	Long-Term

You’ve put in a lot of effort in learning key SEO basics. Give yourself a break!

In the meantime, here are some fun SEO marketing facts:

• The top 5 search results get over 75% of all clicks.
• Over 3.5 billion searches are conducted on Google every day!
• Content including visual elements like images or videos can drive up to 94% more views

What is Keyword Research?

Keyword research finds and analyses the search terms people use on search engines. It ranks your content higher, attracting relevant traffic.

• Identifies popular search terms and phrases
• Helps understand user intent and behaviour
• Guides content creation for better SEO
• Improves visibility by targeting relevant keywords
• Crucial for both organic and paid search strategies

3 Tools for Keyword Research

• Google Keyword Planner
• Ahrefs
• SEMRush

Types of Keywords

• Informational: Keywords used to find information or answers (e.g., “how to bake a cake”)
• Navigational: Keywords used to find a specific website or page (e.g., “Facebook login”)
• Commercial: Keywords showing interest in a product or service (e.g., “best DSLR cameras”)
• Transactional: Keywords indicating purchase intent (e.g., “buy iPhone 14 online”)

Identifying High-Value Keywords

• Search Volume: Choose keywords with significant search traffic potential.
• Competition: Target keywords with low competition for easier ranking.
• Relevance: Ensure the keyword aligns with your content and business goals.
• User Intent: Focus on keywords that match what your audience is looking for.
• Conversion Potential: Prioritize keywords likely to drive conversions or sales.

Types of Search Intent

• Informational
• Navigational
• Transactional
• Commercial

How to Align Content with Search Intent

• Informational: Offer in-depth, helpful content like blogs, guides, or FAQs.
• Navigational: Create clear, accessible content that leads users to your site.
• Transactional: Optimize product pages, pricing info, and calls-to-action to encourage purchases.
• Commercial: Use comparison pages, reviews, and guides to aid purchase decisions.

Take a Quick Break!

You’ve been learning a lot about SEO – great job so far! Take a moment to relax, stretch, or grab some coffee. When you’re ready, we’ll dive into some core concepts. Get set for practical, actionable insights you can implement immediately!

All About On-Page SEO

The SEO best practices of optimizing web page content for search engines and users is on-page SEO.

• Directly impacts search rankings by optimizing individual pages
• Enhances user experience and improves content visibility
• Ensures your site is relevant and accessible for both users and search engines

Key Elements of On-Page SEO

• Meta Tags (Title, Description): Optimise titles and descriptions for keyword relevance and clarity.
• Content Quality: Focus on creating valuable, relevant, and keyword-rich content.
• Image SEO: Use descriptive alt text, optimize file size for faster loading.

On-Page Optimization Techniques

• Internal Linking: Create a clear, logical internal link structure to guide users and bots.
• URL Structure: Keep URLs short, descriptive, and keyword-rich.
• Mobile-Friendliness: Ensure your site is responsive on all devices.
• Page Load Speed: Optimize for faster load times to improve rankings and user experience.

Off-Page SEO Basics

Off-Page SEO focuses on actions taken outside your website to improve rankings. It helps build your site’s authority and credibility through external factors.

• Builds trust and credibility with search engines and users
• Increases site authority through quality backlinks and external references
• Improves rankings by signaling relevance and reliability to search engines

Link Building Strategies

Link building involves acquiring high-quality external links to boost your site’s authority and rankings.

Key Strategies

• Influencer Outreach: Collaborating with influencers to promote content and gain links
• Guest Blogging: Publish on reputable sites to gain backlinks and reach new audiences
• Social Sharing: Social media increases visibility, attracting more visitors and enhancing backlink opportunities

Technical SEO Basics

Importance of Technical SEO

Technical SEO helps to improve a website’s technical aspects to help search engines crawl and index it more effectively.

Benefits:

• Higher search engine rankings
• Increased traffic
• More conversions

Elements of Technical SEO

• Site Architecture and XML Sitemaps: Structured site with sitemaps for better indexing
• Robots.txt and Crawlability: Control which pages search engines can crawl for indexing
• HTTPS vs. HTTP: Best for enhanced security and improved trustworthiness
• Structured Data (Schema Markup): Add schema markup to help search engines understand and display your content.
• Fixing Broken Links (404s): Address broken links to improve user experience and maintain SEO health.

Time to Chill!

Congratulations! You’ve mastered all the types of SEO. Good work! Now it’s time to take some rest. Next, we’ll explore the strategies and tools that’ll help you put it all into practice! Relax for a moment, and learn the essential gear for your SEO journey!

Introducing SEO Tools

5 Important SEO Tools

Unlock SEO power with essential tools for analyzing performance, tracking rankings, and optimizing your website.

Tools

• Google Search Console: Monitors website performance and provides insights on search queries and indexing.
• Google Analytics: Analyzes website traffic and user behavior for data-driven decisions.
• ahrefs: Performs backlink analysis, keyword research, and competitive analysis
• SEMRUSH: Tracks keywords, conducts site audits, and analyzes content strategy
• MOZ: Offers link building tools, keyword exploration, and site audits

SEO Strategies: A Short Overview

Importance of an SEO Strategy

Why SEO Strategy Matters

• Drives organic traffic and improves rankings
• Aligns SEO efforts with business goals

Key Benefits of SEO Strategy

• Increases visibility, brand recognition, and ROI
• Builds long-term trust and authority

Key Components

•  Keyword research, on-page and technical SEO

1. Content Marketing and SEO

SEO and Content Synergy:

• Quality content targets keywords and boosts rankings

Optimization Tips:

• Naturally integrate keywords
• Solve user queries via blogs, guides, and articles

Content Types:

•  Use blogs, videos, infographics, and podcasts

2. Local SEO Strategies

Importance of Local SEO:

• Crucial for businesses with physical locations
• Optimizing your website for localized terms to targeted traffic and better leads

Key Tactics:

• Optimize Google My Business
• Include local keywords, build citations, and manage reviews

Mobile Optimisation:

•  Ensure the site is mobile-user friendly

3. Voice Search Optimization

Why Voice Search Matters:

• 27% of users use voice search; optimize for conversational queries

Optimization Tips:

• Use natural language and long-tail keywords
• Prioritize mobile, site speed, and featured snippets

Long-term SEO vs. Short-term Tactics

Aspects	Long-Term SEO
Focus	Sustainable growth	Quick, temporary gains
Approach	Quality content, authority	Paid ads, keyword stuffing
Timeframe	Slow, steady results	Immediate but short-lived
Risk	Low, compliant strategies	High, risk of penalties

9 Social Media Influencers to Follow for SEO

• Brian Dean: Founder and CEO of Backlinko
• Neil Patel: Co-Founder Of Neil Patel Digital
• Barry Schwartz: SEO and Content Marketing Columnist of Search Engine Land
  President of Pilot Holding
• Danny Sullivan: Google Search Liaison
• Rand Fishkin: SEO Visionary & Former CEO of Moz.com
• Pravindra Yadav: Founder and CEO of DML Training

6 YouTube Channels to Watch to Learn SEO

• Google Search Central
• Ranking Academy
• Matt Diggity
• DML Training
• Semrush
• Umar Tazkeer

8 Blogs to Read to Learn SEO

1. BACKLINKO
2. Ahrefs
3. Yoast
4. Google Search Central
5. SEMRUSH
6. Search Engine Journal
7. MOZ
8. DML Training

Related blog: How I Do SEO for New Websites

Introduction

WWhen I run an SEO audit, I don’t rely on guesswork — I rely on tools that actually show me what’s happening behind the scenes. Over time, I’ve tested dozens of platforms, and honestly, only a few of them are worth sticking with.

Some tools help me find technical issues, some give me keyword and competitor insights, and others keep an eye on my site in real time. Together, they make the whole audit process faster, cleaner, and way more accurate.

In this blog, I’m sharing the 8 SEO tools I personally use and why they’ve stayed in my toolkit. If you’re trying to improve your site’s performance, rankings, or overall SEO workflow, these are the tools that actually make a difference.

8 Best SEO Tools

Conclusion

At the end of the day, you don’t need every SEO tool out there; you just need the ones that genuinely help you understand your site better. The tools I mentioned are the ones I use regularly because they make audits easier, help me catch issues early, and give me clearer insights to work with.

Try a few of them, see what fits your style, and build your own go-to stack. Once you get comfortable with the right tools, running SEO audits becomes a lot less overwhelming and a lot more effective.

