Are you just dipping your toes into the world of business? Are you a beginner in digital marketing and SEO? Then this is the article for you.
Many people are of the opinion that you need to pay for good SEO and digital marketing in general. However, this is false. You don’t need to pay a dime if you know where you should be looking and use the right tools. Today, we will cover six major SEO areas where you can get by with free tools.
These six free hacks to improve your SEO are totally backed up by me, and I have been using them for years. So, if you are just beginning to implement SEO for your business or are on a tight budget, then follow me. I will show you some of the hidden loopholes true SEO experts like me use daily.
6 Free Hacks to Improve Your SEO
As I mentioned above, we will cover some of the most crucial aspects of SEO and digital marketing in general. We will start with website auditing and then move on to other parts, such as keyword research and error fixing.
Hack – 1: Complete Website Audit With Just Ahrefs
Our first free hacks to improve your SEO starts at the start of any good SEO tactics; website audit.
One of the first things you must do when you are doing SEO is to run a comprehensive audit of your business website. The more in-depth your audit is, the better your idea of your website’s condition is. The number one tool for an in-depth and quality website audit is Ahrefs.
People will tell you about the Ahrefs premium version if you want to do a website audit. Still, the Ahrefs free version is good enough. The free version gives people access to both Site Explorer and Site Audit. At the same time, limited access to the free version will be enough for you to identify your website’s on-page and technical issues.
Another choice for a comprehensive website audit would be Semrush. It’s different from Ahrefs because Semrush gives you access to everything but only for seven days, while the Ahrefs free version is permanent with only limited access.
Hack – 2: Identify & Do Error Fixing With Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a powerful tool for identifying and fixing errors on your website. By fixing, we don’t mean that GSC can fix your issues. Instead, it will help you learn which ones you have.
Once you log into your GSC account and go to the Coverage report, you can see all the errors your site has. When you need to analyze the errors, GSC will be of great help because it will share detailed information about each one with you.
This may include information on the affected pages, the nature of the error, and may be even recommendations for fixing it.
Hack – 3: Start Your Keyword Research Freely With Google Keyword Planner
You will need to create content when you are looking to make your website and business rank high in search engines. If you want to create quality content, you will need quality keywords. The best tool for finding these quality keywords would be Google Keyword Planner.
Though basic since it’s free, Google Keyword Planner remains a solid choice, especially for beginners, offering straightforward keyword suggestions. Ahrefs impresses with its extensive database and in-depth analysis, making it excellent for uncovering hidden gems. Semrush stands out for its user-friendly interface and comprehensive keyword insights, providing a holistic view of your SEO landscape.
If these tools aren’t enough for you then read my comprehensive keyword research tool article for more ideas.
Hack – 4: Create User-friendly Content Genuinely With ChatGPT Free
So you got your hands on some quality keywords; what do you do with them? Easy, turn them into quality content that will rank and bring traffic to your website. Those with brand-new or semi-new websites need to pump out more content to make their website look professional and active. Only a few large businesses can write tons of handwritten, 100% authentic content. Everyone else needs help. And no good free hacks to improve your SEO list is complete without telling you how to write lots of quality written content.
That’s where our suggestion, the good old ChatGPT, comes in.
While ChatGPT 4.0 might be premium and cost some money, the 3.5 version is 100% free and available in almost every language. Once you combine it with AIPRM, a community-driven prompt library, you can start generating magic content. With a little human touch, no one will be able to say your content is AI-generated.
In addition, you can freely use Grammarly to ensure each piece of your content is readable and grammatically correct.
Hack – 5: Create High-Quality Backlinks by Guest Posting on Your Own (Optional)
We said that you don’t have to rely on paid tactics or tools to improve your business’s online presence. While this is true, there are some tactics that you might need to consider. One of those tactics is creating high-quality backlinks.
Regarding backlinks, there are many paths you can take, but I recommend guest postings because of their effectiveness. You can also do guest posting by yourself if you are confident in your SEO skills.
Guest posting is when you write an article for someone else’s website. It helps get your name out there and can bring more people to your site. Writing for a good website can make you seem like an expert. Plus, it’s a chance to connect with other people in your field. And when you do it a lot, it can help your website rise up in search results. So, it’s like making friends and helping your website simultaneously!
Alongside guest postings for backlinks, you can also create PR backlinks.
PR backlinks are links to your website from press releases or news articles. These links come from websites that write about current events or news stories. They can help your website get noticed by more people and can improve your website’s reputation. PR backlinks work because they come from trusted sources like newspapers or news websites. When these websites link to your site, it tells search engines that your site is important and trustworthy. So, getting PR backlinks can help your website show up higher in search results.
Hack – 6: Checking Your SEO Performance With Google All Day Everyday
With all the hard work you have been putting into your business through SEO, you need to check if it’s working. There is no better place to go for this than Google. They have given you and me the best tools for checking your SEO performance for free. Both Google Search Console and Google Analytics will give you information that will help you figure out how well your SEO strategy works.
Google Search Console offers valuable insights into how your website appears in Google’s search results. For example, GSC will give you information like click-through rates, indexing status, keyword performance, mobile usability, and sitemap submission.
On the other hand, Analytics provides detailed insights into your website’s traffic and user behavior. By this, we mean information like organic search traffic, top landing pages, bounce rate, average session duration, pages per session, and more.
Between the two free apps, you will be able to figure out how well you’re SEO strategies are working. They will also help you locate what you might have to improve. This is one of the important free hacks to improve your SEO that anyone can show you.
Conclusion
Did you get through to the end? If yes, then you now know six free hacks to improve your SEO yourself. Each of the key areas we covered and the free tools we discussed are always at your fingertips.
But remember not to become too attached to them. These tools are just there to help you, not do your SEO for you. An SEO professional knows that the best way to elevate a brand to the top of the SERPs is to put in the work organically. The more you practice SEO, the better you will be.
If you are in trouble or don’t know which direction to take next, consult with me because I am an SEO expert in Bangladesh. I know all the latest details about SEO and Google algorithms.
FAQ’s
Q. Can free SEO tools be enough for businesses?
A: While paid tools offer advanced features, many free tools provide sufficient functionality for effective SEO.
Q. How often should I update my website content for optimal SEO results?
A: Regular updates are beneficial. Aim for at least once a month to keep your content fresh and relevant.
Q. Is it necessary to hire an SEO expert for small businesses?
A: Small businesses can start with basic SEO strategies, but consulting with an expert becomes beneficial as they grow.
Q. Can social media really impact SEO?
A: Yes, social media signals contribute to search engine rankings. A solid social media presence can positively influence your SEO.
Q. How long does it take to see results from SEO efforts?
A: SEO is a long-term strategy. Significant results may take a few months, but consistency is key for lasting success.