To be honest, I don’t always use them to their fullest potential, but I’ve been using several SEO keyword tools while running this tech blog. These tools help you check keywords, trends, and patterns of your own site or competitors, and best of all, they’re free. They’re incredibly useful when selecting keywords for writing articles or improving your site’s SEO.
Google Trends
This free tool lets you analyze keyword popularity trends and related topics. It’s especially handy for checking search trends and related keywords before writing an article.
Example Use Case: Understanding Market Trends
Use it to understand fluctuations in the popularity of a topic or keyword. For instance, if a certain technology is trending, creating content related to it can boost traffic.
Rakko Keyword
You can check keyword suggestions and monthly search volumes for free. The free plan allows limited daily usage for keyword research and headline extraction. Paid plans are also available depending on your needs.
- Keyword research: Up to 50 times/day
- Headline extraction / co-occurrence keyword retrieval: Up to 15 times/day
- Total usage: Up to 65 times/day (per IP)
There are also paid plans ranging from Lite (¥990/month) to Enterprise (¥9,900/month), so you can choose based on your purpose.
Example Use Case: Improve Target Keyword Accuracy
Use suggested keywords to understand user search intent on a specific topic. You can also grasp potential traffic by checking the monthly search volume.
Ubersuggest
In addition to features similar to Google Trends and Rakko Keyword, you can check traffic and SEO keyword rankings for specific domains for free. There are many free features, and paid plans are also available according to your needs.
Here’s what you can do for free:
- Access SEO tools
- SEO training & support
- Daily tracking of search rankings
- SEO optimization per site
Paid plans range from Personal (¥2,999/month) to Enterprise (¥9,999/month).
Example Use Case: Competitor Analysis and Traffic Forecasting
Analyze competitor site traffic and keyword rankings to adjust your own strategies. Also, use content ideas and backlink data to strengthen your SEO strategy.
SEO Check! Free SEO Tool
This tool allows you to check competitor site SEO, search rankings, keyword frequency, outbound links, Whois info, and more — all for free. It’s useful for quickly understanding your SEO status and improving your site.
Example Use Case: Grasping Overall SEO Status
Regularly check the SEO status of your own and competitor sites. Analyze site structure, keyword frequency, and outbound link status to identify areas for improvement.
Power Rank Check Tool
Check the domain power of your site or competitors using a proprietary “Power Rank” metric. Free users can access it up to 3 times per day.
By registering as a member, your site may also be listed in the following “Power Rank Ranking.”
Example Use Case: Evaluating Domain Authority
Use Power Rank to evaluate your domain authority. Analyze the power ranks of competitor sites to understand their strengths and weaknesses.
Further SEO Tips
Keyword Selection and Placement
Choosing the right keywords is key to SEO. Use these tools to identify relevant keywords for your articles or pages, and place them strategically. Be careful not to overuse keywords and aim for natural writing.
Content Quality and Link Building
SEO is not just about keywords; content quality is equally important. Create useful, informative content to increase user retention and site credibility. Also, build links from trustworthy websites to boost your search engine evaluation.
Continuous Analysis and Improvement
SEO is constantly evolving. Regularly analyze your site’s performance and adjust strategies as needed. Use tools like Google Analytics to understand traffic trends and user behavior, and quantitatively assess the effectiveness of your SEO strategy.
Conclusion
By using these tools, you can effectively improve your blog or site’s SEO and attract more visitors. Each tool has unique features and how you use them can make a big difference. Since SEO is a constantly changing field, it’s essential to leverage these tools effectively to keep up with the latest trends.
*Please use these tools at your own discretion.