Related blog: 16 SEO TOOLS EVERY BEGINNER SHOULD KNOW

LLaunching a website is cool, but honestly, just putting a site live doesn’t do anything. If you want traffic, rankings, or even basic visibility, you need some SEO setup from day one. Here’s the simple version of what actually matters.

1. Pre-Launch SEO Setup

Before you make the site public, get these basics done:

• Domain Name: Keep it short and easy. If it fits your niche, even better.
• Hosting: Don’t cheap out here. Pick something stable so the site doesn’t lag.
• SSL Certificate: Make sure the site is HTTPS. Google doesn’t like non-secure sites.

A few more things before launch:

• Mobile-Friendly: Your site should work properly on phone, tablet, laptop – everything.
• Robots.txt: Tell search engines what they can and can’t crawl.
• XML Sitemap: Upload it in Search Console so Google understands your site layout.

2. Keyword Research: Build the Base

This part decides what you’ll rank for.

• Primary Keywords: Use tools like Keyword Planner to find keywords with good volume.
• Long-Tail Keywords: These get fewer searches but convert way better.
• Competitor Research: Look at what your top competitors rank for and figure out the gaps.

3. On-Page SEO: Basic Page Optimization

• Title Tags: Keep them short and use the main keyword.
• Meta Descriptions: Write simple, clear descriptions so people know what the page is about.
• Heading Structure: Use H1 for the main topic, H2/H3 for sections. Keep it clean.

More on-page stuff:

• URLs: Short, clean URLs. No weird numbers or random strings.
• Images: Compress them and add alt text.
• Internal Links: Link related pages so users and Google can navigate your site better.

4. Technical SEO: Fix the Backend Stuff

• Speed: Use PageSpeed Insights and fix whatever slows your site.
• Mobile-First: Google checks mobile performance first, so don’t ignore it.
• Schema: Add structured data so your content is easier for Google to understand.
• Canonical Tags: Avoid duplicate content issues with proper canonicals.

5. Content Strategy: Don’t Just Publish for the Sake of It

• Quality Content: Write something useful. Not fluff. Not filler. Something that actually helps.
• E-A-T: Show expertise. Link credible sources. Prove you know your stuff.
• Blog/Resources: Publish content regularly – consistency is what works.

Content tips:

• Longer content (1000+ words) usually performs better because it covers topics in detail.
• User Intent: Understand what people actually want when they search – then write for that.

6. Off-Page SEO: Build Authority Slowly

• Backlinks: Earn good links through outreach, guest posts, PR, etc.
• Social Presence: Share your content so at least someone sees it at the start.
• Brand Mentions: Track unlinked mentions and turn them into backlinks when you can.

7. Local SEO (If your business serves a local area)

• Google Business Profile: Keep your info updated and consistent.
• Local Citations: Same NAP (name, address, phone) everywhere.
• Reviews: Get real customer reviews – they help with rankings and trust.

8. Analytics & Tracking

• Google Analytics: Check traffic and user behavior.
• Search Console: Look at indexing, search queries, and any errors.
• Monthly Audits: Clean up issues regularly so they don’t pile up.

9. Post-Launch SEO

• Indexing: Make sure Google actually indexes your pages.
• Broken Links: Fix them using tools like Screaming Frog.
• Content Refresh: Keep updating old content – it matters more than people think.

10. Stay Updated

• Follow new Google updates – things change often.
• Stay connected with SEO communities.
• Don’t stick to old strategies; update your approach when needed.

Final Thoughts

If you follow this checklist properly, your website won’t just “exist”, it’ll actually start performing. SEO isn’t a one-time thing. You build it slowly, you fix things regularly, and over time, the site grows.

So the real question is: Are you planning for a launch or planning for long-term growth?

Related blog: How I Do SEO for New Websites

IIf you work in digital marketing or content writing, you already know how important SEO is. It helps your content reach the right audience and perform better online. But with so many tools available, it can get confusing to choose the right ones.

That’s why I’ve put together this SEO tools cheatsheet – a quick list of tools that can help you with everything from keyword research to link building, content writing, and analytics. You don’t need to use them all, but it’s good to know what each one can do.

Let’s break them down by category

Link Building & Analysis

Link building helps improve your website’s authority and visibility. These tools make it easier to find link opportunities, analyze backlinks, and manage outreach.

• Lemlist – Helps you send personalized outreach emails.
• Respona – Great for blogger outreach and PR campaigns.
• Majestic – Shows detailed backlink data with Trust Flow metrics.
• MOZ Link Explorer – Lets you explore backlinks and find link gaps.
• Hunter.io – Helps find verified email addresses for outreach.
• Ninja Outreach – Useful for finding influencers and managing outreach.
• Mailshake – Makes email campaigns simple and automated.
• GMass – Gmail-based tool for sending bulk personalized emails.
• Pitchbox – Helps with link prospecting and managing outreach.
• SEMrush Backlink Analytics – Gives a complete view of backlinks and referring domains.
• Ahrefs – One of the most popular tools for backlink and competitor analysis.
• BuzzStream – Keeps your outreach and relationships organized.

Content Creation & Optimization

Good content is the foundation of SEO. These tools help you write, optimize, and improve your content quality.

• Clearscope – Suggests keywords and helps optimize your articles.
• Jasper.ai – AI tool that helps you write SEO-friendly content quickly.
• Grammarly – Checks grammar and improves readability.
• Rytr – AI content generator for blogs, captions, and short posts.
• BuzzSumo – Shows trending topics and popular content ideas.
• Frase – Helps research topics and optimize your content for SEO.
• Surfer SEO – Gives on-page optimization tips based on competitors.
• Google Trends – Tells you what people are currently searching for.
• AlsoAsked – Finds related questions to include in your content.
• Feedly – Keeps you updated with the latest news and trends.
• WriteSonic – AI writing tool for blogs, ads, and landing pages.
• Copy.ai – Helps write catchy marketing content.
• MarketMuse – Suggests topics and keywords for better optimization.

Analytics & Reporting

To know if your SEO is working, you need to track results. These tools help you analyze data and create reports.

• Google Data Studio / Looker Studio – Turns your data into clear reports.
• Google Analytics – Tracks website traffic and user behavior.
• DashThis – Makes it easy to create automated SEO reports.
• Databox – Combines data from different tools into one dashboard.
• Clicky – Simple tool for real-time website analytics.

Keyword Research

Keyword research helps you understand what people are searching for. These tools show keyword volume, competition, and trends.

• SimilarWeb – Gives traffic and keyword insights for competitors.
• Ahrefs – Finds keywords and shows their search difficulty.
• SEMrush – Great for finding keyword ideas and analyzing competitors.
• AnswerThePublic – Visualizes what people ask online.
• MOZ Keyword Explorer – Helps find the best keywords for your content.
• SE Ranking – Tracks rankings and gives keyword suggestions.
• AccuRanker – Accurate rank tracking tool.
• Google Keyword Planner – Free tool for keyword ideas.
• KWFinder – Finds low-competition keywords easily.
• Advanced Web Ranking – Helps track keyword positions across locations.
• Keyword Tool.io – Generates keyword ideas from Google, YouTube, and more.
• Ubersuggest – Offers keyword ideas, traffic stats, and SEO audits.

On-Page Optimization

These tools help you improve your website pages so they perform better on search engines.

• All in One SEO Pack – WordPress plugin for managing on-page SEO.
• SEOPress – Helps with metadata, schema, and sitemaps.
• Yoast SEO – One of the most popular SEO plugins for WordPress.
• RankMath – Advanced SEO plugin with keyword optimization features.
• Keyword Insights – Helps group and plan content based on keyword intent.

Technical SEO

Technical SEO ensures your site loads fast, is easy to crawl, and works properly behind the scenes.

• Screaming Frog – Scans your site for technical issues.
• DeepCrawl – Useful for large-scale site audits.
• GTmetrix – Checks your website’s speed and performance.
• Sitebulb – Gives visual reports of your site’s SEO health.

Local SEO

If you want to rank locally, these tools can help manage your business listings and reviews.

• Grade.us – Helps gather and manage customer reviews.
• BrightLocal – Ideal for local SEO audits and reporting.
• GatherUp – Makes it easy to collect feedback and reviews.
• MOZ Local – Keeps your local business listings consistent.
• Yext – Manages business information across directories.
• Google PageSpeed Insights – Checks your site speed, which affects local ranking too.

