On Thursday, May 31st, TechTarget hosted Dan Shure’s SEMNE talk “12 Ways to Use search engine optimization Tools You’ve (Mostly) Never Seen Before” at our Newton, MA offices. We had been excited not to handiest host the event; however, we were even more pleased to examine new methods to utilize the search engine optimization equipment and plugins in our ever-growing arsenal.
Dan’s number one purpose was to offer every single attendee at the least one new tool or one new manner to use a tool they’re already usage of. Judging via the audience’s reactions all through his communication and from the remarks at once in a while, he virtually hit the goal. The target audience varied from learners to greater seasoned search engine marketing specialists, which turned into no smooth feat.
During his presentation, Dan covered seven SEO device classes he described as:
Plugins
Diagnostics
Video SEO
Make your appearance accurate
UX
Reactive
Content
I’m now not going to rewrite his presentation because I’ll link to that on end for people who could not attend or need to re-evaluate. Still, I’d like to focus on some of the favored equipment that I became either already the use of, have now found out a brand new way to use, or are brand new to me and my workflows dealing with seeking visitors and engagement for TechTarget’s widespread network of generation-particular websites.
Search engine marketing Plugins
I love search engine optimization plugins. They make it clean to execute actual-time search engine optimization studies and evaluation without always having to log in to your favorite SEO platform. (Not that there’s something incorrect with that.) If you’re like me and already have fifty tabs open, you understand the fee of now not having to open another tab and toggling among the 2 when you don’t want to.
MozBar, Broken Link Checker, and Keywords Everywhere are 3 of my favorite SEO plugins Dan blanketed in his presentation. (Add hyperlinks to the equipment and screenshots.) I’ve been using MozBar because it launched. It has quick insights into domain authority, on-web page hyperlinks, optimization insights, keyword facts, and hyperlink information. It’s great as a high-stage evaluation even within the SERPs or as an entry point to a greater in-depth evaluation of the Moz platform.
Moz Bar
Broken Link CheckerDan cited using Broken Link Checker to find possibilities for hyperlink constructing attain out. However, I like it for URL level evaluation. When looking at content material for updating or fixing performance troubles, I clearly need to know if the page has any damaged links. And whilst I can test in Ahrefs for broken links, this plugin permits me to do it on-web page inside the browser window even as I’m assessing things like the inclusion of related subjects, wealthy media, and subheadings. Keywords Everywhere is an exquisite upload-on for Chrome and Firefox that shows search extent, CPC, and competition information from a couple of sites in a single area. Additionally, its “people additionally search for” feature is another notable manner of constructing information for a content method or package.
Keywords Everywhere in SERP
SEO Diagnostic Tools
Diagnostic equipment is essential to all parties worried about SEO. There is continually something to diagnose whether or not you’re an in-house search engine optimization or strolling a business enterprise. SEMrush is a device I use for many things. No one likes to find wonder subdomains that had been now not accounted for previous to quoting a mission. However, the “Subdomains Report” Dan mentioned is accessible for accomplishing studies before accepting a consulting gig. It’s also awesome for accomplishing competitive evaluation and an exceptional way to get an excessive picture of ratings and site visitors across all of the subdomains in a community. The potential to drill down into that identical information is an efficient way to section out information through studies and analysis.
SEMrush Subdomain Report
Another fantastic tip from Dan is to apply the Google Analytics date comparison hack, which is immensely helpful while you’re diagnosing a drop in site visitors — ask my group. As Dan said, “it’s simple; the date compare is reverse.” By using this hack, uncovering content that has declined overall performance through the years is a snap. Once the content material is diagnosed, studies and evaluation on causes and uncovering capacity improvements can start.
Google Analytics Hack
Video search engine optimization
VidIQ is fantastic video advertising and analytics device that turned into formerly unknown to me. I don’t work with video content as regularly as I did in my career; however, having a tool to execute YouTube precise keyword studies is a goldmine. Whether it’s live pictures from an enterprise event, an interview, or more in-depth technical video content material, understanding what people are searching out and targeting the one’s possibilities is wonderful.
VidIQ Plugin
search engine optimization tools that make you look right
Answer the Public
Interestingly sufficient, Dan offered Answer the Public as a device to affect customers, and you recognize what? It is extraordinary. My crew makes use of this device to generate content material ideas with our editorial team of workers. One of the first-rate approaches to ensure that a searcher is happy is by comprehensively answering their query and doing it nicely.
User Experience (UX) Tools
Funkify is another device that turned into new to me. It’s a Chrome extension that permits you to experience the net and interfaces as a person with incapacity. For example, a designer or product owner could use Funkify to without difficulty simulate how someone with color blindness or ADHD is in a position (or unable) to interact with a domain. Using this tool and acting at the output can ensure that extra websites are well reachable to individuals with disabilities.
Reactive SEO Tools
HARO (Help A Reporter Out) is a site wherein journalists and resources alike can connect testimonies. Three instances an afternoon, real requests are dispatched from journalists seeking enterprise experts to assist with article writing. It’s an extraordinary manner to build your private or company emblem and boom discoverability of your content through earned hyperlinks.
Content Hacks
Dan stated I use one of the content hacks quite a bit — the “Keyword Gap Report” in SEMRush. This document is remarkable for identifying possibilities to goal each of your competitors’ rankings and where they’re not performing properly. In addition, it’s a sincerely awesome device to assist sales groups craft pitches approximately how their websites can be killing it organically and why a potential patron ought to end up their partner.
Final Thoughts
SEO is such a critical part of your content material and advertising strategy. You have to make sure that you apply the tools you want and benefit from what works satisfactorily for your precise venture and campaign. Many search engine optimization equipment, plugins, and hacks benefit beyond what I’ve reviewed here. Have a few tool pointers? Add them inside the comments beneath.
