Conquering the daily SEO challenges thrown at bloggers nowadays requires some intelligent cloud-based software to rise above the fray.
Your success in the real world will come down to the tools you use to organize and streamline your digital workflow.
Below, you’ll find a quick synopsis of 10 of the best apps found online that can make your job as a blogger easier, more efficient and even enjoyable.
1- AdWords Keyword Tool
It goes without saying that keyword research is the starting point of any successful post.
The Google Keyword Tool is a good place to research potential keywords, since a solid chunk of your traffic will probably originate from organic Google searches. Though it’s not the be-all and end-all of keyword tools, it’s a vital weapon in your blogging arsenal that shouldn’t be underestimated.
2- Ubersuggest
Many have found that Ubersuggest is an even more powerful tool than the External Keyword Tool found within AdWords.
It leverages Google Suggest to give you inspiration in the keyword department. What makes Ubersuggest particularly useful is its ability to help you brainstorm keywords you might not have thought of. It will incrementally enable you to build keyword phrases that’ll stand out in the organic results.
3- WordPress SEO by Yoast
Not surprisingly, many bloggers choose WordPress as their preferred CMS.
Making sure that a WordPress-based website or blog is fine-tuned for peak SEO performance is a lot easier with the WordPress SEO plugin produced by respected blogging authority site Yoast. It’ll handle everything from XML sitemaps to snippet previews without breaking a sweat. To automate all of your back-end SEO needs, accept no substitutes.
4- The Google Trifecta
There are essentially three major Google utilities that every blogger should be acquainted with aside from the Keyword Tool.
- Google Analytics makes tracking traffic and spotting opportunities simple.
- Webmaster Tools is your one-stop shop for SEO advice and the latest techniques.
- Finally, Google Trends gives you a head’s up as to what’s currently hot on the broader web that might apply to your chosen niche.
5- Clicky Web Analytics
There’s no denying that Google Analytics is a solid platform, but it can’t do everything.
Clicky Web Analytics is a more flexible option for taking things to the next level. It features a powerful API for crafting your own analytics monitoring options, and its pricing can’t be beat. For roughly $60 per year, you can analyze the living hell out of a lot of daily traffic.
6- SEO Book Toolbar
For years, the SEO Book Toolbar for Firefox has been one of the only reasons that millions haven’t switched to Chrome.
It provides crucial information on the ranking metrics of Google and Bing, aiding amateur and professional bloggers in achieving the rankings they deserve. It displays Google PageRank, incoming links, unique page views and more for any website.
7- SEO Book Rank Checker
Information overload is a consequence of living in a tightly integrated digital world where everyone is a mild Internet celebrity and has a website.
Sometimes, simple tools with a singular purpose are far better. SEO Book Rank Checker allows you to see how you rank for specific keywords and keyword phrases with the click of a mouse button. It also allows you to export data and spreadsheet it to your heart’s content instantly.
8- SEOmoz
Unless you just started blogging yesterday around noon or so, the inclusion of SEOmoz in this list shouldn’t surprise you.
Since the very beginning, SEOmoz has always been squarely focused on a rigorously academic dissection of what SEO is and how to best employ it. Their tools aren’t free, but they’re the Gold Standard in the field and include the Open Site Explorer, Follower Wonk and On-Page Analysis web apps.
9- Triberr
SEO has a reputation for being all about dry statistics and a lot of technical tweaking behind the scenes.
All the real magic happens in the realm of social media and networking, however. Triberr bills itself as “The Reach Multiplier”, and it largely lives up to that claim by allowing users to create their own interaction networks for the natural distribution of quality blog content.
10- Xenu’s Link Sleuth
Geeky name aside, Xenu’s Link Sleuth is an invaluable way to scour your web properties for broken links.
Just download the software and run it on any URL to find broken links for images, Java applets, HTML files, CSS stylesheets and every other element of a normal website. Broken links are bad for SEO, and Xenu is arguably the best way to ensure that your site doesn’t have any.
The X Factor
While the utilities outlined above are no doubt useful, they’re just simple applications.
You’ll still need to provide the creativity required to hit the top of the SERPs. Web applications can actually help you out in this department as well by providing you with inspiration for your next post. Blogging success is ultimately up to you, but having some trusty software by your side never hurts.