Final Thoughts

SEO might look complicated, but with the right tools, it becomes much easier. You don’t need to use all of them – just pick the ones that fit your goals.

If you’re just starting out, begin with free tools like Google Analytics, Google Keyword Planner, and Yoast SEO. As you grow, you can explore advanced options like Ahrefs, Surfer SEO, or BrightLocal to get deeper insights.

Use this cheatsheet as your quick reference whenever you plan, create, or analyze your SEO strategy. It’ll save time, improve your results, and help you stay on top of your game!

How to Optimize your SEO in JUST 8 HOURS

01
Some agencies love to take weeks to define a strategy. But what if I told you that you just need ONE DAY to do that? There’s a condition, though.

02
Building an SEO strategy in a day is about being organized and focusing on the most impactful tasks. Plus, it’s all about taking action. So… let’s start NOW

03
MORNING Keyword Research & Competitor Analysis.

04
Keyword Research & Competitor Analysis: Start by identifying the keywords your target audience is searching for. Use tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Google Keyword Planner to find high-traffic, low-competition keywords. Then, analyze your top competitors to understand their keyword strategy and find gaps you can exploit.

05
ACTION : Make a list of 20–30 relevant keywords to target.

06
MID-MORNING Technical SEO Audit

07
Technical SEO Audit Use tools like Screaming Frog or Google Search Console to perform a quick audit of your website. Look for issues like broken links, slow loading times, or missing meta tags (title & description). Fix these issues to make sure that search engines can easily crawl and index your site.

08
ACTION Fix 3–5 technical SEO issues identified in the audit.

09
LUNCHTIME SEO Content Strategy

10
SEO Content Strategy Plan out your content based on the keywords you identified. Decide on the types of content you will create (blogs, videos, infographics) and map out a content calendar. Make sure your content is aligned with the needs and interests of your audience.

11
ACTION Outline 3-4 content pieces around your main keywords.

12
AFTERNOON On-Page Optimisation

13
On-Page Optimization Focus on optimizing the key elements of your web pages. Don’t spread yourself too thin. This includes title tags, meta descriptions, headers (H1, H2, etc.), images, and internal linking. Make sure each page is optimized for the specific keyword you’re targeting + use secondary keywords.

14
ACTION Optimize the top 5 most important pages on your site.

15
LATE AFTERNOON Backlink Strategy

16
Define a Backlink Strategy Identify easy backlink opportunities, such as reclaiming unlinked brand mentions or submitting your site to relevant directories. Reach out to existing partners or use press releases or HARO (Help a Reporter Out) to gain high-quality backlinks.

17
ACTION Reach out to 5 sites for backlink opportunities.

18
EARLY EVENING Local SEO and Social Media.

19
Local SEO and Social Media If you have a local business, optimize your Google My Business listing and get listed in local directories. Use social media to share your content and build a community. SEO-wise, engaging with your audience on social platforms can drive traffic and backlinks.

20
ACTION Optimize your Google My Business profile and schedule 3 social media posts.

21
EVENING Review and Set KPIs

22
Review and Set KPIs Wrap up your day by reviewing the work you’ve done. Set clear KPIs to measure the success of your strategy.

23
ACTION Set 3-5 KPIs to track over the next month.

My advice?
Just do your best! Define the best strategy for your website, but don’t try to tick all boxes.

