The optimization of search engines (SEO) is a very important aspect of digital marketing in the current online environment. Regardless of whether you are a small business owner, a digital marketer or a content creator, ranking your site with Google can generate traffic, leads and sales.
However, because there are so many processes involved such as keyword research, link building, technical audits, content optimization etc., SEO may become overwhelming. It is there that an SEO platform comes in.
In this article we will dissect the meaning of what an SEO platform is, what it does and the reasons why one should have it in order to expand its business.
Understanding SEO: A Quick Overview
We should first explain the meaning of SEO before we begin to analyze what an SEO platform is.
What is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) refers to the process of ensuring a better visibility of a site in the search engines results pages (SERPs). The higher your site is displayed in Google the better chances there are that you will be visited by the users.
SEO includes:
- On-page optimization (content and key-word optimization)
- Off-page (backlinks and external signals) SEO
- Technical (SEO speed, mobile-friendliness, indexing).
What is an SEO Platform?
An SEO platform is a computer program that allows users to have a package of tools to assist in their improvement and management of their SEO performance. It allows centralization of data, automation of operations, and provides actionable information to help with the strategy of SEO.
In simple terms, consider an SEO platform as a Swiss Army knife to digital marketing. An SEO platform also simplifies the process of having to deal with a variety of tools to accomplish various tasks of SEO.
Key Features of an SEO Platform
A majority of the search engine optimization sites provide a large selection of tools and services that can assist you to achieve search engine results.
Some of the most significant ones are as follows:
Keyword Research Tools
- Discover what your target audience is looking after. Suggestions will be made on the platforms in terms of key words, search volume, level of rivalry and trends.
- Case Study: Find out that the best hiking boots in Colorado trails are a high-volume search in the U.S. outdoor gear industry.
Site Audit Tools
These analyze your website on the basis of SEO problems, like broken links, absence of metadata, slowness in page loading, or even mobile friendliness problems.
Rank Tracking
- Monitor the development of your keywords in Google search engine.
- Use Case: You could check the search position of your article on the cheap home renovations in Texas and see how it is either rising or falling.
Backlink Analysis
Check out the people who are linking to your site and scrutinize the quality of these links. Backlinks are crucial in SEO and platforms will assist you to identify opportunities or dangerous links.
Competitor Analysis
Monitor your competition (of course, legally). Get their rankings on the keywords they have in their list, their content, and their backlinks.
Content Optimization
There are those platforms that can offer advice on how to make your content better, such as changing the number of keywords, including internal links, or making it easier to read.
Benefits of Using an SEO Platform
Why is an SEO platform an important investment by a business or marketer? Here are the top benefits:
Saves Time and Effort
You do not have to use five separate tools, which can be accessed in a single dashboard. This makes your workflow easier and time saving.
Data-Driven Decisions
Platforms offer analytics and reports to make you make smarter decisions on the basis of real performance measures.
Improved Search Visibility
Considering the incessant information, notifications and suggestions you are likely to be on par with the changes in the algorithms and constantly increase your positions.
Better ROI
SEO is among the most profitable ROI mediums in digital marketing. On a platform, you can be certain of getting the best of SEO.
Popular SEO Platforms
The digital marketing environment is filled with a number of SEO platforms. Both of them possess their advantages, price models, and target markets.
SEMrush
All-in-one Keyword research, competitive analysis, site audit and PPC insights. Noted in the agencies and big business.
Ahrefs
What is known is the strong database of backlink and content research tools. Best with bloggers, marketers and e-commerce brands.
Moz Pro
Is easy to use and has good keyword tracking capabilities. Superset of small to medium-sized businesses.
Screaming Frog
This is more of a technical SEO tool and it is a desktop-based crawler that is used to conduct a detailed site audit.
Surfer SEO
Expert in optimization of content with AI and data-based suggestions.
How to Choose the Right SEO Platform
The selection of an appropriate SEO platform will rely on the size of your business, objectives and budget.
The following are some of the questions to be considered:
- What’s your budget? There are free plans available on various platforms and plans up to hundreds of dollars every month.
- What are your goals? Are you oriented towards content, technical or link building?
- Do you require team work capabilities? There are team-based tools and those that are more friendly to individuals.
- What’s your skill level? Newcomers may find it better to use platforms that have fewer complex dashboards and instructions.
Real-World Example
Suppose you are a small bakery owner in Chicago. Your wish is to have more customers access your webpage when they search the internet to find the best birthday cakes in Chicago.
With the help of the SEO tool, such as SEMrush, you can:
- You will find out about pertinent keywords your audience is searching.
- Test your site to check on the SEO problem such as lack of alt texts or slow loading websites.
- Monitor your Google positions on a weekly basis.
- Get to know what your competitors are doing well.
- Get content ideas to rank higher.
All this would have been much longer and full of errors without the help of an SEO platform.