1. Domain Age: The age of a domain indicates its credibility and trustworthiness.
2. Domain History: Past activities associated with a domain can influence its ranking.
3. Keyword in Domain Name: Having keywords in the domain name can improve relevance.
4. Keyword as First Word in Domain: Keywords placed at the beginning of a domain can enhance visibility.
5. Exact Match Domain: Domains that exactly match search queries may receive a ranking boost.
6. Public vs. Private WhoIs: Transparency in domain registration information can impact trust.
7. Country TLD Extension: Country-specific domain extensions can affect local search rankings.
8. Keyword in Subdomain Name: Keywords in subdomains can contribute to relevance.
9. Domain Registration Length: Longer domain registration periods may indicate stability and commitment.
10. Keyword Density: The frequency of keywords in content can influence ranking.
11. Latent Semantic Indexing Keywords in Content (LSI): Using related terms can improve content context and relevance.
12. Keyword Prominence: Keywords placed prominently in content may carry more weight.
13. Quality Content: High-quality, informative content is essential for user engagement and ranking.
14. Content-Length: Longer content may provide more value and depth to users.
15. Duplicate Content: Identical content across multiple pages or websites can harm rankings.
16. Canonicalization: Properly canonicalizing URLs can prevent duplicate content issues.
17. Page Loading Speed: Faster loading times enhance user experience and may improve rankings.
18. Mobile-Friendly Design: Websites optimized for mobile devices receive a ranking boost in mobile search results.
19. Schema Markup: Implementing structured data markup can enhance search result listings.
20. HTTPS Encryption: Secure websites with HTTPS encryption are favored by Google.
21. Content Updates: Fresh content signals relevance and may positively impact rankings.
22. Server Location: Server location can influence the geographical targeting of search results.
23. SSL Certificate: Websites with SSL certificates provide a secure browsing experience.
24. AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages): AMP pages load quickly on mobile devices and may receive a ranking boost.
25. Page URL: Descriptive and keyword-rich URLs can improve click-through rates.
26. URL Length: Shorter, concise URLs are preferred for readability and usability.
27. URL Path: The structure of the URL path can provide context to search engines.
28. Human Editors: Websites reviewed by human editors may be considered more authoritative.
29. Page Category: Categorizing content can help search engines understand its relevance.
30. Hidden Content: Content hidden from users but visible to search engines can lead to penalties.
31. Keyword Stuffing: Excessive use of keywords can result in a ranking penalty.
32. Keyword in H1 Tag: Keywords in H1 tags can indicate the main topic of the page.
33. Keyword in H2, H3 Tags: Keywords in subheadings can provide additional context.
34. Keyword in Title Tag: Keywords in title tags help search engines understand the topic of the page.
35. Title Tag Starts with Keyword: Keywords at the beginning of title tags may carry more weight.
36. Keyword in Description Tag: Keywords in meta descriptions can influence click-through rates.
37. Keyword in Alt Tag (Image): Descriptive alt tags help search engines understand image content.
38. Keyword in Bold/Strong Tags: Keywords emphasized with bold or strong tags may have a higher relevance.
39. Outbound Link Quality: Linking to authoritative websites can enhance credibility.
40. Outbound Link Theme: Outbound links should be relevant to the content topic.
41. Internal Link Anchor Text: Anchor text of internal links provides context to linked pages.
42. Internal Link Quality: High-quality internal links can improve site navigation and indexing.
43. Broken Links: Broken links can harm user experience and indexing.
44. Domain Trust/TrustRank: Trustworthy domains are favored by search engines.
45. Domain Authority: Higher domain authority indicates greater trust and credibility.
46. Site Architecture: Well-organized site structure improves usability and crawlability.
47. Site Updates: Regular updates signal freshness and relevance to search engines.
48. URL Length: Shorter URLs are easier to share and remember.
49. URL Path: The structure of URL paths should be logical and hierarchical.
50. URL History: Historical data about a URL may influence rankings.
51. Breadcrumb Navigation: Breadcrumb navigation aids user navigation and site structure understanding.
52. User-Friendly Layout: Clear and intuitive layout enhances user experience.
53. Mobile Optimization: Optimized for mobile devices to cater to mobile users.
54. Dwell Time: The time users spend on a page can indicate content relevance and quality.
55. Click-Through Rate (CTR): Higher CTRs may signal content relevance and quality to search engines.
56. Repeat Traffic: Returning visitors can indicate content value and relevance.
57. Blocked Sites: Sites that are blocked or inaccessible may be penalized.
58. User Data: User behavior and preferences can influence personalized search results.
59. Geographic Location: Location-based searches are influenced by the user’s location.
60. Page Rank (Google Toolbar): Toolbar PageRank provides a rough indication of page importance.
61. Safe Search: Compliance with safe search guidelines prevents adult content from appearing in search results.
62. Domain Diversity: Diverse link profiles indicate credibility and authority.
63. User Search History: Previous search history influences personalized search results.
64. Social Signals: Social media activity can influence search engine rankings.
65. Brand Signals: Brand mentions and associations impact brand authority and visibility.
66. Page Age: Older pages may have accumulated more authority over time.
67. User Engagement: Interaction metrics like comments, shares, and likes indicate content quality and relevance.
68. Google News Listing: Inclusion in Google News can improve visibility for news-related queries.
69. Google News Usage: Usage of Google News articles can impact visibility and rankings.
70. Query Deserves Freshness: Fresh content is favored for certain queries, especially news and trending topics.
71. Query Deserves Diversity: Search results should provide diverse perspectives and sources.
72. Query Deserves Authority: Authoritative sources are preferred for certain queries.
73. Query Deserves Recency: Recent content is favored for certain queries, especially time-sensitive ones.
74. User Browsing History: Browsing history influences personalized search results and recommendations.
75. Social Network Relevance: Relevance and activity on social networks influence social search results.
76. Social Graph Presence: Presence and connections within social networks contribute to social authority.
77. Profile Authority: Authority and credibility of social media profiles influence visibility.
78. Profile Completeness: Complete social media profiles provide more information and credibility.
79. Profile Consistency: Consistent information across social media profiles enhances credibility.
80. Recency of Content: Fresh content is favored in social media feeds and search results.
81. Recency of Engagement: Recent engagement indicates current relevance and interest.
82. User Participation: Active participation and engagement on social networks contribute to authority.
83. Historical Click Data: Historical click-through rates influence future rankings and recommendations.
84. User Behavior: User behavior signals preferences and interests to search engines.
85. Session Duration: Longer session durations indicate user engagement and satisfaction.
86. Bookmarking: Bookmarked pages indicate value and relevance to users.
87. Email Engagement: Email interaction metrics can influence personalized search results.
88. Direct Traffic: Direct visits to a website indicate brand awareness and loyalty.
89. Brand Searches: Branded searches indicate brand awareness and authority.
90. User Mentions: Mentions of a brand or website across the web contribute to authority.
91. Domain Mentions: Mentions of a domain across the web contribute to authority.
92. Co-Citations: Co-mentions of related entities indicate relevance and authority.
93. Co-Occurrence: Co-occurrence of related terms and entities indicates topical relevance.
94. Brand Links: Links from authoritative sources with brand mentions enhance brand authority.
95. Content Quality: High-quality, valuable content is favored by users and search engines.
96. Historical Page Updates: Frequency and recency of page updates indicate freshness and relevance.
97. Freshness of Content: Fresh content is favored for certain queries and topics.
98. Historical Content Updates: Frequency and recency of content updates indicate relevance.
99. User Data Signals: User data and behavior influence personalized search results.
100. User Reviews: Reviews provide feedback and credibility signals to users and search engines.
101. Positive Reviews: Positive reviews enhance credibility and authority.
102. Negative Reviews: Negative reviews may impact trust and authority.
103. Review Velocity: The rate at which reviews are generated may influence visibility.
104. Review Quantity: The number of reviews contributes to credibility and authority.
105. Review Diversity: Reviews from diverse sources provide balanced perspectives.
106. Review Sentiment: The sentiment of reviews can impact brand perception and authority.
107. Review Authority: Reviews from authoritative sources carry more weight.
108. Product Page Authority: The authority of product pages influences visibility in product searches.
109. Product Page Relevance: Relevance of product pages to search queries impacts visibility.
110. Content Accuracy: Accurate and reliable content enhances credibility and trust.
111. Content Depth: Comprehensive, in-depth content provides more value to users.
112. Content Quality Signals: Various signals indicate the quality and value of content.
113. Content Length: Longer content may provide more value and depth to users.
114. Content Research: Thorough research enhances the credibility and depth of content.
115. Content Originality: Unique and original content stands out and attracts engagement.
116. Content Presentation: Clear and engaging presentation enhances readability and user experience.
117. Image Optimization: Optimized images enhance visual appeal and user experience.
118. Multimedia Content: Diverse content types, including images, videos, and audio, enrich user experience.
119. Video Integration: Integrating videos into content enhances engagement and relevance.
120. Video Optimization: Optimized videos improve visibility and accessibility.
121. Video Engagement: Engagement metrics like views, likes, and comments indicate video quality and relevance.
122. Video Quality: High-quality videos enhance user experience and credibility.
123. Video Relevance: Relevance of videos to content and user intent impacts visibility.
124. Video Length: Video length should be appropriate for content and user preferences.
125. Video Transcript: Transcripts improve accessibility and keyword relevance for videos.
126. Video Thumbnail: Compelling thumbnails improve click-through rates and visibility.
127. Video Description: Descriptive video descriptions enhance understanding and relevance.
128. Video Tags: Relevant tags improve video discoverability and categorization.
129. Video Embeds: Embedded videos enhance visibility and accessibility across platforms.
130. Video Comments: User engagement through comments indicates video relevance and value.
131. Video Shares: Shares increase video visibility and reach across social networks.
132. Video Retention: Viewer retention rates indicate video engagement and quality.
133. Video Click-Through Rate: CTR indicates video relevance and appeal in search results.
134. Video Likes/Dislikes: Likes and dislikes provide feedback on video quality and relevance.
135. Audio Optimization: Optimized audio enhances accessibility and user experience.
136. Audio Integration: Integrating audio content enriches user experience and engagement.
137. Audio Quality: High-quality audio enhances user experience and credibility.
138. Audio Relevance: Relevance of audio content to user intent and topic impacts visibility.
139. Video Views: Views indicate popularity and relevance of videos.
140. Audio Length: Audio length should be suitable for content and user preferences.
141. Audio Transcript: Transcripts improve accessibility and keyword relevance for audio content.
142. Audio Tags: Relevant tags improve audio discoverability and categorization.
143. Audio Embeds: Embedded audio content enhances visibility and accessibility.
144. Audio Comments: User engagement through comments indicates audio relevance and value.
145. Audio Shares: Shares increase audio visibility and reach across platforms.
146. Audio Listeners: Listener engagement indicates audio relevance and value.
147. Audio Retention: Listener retention rates indicate audio engagement and quality.
148. Audio Click-Through Rate: CTR indicates audio relevance and appeal in search results.
149. Audio Likes/Dislikes: Likes and dislikes provide feedback on audio quality and relevance.
150. Image Optimization: Optimized images enhance visual appeal and user experience.
151. Image Engagement: Engagement metrics like views, likes, and shares indicate image relevance and appeal.
152. Image Quality: High-quality images enhance user experience and credibility.
153. Image Relevance: Relevance of images to content and user intent impacts visibility.
154. Image Size: Optimized image sizes improve page loading speed and user experience.
155. Image Format: Suitable image formats ensure compatibility and quality.
156. Image Alt Text: Descriptive alt text enhances accessibility and keyword relevance for images.
157. Image Title: Relevant titles improve image visibility and categorization.
158. Image Description: Detailed descriptions enhance the understanding and relevance of images.
159. Image Tags: Relevant tags improve image discoverability and categorization.
160. Image Metadata: Metadata provides additional context and information for images.
161. Image File Name: Descriptive file names improve image visibility and relevance.
162. Image Captions: Captions provide additional context and enhance accessibility for images.
163. Image Source: Credible image sources enhance image credibility and relevance.
164. Image Shares: Shares increase image visibility and reach across platforms.
165. Image Likes/Dislikes: Likes and dislikes provide feedback on image quality and relevance.
166. Image Views: Views indicate the popularity and relevance of images.
167. Image Click-Through Rate: CTR indicates image relevance and appeal in search results.
168. Image Comments: User engagement through comments indicates image relevance and value.
169. Image Embeds: Embedded images enhance visibility and accessibility across platforms.
170. Image Retention: Viewer retention rates indicate image engagement and quality.
171. Image Linking: Inbound and outbound links to images enhance image authority and relevance.
172. Image Source Authority: Authority of image sources impacts image credibility and relevance.
173. Image License: Properly licensed images ensure legal compliance and credibility.
174. Image Diversity: Diverse image types and sources enrich user experience and relevance.
175. Image Position: Image placement and prominence impact visibility and engagement.
176. Image Context: Contextual relevance enhances image visibility and understanding.
177. Image Surrounding Text: Textual context provides additional information and relevance to images.
178. Image Placement: Strategic placement improves visibility and user engagement.
179. Image Relevance to Page: Relevance of images to page content enhances visibility and engagement.
180. Image Relevance to Content: Images that complement content improve user experience and relevance.
181. Image Relevance to Topic: Topic-relevant images enhance content context and user engagement.
182. Image Relevance to Keywords: Keyword-optimized images improve visibility and relevance.
183. Image Relevance to Audience: Audience-specific images improve engagement and relevance.
184. Image Relevance to User Intent: Intent-aligned images enhance user satisfaction and relevance.
185. Image Relevance to Query: Matching images with the user’s search query enhances visibility and relevance in search results.
186. Image Relevance to Search: Alignment with search queries enhances image visibility and engagement.
187. Image Relevance to Query Intent: Meeting user intent through relevant images improves search performance.
188. Image Relevance to Search Intent: Addressing search intent with appropriate images enhances user satisfaction.
189. Image Relevance to User Query: Matching user queries with relevant images improves search result relevance.
190. Image Relevance to User Search: Aligning images with user searches enhances search result effectiveness.
191. Image Relevance to User Intent Query: Fulfilling user intent with relevant images enhances search experience.
192. Image Relevance to User Intent Search: Meeting user intent with suitable images improves search relevance.
193. Image Relevance to User Intent Query Context: Contextualizing images with user intent enhances search result relevance.
194. Image Relevance to User Intent Search Context: Aligning images with user intent and search context improves relevance.
195. Image Relevance to User Query Context: Matching images with user queries and context enhances search effectiveness.
196. Image Relevance to User Search Context: Aligning images with user searches and intent improves search relevance.
197. Image Relevance to Query Context: Contextualizing images with search queries enhances relevance and effectiveness.
198. Image Relevance to Search Context: Aligning images with search context improves relevance and search performance.
199. Image Relevance to User Query Intent: Meeting user query intent with relevant images enhances search effectiveness.
200. Image Relevance to User Search Intent: Aligning images with user search intent improves relevance and satisfaction.

IIf you’ve ever tried to improve your website’s visibility on Google, you already know SEO isn’t simple. Between constant algorithm updates, new competitors entering the space, and dozens of ranking factors to keep in mind, it can feel overwhelming. The good news? You don’t have to figure it all out alone.

There are plenty of tools out there designed to make SEO easier, faster, and more effective. From keyword research and backlink tracking to site audits and content optimization, the right platform can save you hours of work and point you in the right direction.

That’s why I’ve pulled together this list of the 83 best SEO websites to use in 2025. Think of it as your go-to toolbox-whether you’re a beginner trying to get your first rankings or a marketer managing multiple client sites, you’ll find something here that makes your SEO journey a lot smoother.

83 best SEO websites

1. semrush.com – SEO toolkit (free trial in comments)
   
2. ahrefs.com – backlink and keyword research
   
3. LongTailPro.com – long-tail keywords tool
   
4. BrightLocal.com – local SEO management
   
5. HitTail.com – long-tail keyword suggestions
   
6. rankalyzer.io – SEO competitor analysis
   
7. moz.com – SEO software suite
   
8. majestic.com – link analysis tool
   
9. localfalcon.com – local rank tracking
   
10. plerdy.com – conversion rate optimization
    
11. Serpstat.com – growth hacking tool for SEO
    
12. clearscope.io – content optimization
    
13. KeywordTool.io – keyword finder
    
14. woorank.com – SEO & website analysis
    
15. Conductor.com – SEO platform for enterprises
    
16. RankMath.com – WordPress SEO plugin
    
17. Grammarly.com – content proofreading for SEO
    
18. AccuRanker.com – accurate keyword ranking
    
19. DeepCrawl.com – technical SEO platform
    
20. Yoast.com – WordPress SEO plugin
    
21. Sitebulb.com – website auditing
    
22. Linkody.com – backlink tracker
    
23. KWFinder.com – SEO keyword tool
    
24. ContentKingApp.com – real-time SEO auditing
    
25. SerpWatch.io – track search engine positions
    
26. SeedKeywords.com – find valuable keywords
    
27. WebsiteGrader.com – site performance review
    
28. PageOptimizer.pro – on-page optimization tool
    
29. Botify.com – end-to-end SEO platform
    
30. CognitiveSEO.com – complete SEO tool
    
31. SEOquake.com – browser-based SEO analytics
    
32. CanIRank.com – AI SEO software
    
33. serpbook.com – keyword rank tracking
    
34. Coschedule.com – content marketing calendar
    
35. SEOToolSet.com – suite of SEO tools
    
36. RavenTools.com – SEO reports & research
    
37. SEORadar.com – monitor SEO changes
    
38. OnCrawl.com – SEO crawler and log analyzer
    
39. TrafficTravis.com – free SEO software
    
40. MarketMuse.com – AI content planning
    
41. SEOClarity.net – SEO platform
    
42. SiteChecker.pro – on-page SEO checker
    
43. SurferSEO.com – data-driven content optimization
    
44. PanguinTool.com – Google algorithm update checker
    
45. SearchMetrics.com – SEO & content marketing platform
    
46. NetpeakSoftware.com – SEO tool suite
    
47. TheHoth.com – SEO and content marketing
    
48. ContentHarmony.com – content planning
    
49. Link-Assistant.com – link management
    
50. KeywordRevealer.com – keyword research tool
    
51. GShiftLabs.com – web presence analytics
    
52. GreenlaneSEO.com – SEO tools and services
    
53. KeywordEye.com – keyword & competitor research
    
54. SERPwoo.com – niche SEO & ORM tool
    
55. SEObility.net – SEO audit and monitoring
    
56. AuthorityLabs.com – SEO rank monitoring
    
57. MonitorBacklinks.com – backlink tracking
    
58. NinjaOutreach.com – influencer marketing + SEO tool
    
59. Databox.com – SEO performance tracking
    
60. AdvancedWebRanking.com – cloud-based SEO tool
    
61. TextTools.net – semantic SEO tool
    
62. RankWatch.com – SEO management platform
    
63. Sistrix.com – SEO analytics and visibility index
    
64. SimilarWeb.com – website traffic and analytics
    
65. STATSearchAnalytics.com – SERP analytics
    
66. URLProfiler.com – audit and content tool
    
67. Pitchbox.com – outreach and link building
    
68. Copyscape.com – plagiarism checker for SEO
    
69. LinkResearchTools.com – backlink analysis tool
    
70. Zutrix.com – keyword rank tracker
    
71. Nightwatch.io – SEO tracker and reporting tool
    
72. SEOReseller.com – white label SEO platform
    
73. NobleSamurai.com – keyword research + SEO software
    
74. WordTracker.com – keyword research tool
    
75. SEOBox.com – Spanish SEO platform
    
76. SerpYou.com – clean and simple SERP tracker
    
77. AgencyAnalytics.com – SEO reporting tool for agencies
    
78. RankActive.com – versatile SEO toolkit
    
79. SERanking.com – all-inclusive SEO software
    
80. Sightliner.com – interlinking and duplicate content tool
    
81. Lipperhey.com – SEO & website analyzer
    
82. SheerSEO.com – SEO and online marketing software
    
83. Pulno.com – website audit tool

Conclusion

At the end of the day, SEO is a long game. No single tool will magically shoot you to the top of Google, but combining the right ones can give you a serious edge. The websites in this list cover just about every area you’ll need help with-keywords, content, backlinks, technical fixes, and more.

My advice? Don’t try to use all 83 at once. Start with two or three that match your immediate needs-maybe a keyword tool, a site audit tool, and a content optimizer-and build from there. As your SEO skills grow, you’ll naturally start adding more advanced tools to your stack.

SEO in 2025 is all about working smarter, not harder. With the right tools in your corner, you can cut through the noise, stay ahead of competitors, and actually enjoy the process of growing your site.

What is Keyword Golden Ratio?

KKGR is a modern strategy for finding low-competition keywords that can help your content rank quickly on search engines. It suggests that there is an ideal ratio of keyword usage that can maximize search visibility without triggering penalties for keyword stuffing or over-optimization.

KGR = (Number of Search Results with Keyword in Title) / (Monthly Search Volume)

Keyword Research

Start by using keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs to find long-tail keywords relevant to your niche with a monthly search volume below 250.

Calculate the Keyword Golden Ratio

KGR for a keyword, do a Google search using quotation marks around the keyword. Take note of the number of search results displayed on the top right of the page. (Assume 60,000 results). Then, divide this number by the average monthly search volume (Assume 1,000) and use formula. If the calculated ratio is less than 0.25, Good to GO!

Create Targeted and High-Quality Content

After finding KGR, write high-quality and info-rich content around targeted keywords. Ensure that the keyword is included in the title tag, URL, and throughout the content in a natural way. Don’t stuff or overoptimize it!

Focus on User Intent

Search engines value content that matches the searcher’s intent and provides relevant information. By creating valuable content, you stand a better chance of increasing engagement, dwell time, and ultimately, your rankings.

Semantic Keyword Diversity

In addition to your primary target keyword, use semantically related keywords and phrases that provide context and depth to your content. This helps search engines better comprehend the topic and relevance of your content.

Monitor Analytics

Keep an eye on your content’s performance and user behavior metrics. If you’re not seeing any improvements in rankings, you might need to update and improve your content or build more backlinks to it or optimize it according to need.

Publishing and Promotion

After publishing, you can share the article on social media platforms, relevant forums, and reach out to other authoritative blogs for potential backlinks or shares. It will give a boost to your article and increase the chances to rank high.

KGR can help you find those hidden gem keywords that have been overlooked by others but are still sought after by a specific audience. This method isn’t foolproof, as search engine algorithms are constantly changing.

WWhen we hear the word SEO, most of us think about just optimizing websites with keywords or building backlinks. But SEO is so much more than that. In fact, it has grown into dozens of specialized practices-each with its own goals, techniques, and tools.

If you’re a marketer, recruiter, business owner, or content creator, understanding the different types of SEO can help you choose the right strategy for your goals. Let’s break down the 51 types of SEO into categories.

General SEO

These are the foundations of search engine optimization:

1. On-page SEO: Optimizing page content, meta tags, titles, and internal linking.
2. Off-page SEO: Building backlinks, brand mentions, and authority outside your website.
3. Technical SEO: Making sure your website’s backend is search-engine friendly (site speed, indexing, crawlability, etc.).

Technical SEO Variations

Technology shapes how search engines crawl and understand websites. Here are some specialized branches:

4. Mobile SEO: Ensuring websites are mobile-friendly.
5. Accessibility SEO: Optimizing for users with disabilities (e.g., screen readers).
6. Edge SEO: Using server-side optimizations and edge computing.
7. JavaScript SEO: Making JS-heavy websites crawlable.
8. React SEO / Next.js SEO / Headless SEO: SEO for modern frameworks and headless CMS platforms.

Content SEO

Content is still king, but SEO helps it shine:

9. Landing Page SEO: Optimizing pages designed to convert.
10. Blog SEO: Structuring blog content for both readers and search engines.
11. Content SEO: Overall content strategy for keyword ratio relevance.
12. Semantic SEO: Targeting search intent and meaning behind queries.
13. Multimedia SEO: Optimizing images, videos, and infographics.

Local & International SEO

Businesses with physical locations or global reach need specialized strategies:

14. Local SEO: Getting found in Google Maps and “near me” searches.
15. International SEO: Targeting global markets.
16. Multi-lingual SEO: Optimizing websites in multiple languages.

Platform-Specific SEO

Different platforms need different strategies:

17. eCommerce SEO: Optimizing online stores.
18. YouTube SEO: Ranking videos on YouTube and Google.
19. App Store SEO (ASO): Making apps visible in app stores.
20. Amazon SEO / Etsy SEO / Shopify SEO / Squarespace SEO / WordPress SEO / Wix SEO: Tailoring strategies to specific platforms.
21. Social Media SEO: Boosting visibility of social content.
22. News SEO / Google Discover SEO: Getting content featured in news and discovery feeds.
23. Yep SEO : A fun nod to Ahrefs’ own search engine!

Specialized SEO Types

These focus on unique use cases:

24. Image SEO / Video SEO:Optimizing media for search.
25. Programmatic SEO: Scaling SEO with automation.
26. Holiday SEO: Seasonal campaigns (Black Friday, Christmas, etc.).
27. Featured Snippet SEO: Winning position zero.
28. Long-tail SEO: Targeting niche queries with lower competition.
29. SaaS SEO / Enterprise SEO / Niche SEO: Tailored to business models.
30. Voice SEO: Preparing for voice search queries.
31. AI SEO: Leveraging artificial intelligence tools.
32. Taxonomy SEO: Structuring site categories and tags.

SEO Philosophies

Finally, SEO isn’t just about tactics—it’s also about approach:

33. White Hat SEO: Ethical, long-term strategies.
34. Black Hat SEO: Aggressive, often risky tactics.
35. Grey Hat SEO: A mix of both worlds.
36. Negative SEO: Harmful tactics used against competitors.
37. Sustainable SEO: Eco-conscious, long-term strategies.
38. Continuous SEO: Ongoing optimization.
39. DIY SEO: Do-it-yourself SEO for small businesses.
40. Holistic SEO: Looking at SEO as part of a bigger digital ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

SEO is no longer a “one-size-fits-all” discipline. Whether you’re running an online store, growing a SaaS company, or just trying to get more visibility for your blog, there’s a specific type of SEO that can help.

The key is to choose the right mix of strategies, stay updated with trends, and always focus on adding value to your audience.

Introduction

IIf you’re into marketing, you’ve probably got a hundred tabs open and a bunch of tools you use daily. It can get overwhelming, right? That’s why Chrome extensions are super useful. They sit right in your browser and make everyday tasks a lot easier – whether it’s checking keywords, creating content, managing your to-dos, or organizing links.
In this blog, I’ve put together a list of 30 Chrome extensions that can really help marketers save time and work more efficiently. These are simple tools, but they can make a big difference once you start using them.

Chrome Extensions

That’s the list! Hopefully, you found a few tools here that you haven’t tried yet. Some of these extensions are great for improving productivity, while others help with content, SEO, or just staying organized. You don’t need to use all 30 – just pick the ones that fit your workflow. And if you’ve got any favorites that aren’t on the list, feel free to share them. It’s always good to find new tools that make work a little smoother.

IIf you’ve been following me for some time, you know I post a lot about GSC, and for good reason too; it’s probably one of the most powerful tools in SEO

Google Search Console

This audit will help you find any issues with indexing, crawling, discovery, rendering, ranking, and content quality on your site

Let’s jump right in

Indexing

First things first, you’ll want to check that the right pages are being indexed. Check that you’re not indexing any unnecessary items like tags.

Check if there’s a high volume of Excluded URLs

Most commonly URLs that should be indexed will sit in discovered and crawled, not indexed. You’ll want to find ways to get those pages indexed (I’ll cover this in a few slides)

Is Google Respecting Your Canonicals?

Duplicate, Google chose different canonical” means Google chose another URL as the canonical and not your user-selected canonical.

You’ll also want to make sure you have a canonical tag set, otherwise, Google will choose one for you or let it sit in excluded.

Do You Have “Noindex Tags” Added to the Wrong Pages?

While rare, you’ll want to check that none of your priority URLs have a noindex tag applied to them… it happens more often than you’d think.

Can Google Successfully Access and Read Your Sitemap?

Add your sitemap here if nothing has been submitted yet.

Do You Have Pages Sitting in Discovered or Crawled, Not Indexed?

This is basically Google’s version of purgatory. As always, it depends, but I’ve found improving content quality and internal linking helps with these pages.

You’ll also want to request these URLs to be recrawled after you update them.

Is Google Excluding the Right URLs from your Robots.txt

This likely won’t be an issue if you set your robots.txt up right, but still worth a quick look.

Crawl Stats

Here you can access different stats on how Google interacts with your website

It’s Settings > Crawl Stats > Open Report

Any Spikes or Drops in Crawl Trends?

This crawl trend is worth keeping an eye out for any crawling or server-related issues

By Response

Is Google coming across a high volume of 3xx or 4xx responses?

You’ll also want to check that you’re not internally linking to any of these

Are New Pages on Your Website Being Discovered?

Here you can check whether Google is having any issues discovering and crawling new pages

By File Type

Here you can see which resources Google is crawling the most and if it’s causing any crawling issues like a slower response time.

By Googlebot Type

Here you can see which Googlebots are crawling your site

Look for any fluctuations, specifically with page resource load as it may indicate a rendering issue

Has the Website Been Hit With a Manual Penalty?

As always, you should check if your website has ever been hit with a manual penalty.

These are still pretty rare, but it will absolutely debilitate your SEO efforts if it’s still there.

Is Your Schema Being Read Properly?

Depending on the type of schema you use, you’ll want to check the “enhancements” tab to see if it’s being read properly.

Core Web Vitals

While the page experience and mobile usability tabs are leaving GSC, Core Web Vitals will still be around.

Remember, don’t use SEO as an excuse to update page experience and CWV, you should optimize for it regardless for your users.

Internal and External Links

Use the links tab to find pages with high volumes of external and internal links pointing toward them.

You can use these URLs as a base when looking for internal link opportunities.

Traffic Drop Analysis

Has your website seen a drop in either positioning, impression, or clicks?

You’ll want to use this report to find and fix that.

Just use the date filter to compare different ranges of time.

Low-Hanging Fruit Pages

You see this one get posted all the time on LinkedIn

These are queries on your website that rank between 4-20

These are essentially quick wins you can go after with a little bit of work

Cannibalizing Pages

To check keyword cannibalization, all you need to do is enter your exact query and check the page tab to see if multiple URLs are appearing

From there, you’ll want to take these URLs to the SERPs to see if their results are the same

Do you have any outdated content on your website?

Set a date filter for the last 28 days and enter a query filter for a year (2020, 2021, 2022)

You’ll find a list of queries on your site that are still ranking for previous years.

Content with Potential

Similar to the LHF pages, these are queries on your website that have potential (high impressions) but will need a full makeover to see movement.

These will likely be ranking in positions 40–60… always remember to check the intent of those pages.

High Impressions and Positioning, Low CTR

These pages are pages that very likely could drive traffic but aren’t for some reason. This could be due to boring titles and meta descriptions, but luckily this is a quick fix.

Content Audits

If you have been consistently creating content, you likely have a few duds in there.

Why not turn garbage into gold with a quick content audit

You’ll basically want to look for content with 0 clicks and low impressions over the last 16 months that you can delete or merge into relevant pages.

That’s It! Just to Recap

Just to recap, GSC is one of the best (FREE) SEO tools you have access too.

When it comes to anything discovery, crawling, indexing, rendering, and content performance, GSC will be your best friend.

Introduction

IIf your website isn’t ranking the way it should, it’s probably time for an SEO audit. Think of it like a health check-up for your site—it helps you uncover what’s working, what’s broken, and what’s holding you back in the search results. Whether you’re trying to boost organic traffic, fix indexing issues, or just get a clearer picture of your site’s performance, a thorough SEO audit can uncover powerful opportunities for growth. In this guide, I’ll walk you through 18 essential steps to perform a complete SEO audit—tools included—so you can take action right away.

The tool you need

• Audit tool like Semrush Site Audit
• Google Analytics
• Google Search Console
• Google PageSpeed Insights
• Google Schema Markup Testing Tool

Basics — The Things You 100% Must Check

• Benchmark your rankings and understand your competitors
• Check for duplicate versions of your site in Google’s Index
• Check your site’s indexed URLs
• Check for manual actions
• Analyze your site’s speed
• Confirm that your site uses HTTPS
• Check for mobile-friendliness issues
• Analyze and resolve further indexation issues
• Understand your site’s page experience
• Audit your on-page SEO

SEO Audit Quick Wins

• Fix broken internal links
• Clean up your sitemap
• Check your redirects

Auditing Content

• Find and fix duplicate content issues
• Identify thin content pages
• Fix issues with orphan pages
• Compare your content to top ranking pages & analyze searcher intent
• Run a Backlink Audit

Conclusion

Doing an SEO audit doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. Once you break it into steps—like we’ve done here—it’s really just about getting a clear picture of how your site’s performing and spotting areas where you can improve. Some fixes might be quick wins, others might take more time, but all of them move you in the right direction.

The key is consistency. Don’t just audit once and forget about it—make it part of your regular website maintenance. Over time, you’ll catch issues early, stay ahead of algorithm changes, and keep your content in line with what your audience (and Google) actually wants.

If you’ve got any questions or tips from your own audits, feel free to share—always happy to swap notes.

Crawlability & Indexability

AAchieving strong visibility in search engines starts with a technically sound, content-rich, and user-friendly website. In this comprehensive guide, we walk you through a detailed SEO audit framework that covers everything from crawlability and site structure to content optimization, mobile readiness, and international SEO. Whether you’re uncovering hidden issues in your robots.txt file or fine-tuning your hreflang implementation, this roadmap highlights the most critical technical and on-page SEO elements that can make or break your organic performance.

Robots.txt

• Format errors in robots.txt
• Invalid structured data items
• Issues with blocked internal resources in robots.txt
• Issues with blocked external resources in robots.txt
• Robots.txt not found
• Pages blocked by X-Robots-Tag: noindex HTTP header
• Pages were blocked from crawling

URL Structure

• Malformed links
• Underscores in the URL
• Too many parameters in URLs
• URL is too long
• User-friendly first, then search engine-friendly
• Concise
• Punctuated correctly
• Consistent
• Avoid repeating keywords

Links

• Broken internal links
• Pages with only one incoming internal link source
• Pages that need more than 3 clicks to be reached

Internal Linking

• Identify Orphan Pages
• Fix Redirected / Broken Links
• Relevance
• Anchor Text
• Remove Internal Links to Unimportant Pages
• Internal Link Position

Redirects

• Pages returning 4XX status code
• Pages returning 5XX status code
• WWW domain configured incorrectly
• Redirect chains and loops
• Pages with a meta refresh redirect tag
• Broken canonical link
• Multiple canonical URLs
• Pages with temporary redirects
• Internal links with nofollow attributes
• Too many on-page links
• Broken external links
• External links with nofollow attributes
• URLs with a permanent redirect

Sitemap

• Format errors in sitemap.xml
• Wrong pages found in sitemap.xml
• Sitemap.xml files are too large
• Sitemap.xml not found
• Sitemap.xml not indicated in robots.txt
• Orphaned pages in sitemap
• Orphaned pages from Google Analytics

On-Page SEO

Page Title Optimization

• Compelling and engaging
• Short, sweet, and descriptive
• Unique
• Not too long
• Optimized for your primary keyword
• Add your primary keyword towards the front

Content

• Missing or empty title tags
• Issues with duplicate title tags
• Duplicate H1 and title tags
• Title tag is too long
• Title tag is too short
• Write As You Talk
• Target Your Audience Pain Point
• Analyze the Heading
• Use Sub Headings and Bullet Points
• Use Table of Content
• Avoid Plagiarism
• Write for Content Salesy
• Avoid Keyword Stuffing
• Add Relevant CTA
• Keep the Vocabulary Simple
• Remove Duplicate Content

Heading Optimization

H1 Heading

• Missing H1 heading
• Duplicate H1 and title tags
• You only have one H1 tag
• Your heading describes what your page is about
• They aren’t too long
• They aren’t too short either
• They grab the user’s attention
• Try to include the primary keyword you want to target

H2-H6 Heading

• Are meaningful
• Include long-tail keywords
• Answer subtopics required to answer the main search query
• Accurately summarizes your content
• Are optimized with your primary keyword
• Are engaging
• Aren’t too long

Meta Description

• Duplicate meta descriptions
• Missing meta descriptions

Image

• Broken internal images
• Broken external images
• Images missing alt attribute
• Resources formatted as page link
• Descriptive
• Not too long
• Optimized for your keywords

Technical SEO

Page Speed

• Large HTML size
• Slow page load speed
• Uncompressed pages
• Issues with uncompressed JavaScript and CSS files
• Pages have a JavaScript and CSS total size that is too large
• Pages use too many JavaScript and CSS files
• Issues with unminified JavaScript and CSS files
• Issues with uncached JavaScript and CSS files
• Issues with broken external JavaScript and CSS files

Core Web Vitals

• Pages that take more than 1 second to become interactive

Old Technology

• Frames used
• Doctype not declared
• Incompatible plugin content

Mobile

• Missing viewport tag
• Missing the viewport width value
• AMP pages with HTML issues
• AMP pages with style and layout issues
• AMP pages with templating issues
• AMP pages have no canonical tag
• Issues with broken internal JavaScript and CSS files

HTTP Implementation

• Mixed content
• Non-secure pages
• No redirects or canonicals to HTTPS URLs from HTTP version
• SSL certificate registered to an incorrect domain name
• Old security protocol version
• Expiring or expired SSL certificate
• Subdomains don’t support secure encryption algorithms
• HTTPS pages lead to HTTP page
• Homepage doesn’t use HTTPS encryption
• HTTP URLs in sitemap.xml for HTTPS site
• Subdomains don’t support SNI
• Subdomains don’t support HSTS

International SEO

• Hreflang implementation issue
• Hreflang conflicts within page source code
• Incorrect hreflang links
• Pages with no hreflang and lang attributes
• Pages without character encoding declared
• Hreflang language mismatch issues

A successful SEO strategy starts with a solid foundation. By regularly auditing key areas like crawlability, content, page speed, and mobile performance, you’ll stay ahead of issues that could hurt your rankings. Use this roadmap as your guide, fix what matters most, and keep your site search-engine friendly and user-focused.

Causes, Consequences, and How to Fix It

HHere is a general overview of keyword cannibalization — from its definition, causes, and negative impact on SEO to how to identify and effectively fix it.

1. What is Keyword Cannibalization?
2. Why Keyword Cannibalization Hurts Your SEO
3. What Causes Keyword Cannibalization?
4. How to Identify Keyword Cannibalization
5. How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization
6. Final Thoughts

What is Keyword Cannibalization?

Keyword Cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on the same website rank for the same target keyword on Google. This confuses Google about which page to prioritize, leading to internal competition instead of keyword synergy.

Example of Keyword Cannibalization

Imagine you run a website about smartwatches and you publish the following articles:

• Article 1: “Apple Watch Series 9 Review”
• Article 2: “Should You Buy the Apple Watch Series 9?”
• Article 3: “What’s New in the Apple Watch Series 9?”

If all three articles are optimized for the same keyword “Apple Watch Series 9”, Google may struggle to decide which one deserves the top spot — resulting in lower rankings for all of them.

Why Keyword Cannibalization Hurts Your SEO

 1. It Dilutes Your Rankings When several of your pages compete for the same keyword, Google doesn’t know which one to rank higher — reducing the potential performance of all pages involved.

 2. It Splits Backlink Authority Instead of consolidating backlinks to one authoritative page, the links are spread across multiple pages, weakening your SEO power.

 3. It Confuses Users Users might see multiple similar pages from your site on search results and struggle to decide which one to click, lowering your CTR (click-through rate) and conversions.

 4. It Can Trigger Duplicate Content Penalties Google may treat similar pages as duplicate content, potentially triggering penalties under Google’s Panda algorithm and harming your site’s reputation.

What Causes Keyword Cannibalization?

1. Creating Too Many Articles on the Same Topic Publishing several posts that target the same keyword without clear distinction or structure is a common mistake among beginner SEO practitioners.

2. Lack of a Clear Keyword Strategy Without proper keyword research and content planning, it’s easy to accidentally create overlapping content.

3. Poor Website Structure When your website lacks content hierarchy (like pillar vs. supporting pages), Google can’t determine which page to rank for a keyword.

How to Identify Keyword Cannibalization

Method 1: Use Google Search Console Go to Google Search Console > Performance Check if a single keyword is associated with multiple URLs on your site.

Method 2: Use SEO Tools (Ahrefs, SEMrush, etc.) Analyze your keyword rankings in tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush. If multiple URLs rank for the same keyword, that’s a red flag.

Method 3: Use Google Search Operators Use this search query format: site:yourwebsite.com “your target keyword”

Example: To check if you have cannibalization for the keyword “running shoes” on your site: site:sportshub.com “running shoes”

If you see several different pages from your site appearing for the same keyword, you might have a cannibalization issue.

How to Fix Keyword Cannibalization

1. Merge Similar Content (Content Consolidation)

If you have multiple articles covering similar content, combine them into a single comprehensive post.

Before merging:

• Article A: “How to Choose the Best Running Shoes”
• Article B: “Top Running Shoes You Should Buy in 2024”

After merging:

• New article: “How to Choose the Best Running Shoes + 10 Expert Picks for 2024”

This removes keyword overlap and builds stronger topical authority.

2. Optimize Internal Linking

Use internal links strategically to direct authority toward your main target page.

Example:
If you have multiple product reviews for the iPhone 15, link them all to your main “Ultimate iPhone 15 Review” article. This helps guide both users and search engines.

3. Re-optimize Content for Different Keyword Intents

If you don’t want to merge content, ensure each page targets different keywords or user intents.

Example:

• Article A: “iPhone 15 Camera Review: What’s New?”
• Article B: “iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: Is It Worth Upgrading?”

Though both cover the iPhone 15, they serve different search intents, so Google is less likely to view them as duplicates.

Final Thoughts

Keyword cannibalization hurts your SEO by making pages compete for the same keyword. To fix it, audit your content, merge similar pages, optimize internal links, and target different keyword intents. Regular checks with tools like Google Search Console or Ahrefs can help you spot issues early. Clean, focused content boosts rankings – so stay organized and strategic.

GGoogle’s AI spam detection tool, ‘SpamBrain,’ now detects low-quality AI content with 98% accuracy. This is a significant improvement from 92% in 2024.

This means Google is getting better at identifying and penalizing websites that rely on low-quality or automated content.

THE IMPACT ON SEO

This powerful update means that websites using mass-produced, AI-generated content are more vulnerable to penalties. If your content is thin, irrelevant, or lacks real value, Google’s smarter AI system will flag it. With a bigger emphasis on user experience, SEO strategies must evolve or face being penalized.

AI-GENERATED SPAM FACES THE HAMMER

Google’s algorithm has gotten better at detecting and penalizing low-quality AI-generated content. If your content is primarily produced by AI and doesn’t offer real value, it could face severe penalties, including lower rankings or de-indexing.

PARASITE SEO GETS CRUSHED

• Some websites use high-authority platforms like Medium, Quora, or LinkedIn to rank by leveraging spammy backlinks.
• Google is now actively devaluing these tactics and may penalize both the site hosting the links and the offenders themselves.

Source: Website traffic dropped almost 40% without known issue

STRICTER LINK & ANCHOR TEXT SCRUTINY

• Over-optimized anchor texts (e.g., “best iPhone deals 2025”) now trigger penalties.
• Paid links are easier to detect thanks to Google’s new LinkGraph AI, which identifies unnatural linking patterns.

Source: Outreachmonks

USER ENGAGEMENT SIGNALS MATTER

Google now tracks:

• Dwell time (how long users stay on your page)
• Pogo-sticking (quick back-to-SERP clicks indicate poor content)
• Mobile UX (slow-loading sites lose rankings)

 Audit Your Content

• Remove or rewrite thin, duplicate, or AI-generated spam content.
• Follow Google’s “Helpful Content” guidelines as a checklist.

 Fix Technical SEO

• Improve Core Web Vitals (speed, responsiveness, and stability).
• Resolve broken links, redirects, and indexing issues.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR SITE? CONT.

 Build Natural Links

• Focus on earned media, guest posts, and PR efforts.
• Avoid PBNs (Private Blog Networks). Google busted over 12,000+ PBNs in Q1 2025.

 Monitor Rankings & Manual Actions

• Use Google Search Console to stay updated on spam alerts.
• Check for Manual Actions under “Security & Manual Actions.

What Google Means:

• Hosting casino, payday loan, or affiliate content on popular sites like .edu blogs, media platforms, or job portals.
• The goal? To exploit domain authority for fast rankings.

Moving Forward: If your site allows external content:

• Review it closely.
• Only publish posts that match your site’s main topic.
• Say no to “sponsored spam.”

What This Means for SEOs

Gone are the days when:

• AI could flood your blog with content.
• Buying backlinks = ranking.
• Expired domains = shortcut to authority.

Google is shifting full force towards real quality, experience-based content, and intent alignment.
If you’re relying on shortcuts — this update is a wake-up call.
If you’re building long-term value — this is your opportunity to rise.

SEO Action Plan for 2025 & Beyond

Create Real Content

Use real experiences, expert advice, case studies, or insights. Even when using AI, make the content uniquely yours.

Diversify Your Link Profile

Stop chasing spammy backlinks. Instead, focus on editorial links, PR, HARO, and community-based strategies.

Avoid Domain Tricks

If you’re buying expired domains, make sure they serve a real, relevant purpose — or avoid them altogether.

Don’t Host Trash Content

No more “quick affiliate wins” on unrelated high-authority blogs. Keep your site clean and focused.